What sort of feminism and what sort of feminist?
The feminism that seeks and fights for true equality I respect, agree with and advance it's cause whenever and wherever I can, like any half way decent person. Not just equality of pay and opportunity, but equality of respect, expectations, duty and honor. That is just basic human courtesy.
The more extreme forms of feminism, to my eyes, seek dominance, rather than equality. The ones who attempt to make "Men" one homogenous mass who are all exactly the same set of Neanderthal impulses who think entirely with their sex organs and muscles. The same technique used effectively throughout history of demonising a particular section of society, including women.
As for feminists, about 99% of the ones I know, which is 99% of the women I know, just want a fair damned shake. Equal pay for equal work, respect for their skills, abilities and intelligence, and an acknowlegment that they should not be penalised because they possess a uterus that sometimes gets used for it's intended biological purpose. Who can argue with that? Not me. They want for themselves what I want for me and mine - respect based on their abilities, not their gender. They fight for it. They slowly make up ground - too slowly, in my opinion, but a society is glacially slow to change and yet stay stable.
The other 1% - well, they are a bit rough to attempt to get along with. Yes, there are women who label themselves feminist who are overly radical lesbians, who attack not just sexism but genderism. The womyn who try to erase the word man from existance. No, that was not a spelling mistake. It happens.
There are many more who, to attempt to get ahead and get respected, pretty much kill any traces of femininity they possess. That is, to me, a pity. There is too little beauty in the world as it is to deliberately kill a bit more.
I look forward to the day when feminists, like activists against racism, no longer exist because they are no longer needed. Probably not going to see it in my lifetime, but maybe, if all people of honest good will work towards it.
Sorry - didn't mean to write an essay here!
Remember, Oscars liveblogging on the 27th. And please - don't ask anything like this there! We can only type so fast!
Good essay!!
There are plenty of annoying, pretentious feminists who aren't lesbians. (Just ask anyone who went to Sarah Lawrence.) One doesn't really have anything to do with the other. Tons of straight people are preachy and self-righteous. Sexual preference has zero to do with whether or not you're an a-hole.
I think we all get a little peeved at the HARDCORE feminists. (And like Nick and MM were saying, doesn't have anything to do with sexual orientation). And (I hope I don't get yelled at for saying this), but I feel like the ones who try to make everything a thing about a man being sexist, are the ones who take us further back. We're different. And I feel like we should embrace that for the creatures that we are.
I consider myself a feminist, but I can't tell anyone that because, well... they'll think I'm gay and hate men. So I'm a (secret) feminist.
There is a difference between feminists and female chauvinists. Sexism is the act of seeing the world through a gendered lens, defining people based on their sex and not as individuals. Recognizing the very real inequalities in the world is the responsibility of every person, and is recognizing every person as a person. Seeing someone as "man" or "woman", whether you see it as negative or not, is sexist.
We all do it, of course, because we've all grown up in a sexist society. But you don't have to make it your philosophy.
PS- Lesbians are great, especially the radical ones.
PPS- I don't like girly stuff either (it's not a political statement, it's just my personal taste)
PPPS- Actually, MM, "existance" IS a spelling mistake. But yes, those do happen.
99% of the one's I know are assholes.
99% of the people I know who want equality don't call themselves feminists. At this point in time they're PEOPLE. Feminism was a movement. I don't believe it's a sect of beliefs anymore. EVERYONE gets and equal cut. When you label a group to get the attention you want for a purpose where there's not a HUGE problem (like it was about 20-30 years ago), unless the huge issue is happening right then, it's just kind of douchey.
I agree and disagree mystery man, but it's probably just my luck I meet people who are sassholes in general. Men and women alike.
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