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Feminists need to gain a sense of humor

A few weeks ago I overheard a woman end her sentence with an emphatic, “Not that I’m a feminist.” It seems like something you hear a lot of lately — women trying their best to avoid a title that nowadays has become a dirty word.

I’ve since wondered why women feel they should avoid being considered a feminist — why it’s the cool thing for women to be anti-feminists. The answer came to me, in part, in an e-mail sent to The Chronicle after the April Fools issue. The woman who sent the e-mail was offended by what she saw as blatant misogyny thinly veiled under the pretense of an April Fools joke.

Herein lies the reason feminism now carries such a negative connotation — feminists need to lighten up. Hypersensitivity will get us nowhere.

Sure, there are legitimate concerns over women’s issues — concerns that I share. Why is birth control not covered by several health plans; why do women still make 60 cents to the man’s dollar; why are there such double-standards, especially concerning sexuality, between men and women?

Problems exist and I am glad they are being brought to the table, but tell me this ladies, is it really that bad?

As a woman, I have never felt at a disadvantage to my male counterparts.

Women can fend for themselves — and make their own decisions.

If a woman decides to be a stripper, who cares? Besides, who is being degraded — the stripper or the drooling shmuck who is giving her all the cash in his wallet?

When women complain about every little thing, know how we come across? Like incompetent, weak little beings.

I refuse to buy into the notion that I am some kind of second-class citizen.

Perhaps I’d be made to feel like that if I lived in some parts of the Middle East or even here 50 or 60 years ago, but not now.

The bottom line is that being a woman ain’t that hard. Relax feminists — you can laugh at tasteless jokes on “The Man Show” or wear a low-cut shirt and still be a confident woman.

Perhaps chilling out should be at the top of the feminist agenda.

Jennifer Mitchell is a columnist for the Daily Utah Chronicle at the University of Utah. This column was distributed by U-Wire