in the interest of getting a grownup BLOG of my very own and finding interesting people to add to my BLOGroll i've devoted quit a bit of time this afternoon to link jumping.

now, i've always considered myself to be a feminist. (always in the sense of always since i became aware of feminism in college and was no longer under the influence of religious doctrines that said feminism was a sin.) however, i've come across quite a few feminist sites that leave me feeling a little cold. i've found a thread mostly mocking "quiverfull" women, heavy discussion of the positivity of being childfree, statements about "shitting out a pumpkin" in reference to childbirth, and all the man-hating one might expect. is this feminism? do i have to eschew childbirth and men to be a real feminist?

more than the man-hating, which i can understand, it really bothers me to see this thread of hate directed toward birthing and childrearing. to me, these are some of the biggest areas awaiting radical feminist voices. i see so much choice, power, and room for growth here. it is very disheartening to see women rudely speculating on what birthing many children does to a woman's body, actively promoting childfree as the only conscious lifestyle choice. it's so self-loathing, and ultimately as destructive as the patriarchy you're railing against!