The term feminism does essentialize the advocating for the equal rights of women (this is good actually), but it is also important to note that while this is a feminist community, this community is not about feminism. This community is about men and their specific liberation from oppressive gender roles and stereotypes.
The reason I’m not a feminist is because while feminism says it advocates for equal rights for women, in actuality it’s advocating for more power for women.
When women are unfairly discriminated against (which is most of the time), fighting for more power for women is equivalent in outcome to fighting for equal rights. But in those situations where men get the short end of the stick, feminism is supremely unconcerned.
Feminism is not concerned with equality. It is concerned with better outcomes for women. It’s a subtle but important difference. And it means it’s an ideology that as a man I can mostly support but cannot subscribe to. Feminism does not care that the vast majority of workplace deaths are men. Feminism does not care that boys are failing school at unprecedented rates. It’s not their issue, and that’s fine, but don’t pretend feminism is for everyone. BLM is sympathetic to Indian rights movements but it is not their issue. LGBT+ groups are sympathetic to unions but it is not their issue.
My struggles as a man are not feminism’s issue. And that’s fine. But we shouldn’t pretend otherwise. We need our own group, separate from feminism.
Feminism does not care that the vast majority of workplace deaths are men. Feminism does not care that boys are failing school at unprecedented rates.
…
My struggles as a man are not feminism’s issue.
I think you’d be surprised. The vast majority of those who actually cover these topics are feminists, doing academic feminism.
Academic feminism, much like any other “-ism”, has little connection to real life and what everyday adherents of the “-ism” believe or do.
I don’t factor academic feminism into my thinking at all, because it’s so far removed from today’s reality on the ground. Feminism is what the majority of feminists make it.
The majority of feminists are at least drawing from feminist works (even if the knowledge comes secondhand). When progress is made, it is made at the academic level.
I disagree. I think progress is largely made at the ballot box and on the airwaves. Academic feminists are not scientists in a lab discovering new things. They’re also not leaders of the movement. They’re just academics. Over time, some academic points do filter to the broader movement but it’s a trickle compared to the action of everyday feminists.
The term feminism does essentialize the advocating for the equal rights of women (this is good actually), but it is also important to note that while this is a feminist community, this community is not about feminism. This community is about men and their specific liberation from oppressive gender roles and stereotypes.
The reason I’m not a feminist is because while feminism says it advocates for equal rights for women, in actuality it’s advocating for more power for women.
When women are unfairly discriminated against (which is most of the time), fighting for more power for women is equivalent in outcome to fighting for equal rights. But in those situations where men get the short end of the stick, feminism is supremely unconcerned.
Feminism is not concerned with equality. It is concerned with better outcomes for women. It’s a subtle but important difference. And it means it’s an ideology that as a man I can mostly support but cannot subscribe to. Feminism does not care that the vast majority of workplace deaths are men. Feminism does not care that boys are failing school at unprecedented rates. It’s not their issue, and that’s fine, but don’t pretend feminism is for everyone. BLM is sympathetic to Indian rights movements but it is not their issue. LGBT+ groups are sympathetic to unions but it is not their issue.
My struggles as a man are not feminism’s issue. And that’s fine. But we shouldn’t pretend otherwise. We need our own group, separate from feminism.
I think you’d be surprised. The vast majority of those who actually cover these topics are feminists, doing academic feminism.
Academic feminism, much like any other “-ism”, has little connection to real life and what everyday adherents of the “-ism” believe or do.
I don’t factor academic feminism into my thinking at all, because it’s so far removed from today’s reality on the ground. Feminism is what the majority of feminists make it.
The majority of feminists are at least drawing from feminist works (even if the knowledge comes secondhand). When progress is made, it is made at the academic level.
I disagree. I think progress is largely made at the ballot box and on the airwaves. Academic feminists are not scientists in a lab discovering new things. They’re also not leaders of the movement. They’re just academics. Over time, some academic points do filter to the broader movement but it’s a trickle compared to the action of everyday feminists.