[Ramsay]

I believe everyone to be equal but man it gets on my tits when some feminists go too far

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Ramsay

I believe everyone to be equal but man it gets on my tits when some feminists go too far

Agreed. By those definitions, yes, I completely agree with option A. However, I am very hesitant to call myself a "feminist" because, sadly, that is not what the word means today and that is not the goal of many modern feminism supporters.

I believe in true equality which means I do NOT support "positive discrimintion".

To use an example: the goal of modern feminism in any random workplace seems to be to have a "quota" so that a equal number of men and women are employed. So let's say it's a workplace with 20 positions, currently there are 10 men and 9 women. Equality is not ensuring that a woman fills the vacant post. Equality is choosing the BEST APPLICANT for that post, completely blind to gender. Equality could be a workplace of 20 men, or 20 women, or anything inbetween, so long as those people have been chosen purely on merit and not because of which set of genitals they happen to have.

In short: I fully believe in equality of opportunity for all people, taking gender, race etc. Out of the equation. I do not agree with controlling ratios to prop up some artificial "equality quota" if it means that someone better qualified is passed over.

A lot of modern feminism is about empowering women at the expense of men. That is not any sort of equality. The word is tainted.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Chaos

I kind of feel like there's not much to be bothered about in this country. Women are very very lucky to live here. Anyone is. I feel like feminism is much more needed in other places of the world. Places where women arent even allowed to drive, for example.

It's something I care about and hope to learn about more over the years. I feel like when you're passionate about something, you need to experience it on your own. I've never had something happen to me where I've thought, 'thIS IS WHY WE NEED FEMINISM!!!1'. Maybe I'm just lucky. But I refuse to see that where we live is that awful.

Originally Posted by Chaos

I guess I'm just blinding by the craziness of some feminists that I see. I always thought that feminism as strictly womens right, whereas if what you're all saying is true, then yes, I'd gladly admit that I am feminist.

Personally i think that if you're wanting equality, then you want it on a WW basis, it might be better here in the UK than in other places, like the middle east for example, but that wouldn't stop anyone from being a feminist, just because we have it better.

And re; the why we need feminism/it strictly being women rights, there was a story in the paper a few weeks ago, i saw a woman had attacked a man, (bitten his ear off, or bottled him and he'd lost his eye sight in one eye or something equally bad) anyway, she'd been previously arrested 17 times and had numerous convictions for assault, and this case went to court, despite there being however much evidence the woman was let off with a caution, and i'm pretty sure if that had been a man, he'd have been sentenced to a pretty lengthy stretch in prison. Because men and women aren't viewed as equal, she got away with something horrendous

[Ninastar]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Personally i think that if you're wanting equality, then you want it on a WW basis, it might be better here in the UK than in other places, like the middle east for example, but that wouldn't stop anyone from being a feminist, just because we have it better.

And re; the why we need feminism/it strictly being women rights, there was a story in the paper a few weeks ago, i saw a woman had attacked a man, (bitten his ear off, or bottled him and he'd lost his eye sight in one eye or something equally bad) anyway, she'd been previously arrested 17 times and had numerous convictions for assault, and this case went to court, despite there being however much evidence the woman was let off with a caution, and i'm pretty sure if that had been a man, he'd have been sentenced to a pretty lengthy stretch in prison. Because men and women aren't viewed as equal, she got away with something horrendous

ik, I'm saying that if for any reason I did call myself a feminist, it would be over the way things are in other places, rather than what they are like here. But if feminism really is gender equality, then yeah, I'd say i was

I agree, I totally think she should have been given a long sentence for that. I actually know a woman like that who needs locked away for good. She keeps getting custody of her kids when she is truly awful. So yeah, we see eye to eye on that. I just didn't think modern day 'feminists' believed that. It's nice to see that all the feminsts on here arent bat **** crazy. My cousin is like that. She blames men for everything and I just cringe with everything she says. I dont think she realises that she does more damage than good.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Chaos

ik, I'm saying that if for any reason I did call myself a feminist, it would be over the way things are in other places, rather than what they are like here. But if feminism really is gender equality, then yeah, I'd say i was

I agree, I totally think she should have been given a long sentence for that. I actually know a woman like that who needs locked away for good. She keeps getting custody of her kids when she is truly awful. So yeah, we see eye to eye on that. I just didn't think modern day 'feminists' believed that. It's nice to see that all the feminsts on here arent bat **** crazy. My cousin is like that. She blames men for everything and I just cringe with everything she says. I dont think she realises that she does more damage than good.

Yeah, thats why i put the other definitions in the OP, it's just misandry masquerading as feminism

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Yeah, thats why i put the other definitions in the OP, it's just misandry masquerading as feminism

Sadly though, I think in the "internet generation" the term has been hijacked to the extent that it is now quite toxic and in some situations, almost interchangeable with misandry. In my opinion, the entire concept of seeking equality for the sexes under the banner of either sex is sort of missing the point. Yes, women have historically been more oppressed than men, however, it would also be true to say that there are many modern examples of men "coming off worse" in terms of sexism:

Many young women have the mistaken impression that it is "OK" for a female to hit a male but "shocking" for a male to hit a female. It's not surprising that they have this impression, just look at Hollywood and "romcom" style films... you will frequently see women slapping men across the face being played "for laughs", and the implication is usually that he's done something to "deserve it". So the female star belts him one and walks off looking self-righteous and the male is left there obviously "ashamed" by his terrible actions and "accepting" that he deserved a slap. Now, turn that on it's head and have the male character whack the female across the chops. All of a sudden it becomes a dark tale of abuse, and people would be walking out of the cinema in protest.

Of course the reality is that it's not "OK" for EITHER partner in a relationship to be smacking the other around. Ever.

So, essentially what I'm saying is, regardless of history there are CURRENTLY, in the western world, negative inequalities on both sides that need to be tackled. I'm just not convinced at all that it can be done properly without the terminology being changed to be as it should be if it's to be truly equal: i.e. gender-blind.

I have no problem with people flying the banner of feminism on behalf of areas of the world where women are still genuinely oppressed in the most basic of ways. I just think that what needs to be focused on here at home to find equality is at this point, is actual equality, common ground, rather than an inherent suggestion that it's just women who need protecting / elevating in order to achieve equality.

Not least because there is currently a massive anti-feminist backlash in many areas, and part of that is down to men all too often feeling villainised and therefore becoming defensive. Is it a bit stupid that they do become defensive and lash out? Of course, but unfortunately "stupidity" and "ego" are huge parts of the human condition... so, I don't think it matters that it's stupid. All that matters is moving forward... the term "feminism" feels loaded, and what it's actually come to represent is NOT the definition in the OP. I think the quest for equality is going to be somewhat "stuck in a rut" until the language of equality becomes neutral.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by Ramsay

I believe everyone to be equal but man it gets on my tits when some feminists go too far

This, they cross over into the Misandrist zone and blame men for everything bad that happens to women. It's like firstly, stop blaming ALL men as we are not all the same, secondly some womem are also to blame for things that happen to other women, where is your hate for them?