On Que(e)rying Feminism: Reclaiming the F Word

Abstract

In this essay, I’d like to rethink the erasure of the word “feminism.” To begin that reconsideration I provide a brief journey through the development of feminisms, discussing the “waves” and outlining the development/evolution of feminism. Next I articulate three reasons why the F word has faded, followed by a “Reality Check”—facts about the real condition of real women’s lives which scream for the ongoing centrality of feminisms. The essay concludes with my vision for a future in which feminist ideas improve everyone’s lives.