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Individualist feminism, also known asifeminism, is alibertarianfeminist movement that emphasizesindividualism, personal autonomy, freedom from state-sanctioned discrimination against women, andgender equality.
Individualist feminists attempt to change legal systems to eliminate sex and gender privileges, and to ensure that individuals have equal rights. Individualist feminism encourages women to take full responsibility for their own lives and opposes any government interference into choices adults makewith their own bodies.[1][2][3][page needed]
Individualist or libertarian feminism is sometimes grouped as one of many branches ofliberal feminism, but it tends to diverge significantly from mainstream liberal feminism of the 21st century.[4][5][further explanation needed] Individualist feministsWendy McElroy andChristina Hoff Sommers define individualist feminism in opposition to what they call "political" or "gender feminism".[6]: 14 [7][8]
Libertarian feminists reject gender roles that limit women's autonomy and choice, and assert that strict gender roles limit both women and men, especially if they are legally enforced.[9] Libertarian feminists are critical of using institutional power to achieve positive aims, believing that allowing the government to make decisions on behalf of women may limit women's individual choices. For instance, banningsex work to "protect" women treats women as a monolithic group, rather than individuals, and takes away economic opportunities for women who want to work in the sex industry by choice.[citation needed]
TheCato Institute, an American libertarianthink tank, argues thatcapitalism has given women a higher standard of living, greater access to resources, greater individual freedoms and more job opportunities outside of physical labor.[10][11]
Individualist feminism conforms to the theory ofnatural law, supporting laws that protect the rights of men and women equally.[12][page needed] Individual feminists argue that government should not prioritize the needs of women over men, nor should it strive to intervene to create equality in personal relationships, private economic arrangements, entertainment and media representation, or the general sociocultural realm.[citation needed]
According to individualist feministJoan Kennedy Taylor, early organized feminism in the United States was fundamentally "aclassical liberal women's movement".[13]First-wave feminists focused onuniversal suffrage and the abolition of slavery, along with property rights for women and other forms of equal rights.[citation needed]
During the Victorian era and the early 20th century, individualist feminism fell out of vogue in the US and UK as theprogressive,labor, andsocialist movements began to hold more sway over politics.[citation needed]
Individualist feminism was revived by anti-authoritarian and individualistsecond-wave feminists in the mid-20th century. According to Taylor, "the political issues that gained wide adherence were the reproductive rights to birth control and abortion, and theEqual Rights Amendment, which (at least in its initial support) was a classical liberal restraint on government."[2]
Labels like individualist feminism, libertarian feminism, and classical liberal feminism were explicitly embraced by late 20th century writers and activists such as Taylor,Sharon Presley,Tonie Nathan, andWendy McElroy.[citation needed] Modern libertarian feminism is a continuation of ideas and work developed by these women and their contemporaries, includingNadine Strossen andCamille Paglia, as well as of the ideas of classical liberal and anarchist writers throughout history.[citation needed]
The Association of Libertarian Feminists (ALF) was founded in 1973 byTonie Nathan andSharon Presley onAyn Rand's birthday inEugene, Oregon, at Nathan's home.[14][15] In September 1975 in New York City, ALF became a national organization.[15] As of 2015[update], Presley was the executive director of the organization.[16]
The ALF has stated that their purpose is to oppose sexist attitudes, oppose government, and "provide a libertarian alternative to those aspects of the women's movement that tend to discourage independence and individuality."[17] The ALF have opposed the government's involvement in childcare centers, including "zoning laws, unnecessary and pointless "health and safety" restrictions, [and] required licensing."[18] The ALF have also opposedpublic education, saying that public schools "not only foster the worst of traditionalist sexist values but inculcate docility and obedience to authority with sterile, stifling methods and compulsory programs and regulations."[18] In 1977, Nathan suggested eliminating parts of theUnited States Postal Service regulations that obstructed the mailing of birth control samples and information about family planning at theNational Women's Conference in Houston, Texas.[15]
Feminists for Liberty (F4L) is a nonprofit libertarian feminist group founded in 2016. It was founded by Kat Murti and Elizabeth Nolan Brown[19] to promote the values of libertarian feminism. F4L are "anti-sexism and anti-statism,pro-markets and pro-choice" and "classically liberal, anti-carceral, andsex positive".[20] They are opposed tocollectivism and argue that "treating someone as simply a representative of their sex or gender" is collectivist.[20]
The Ladies of Liberty Alliance (LOLA) was established in 2009 as a nonprofit organization. LOLA's goal is to engage women in libertarianism through social groups, leadership trainings, and visits from guest speakers.[21]
The Mothers Institute was a non-profit educational and networking organization supporting stay-at-home mothering, homeschooling, civics in the classroom, and an effective networking system for mothers andfreedom of choice in health and happiness. It is now defunct.[citation needed]
Criticism of individualist feminism ranges from expressing disagreements with the values of individualism as a feminist to expressing the limitations within individualist feminism as an effective activism. Critics have argued that individualist feminism does not sufficiently addressstructural inequality.[22] In 1995, American radical feministCatharine MacKinnon criticized the value of individual choice, saying there were still instances where "women are used, abused, bought, sold, and silenced", especially women of color.[23] In 1999, American feministSusan Brownmiller suggested that the aversion to collective, "united" feminism was a sign of a "waning" and unhealthy feminist movement.[24]
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