Females don't have to be the only feminists
What comes to mind when you hear someone called a “feminist?” When some people hear the term “feminist,” they might imagine a man-hating woman who never shaves her legs and is in a perpetually bad mood. Others, like me, identify with the term because it doesn’t intimidate them.
While this is a strong statement, I certainly believe many women who do not call themselves feminists are afraid of the social stigma that comes attached.
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The first lesson to learn is that a feminist is someone who supports the equality of women, politically and economically. Many say American society has already reached this point, which is laughable.
Consider the fact that the United States has never had a female president and there are nearly five times as many men in Congress than women. This has much to do with the social stigma that women are not as logical or level-headed as men and therefore should not be trusted with such a duty.
This is not to say people consciously choose men over women due to outright sexism. Instead, it’s the subtleties in gender differences encouraging people to think of men as strong and logical, and women as overly emotional and sensitive.
Also, when girls are growing up, they are more likely to be given baby dolls and party outfits, while boys are likely to have building blocks or toy trucks. Parents also speak to female and male children differently, often cooing over girls when they skin their knees, but encouraging boys to “toughen up.”
The unfair expectations are girls should not be given ‘difficult’ tasks that would – gasp – make them do manual labor. Girls are often given dish duty, while boys are expected to mow the lawn. Similarly, boys are encouraged to hide their emotions because only ‘weak’ people cry or express how they feel.
I strongly identify as a feminist, and I do not see women as superior to men in any way. While I can see while the term itself suggests superiority, the actual definition does not mean this. Instead of arguing the nuances of the name of the term, however, I want to express how important feminism truly is.
The development of feminism as an accepted mindset would benefit men too. Societal expectations of men always paying for meals and other expenses for girlfriends or wives would disappear. Women wouldn’t necessarily get custody of children during a divorce or separation based solely on their gender.
Instead of viewing it as an attempt to give women benefits men do not have, people should realize women are still getting paid less on average than men – despite the fact that more women are graduating with bachelor’s degrees, 28 percent of men aged 25-29 versus 36 percent of women of the same age, according to the 2010 U.S. Educational Attainment Census report.
In 2009, women were only paid 78 cents per dollar that men made according to the liberal-leaning think tank — The Center for American Progress. Although statistics often have other factors that should be considered, including how many women are working with bachelor’s degrees, the fact that more women are graduating with degrees than men makes this fact even more puzzling.
You do not have to be female to be a feminist. All you need is the belief that men and women should be considered equal. Rather than arguing the term and thinking that feminism calls on men to become inferior, realize that men currently have the upper hand in society.
I suppose not much has changed since the times that only rich, white men were allowed to own land. Women, take it upon yourselves to demand respect and prove that you are just as intelligent and capable as the other sex. Men, realize that women can accomplish just as much as men, and disparity in physical size does not equate to superiority or inferiority.
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by Roger
Seems you’ve been manipulated by feminist propaganda.
“The Gender Pay Gap is a Complete Myth”
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-28246928/the-gender-pay-gap-is-a-complete-myth/
Flag for moderationby David
What would be truly liberating is the idea that women don’t need to be feminists. The old “equality” shibboleth has been worn out and lost its relevance for some time. Where has the writer ever seen anyone claim in the last 20 years that men are superior to women? The feminist rant is mere propaganda and now used to leverage the latest leftist complaint.
Moreover, it would be refreshing for the writer to bring some balance to her historical assessment and acknowledge that the results of the women’s liberation movement have not been all positive for women. Sexual “liberation” has brought a STD epidemic to our country that is rarely acknowledged in our leftist media. 1 in 4 college students have STD, and as these students’ lives progress, the rate is expected to be 50% of adults contracting STD. These diseases have devastating effects on women. The writer would be well served to address these and other adverse social consequences of the movement over the last 40 years, rather than writing an essay spouting the same rants that could have been written by her mother or grandmother over a generation ago.
Flag for moderationby xx
Just because no one claims that men are superior to women(which is also an untrue statement, but just for argument’s sake) doesn’t mean that equality is here.
People don’t outwardly admit that Caucasians are superior to other races, but I guarantee that any minority would recount experiences of recism throughout their lifetime.
It’s easy for the males to say that females don’t experience any unfair treatment in daily life due to their gender – just like it’s easy for Caucasians to say racism doesn’t exist.
Instead of ignoring these issues and claiming they are solved, realize that just because the government has recognized these issues and created legislation in response doesn’t mean that the general public is free from prejudice based on gender, race, sexuality and other differences.
Flag for moderationby xx
*racism, not recism
Flag for moderationby David
xx:
What type of “equality” offered by feminism are you referring to? Epidemic STDs caused by the sexual “liberation” espoused by feminists? Unprecedented numbers of impoverished single mothers living with the consequences of this liberation? Unprecedented numbers of minority mothers locked into poverty and dependency on the government? Unprecedented numbers of women abandoned by men through no-fault divorce? Increasing numbers of young men who feel no responsibility for fathering children, at least in part due to the sexual “liberation” urged by feminists? 53 million abortions since 1973? Fewer relative numbers of younger people in the work force (due in part to abortions), thus leading to a social security crisis?
Need I go on? To use your phrase, “just because” our leftist media never mentions these disasters, it doesn’t mean that they don’t exist and that feminism hasn’t played a major role in causing these social disasters. BTW, I’ve lived quite a few years, met numerous avowed feminists or women who have been shaped by this absurd ideology, and not a one was happy.
Flag for moderationby xx
You say your argument as if you believe that feminism is to blame for epidemic STDs. Last time I checked, homosexual sex is also a possibility – and can spread diseases – not to mention the fact that heterosexual sex involves a man as well. How can it be only the fault of woman that STDs are spreading? Why isn’t it the fault of uninformed abstinence programs not educating teenagers about ways to protect themselves, and instead urging them to remain abstinent (a request that is unrealistic and not likely to happen). And you say feminism is to blame for impoverished single mothers? Then I suppose anti-feminists would be to blame for women who were stuck in loveless marriages fifty years ago. Minorities are locked into poverty because of people like you, who think that prejudice (whether due to sex or race) is no longer a problem. People like you are what blocks affirmative action and makes it impossible for minorities to rise up on the economic ladder. Divorce should be an option, and does not solely exist due to feminism. There need be little reason for divorce other than one person not wanting the marriage anymore. Sexual liberation is a liberal idea, not just a feminist idea, and certainly feminism does not urge men to abandon their child’s mothers – rather, it asks that men RESPECT women. Not abandon them. Abortions, I won’t even touch – that again, is not feminism, but liberal ideology that women are in charge of their own bodies (a ludicrous idea to people like you, who I’m sure would love for women to answer to their men for eternity). There are fewer young people in the work force because of the amount of education required for most jobs, as well as an overpopulation problem and a recession in the economy.
No, don’t go on, because you’re blaming completely unrelated problems on the idea of feminism, which simply asks people to consider males and females equally. I find it pretty laughable that you think young people being unemployed has anything WHATSOEVER to do with feminism. Also, I can tell you’ve live quite a few years because of your hackneyed, ridiculous ideals – and I could really care less who you know. If I knew you personally and talked to you at length in person, I wouldn’t be happy either.
Flag for moderationby xx
Also, personal happiness has little to do with how correct an ideology was. I’m sure that slaves that were caught after escaping a plantation because they believed they deserved to be free were “happy” after their beatings – but it’s their perseverance and refusal to give up which freed them. Besides, I find it fairly disturbing that you think you can assess whether or not someone is happy generally. It’s not about happiness, it’s about equality – and I guarantee women would be happier once this ideology stops being ridiculed.
Flag for moderationby xx
*were not happy after
Flag for moderationby Sigmun
David you’re an idiot. My only hope is that you’re trolling for comments, but I seriously doubt that. You actually believe the non-sense you’re spewing. Implying that women’s lib has been the source of increased STD’s? I’m sure in the sixties, during the whole free love movement and during the key party, swinging hey day of the 70’s it was only women eager for sex right. You may have meant well, but that sentiment is the typical intimidated male talk “If these women knew their place, the world would be better off.” But I guess your logic makes sense because if blacks were still slaves unemployment would be down.
Flag for moderationAnd then to say there are no current examples of sexism? Are you actually that stupid or just stubborn to a fault? Look at corporations and countries. The majority of them are ran by males. That’s why Benazir Bhutto’s election was a big deal and why women being elected will for the foreseeable future be the topic of conversation, it’s because women are treated as second class citizens. But not in your world right. I’m sure in your world there are fewer women leaders than men because women are less qualified right. Not societal stigmas attached at all right?