Hooters and Feminism

I’m a feminist.

But I might not be their kind of feminist. Or your kind of feminist. Or his kind of feminist. Or her kind of feminist.

Unfortunately (and fortunately!) there are many kinds of feminism. It makes it a rich academic field, it makes it a potent political force (or did), and it makes it a hugely important area of thought to consider.

Unfortunately, feminism as a concept is in danger.

Had I said that, decades ago, we might have blamed the silent majority complicit in male oppression. We may have blamed the status quo, or the system, or Conservatives (and conservatives with a smaller c).

Nowadays, feminism is in danger from two main areas: firstly, apathy and secondly, though this is only my view, from the increasingly “out there” actions of an increasingly vocal (yet of an increasingly diminishing number) feminists.

If you ask a girl or woman whether she is a feminist, their face (generally) will pale, and they will say, “No!”

If you ask a boy or man whether he is a feminist, they will (generally) snort, or something suitably "male" before saying, “No!”

And that’s worrying, surely?

The view that apathy is killing feminism has been documented and spoken about. There is a distinct view that there is nothing left to fight for. This, of course, is fundamentally untrue. The feminist cause, whilst having achieved great victories, has many more battles to fight (see my earlier blog post on that very subject).

The second hypothesis is one that is probably controversial – the fact that, in some respects, feminists have become guilty of alienating the mainstream from their cause.
I think feminism has fallen victim to its own over-intellectualising approach.

Nowadays, to be a “feminist”, one has to identify whether you are first, second, or third wave. One has to identify whether you are an anarcho-feminist, a socialist feminist, a radical feminist, a liberal feminist. One has to work out whether or not lesbianism is a choice or a biological fact. One has to wade through tracts on political lesbianism. Then there is the question of whether or not feminism is meant to be opposed to capitalism. There are reams upon reams upon reams of feminist theory.

Unfortunately, by over-intellectualising, and by splintering into innumerable fragments of varying philosophies and approaches, feminism has lost its voice. And when it finds its voice, it is (regrettably) a voice that is raised in tired arguments that no longer need to be had.

For example, myself and my friends are all (predominantly, anyway) feminists. Only when I say ask them, “Are you a feminist?” they back away. Which is odd, because they agree progress still has to be made on a variety of (women’s?) political issues: political representation of women; the tone of the media towards women of all kinds; body issues, viewed by many feminists as a new (or old, with new weapons) battle of women’s rights; childcare; prostitution, rape and domestic violence.

The consensus that action needs to be taken on all those issues (and more) should, logically, lead to an overwhelming number of women identifying as feminists.

Unfortunately, they do not.

I remember I was once told I couldn’t be a feminist because I was a man.

I was then given chapter and verse about how, because I happened to have a penis, I was by default part of the predatory nature of man. That somehow, because I happened to be born a man, I was predicated to the setting of rapist and abuser, and that therefore I was not worthy (my word, not hers) of standing alongside women and fighting for their rights.

It was like being told I couldn’t oppose racism because I was white.

Or like someone being told they can’t oppose homophobia because they’re straight.

Or like ... well... anything else that is incredibly stupid.

(Incidentally as an aside, whilst I understand the motivations behind women’s only marches, and accept their potency in uniting women and giving them a confidence and a safe place, there is still an element of me that cries out, “No! I want to fight with you! My voice is as powerful as yours, let me raise it with you and change the world!” But I suppose that might be my innate, natural tendency to oppress women coming out, there.)

So why this sprawling, inconclusive discussion on feminism?
Well, because of Hooters. Matt Smith has already blogged here about the arguments for and against. My discussion is taking a different tangent, and asking feminists directly, “Why?”

Why are they challenging this place?

Is it because men might leer at women? Yes, that is unpleasant. The only argument that has any sway with me is the fact that it propagates the view of women as sex objects, which diminishes them in the eyes of men, making Hooters, in a sense, societal endorsement of predatory attitudes towards women.

So yes, it is unpleasant. Yes, it may propagate that view of women. But the key point here is that it is those women’s choice to work there. Just as it is a woman’s choice (or should be) if they want to work as a lawyer or stay at home and look after children.

For me, feminism is not about an equally narrow-minded approach from a small section of feminists, to the narrow-minded nature of misogynist men. For me, feminism is about the power of choice.

Is it a woman’s choice to work in Hooters? Yes.

If you are a feminist who doesn’t like it, don’t go there. But don’t look down on a woman because she chooses to use the freedom you claim you fight for. Unfortunately there is also an element within feminism of “you do it our radical way or you are a man’s plaything”. There is an element of feminism which looks down on women who want to be mothers, who want to get married, who want to have the choice and freedom to do whatever they want. For even the smallest most radical section of feminism to take any of that choice away is selfish, controlling, and hideously patriarchal and oppressive.

So, Hooters. And feminists.

As a final point. Why in the name of feminism or anything else, are you campaigning here? Against a bar?



Do you realise, anyone who is devoting their time to this, that for every minute you spend campaigning, sending leaflets, picketing, or whatever... you could be fundraising for a women’s shelter?

Do you realise that for every moment you spend writing letters into the local paper... you could be writing letters prompting action from people with regards to political representation or equal pay?

Do you realise that for every councillor you contact, asking them to oppose Hooters, you could have contacted that same councillor ... asking them to donate some of their community fund to a local women’s group, for a new kettle, or a microwave, or something concrete that might help some of the most vulnerable women in our society?

So please. Feminists concerned about Hooters? That’s fine, be concerned. I suppose deep down if I had a choice I’d rather it wasn’t there.

But any time I have (other than writing this blog post) that I might have used to protest against Hooters, will be spent working on real issues of importance.

A simple, brutal question: would you rather, as a feminist, stop a restaurant or reach out that hand to help someone who has just escaped from an abusive relationship, who needs help? Will you help to provide her with shelter and food urgently to help her stay free?



Or would you rather stand outside Hooters feeling vindicated about how much of a feminist you are, looking down on those silly women endorsing male views of oppression – whilst behind you in the street, you fail to notice a woman with a child walking past, dreading every step that brings her closer to her house?

Will you focus on the glitzy restaurant, and ignore the pain and fear far closer to home?

I know which one I’d take action on.

But because we’re a free society, and I’m a feminist, the choice is yours.