Feminism

[ACNiko]

I'm a feminist. I have received a lot of crap by saying that. People have been "insulting" me by calling me a girl (like that's an insult ) and assume that I'm gay just because I'm a male feminist. Now let me give you a lesson about what feminism actually is.

There's a myth that feminists are men-hating women that wants to exterminate all the men of the Earth. In fact, if you have these kind of opinions, you can not call yourself a feminist. Feminism is the movement aiming for women's equal social, economic and political rights - the idea of full equality between men and women.

Even if the gender equality is the main aim, it's also a struggle against all kinds of discrimination such as racism and discrimination of LGBTQ persons.

My country Sweden is said to be one of the best countries when it comes to equality, yet there's a lot to do before we can call ourselves a full equal society. Today, women earn approximately $400,000 less than men during a life's career, for the exact same job and working hours. 100 women get raped everyday and only 3 % of all the rapists are sentenced to prison. This is sickening me! How can we live in a world like this? And remember, Sweden is still said to be one of the best countries when it comes to gender equality!

My questions to you: Are you a feminist? How's the equality situation in your country?

 

[oath2order]

Even if the gender equality is the main aim, it's also a struggle against all kinds of discrimination such as racism and discrimination of LGBTQ persons.

At this point, including these two, it's not feminism anymore, it's humanism.

 

[Hana-Nezumi]

***My Opinion***
I'm a feminist, but the radicals have ruined the image of feminism so much that it's pretty much a waste of time to try to get people to understand what feminism actually is. I feel like it was a bit of a misnomer in the first place, the word itself seems to imply favor for the feminine over the masculine, which doesn't exactly fit the bill when your movement is supposed to be about equality. My advice: just say that you believe in equality between men and women, which means the same thing as saying you're a feminist, but won't get you the backlash.

 

[ACNiko]

At this point, including these two, it's not feminism anymore, it's humanism.

Feminism has evolved since the early 20th century when the movement started to grow. Then it was a struggle to get political rights (such as the right to vote) and that the woman is an independent individual that, at this time, was a "possession" of the man. Today, feminism is about all the human rights, but with the main focus on equal rights between men and women. Feminism is humanism.

***My Opinion***
I'm a feminist, but the radicals have ruined the image of feminism so much that it's pretty much a waste of time to try to get people to understand what feminism actually is. I feel like it was a bit of a misnomer in the first place, the word itself seems to imply favor for the feminine over the masculine, which doesn't exactly fit the bill when your movement is supposed to be about equality. My advice: just say that you believe in equality between men and women, which means the same thing as saying you're a feminist, but won't get you the backlash.

As I wrote, the so called radicals are not feminists. Also, I do not agree with you when you say it's a waste of time to get people to understand the meaning of feminism. We need to teach everybody about what it stands for.

 

[Hana-Nezumi]

As I wrote, the so called radicals are not feminists. Also, I do not agree with you when you say it's a waste of time to get people to understand the meaning of feminism. We need to teach everybody about what it stands for.

The radicals aren't feminists, but they call themselves feminists, and that's unfortunately who most people think of when they think of feminists. They've done decades worth of damage to the image of feminism and continue to do so, and that's why I say it's a waste of time to try to repair it, especially when it wasn't a very good word for the movement in the first place. I do think we should teach people the things that feminism stands for. I just don't think we should call it feminism anymore.

 

[radical6]

i like feminism but im kinda uncomfortable identifying with it. the early feminists were very anti black and feminism has failed a lot back then to help poor women and women of color. now feminism is trying its best to help all women, which is cool but i dont really like identifying with it. some women of color prefer to use the term womanist instead. but i dont think ill use that because ehh im not really a woman

that and there are still TERFs. terfs make me very uncomfortable and i cant really imagine being in the same movement with them. TERFs will yell at me for turning my back on women all because i identify as non binary. not to mention they despise trans women and only make things more dangerous for them.

idk. i used to really hate radical feminism because i confused them a lot with TERFs (who happen to mostly be radical feminists) but i find my viewpoints match up with them so. (you know, other than the transphobic ones or the ones that believe male abuse cant happen)

i will admit that feminism has had its problems. some feminists will claim they're saving muslim women because islam oppresses them. some feminists see trans women as men and only push transmisogynistic ideas further. or you know, feminists claiming black men are dangerous and that rap is misogynistic. (while ignoring literally every other genre of music) those feminists piss me off.

i feel like feminism has really changed me though. i was thinking about it for a bit and like, its only been a year since i really got into social justice and its changed me completely. i didnt think about this stuff. i didnt notice casual racism, sexism or transphobia. hell, i didnt even know anything about politics. i didnt care for social justice and i would mock "social justice warriors" all the time. i would use slurs and be offensive to oppressed groups often. and when i think about the things i did a year or two ago, its amazing. and i dont regret changing at all one bit. im happy that i dont spew offensive crap all the time and im happy i know more about the world. i dont regret any of it.

i could go on and on about feminism (i keep editing this post lmao)
i like feminism overall though

 

[mariop476]

As I wrote, the so called radicals are not feminists. Also, I do not agree with you when you say it's a waste of time to get people to understand the meaning of feminism. We need to teach everybody about what it stands for.

I used to be a feminist, but the radicals seem to have become the major speaking power in the group.
Unfortunately, you can't go around saying "They're not a real so-and-so" in order to dissociate yourself with them, as that brings in the No True Scotsman fallacy. It's a shame that the movement has been so tainted, though at the same time, I don't really see any rights that men have and women lack in 1st world countries in the modern world. There's still a fair bit of mistreatment, but that really seems a two way street nowadays.

 

[SockHead]

Feminism is just agreeing that women should be equal to men. There's nothing wrong with that! Although, there are always going to be people who take that way out of context and basically say women > men, which is really too bad that they're getting the spotlight instead of actual feminists. I'm personally a feminist, but it's not something I wear on my chest.

 

[Mary]

Feminism is just agreeing that women should be equal to men. There's nothing wrong with that! Although, there are always going to be people who take that way out of context and basically say women > men, which is really too bad that they're getting the spotlight instead of actual feminists. I'm personally a feminist, but it's not something I wear on my chest.

This. Couldn't have said it better.

Also, one can be a feminist and feminine at the same time. Once someone told me that I wasn't a feminist because " all feminists have short hair and don't wear pink." I don't have to DRESS like a man to be EQUAL to men!

 

[ACNiko]

I used to be a feminist, but the radicals seem to have become the major speaking power in the group.

Feminists want full equality between men and women - nothing else. That's the definition of feminism. To say that you're not a feminist is basically to oppose gender equality. People need to stop associate the word feminism with the "radicals" and stop being afraid to identify themselves as one.

 

[SockHead]

This. Couldn't have said it better.

Also, one can be a feminist and feminine at the same time. Once someone told me that I wasn't a feminist because " all feminists have short hair and don't wear pink." I don't have to DRESS like a man to be EQUAL to men!

Some people are just so ignorant..

 

[Lassy]

Feminism is just agreeing that women should be equal to men. There's nothing wrong with that! Although, there are always going to be people who take that way out of context and basically say women > men, which is really too bad that they're getting the spotlight instead of actual feminists. I'm personally a feminist, but it's not something I wear on my chest.

Exactly. Feminism isn't "women being superior to men", but some extremist just make it sound like that :/

 

[lem]

Yep, definitely consider myself something of a feminist.

The true definition of feminism is equality of the genders by society eliminating the double standards between genders, after all.

 

[ACNiko]

Feminism is just agreeing that women should be equal to men. There's nothing wrong with that! Although, there are always going to be people who take that way out of context and basically say women > men, which is really too bad that they're getting the spotlight instead of actual feminists. I'm personally a feminist, but it's not something I wear on my chest.

The word feminism is indeed something people get bad associations from. Even I used to believe that feminists hated men. Today, I'm proud of saying that I'm a feminist, and I am definitely "wearing it on my chest". That's how people will learn what the word actually means. I mean, I'm a man - why would I call myself a feminist if it meant that I hate all men?

Also, one can be a feminist and feminine at the same time. Once someone told me that I wasn't a feminist because " all feminists have short hair and don't wear pink." I don't have to DRESS like a man to be EQUAL to men!

Of course! Everyone should have the right over themselves; dress however they want, wear make-up if they want, have short or long hair if they want - it's all up to you. Whether you're a girl or a boy.

Yep, definitely consider myself something of a feminist.

The true definition of feminism is equality of the genders by society eliminating the double standards between genders, after all.

Thank you!

 

[mccorgi]

i wholeheartedly consider myself a feminist (or feminist ally since i'm a guy and feminism is by women for women) but the history of feminism has been highly problematic. while the tenets and objectives of contemporary third-wave feminism are good, women of color, disabled women, and trans women are allowed to reject the 'feminist' label because they have been constantly excluded and marginalized within the feminist community.

 

[SockHead]

The word feminism is indeed something people get bad associations from. Even I used to believe that feminists hated men. Today, I'm proud of saying that I'm a feminist, and I am definitely "wearing it on my chest". That's how people will learn what the word actually means. I mean, I'm a man - why would I call myself a feminist if it meant that I hate all men?

Well, I bet there are probably some male weirdos who actually believe men are the bane of existence. (I'm not too far from this opinion myself haha)

 

[radical6]

My country Sweden is said to be one of the best countries when it comes to equality, yet there's a lot to do before we can call ourselves a full equal society. Today, women earn approximately $400,000 less than men during a life's career, for the exact same job and working hours. 100 women get raped everyday and only 3 % of all the rapists are sentenced to prison. This is sickening me! How can we live in a world like this? And remember, Sweden is still said to be one of the best countries when it comes to gender equality!

My questions to you: Are you a feminist? How's the equality situation in your country?

how can be sweden be the best for equality? including what you said about the wage gap and rape, im pretty sure sweden is like one of the racist countries. like i remember seeing a picture of two people dressed up in a costume that made black people look like monkeys. the costume was black face and like..basically it was them in blackface and their costume was black people naked. and it was for some holiday..it disgusted me.

america isnt the best country for equality though but i guess its better than some..by a bit

- - - Post Merge - - -

i wholeheartedly consider myself a feminist (or feminist ally since i'm a guy and feminism is by women for women) but the history of feminism has been highly problematic. while the tenets and objectives of contemporary third-wave feminism are good, women of color, disabled women, and trans women are allowed to reject the 'feminist' label because they have been constantly excluded and marginalized within the feminist community.

yeah. feminism has forgotten these women for years. i do get annoyed when i see some feminists who go "BUT HOW CAN YOU NOT BE A FEMINIST??" like..please dont forget what your movement has done and forgotten to do

 

[ACNiko]

how can be sweden be the best for equality? including what you said about the wage gap and rape, im pretty sure sweden is like one of the racist countries. like i remember seeing a picture of two people dressed up in a costume that made black people look like monkeys. the costume was naked and it was for some holiday..it disgusted me.

Not sure about what you're talking about with the monkey costumes. But yes, many people are racists in Sweden. We have a racist party in the parliament that are expected to get 8-10 % of the votes in the next election this September. However, the anti-racists are far more. I don't have a source, but there are statistics that says that Sweden is one of the best countries, which just describes how terrible the situation is for the entire world. It's also a proof of that feminism is well needed.

 

[radical6]

Not sure about what you're talking about with the monkey costumes. But yes, many people are racists in Sweden. We have a racist party in the parliament that are expected to get 8-10 % of the votes in the next election this September. However, the anti-racists are far more. I don't have a source, but there are statistics that says that Sweden is one of the best countries, which just describes how terrible the situation is for the entire world. It's also a proof of that feminism is well needed.

hmmm..basically it was white people, wearing black face, in a costume that made black people look like uncivilized monkeys. i dont have the picture but it was really dehumanizing. not to mention they were walking around like that in public. and thats pretty gross that theres actually a party in your country that could get that percent of the votes..so like if your country is the best with this kind of stuff going on then thats pretty sad

i remember there are other more racist holidays in europe. forgot which country it belonged to, but in december they celebrate some holiday with elves and black people are the elves or something? and the elves look really silly and like..wow its sad to see this.

but you know i hope feminism strives to be intersectional. i hope we just dont focus on the white, middle class, cis, able bodied/neurotypical women like the 2nd wave did. its difficult to achieve equality for everyone when you only focus on lifting one class up. you can't fix one type of womens problems and expect all women to have the same benefit.

 

[mccorgi]

but you know i hope feminism strives to be intersectional. i hope we just dont focus on the white, middle class, cis, able bodied/neurotypical women like the 2nd wave did.

intersectional feminism is soooooo necessary like. any other kind of feminism can go slam dunk itself in the trash