Feminism and Romanticism

While many feminists take a hostile stance to romanticism, in fact romanticism is congruent with the goals of feminism. Romanticism has taught men to have appreciation for the goodness and beauty in women, and as such has done a lot to confront the misogyny of Christian-influenced Western cultures. And that makes romanticism a feminist undertaking.

Beauty is a positive quality that is more natural to women than it is to men. That means that affirming of beauty is affirming of the woman. A good feminine quality is being celebrated and affirmed. And that is good for women.

The same is the case with love. Here, too, we see something that women are naturally better at than men; and affirming of it is likewise affirming of the woman. If a positive quality that is more present in women than it is in men is being celebrated, then that means that women are being affirmed. And that, likewise, is good for women.

Sure, there are women who aren't beautiful, and there are women who want nothing to do with love. But that doesn't mean that these things aren't good for other women. For that matter, there are men who are weak, but that doesn't mean that no man should be allowed to be strong. For that matter, there are men who are poor, but it doesn't mean that no man should be allowed to be wealthy.

Feminism should reconsider its stance toward romanticism. If it thinks about it enough, it will find romanticism to be a valuable ally. And that will benefit feminism.