I don't know the man. I'm pretty sure I haven't read any of his work. I have no data to work with.
According to some people his books have failed to do what he thought they would -- but that's a subjective opinion (and from unreliable sources who're not in his stated target audience, so I don't even know if it's a general audience failure or just an individual reader one) But even if his books fail, that wouldn't actually mean he isn't a feminist writer -- just an over ambitious or under achieving one. I've heard plenty of grandious claims from writers in the past, some I believe and some I do not... but those are judgement calls, they're not facts. (I know I have serious intent with several of my books/stories -- I know some people who've read my work get that and some people skim on the surface story and don't suspect anything else is going on (and some suspect and get annoyed at me))
His writing not being feminist doesn't mean that he, as a person, is not a feminist. The idea that a reader can always read the secrets of an authors heart in their writing is... not my experience of the majority of readers
And beyond the clear lack of data as to exactly what thoughts are in Mr Bakker's head and how they relate to a particular definition of feminism -- mine doubtless being different from that of ROH or FZ or our hostess -- I am generally uncomfortable about people being forcibly defined by other people. Which is not to say that a person cannot, with a degree of respect, discuss any problem they have with a person's self-identification, but this has not been at any time about reasoned consideration. It has also led to people making a lot of statements about what people can and cannot write which also define me (that's pretty much how it goes when certain kinds of people get to making up the rules they want other people to live by).
You want a yes/no answer -- and anyone who knows me knows I'm not big on those. Some people are exclusionists -- they like the simplest possible boxes -- us or them -- gay or straight -- capitalist or communist -- black or white. They like division because they like to belong to a group and despise or denigrate those belonging to the other group. They get freaked out by the existance of tomboys or bisexuals (and often try to pretend these people don't exist or really truly belong in one of the other groups and are just wrong about themselves)
My answer to is Mr Bakker a feminist is -- maybe yes, maybe no...
My questions to you are -- why does it matter to you whether he is or isn't a feminist ? and why should it matter enough to me for me to have formed an opinion?
no subject
I don't know the man. I'm pretty sure I haven't read any of his work. I have no data to work with.
According to some people his books have failed to do what he thought they would -- but that's a subjective opinion (and from unreliable sources who're not in his stated target audience, so I don't even know if it's a general audience failure or just an individual reader one) But even if his books fail, that wouldn't actually mean he isn't a feminist writer -- just an over ambitious or under achieving one. I've heard plenty of grandious claims from writers in the past, some I believe and some I do not... but those are judgement calls, they're not facts. (I know I have serious intent with several of my books/stories -- I know some people who've read my work get that and some people skim on the surface story and don't suspect anything else is going on (and some suspect and get annoyed at me))
His writing not being feminist doesn't mean that he, as a person, is not a feminist. The idea that a reader can always read the secrets of an authors heart in their writing is... not my experience of the majority of readers
And beyond the clear lack of data as to exactly what thoughts are in Mr Bakker's head and how they relate to a particular definition of feminism -- mine doubtless being different from that of ROH or FZ or our hostess -- I am generally uncomfortable about people being forcibly defined by other people. Which is not to say that a person cannot, with a degree of respect, discuss any problem they have with a person's self-identification, but this has not been at any time about reasoned consideration. It has also led to people making a lot of statements about what people can and cannot write which also define me (that's pretty much how it goes when certain kinds of people get to making up the rules they want other people to live by).
You want a yes/no answer -- and anyone who knows me knows I'm not big on those. Some people are exclusionists -- they like the simplest possible boxes -- us or them -- gay or straight -- capitalist or communist -- black or white. They like division because they like to belong to a group and despise or denigrate those belonging to the other group. They get freaked out by the existance of tomboys or bisexuals (and often try to pretend these people don't exist or really truly belong in one of the other groups and are just wrong about themselves)
My answer to is Mr Bakker a feminist is -- maybe yes, maybe no...
My questions to you are -- why does it matter to you whether he is or isn't a feminist ? and why should it matter enough to me for me to have formed an opinion?