What is with the backlash against feminism?

[Old Hippy]

Do you also object to soup nazi, grammar nazi, etc?

only grammer nazis

I am actually very pro free speech, I just agree with the don't be a jerk rule, as do you too apparently as we both post regularly on this site and seem to enjoy it... despite its obviouslly anti free speech agenda.

 

[caketastydelish]

Do you mean that there's a reasonable side opposing feminism? Because I have yet to hear it.

Depending on how you define 'feminism' I could tell you why many people would oppose it. Personally I do not, because I understand the word is a broad term with open-interpretation.

But many people that identify as a feminist such as this woman literally believe that women are superior writers to men because women have are biologically able to have children, thus dream about children, thus are better writers.

Man-hating feminism definitely exist, although I also know there's far more reasonable feminism.

Some of the people that say they hate feminism are mainly talking about man-hating feminism, others are simply anti-woman.

 

[Borachio]

I object to fashionista fascists telling me I shouldn't wear socks and sandals. Are they the Sock Nazis?

Just to be subversive, I frequently wear wellington boots without socks. But no one ever seems to notice.

 

[Traitorfish]

What I don't understand, with feminism, is why it's acceptable to bring up the weirdo fringe-groups first, and only then acknowledge that not some feminists are not weirdo fringers, as if the latter group are the exception rather than the overwhelming majority. People don't tend to do that with any other mainstream political tradition, like liberalism or nationalism, and if they do, they're very quickly called on it. But in this case, nary a peep is heard on the matter.

(I mean, I do understand. I'm not stupid. But rhetorical convention demands that I play dumb.)

 

[Cutlass]

What I don't understand, with feminism, is why it's acceptable to bring up the weirdo fringe-groups first, and only then acknowledge that not some feminists are not weirdo fringers, as if the latter group are the exception rather than the overwhelming majority. People don't tend to do that with any other mainstream political tradition, like liberalism or nationalism, and if they do, they're very quickly called on it. But in this case, nary a peep is heard on the matter.

(I mean, I do understand. I'm not stupid. But rhetorical convention demands that I play dumb.)

If you get it, call them on it.

 

[Light Cleric]

What I don't understand, with feminism, is why it's acceptable to bring up the weirdo fringe-groups first, and only then acknowledge that not some feminists are not weirdo fringers, as if the latter group are the exception rather than the overwhelming majority. People don't tend to do that with any other mainstream political tradition, like liberalism or nationalism, and if they do, they're very quickly called on it. But in this case, nary a peep is heard on the matter.

(I mean, I do understand. I'm not stupid. But rhetorical convention demands that I play dumb.)

But...it does. Maybe not here with liberalism, especially since so many people sympathize with it and I've learned long ago not to expect groups to do any kind of introspection, but yeah. It certainly happens in America with both conservatism and liberalism such that "liberal" is a "dirty" word in that a lot of politicians try really, really hard to avoid the label because they're afraid of the consequences. I don't really see the need to point it out they're a fringe group they're already because I already know it.

Also, the "fringe" people are often the loudest and do everything they can to drive the discussion and stop things they don't like. Look at some threads here where the radicals/extremists demand that people stop talking because they don't like the way the pages of discussion have gone(don't think I'm supposed to give quotes). Should we just ignore them where we can? It's more difficult in real life where they can drive the discourse on a larger scale(in general, not just this particular issue).

I'm also working on a much longer response to one of your earlier posts because I feel it deserves one but it's still a WIP.

 

[Traitorfish]

What is an "extremist", anyway?

Never really seen that defined.

 

[Light Cleric]

What is an "extremist", anyway?

Never really seen that defined.

In this case or in general?

I guess in both senses, people who want their way and they're right. End of discussion. There are no objections from anyone, man or woman. This is a decent example. The statue of the sailor kissing a woman after coming home from WW2 needs to come down because it depicts sexual assault. Never mind that the woman depicted in it thinks there was nothing wrong with it at all. Who cares, god dammit, this iconic statue is coming down because we want it to. The opinion of the woman that it's depicting doesn't matter because.

I've dealt with the same garbage here before. If my opinions don't conform with those informed by self-described "radicals", then they just weren't informed by women. It couldn't possibly be that women are not monolithic and that they have differing opinions and views...or that maybe "radical"(again, not my words) opinions are not widely held???

 

[Traitorfish]

Clear as muck, I'm afraid.

All of us have lines that we will not cross. Things we are absolutely and unconditionally opposed to. Slavery, for example: most people would say that slavery is simply and flatly wrong, that there is no discussion to be had, that they are under no obligation to respect opinions to the contrary. They want their way, they're right, end of discussion. Are they, then, extremists? And if they are, what use is the term?

 

[Light Cleric]

No problem, thanks for ignoring my requests for clarification.

 

[Traitorfish]

I expanded on my original response in an edit.

 

[classical_hero]

I just don't see many feminists protesting about the recent death of Reyhaneh Jabbari, who died because she dared to defend herself during an attempted rape and killed the man responsible, nor of the thousands of women imprisoned n Muslim countries for "moral crimes". But they protest a lot about thing here and have slut marches.

 

[Traitorfish]

Like anyone believes you give a damn about Muslim women. The herrings may be red, but, ah!, their lustre has long faded.

 

[Old Hippy]

I just don't see many feminists protesting about the recent death of Reyhaneh Jabbari, who died because she dared to defend herself during an attempted rape and killed the man responsible, nor of the thousands of women imprisoned n Muslim countries for "moral crimes". But they protest a lot about thing here and have slut marches.

so is the problem in muslim countries or here for not having stricter laws, I'm confussed as to your stance on the matter...

 

[Hygro]

I just don't see many feminists protesting about the recent death of Reyhaneh Jabbari, who died because she dared to defend herself during an attempted rape and killed the man responsible, nor of the thousands of women imprisoned n Muslim countries for "moral crimes".

I do. Perhaps you aren't hanging around enough feminists?

 

[jackelgull]

I'm going to try and steer the topic away from this avenue of discussion because my sensors are telling me that this is about to wander into a toxic territory.

I think a reason why feminism is losing steam in the west is because it seems all the major battles have been won. Now if there is systematic oppression it is subtlety hidden and discrimination based on gender is mostly practiced on an individual basis and can be prosecuted. As such people are feeling resentful of the existence of the feminist movement because it seems they are making a big deal out of minor things.

 

[JollyRoger]

I just don't see

One line was enough for your post to make the point.

 

[metatron]

I can faux quote therefore i'm witty.

5char

 

[JollyRoger]

I can count to 5

 

[Zack]

I think a reason why feminism is losing steam in the west is because it seems all the major battles have been won. Now if there is systematic oppression it is subtlety hidden and discrimination based on gender is mostly practiced on an individual basis and can be prosecuted. As such people are feeling resentful of the existence of the feminist movement because it seems they are making a big deal out of minor things.

There's also an element of "I do not experience it, therefore it does not exist."