Feminism, yuck. I think feminism is essentially the harbinger of the apocalypse, so no.
There still is, to some degree, a lot of very vocal, well known feminist bloggers that really like to bandy around terms like “misogynist” and “gender traitor” to mean “person who disagrees with me.” It can be very tiring, and come off as anti-man because any man who says, for instance “hey, guys, I think porn might be empowering” (or whatever other position that particular blogger may not agree with) they instantly become a willing perpetrator of rape culture, someone proud of the patriarchy, and an active misogynist. Though note when I said “gender traitor”, I never felt they were really “anti-man” because they throw about “gender traitor” with about the same frequency, even if it can feel that way sometimes.
ETA: I forgot to mention that I think they’re the minority, they just happen to be quite vocal.
I am a feminist, and have been all my life, certainly I’ve identified as one since 1976. I have never felt that feminism was anti-man, or fascist, or too strident for me. I was about to say that I’m a girly girl, but in many ways I’m not. I think of myself as quintessentially feminine and love my gender, but I have never worn makeup or high heels, or dressed in a remotely provocative way. I think that’s the heart of my feminism – that I am free to be a woman, with the heart and soul of a woman, without taking on the societally-defined trappings of womanhood. And of course I fully support equality, non-discrimination, and the right to choose abortion.
WTF are you talking about?
I’m a man and consider myself a feminist, with “feminist” defined as “someone who supports women’s rights toward equality”.
Which is probably why I’m utterly flabbergasted whenever anyone proclaims that they aren’t a feminist. I wasn’t around for the majority of the movement, however, so I and other young-ish people might not understand all of its history and connotations.
I’ve always considered myself a feminist under that definition. Hell, I’m a member of Women in Computer Science where I actively work to help get women into STEM fields where they’re sorely underrepresented. Honestly, off the internet, I’d probably just say I’m a feminist.
It’s just that there’s so many waves and schools of feminism that “feminist” by itself tends to be a very fuzzy term. Are you sex-positive? Do you support (most) existing porn? Do you think porn IN THEORY is bad? Do you think women (primarily) are actively/subconsciously discriminated against in the workplace by men, or are merely underrepresented in some fields because of their own choices due to social conditioning? Answers to all of these questions and more can radically change whether or not a given person accepts you as a feminist. The reason why, on the internet, I don’t identify as feminist is I’ve had far too many people tell me I’m not really a feminist (or worse, actively misogynist) because I don’t subscribe to their particular school. Starting off from the position of “I’m just a guy with some views on things” tends to at least lead to mutual criticism of viewpoints instead of the conversation derailment about what does/does not constitute “feminism.”
No, I don’t hate men
Aww, you mean you don’t support the femitheist global initiative? I am offended, sir.
But seriously, she’s crazy, and also not representative of feminists in general
If one believes in feminism’s core values doesn’t that make one a feminist?
Before you answer that, consider that unemployment insurance, wage and price controls, public education, etc. were once solely the domain of Marxists.
Yeah; if someone thinks that people in general should be treated equally and well, given equal opportunity & freedoms and so forth, but doesn’t have any special emphasis on women is he/she a feminist or not?
For once, I agree with you Der Trihs. I am a single father raising two young daughters who I love more than anything else in the world and I was raised by a single mother who is the epitome of everything feminists claim they strive for yet she hates them.
I believe in equal rights in almost all ways but the label ‘feminist’ is loaded with so much bullshit that I don’t think any self-respecting person, especially males, should be associated with it unless you are trying to get laid at a hippie festival.
I never bought bought the argument that ‘feminism’ is supposed to about sex equality on both sides. It is a branding issue that should be obvious any 1st year marketing student. Men have legitimate discrimination issues too especially when it comes to divorce and custody battles but there are plenty of others.
If it is really supposed to be about unbiased sex equality, change the name, put up a platform that addresses all forms of sex discrimination and then we will talk. Until then, I am not identifying myself with such a dishonest and schizophrenic movement. This is a left-leaning board so you will get lots of biased responses but this is the one that most normal people would agree with.
That’s funny; that’s almost exactly why I don’t define myself as a feminist!
Not just in the US; there were plenty of Canadian feminists who only wanted women to live the way the feminists thought they should.
That’s it; that’s my belief. I believe everyone should live their lives the way they want to, and have the freedom to do so. I think having a feminist label is too restrictive of my beliefs.
Absolutely. Pass the cowboy boots and the cupcakes.
I wear the banner of “feminist” proudly.
I can remember plenty of times when women would preface a comment with “I’m no feminist, but…” and then go on to argue for some feminist issue.
I would always think to myself, why the hell aren’t you a feminist? Don’t let the goddamn sexist backlash of the last few years make you ashamed of yourself. Stand tall! Feminists changed this world for the better, and the fight is still going on. We need all the feminists we can get.
I’m a 54-year-old graduate of a Seven Sisters school. Naturally, I’m a feminist.
It’s not up to me to tell younger women (whether or not they self-identify as feminists) how to approach the subject, though. Times have changed so much (markedly for the better) since the 1970s when I came of age. Each generation has to find their own way forward.
Well, because anyone that views it that way is a bigot just like any other including the White Power and Black Power movements. Correct me if I am wrong but the new feminism is supposed to be about general equality among the sexes. It is a lie of course. Most people that casually associate themselves with it do believe that but the Women’s Studies departments in colleges across the country do have a divisive agenda that has branched off into theories so strange they can only be compared to semi-religious mythology.
What arguments were your friends making that makes you believe they need to be feminists rather just normal people with rational views and why do you feel the need to force a label on them rather than just view them as people with a certain viewpoint?
Yes. Fem lit M.A. thesis.
It isn’t just about any sexist backlash; it’s about men who don’t like being sneered at for no fault of their own, women who don’t want the men in their lives treated like that, and women who don’t want to be dictated to on how to live their lives even if the person doing the dictating has breasts and calls herself a feminist.
Well I guess that settles it, the men certainly know better than we do what feminism is or isn’t, and they do not care for it. They do not care for it AT ALL.
Hehe. Mea Culpa. I kept wondering why nobody mentioned The Equal Rights Amendment. turns out it never got ratified. :smack:
I back away from my prior stance. In my defense, I pay male and female employees equally, and am not a bad guy overall.