Another question about Feminism...?

Question

I love men. I love being a girly-girl. I consider myself a Feminist because I support equal treatment of women. We have a right to be feminine, sexy AND still be taken seriously. I think we should recieve equal pay for equal work, and I think violence against women needs to be handled better ( amongst many, many other things). I'm independent. My monther was a single parent because dad walked out on her, so she had to be the bread winner. Why do people only see the "radical" side of feminism? Are these bad things??? I don't get people...

Answer 1

What you say is absolutely correct and not radical at all. It is just an extension of being a WOMAN living in this time period.

Feminism is a changing term for a changing world since the social atmosphere (and political) is always changing for women. "Feminism" in the 1800s was simply having in the public sphere and not condemned to a life in the private sphere (which was the home only). Some of the "radical" feminist at the time wanted higher education and fought for it and devoted their lives to it. In those days you had to give up the option of having a family in order to devote your life to your "cause." Then in the early 1900s it was about gaining the right to vote and being politically active. Again, they had to give up their "life" for this cause. By the time the 1960s and 1970s rolled around the issues were more social and political. Can a woman have a job? Can a woman have a college education? The right to an abortion, the right to have equal pay in the workplace. While we were given these rights "on paper" society had not caught up with this way of thinking. That is what they did...made it SOCIALLY acceptable.

I think the word "feminism" in and of itself scares the crap out of some people and they immediately put up their guard...like you have an agenda and it will always be an "issue" for you. And if a woman says she is independent...that also scares people. Having your own mind and your own opinions is one thing...but the term "independent" seems isolating...like you need no one. It is good to be resourceful, to have a Plan B and have the power (both intellectually and financially) to survive on your own but where do you cross the line of not needing anyone at all? We live (to date) in one of the "easiest" times being women. We have all kinds of opportunities...in the social world, in the political world, in the home. I think our biggest challenge now is how to integrate all these opportunities that our predecessors fought for our right to have. Do I want to stay at home and raise my children? Do I want to get an education and work AND have children? Do I even WANT to have children? Not so long ago none of these questions could be even pondered!! Society dictated them to be one choice and only one choice.

I think you are just fine in your beliefs! And if people think you are radical...they have no idea of what radical really means!! : )

Answer 2

I love men. Me too
I love being a girly-girl. Me too
I consider myself a Feminist because I support equal treatment of women. Me too
We have a right to be feminine, sexy AND still be taken seriously. ABSOLUTELY!
I think we should recieve equal pay for equal work, YES!
... and I think violence against women needs to be handled better ( amongst many, many other things). COMPLETELY 100% ON YOUR SIDE!!!
Why do people only see the "radical" side of feminism? FEAR
Are these bad things??? NO
I don't get people... Me neither

Answer 3

There are two types of feminism. The political feminism acknowledges that men and women are different (e.g. men cannot give birth, and thus can't be expected to take several months of vacation due to birth), while at the same time women should have an equal share of the jobs in areas that aren't specifically male-interest.

The other feminism isn't fully defined, but is nonetheless what people generally consider actual feminism. They believe that men and women should hold an equal share of the job market, and get outrageously angry with the men when they hear about men holding the majority of all mechanic jobs.

Feminism is an overused buzz-word. Ofcourse you support fair treatment of the female gender and acknowledge that there are some problems still. As do all women, and many men. You don't need to label yourself with a word that makes people shake their heads and walk away.

Answer 4

I think because when feminism started as a political movement, there was only one way for women to be...girly and domestic. Feminists were seen as radical because they were questioning the status quo. There was only one way for a feminist to be as well. We've broken away from those black & white definitions but the impact they made on our collective consciousness lingers. Now it's more acceptable for women to embrace many different roles in society and in the family, but the image of the original radical feminist lives on.... plus there are still some radical feminists out there who would be happier for women to be equal on all levels with men rather than accepting that the differences between genders can be a healthy, productive thing for our society. The fringes always get the most attention. JMO...

Answer 5

Read this book "When god was a woman" I think the authors name is Merlin Stone.

Because since the inception of the catholic church, the world over has been taught that females are FROM the rib of man, and that Eve tempted Adam into eating the apple and therefore casting the world into eternal sin. The woman needs to be watched over, protected, guided. We are merely companions to a man with very little logical thinking and should be seen, not heard.

You're a woman, you're smaller, frailer, weaker, you can't possibly be as aggressive as required for today's world. So how dare you ask for equal pay. The only thing really needed from you is your vagina. And hell, we, as men, can take that anytime we want.

That, is the thought pattern of the entire world in regards to women. We are tolerated, not dealt with.

The power, of a woman, is undeniable. The presence of a woman and the respect she can command puts men in a panic.

About 25,000 years ago (when the first hints of writing, agriculture, commerce) came into being, woman was worshipped, deified as the supreme creator, the all knowing. Women held the positions of judges, queens, the head (so to speak) of the household.

I invite all women to read up on the positions of power that we held, take a look at the world BEFORE christianity came into being. Find out how we are responsible for teaching the MEN hunting, fishing, hell, the first wheeled vehicle was engineered by a woman (bet you didn't know that).

Almost all historical evidence of this 28,000 year period was destroyed by the christians. Some still exists today. Check it out. Find out who we were, how we have shaped this world and it will all make sense.

Right now, the world is out of balance because the women is being supressed. There is positive and negative, black and white, ying and yang in everything that exists in this world. The Yang or masculine has taken over and until that balance is restored we will continue to see wart, fighting, oppressive situations.

Let me know if you need more historical references. Great Question.

Diva

Answer 6

Probably because the radical feminists are the ones who made the news, and so many people think that's how all feminists are. It's no different than how stereotypes of Blacks and homos and Latinos and other groups have been created by the media.

Also, the way people define radical differs. Here in the USA, a radical is someone who nitpicks every bit of social life and gets angry to the point of violence if she doesn't get her own way. Over in Afghanistan, a radical is a woman who refuses to wear her burka in public or watches an episode of "I Love Lucy" (which is banned in most Islamic countries because it's about a woman who doesn't obey her husband).

Answer 7

we see the radical side of feminism because it taught you that


"My monther was a single parent because dad walked out on her, so she had to be the bread winner."

Mom should have been independent cause she wanted to, not because daddy left her. She shouldn't have to have "had to be the bread winner" cause he walked out.

Everyone has a right to seek a better life if they are not happy. If your mom had walked out on Dad, a feminist would be telling us what a strong woman your mom was. It goes both ways. If a woman can't be independent because a man is with her, then men are not to blame for that.

Stop blaming men for everything.
And if leaving a woman makes her more independent, then applaude men who do it, cause independence is what feminist claim they want. When a man stays with a woman and takes care of her, we are the bad guys cause we make her "DEPENDENT ON MEN". And when we leave a women we are bad too cause we forced her to be "INDEPENDENT".

Either way men are always the bad guys to a feminist.

Answer 8

"I'm now not a supporter of Feminism, I am extra of an Equalist, however I do not suppose Feminism began the struggle among the sexes." You is also proper. I suppose the "gender struggle" used to be possibly a response towards the social atmosphere of instances beyond whilst neither guys nor ladies might vote (or benefit from the repute we at present take such a lot without any consideration) until they owned estate. The 'haves' have continuously resented the 'have-nots' and their aspirations and that is nonetheless actual at present. I too am an Equalist, spotting that guys and ladies are born DIFFERENT however are of EQUAL WORTH, and entitled to FAIR TREATMENT below JUST LAWS. Note the phrases in capitals, they're of the essence.

Answer 9

I think one of the major problems is that women tend to say "women can do anything a man do". Honestly, that's not true. Some women want to be firefighters. Well, if I am 250 pound man, I want a strong man coming to rescue me from a fire, not some 150 pound woman who couldn't drag my a** even if she tried. Men are naturally built stronger than women. That's just the way it is. I am a woman, but I know that there are some things that men just do better. I agree with you that women should be paid equal for equal work, but women don't normally do equal work. The majority of women take time off for their children and that type of thing. Which I agree with. But, you don't see men taking off work for every little sniffle that a child has.

Answer 10

Men and women are equally as likely to be guilty of domestic violence, for starters. This VAWA is a sham--too many men are being falsely accused.

We already receive equal pay for equal work. Always have if not more. You have to look at a per-hour basis and what kind of job instead of over however many years.

Being feminine does not mean being a loud and in-your-face shrew.