Why has feminism died a death?

Question

Why are so few women feminists? Why do they chose to emulate the aggressive posturing and behaviour of men and have acquired interests in anti-intellectualism, casual sex, drinking and pornography which acts as a means of degrading and de-feminising women rather than adopting a more enlightened ideology advocated by women who have historically fought for equality. Do you think this has something to do with the fight for equality which entailed the adoption of masculine ideals by women rather than elevating the role of women by creating a more feminine society.

Answer 1

Feminism and womens rights were and are about the freedom of CHOICE. The CHOICE to stay home and raise a family or work. The CHOICE to get married or stay single. These women have made the choice to act as men historically have. This is their way of showing their equality.

Answer 2

feminism was a pretty radical (at the time) reaction to inequality in society and the pressure on women to be "perfect" wives and mothers. What has become more popular is "lipstick feminism" which is the attitude that women should use their feminine wiles to their advantage rather than emulating men. What is even more interesting to me is that the biggest critics of feminists are often other women. That, I think comes from the fact that more traditional women find the position of feminism threatening.

Answer 3

Feminism has been superceded by a media that is only interrested in raising women to the status of disciplined consumers. I don't think women are being de-feminised. Rather they are being hyper-feminised.

i.e. You can be a powerful woman as long as you wear the right clothes, makeup, hairspray, perfume etc. Feminism has been usurped by consumerism. Check it out... the only empowering things for women are usually encouraging you to buy something (e.g. Gillette's awake the 'goddess' in you).

That is the danger.... women see these pseudo feminist images and think "Aren't we empowered now", and in truth you are still on the same treadmill, only now you have to pay for it yourself.

Answer 4

Without wishing to delve too deeply into what constitutes feminism. Weren't there two approaches. Those that wanted to destroy the male world and everything it stood for, and those that wanted to compete directly with men by doing what they did, but trying to do it better. Both breeds are rather nasty aggressive types. There is an overlap though, I don't think that you can divide them quite so neatly.

I certainly don't think that feminism has died a death, quite the contrary. The Blair Government is full of them, spinning their nasty webs. Men are under constant attack from many different directions. I think that emulating men is more likely to be carried out by, shall we say, the lower echelons of society. Whereas, the other breed are more likely to be found in the world of education, government, public sector, TV media etc. The word 'feminism', was always a misnomer, because, applying the traditional understanding of the word, they are anything but. Also, there are an increasing number of sycophantic males who are feminists.

But, feminists are alive and kicking, however, I think that they have been the cause of the greatest social disaster that this country has ever seen.
I have been extremely disappointed by the fact that traditionally minded women haven't stood up to them.

Answer 5

I hate the word feminism because I have met way too many femi-nazis. I meet these chubby, grouchy, boot wearing, women as they march through the park demanding equal rights while treating men like crap. I have three younger brothers, a great dad, and a best friend who is a guy. I feel like all the opportunities I have been given in life have been fair and equal. (of course I have not chosen a male dominated profession either, and I don't want to) Until men start having babies, women will always be at a slight disadvantage in the work place. As for the acquired interests, I think it has more to do with the post-modern culture we live in today, rather than simply our gender. Feminism to me, is sexism and is just as bad as racism. I want equality, and I will fight for my rights, but not at the expense of hurting others, especially if they are my fellow man.

Answer 6

Because the FREEDOM is very hard thing to face. It has its price: to challenge the whole system one woman is educated in, to be ready to be alone in many situation in her life and to face the cruelty and unfairness of the external masculine world. And usually, to be prepared that almost no one will support her and make it easier for her, but rather sabotage and blackmail her. How many women who experienced domestic violence rather decide to stay in this abusive relationship? How many raped ones decide rather too keep silent than to pass through one humiliating and exhausting process of proving that she didn't "provoke" the abuser? How many women never become doctors, pilots, journalist, just because they are raised in the spirit that it is "not for women"? How many of them are labeled as "bad" if they just decide to live on their own? Sometimes it looks much easier to stay home and keep protected - than to feel the ground shaking under your feet - but still resigned and unsatisfied.

I can recommend you Simone de Beauvoir's Second Sex. She was a philosopher of existentialism and she brilliantly explained this women's hesitation about the freedom in this book.

Answer 7

I think femenists dug a big hole for themselves (and the rest of us) by insisting on being treated the same as men rather than equal to them but in a feminine or female way. Now we've ended up with society expecting us to still look after the babies and look after the home but now we're suppossed to hold down a 37 hour a week job too. What we should have fought for is the right to be equal to men but on our terms not theirs. All we've done is gotten ourselves into a position where we are allowed to fit into a man's world like men! Talk about shooting ourselves in the foot!

Answer 8

I don't think it hasn't died a death, just become more mainstream, women are stronger and more determind etc.. than ever, their rights are as equal as they have ever been ( How can any one expect that two different things (such as the gap between) women and men to be considered equal if they are different). So i think things are pretty good as best as they have ever been for women, so has it died a death... who knows lol, i don't think so, feminism is still present some where in most women who stand up for their opinions and free speech etc..

Answer 9

Because the mere word FEMINISM is nothing more than a label that renders a woman helpless & actually WEAKENS the whole meaning of the original "freedom movement", which was FOR THE PEOPLE. Special Interest groups took over the People's Movement in the 1960's & started to twist the truth & use it as a propaganda issue to further enslave women because WE WERE GAINING FREEDOMS TOO FAST FOR SOCIETY TO ACCEPT IT & the men in power felt threatened by the newfound strength that we woman were weilding like an iron fist in their faces! Yes, we were extremely militant women & our anger was not only for men, but for the women who joined IN with the men against us & made it more difficult to move out of a bad situation. We were angry at mainstream society for turning their backs on the peoples freedom movement. Don't forget that most of us were getting high on mind expanding drugs & most of mainstream American Society could not grasp or comprehend most of what we rallied & marched for. In a sense, it was a terrorist drug war that is still being fought today, even as we speak! Many from the original freedom movement have gone on to raise children & teach children how to hate our government & society because their minds became so warped with hatred. As a child of the 50's who grew up in the 60's in the era of "free love", I NOW can see that we were being used for sex by older men & women. Unfortunately, it was the men who took most of the media limelight for the abuse of women & the women who were abusers got little notice until recent times. It's like the pot calling the kettle black! I think feminisn died because women saw their biggest oppressors voted & placed into Office...women!

Answer 10

Your dicotomous depiction of men and women's supposed roles is very anti-feminist. By perpetuating gender stereotypes, you are perpetuating gender seggregation and also oppression.


Femininity and masculinity are socially constructed concepts that change over time and depending on location. There is no universal experience of masculinity or femininity.

You have also dicotomized society into only two categories. You have stated masculinity and femininity, and you have placed within those man-gender and woman-gender, and with the added assumption of only two sexes, male and female.

there are infact over 30 chromosomal sexes. not just xx or xy patterns. And there are far more than two genders.

Equality is not through the elevation of women switching power roles to subjugate men. Equality is not making sex and gender minorities invisable, limiting their access to resources and protections by neglecting to educate yourself of their existance, and perpetuating the lie that they don't exist.

Unto men, flaws
Unto women, flaws
Unto gender, segregation
Unto people, human.