Feminazi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Feminazi is a pejorative term used to characterize aggressive feminists,[1] or feminists in general.[2][3] The term was popularized by conservative radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh.[4][5][6] Feminazi is a portmanteau of the nouns feminist and Nazi. The on-line version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term as used in a "usually disparaging" manner, to describe "an extreme or militant feminist".[7]
[edit] Use and history of the word
An early use of the word appears in the 1970 book Enrico Fermi, Physicist by Emilio G. Segrè.[8] By 1979 it was widely used in the press.[1]
In his 1992 book, Limbaugh credited his friend Tom Hazlett, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute,[9] with coining the term.[6] In the book, Limbaugh also stated that the word refers to unspecified women whose goal is to allow as many abortions as possible, saying at one point that there were fewer than twenty-five true feminazis in the U.S.[10][11] In practice, Limbaugh uses the word to refer to anyone who is pro-choice.[12] Limbaugh has used the term to refer to members of the National Center for Women and Policing, the Feminist Majority Foundation, the National Organization for Women, and other organizations at the March for Women's Lives, a large pro-choice demonstration.[13][14][15][16][17]
There were times when Limbaugh shied away from using the term due to the controversy it caused. According to Slate.com, in 2000:
"[Limbaugh] has all-but-dropped the term 'feminazi.' When he was lambasted for mocking AIDS victims, he quickly apologized. He stopped performing 'caller abortions.' Other political talk radio shows stumble because their hosts put the politics before radio (see sclerotic Bob Grant). But Limbaugh never makes that mistake. He is a genuine conservative, but 'he is a political entertainer and a consummate pro,' says John Fund of the Wall Street Journal, who helped write Limbaugh's first book. 'Don't forget he was a DJ.'"[18]
In 2005, however, Limbaugh defended his use of the term: "I haven't used that term on this program in years. But it still gets to 'em, doesn't it? And you know why? Because it's right. Because it's accurate."[17]
In an interview, Gloria Steinem characterized Limbaugh's use of the term "feminazi" as ironic since feminists and other political dissenters were among the victims of Nazi concentration camps and Nazi work camps.[19] According to Steinem, "Hitler came to power against the strong feminist movement in Germany, padlocked the family planning clinics, and declared abortion a crime against the state—all views that more closely resemble Rush Limbaugh’s."[19] In her book Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, Steinem elaborates on the repression of feminism under Hilter, noting that many prominent German feminists like Helene Stöcker, Trude Weiss-Rosmarin and Clara Zetkin were forced to flee Nazi Germany while others were killed in concentration camps.[20]
[edit] See also
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Look up feminazi in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Journal of the Dictionary Society of North America, no. 1 - 1979, page 44
- ^ "Authority in contention" By Daniel J. Myers, Daniel M. Cress; quote "More recently, consider the term 'feminazi' that Rush Limbaugh coined to ridicule feminists..."
- ^ "Angry Feminazis and Manhaters: How Women Develop Positive Feminist Identities in the Face of Stigma" by April Dye for the Association for Women in Psychology Abstract: "Popular culture often portrays feminists as 'feminazis.'"
- ^ Limbaugh defended his use of term "feminazi" as "right" and "accurate" Media Matters "In The Washington Post we get a little story: "Tips for the Democrats, Hint: Next time don't compare anybody to Hitler." And by the way, the only reason they're doing it is because Rush Limbaugh invented the term "feminazi." That's the sum total of the Washington Post story — Durbin did it because I popularized it first with "feminazi."
- ^ "Feminazi is an Accurate Term" The Rush Limbaugh Show.
- ^ a b Rush H. Limbaugh, The Way Things Ought to Be, Pocket Books, 1992 p.193
- ^ Online dictionary
- ^ Enrico Fermi, Physicist by Emilio Segrè, page 70
- ^ Tom Hazlett Cato Institute
- ^ Rush H. Limbaugh, The Way Things Ought to Be, Pocket Books, 1992 p.296
- ^ Britt Gillette, The Dittohead's Guide to Adult Beverages, Regnery Publishing, 2005, page xii
- ^ "Feminazi is an Accurate Term"
- ^ "Limbaugh defended his use of term "feminazi" as "right" and "accurate" Media Matters Quote: "The feminazis gathered in Washington on Sunday, about a half-million of them it says here, and it was the first big pro-abortion rally in 12 years. The last one was in 1992 during the — that campaign, the Bush-Clinton campaign. They trotted themselves out again. In fact, grab me the "Feminist Update" theme. OK, just the last big pro-abort rally that the feminazis had, we actually took audio from it and interposed it, you know, mixed it, with the Forester Sisters and their song "Men," and that gave us our "Feminist Update" theme. Now, let's go to the audiotape. Let's listen to some famous feminazis who were speaking yesterday at the pro-abort anti-Bush rally. In order, they are Gloria Steinem, Susan Sarandon, Christine Lahti and Camryn Manheim."
- ^ Media Matters "Meet the New Rush, Same as the Old Rush; A Media Matters for America Analysis of The Rush Limbaugh Show"
- ^ Media Matters "Repeating "feminazi" comment, Limbaugh reprises familiar theme"
- ^ Media Matters "Limbaugh lashed out at Media Matters and NBC, having declined invitation from Today to respond"
- ^ a b Media Matters "Limbaugh defended his use of term 'feminazi' as 'right' and 'accurate'"
- ^ Slate.com "Rush Limbaugh and Dr. Laura Schlessinger" By David Plotz
- ^ a b Ask Gloria at Feminist.com.
- ^ Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions Chapter: "If Hitler were Alive," by Gloria Steinem
