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This spring, the most skilled golfers in the world met at a prestigious golf
club in Georgia to play in the Masters Golf Tournament. The club, Augusta
National, does not allow women to be members. Recently, the National
Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO) led a public relations cam-
paign to shame the television network that broadcasted the event and the
event’s numerous corporate sponsors into pressuring the private club to
accept women as members. The NCWO (2003) has declared that these spon-
sors “sanction sex discrimination” and that “the Club has a moral obligation
to open its doors to women.”

This attempt by the NCWO to break down a gender barrier only rein-
forces a socio-economic one. There is a waiting list to join Augusta National
Golf Club and an undisclosed initiation fee for new members. The NCWO
regards Augusta National’s policy as a symbol of how women are still
denied the opportunity to participate fully in society, and of how men, name-
ly corporate leaders and policy makers, deem this acceptable. 

I take the NCWO’s initiative as a symbol of the skewed priorities of the
feminist movement. This campaign embraces “trickle-down feminism,” the
idea that a benefit given to the elite will trickle down the socioeconomic
chute to benefit all women. Author Anna Quindlen (2002) uses the term to
credit the far-reaching positive effects of feminism in this same manner. I,
however, see trickle-down feminism as ineffective. The expectation that
feminism will trickle down to benefit all women is unrealistic, and excludes
those of lower socioeconomic status. It belies that feminism is not integrat-
ed in the lives of most women and must flow downward from the privileged
top. This is precisely the problem I have with the NCWO’s campaign against
Augusta National; its highbrow criticism draws energy and attention from
the more appropriate goal of working to earn equality for all members of our

A CA CAASESE OFOF TTRICKLERICKLE-D-DOWNOWN FFEMINISMEMINISM

Kari Kendall Cameron

“Trickle-down feminism,” a notion that rights and privileges enjoyed by an
elite group of women will trickle down and benefit the majority of women,

is wholly ineffective in promoting positive social change. It should be
replaced by the principles of equalism, a belief in the value and responsi-
bility of all people. Social workers, through our professional experience
and knowledge of family dynamics, can play a pivotal role in promoting

equalism over trickle-down feminism.



Columbia University Journal of Student Social Work Volume 1, Number 1
22

society. 
Social workers can appreciate the rich heritage of the feminist movement

and benefit from its concrete gains. However, the natural evolution of ideas
suggests that we become much more than feminists. Demanding more
social, personal, and political freedom for women to make their own choic-
es is still relevant and necessary and has been a hallmark of feminists’ aims.
Yet, only one-quarter of women identify themselves as feminists
(Hymowitz, 2002). Perhaps a new designation is necessary: one that is
inclusive and captures the essence of the quest for fair opportunities and
equitable choices for both sexes, across socioeconomic status. Those who
acknowledge and respect the importance of equality in our society, as well
as support policy initiatives to strengthen it, may call themselves “equalists.”
The call for equalism as an alternative to feminism is beginning to gain
momentum in popular culture as a means of clarifying the often contradic-
tory and confusing connotations of the term “feminist” (Minx, 1999). For
those men and women disillusioned by the association of feminism with the
practice of trickle-down feminism, the concept of equalism could serve as a
unifying remedy.

The NCWO’s agenda includes many legislative initiatives that aim to
improve the quality of life for millions of Americans; however, the attention
showered on Augusta’s policy has defined the purpose and mission of
NCWO for the public at large. It is striking how much media attention the
NCWO’s campaign has received and how many of the organization’s
resources have been put into it. In business, wise investments generate cap-
ital and poor investments set a company back. This is also true with politi-
cal capital. The NCWO has squandered resources that could be used to
advance the rights of members of our society. Equalism, rather than the elit-
ist approach of trickle-down feminism, is more in line with a utilitarian
approach to facing problems that keep socioeconomic segments of our soci-
ety separate. Attacking a prestigious golf club’s membership policy ulti-
mately benefits only a handful of wealthy women. 

Equalists must protect the underrepresented and underserved. Social
change drawn from the spirit of equalism reflects an inherent respect for
men and women in all segments of society, a level of respect that is already
a part of our social work heritage. Equalist social workers know the power
of labels and language. They resist labeling problems as “women’s” or
“men’s.” An equalist social worker acknowledges the common etiology of a
problem, draws solutions from men and women, and does not try to address
social problems affecting both genders by only looking at half of the equa-
tion. 

Mary Wollstonecraft (1792), the 18th century feminist philosopher,
included in her book, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, her opinion of



CAMERON / A Case of Trickle-Down Feminism
23

national education: “It is not for the benefit of society that a few brilliant
men should be brought forward at the expense of the multitude” (p. 168).
Her view that educational rights should not be limited to a few also applies
to the civic and social rights we wish for women to enjoy. Our clients will
not realize the benefit of a female millionaire playing golf at a private club,
yet we are spending precious political capital on this campaign. Our future
is not at a golf course for the wealthy. In fact I, and many women, want no
part of the effort. It simply has no relevance in the lives of most women. 

In addition to the practice of trickle-down feminism, the pervasive notion
of “women’s issues” undercuts the commonality we share as humans. We
are discounting our inter-gender relationships and reinforcing a segregated
world. By labeling such things as childcare, reproductive health, and welfare
as “women’s issues,” we are severing men’s vested interest in these issues
and, in effect, absolving men of their roles and responsibilities. Social work-
ers know the dynamics and interconnections of male and female members of
the family. We see the family in its entire ecosystem, and have a duty to pres-
ent the integrated nature of problems affecting families we serve. A grieving
father, brother, or son facing the loss of his mother, sister, or daughter to
breast cancer would not consider it only a “woman’s issue.” Men and
women are in this society together, and the struggles of one will be felt by
the other. 

Trickle-down feminism should be replaced by an agenda that carries the
traditions of the trail-blazing feminists who contributed much to our society
and touched people of all socio-economic levels. Another classic example of
trickle-down feminism is the movement to ratify the Equal Rights
Amendment. The agenda should instead include a long-run lobbying effort
to see the confirmation of Supreme Court Justices who will rightfully inter-
pret “all persons” as written in the 14th Amendment of our Constitution.

According to Simon (1994), “Social workers’ empowernment is, in part,
contingent upon recognition by the public and its officials of the contribu-
tions being made to the social whole by members of the profession” (p. 192).
As social workers, we are a crucial part of an informed debate, working and
witnessing the dynamics of individuals and families in hospitals, public
health clinics, foster care agencies, and countless other critical social serv-
ice organizations. Our profession has the knowledge and experience to con-
tribute to social policy instead of once again being sidelined as others dic-
tate the direction of key policies affecting our clients. Trickle-down femi-
nism will not perpetuate the changes necessary to advance all members in
our society; moreover, it disregards those who are on the front lines of dis-
crimination. Social workers in all capacities are critical to the promotion of
equalism. 

Allowing women membership in the Augusta National Golf Club will be



Columbia University Journal of Student Social Work Volume 1, Number 1
24

an easy way out of responsibility for the influential men in the club. They
will have offered this symbolic accommodation while continuing the club-
by, restrictive culture that permeates too many companies, public agencies,
and organizations. They will succeed in placating a few vocal feminists with
an empty gesture void of any meaningful social change. Feminists would be
no less complicit in this sham. Real social change cannot be sold for a mem-
bership card at a millionaires club.

References
Hymowitz, K. S. (2002). A new feminism? Public Interest, 149, 116-

121. 
Minix, M. (1999, October 21) Equalism, not feminism. Indiana Daily 

Student. Retrieved April 13, 2002 from the World Wide 
Web:http://idsnews.com/news/10199/opinion/102199feminism.html

National Association of Social Workers (1996). Code of ethics of the 
National Association of Social Workers. Washington, D.C.: NASW. National

Council of Women’s Organizations (2003). 
www.womensorganizations.org

Quindlen, A. (2002). Transcript of speech at Women and Girl’s Third 
Annual Grant Awards Luncheon. Fairfield County Community 
Foundation, April 10, 2002.

Simon, B. L. (1994). The empowernment tradition of American social 
work. New York: Columbia University Press.

Wollstonecraft, M. (1996). A vindication of the rights of woman.
Mineola, NY: Dover Publications.

Kari Kendall Cameron is a second-year MS student at the Columbia
University School of Social Work concentrating in Clinical Practice within
the World of Work. She is currently an intern at the Musician’s Assistance
Program, Local 802 AFM in New York City. She holds a BS from Georgia

Southern University in Education and English. 


