Quote:
Originally Posted by Vicky.
Its not really an idea men have to shoot down womens issues I don't think. Like, its not something thats done intentionally. But it IS true (from my experience and probably a lot of other peoples too) that discussing anything to do with women brings out a lot of 'what about men' where (again in my experience, not suggesting it does not ever happen) talking about something to support men does not bring out a bunch of 'what about women'. Also (yet again from experience) it doesn't tend to be men saying 'what about the men' it seems to be women much more often!
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The reason it brings out a lot of "what about men" is a backlash against the fact that it is very difficult to discuss men's mental health or the fact that there are many men who feel powerless or oppressed without it being shot down as some sort of massive joke. Have you genuinely not heard the term "male tears"? Or seen people keen to ignore any and all current issues facing men because men "had it better" for a long time?
What about the term "toxic masculinity" and the gender-biased blame game? That is to say, that women's issues are blamed on misandry and patriarchy, while men's issues are blamed on toxic masculinity, or in other words, the cause of women's problems is men and the cause of men's problems is... also men. It's bull****.
But this is entirely my point; ALL of these phrases and all of this rhetoric is designed to promote division and tribalism and to compartmentalise issues that can only be addressed in tandem, because otherwise, it's just endless backlash back and forth and "hilarious" battleground comment threads that do nothing for anyone other than erode compassion and generate yet more backlash.
Which is why - as I say every time these things come up - modern feminism needs to dissolve and give way to a full, proper, genuine campaign for equality based on inclusion.
Currently, it might be good for a rant and a but of brief false empowerment, but in the long run it is going to be nothing but harmful for actual equality, and anyone who actually seeks equality.