It's not radical feminism that gave feminism a bad name, but media propaganda who chose to represent radical feminism as feminism. The media intentionally gives feminism a bad name. And people don't want to associate with bad names.
The core value of feminism is of course gender equality. And if you believe in gender equality but you don't wish to identify with the word then it's due to misinformation or misinterpretation. Feminism is incredibly complex and contradictory which I believe is what causes people to reject it. There will always be something within feminism that you firmly disagree with.
The question is not are you a feminist, but what kind of feminist beliefs do you hold.
For instance one side of feminism believes that women who flaunt their bodies to the male gaze are reinforcing female objectification. Then there is another feminist argument which completely contradicts this, which is that women should be free to express their sexuality without feeling shame, and even to sell themselves should be a right that does not compromise other peoples respect for them.
Feminism is not just a movement. In fact, it began as a study. This study is the reason that the word feminism is gendered. It started out as a study of femininity because they understood that femininity was a constructed gender. It other words, they studied how feminine behaviour is learned through growing up in a world that treats girls differently to boys. But of course, as this study progressed they realised femininity is not the only learned gender but masculity is too. And so it became part of the exact same study.
Feminism is as much for men as it is for women. In fact, I would go as far to say that when it comes to parenthood, it is fathers who are oppressed. It is in men's interest to be feminist if they are ever to fight against the pre-conception that mothers are more nurturing by nature. If they wish to be able to change their own babies nappy in a restroom like mothers can, then it is actually in mens interest to study feminism so that they can coherently bring up these issues of gender inequality.
The problem with many feminists - often the loudest ones - is they think the fact that they call themselves feminist put them above others. These feminists abuse the name and often say things are feminist or "against feminism" when in fact feminism is not an argument, it's a conversation. One in which we all have different views. One of my favourite talks on feminism is this one by a 15 year old entrepreneur.
The core value of feminism is of course gender equality. And if you believe in gender equality but you don't wish to identify with the word then it's due to misinformation or misinterpretation. Feminism is incredibly complex and contradictory which I believe is what causes people to reject it. There will always be something within feminism that you firmly disagree with.
Feminism is as much for men as it is for women. In fact, I would go as far to say that when it comes to parenthood, it is fathers who are oppressed. It is in men's interest to be feminist if they are ever to fight against the pre-conception that mothers are more nurturing by nature. If they wish to be able to change their own babies nappy in a restroom like mothers can, then it is actually in mens interest to study feminism so that they can coherently bring up these issues of gender inequality.
I don't want to hang around and support a dead-end movement.
If feminism has truly become tainted, I'm off that boat, and onto a boat that isn't going to sink.
I don't think it's a dead-end movement at all. Just because some people involved are bad, doesn't mean all people involved are bad. Same goes for anything else. I think it can be rectified.
As long as some feminists keep being so "radical", I think there will be a problem.
This might seem pessimistic, but I don't think good people are noticed as much as loud people are.
It's harder for good people to make a movement look good, than it is for bad people to make a movement look bad, isn't it?
Hmm, not necessarily. A lot of people are learning to distinguish the two and decide what side they are on, myself included. A lot of "controversial" movements ended up being mostly successful. The American Revolution, Civil Rights, etc...
Yay! I like being inclusive. I've got a lot of weirdo friends, and there's no way I'd want them discriminated against. I think everyone deserves some love, especially the Hitlers of the world. =p
You said "Hmm, not necessarily. A lot of people are learning to distinguish the two and decide what side they are on, myself included. A lot of "controversial" movements ended up being mostly successful. The American Revolution, Civil Rights, etc..."
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So you think people will fully separate SJWs from feminism, and continue to support feminism?
Why not just start fresh, and not worry about that at all? Is there a reason to use the word "feminism"? A lot of people refuse to join just because of the word itself. They say a word like "feminism" is inherently sexist, because of the "fem" part.
Personally, I don't think it's sexist, but I can see why people would think that. I think that is one of the reasons intersectional feminism was born-- to be non-exclusive. :)
Leftists REALLY need to get a life and stop looking so hard for things to be angry about...haven't you people divided our society enough w/your bullshit?
It's not radical feminism that gave feminism a bad name, but media propaganda who chose to represent radical feminism as feminism. The media intentionally gives feminism a bad name. And people don't want to associate with bad names.
The core value of feminism is of course gender equality. And if you believe in gender equality but you don't wish to identify with the word then it's due to misinformation or misinterpretation. Feminism is incredibly complex and contradictory which I believe is what causes people to reject it. There will always be something within feminism that you firmly disagree with.
The question is not are you a feminist, but what kind of feminist beliefs do you hold.
For instance one side of feminism believes that women who flaunt their bodies to the male gaze are reinforcing female objectification. Then there is another feminist argument which completely contradicts this, which is that women should be free to express their sexuality without feeling shame, and even to sell themselves should be a right that does not compromise other peoples respect for them.
Feminism is not just a movement. In fact, it began as a study. This study is the reason that the word feminism is gendered. It started out as a study of femininity because they understood that femininity was a constructed gender. It other words, they studied how feminine behaviour is learned through growing up in a world that treats girls differently to boys. But of course, as this study progressed they realised femininity is not the only learned gender but masculity is too. And so it became part of the exact same study.
Feminism is as much for men as it is for women. In fact, I would go as far to say that when it comes to parenthood, it is fathers who are oppressed. It is in men's interest to be feminist if they are ever to fight against the pre-conception that mothers are more nurturing by nature. If they wish to be able to change their own babies nappy in a restroom like mothers can, then it is actually in mens interest to study feminism so that they can coherently bring up these issues of gender inequality.
The problem with many feminists - often the loudest ones - is they think the fact that they call themselves feminist put them above others. These feminists abuse the name and often say things are feminist or "against feminism" when in fact feminism is not an argument, it's a conversation. One in which we all have different views. One of my favourite talks on feminism is this one by a 15 year old entrepreneur.
Couldn't have said it better myself! Thank you!
Can this be fixed?
I don't want to hang around and support a dead-end movement.
If feminism has truly become tainted, I'm off that boat, and onto a boat that isn't going to sink.
"Feminism" is extremely tainted but I don't think it's outlived its usefulness just yet.
I don't think it's a dead-end movement at all. Just because some people involved are bad, doesn't mean all people involved are bad. Same goes for anything else. I think it can be rectified.
How so?
As long as some feminists keep being so "radical", I think there will be a problem.
This might seem pessimistic, but I don't think good people are noticed as much as loud people are.
It's harder for good people to make a movement look good, than it is for bad people to make a movement look bad, isn't it?
Hmm, not necessarily. A lot of people are learning to distinguish the two and decide what side they are on, myself included. A lot of "controversial" movements ended up being mostly successful. The American Revolution, Civil Rights, etc...
Yay! I like being inclusive. I've got a lot of weirdo friends, and there's no way I'd want them discriminated against. I think everyone deserves some love, especially the Hitlers of the world. =p
You said "Hmm, not necessarily. A lot of people are learning to distinguish the two and decide what side they are on, myself included. A lot of "controversial" movements ended up being mostly successful. The American Revolution, Civil Rights, etc..."
__
So you think people will fully separate SJWs from feminism, and continue to support feminism?
Why not just start fresh, and not worry about that at all? Is there a reason to use the word "feminism"? A lot of people refuse to join just because of the word itself. They say a word like "feminism" is inherently sexist, because of the "fem" part.
Certainly think it's possible!
Personally, I don't think it's sexist, but I can see why people would think that. I think that is one of the reasons intersectional feminism was born-- to be non-exclusive. :)
Leftists REALLY need to get a life and stop looking so hard for things to be angry about...haven't you people divided our society enough w/your bullshit?