Joseph H. Fichter's Contributions to Feminism

Abstract

Fichter's publications on varic)us aspects of Catholicistn in America, such as the parish, priests, and schools are well known. However, his work regarding women in the church, as well as his activities on the part of woluen in general, have been less visible. This is an attempt to begin to bring into view Fichter's contributions to feminism, and as he would have worded it, to set the record straight.''1 This is Iny second attempt to link Fichter ancl feminism. Thfe first occurred in 1987 when I presented a paper at a special session of the annual meeting of the Southern Sociological Society horloring H. Fichter, orS ganized by Wade Clark Roof. The paper was entitled Joseph H. Fichter as Feminist, and it was subsequently published irl the rwewsletter of the SSS. Some of the material presented here is drawn from that paper. At the outset the term feminism, which includes both ideological and behavioral aspects, needs to be defined. According to the latest Random House dictionary (1987: 708), feminism is defined as. 1) The doctrine advocating soo cial, political, and all other rights nf women equal to those of men. 2) An ongoing movement for the attainment of such rights for women. As an ideology, then, feministn requires an explanation for gender inequality, and encourages activity on behalf of women's rights and interests. As a social movement, feminism has as its goal the attainment of social, political, and economic rights for women that will give them equality with men. However, Bell Hooks (1993: 507) has expanded the dictionary definition of feminism to include the following elements: