Feminazi
Feminazi is a term popularized by ultra conservative radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh. In 2004, Limbaugh named feminist activists Gloria Steinem, Susan Sarandon, Christine Lati, and Camryn Manheim as "famous feminazis."[1][2][3] Feminazi is a portmanteau of the nouns feminist and Nazi. The term is used pejoratively[4][5][6][7] by some U.S. conservatives to criticize feminists.[3]
Etymology and usage
In his 1992 book The Way Things Ought to Be, Limbaugh credited his friend Tom Hazlett, an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute,[8] with coining the term.[3] 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 25 "true feminazis" in the U.S.[9][10][2] 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.[1][11][12][13][14]
There were times when Limbaugh almost stopped using the term. 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.'"[15]
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."[1]
The online version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term as used in a "usually disparaging" manner, to describe "an extreme or militant feminist".[4]
Criticism
In a 1996 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.[16] 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." [16] In her book Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions, Steinem elaborates on the repression of feminism under Hitler, 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.[17]
See also
References
- ^ a b c J.S. (2005-06-24). "Limbaugh defended his use of term "feminazi" as "right" and "accurate"". Media Matters for America. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
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."
I haven't used that term on this program in years. But it still gets to 'em, doesn't it? And you know why? [chuckles] Because it's right. Because it's accurate.
[...]
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. - ^ a b "Feminazi is an Accurate Term". The Rush Limbaugh Show. Premiere Radio Networks. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
- ^ a b c Rush H. Limbaugh, The Way Things Ought to Be, Pocket Books, 1992 p.193 Cite error: The named reference "TheWayp193" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ a b Online dictionary
- ^ Ferree, Myra Max (2005-02-17). "Soft Repression: Ridicule, Stigma, and Ailencing in Gender-based Movements". In Myers, Daniel J.; Cress, Daniel M. (eds.). Authority in Contention. Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change. Vol. 25. Emerald Group Publishing. p. 90. ASIN 0762310375. ISBN 978-0-7623-1037-1. ISSN 0163-786X. Retrieved 2012-03-03.
More recently, consider the term 'feminazi' that Rush Limbaugh coined to ridicule feminists...
{{cite book}}: Check|asin=value (help) - ^ Linguistic politics and language usage in the debate on "Political Correctness" by Peter Skutta
- ^ "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.'"
- ^ "Tom Hazlett". Cato Institute.
- ^ Limbaugh, Rush H., III (1992). "The Limbaugh Lexicon". The Way Things Ought to Be. Pocket Books. p. 296.
Feminazi: Widely misunderstood by most to simply mean "feminist." Not so, boobala. A Feminazi is a feminist to whom the most important thing in life is ensuring that as many abortions as possible occur. There are fewer than twenty-five known Feminazis in the United States.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Britt Gillette, The Dittohead's Guide to Adult Beverages, Regnery Publishing, 2005, page xii
- ^ "Meet the New Rush, Same as the Old Rush; A Media Matters for America Analysis of The Rush Limbaugh Show". Media Matters for America. 2004-05-02.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Repeating "feminazi" comment, Limbaugh reprises familiar theme". Media Matters for America. 2006-01-06.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Limbaugh lashed out at Media Matters and NBC, having declined invitation from Today to respond". Media Matters for America. 2007-05-23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Wilson, John K. (2011-03-01). "Bitches, Butt Boys, and Feminazis: Limbaugh's Sexism and Homophobia". The Most Dangerous Man in America: Rush Limbaugh’s Assault on Reason. Macmillan. p. 56. ISBN 9780312612146. OL 24385112M.
When asked in 1995 about the term "feminazi," he declared: "It's the way I look at the feminist movement." Limbaugh referred to the National Center for Women and Policing and the Feminist Majority Foundation as "feminazis." So it's not just twenty-five individuals, but every single feminist organization, its leaders, and millions upon millions of Americans with the same views whom Limbaugh compares to Nazis.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Plotz, David (2000-05-26). "Rush Limbaugh and Dr. Laura Schlessinger". Slate.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b Steinem, Gloria (1996). "Ask Gloria". Feminist.com. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ Steinem, Gloria (1995-10-15). "If Hitler Were Alive, Whose Side Would He Be On?". Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions. New American Library. ISBN 978-0451139986. OL 18320559M.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help)