Feminism.......?

Question

Why are there so many steriotypes about Feminists and how did they come about? was it men who created these steriotypes?

Answer 1

Knowing the history of great women and their achievments that were accomplished either alone or alongside and working with men does not in any way give us a picture of feminism today.

Stereotypes come from repeated behaviours shown by certain groups of people. Generally the negative aspects are the ones that are used as stereotypical. It is the behaviour of some of the women who call themselves feminists that created the stereotypes we have of feminists today.

Feminism and femininity have been hijacked by some hateful, bitter, misinformed women. They have taken all the good done by other pioneering women from the past and disregarded it, they did this by weilding feminism as a weapon to be used against men at all costs.

Femininity has been warped to the point that it's seen as weak. If we are desired for our beauty as women, it's bad. If we show caring and compassion as women it is weak. If we decide to stay home, look after our children and our husands there is a miniature army of women waiting to scream at us that we are oppressed and we don't know our own minds.

Personally I am reclaiming by womanhood. I am embracing all that is soft and I am doing it with the stength of a lioness and the heart of someone who knows what they want. I am being an individual. I am respecting men and women alike. I can do all this and still work towards the true equality between human beings that each and every one of us deserves to have, be we adorned with penis or vagina.

Karma.
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Answer 2

Men and women who don't understand what it is really about created those stereotypes. I am a feminist, happily married to the best man in the world, plan to stay home with my children when they are born, embrace my feminine qualities (as I am one of the "girliest" girls I know) think men are great, and I DON'T blame men for (what I perceive as) societies ills. Do I sound like the "stereotypical" feminist? MOST aren't. Just like it isn't true that most Asians can't drive, most white people can't dance, and most black people talk during the movie at theaters.

Answer 3

If you believe feminism includes women acting, speaking and writing on women's issues and rights, then you can see that these concerns go back as far as recorded history...and have been violently opposed by both men and women since a woman dared to act or speak or write on behalf of a woman...it still enrages some men when a woman dares to speak up for herself or other women...unfortunately, some women hate other women so much (just like some men) that they will do anything in their power to malign women and feminists...

I don't understand the self-hatred some women have, or the hatred and contempt that some men have, that they would do anything rather than be called a feminist. But if you look at this Women's Studies section, it is filled with hatred towards women...I hope it's just a few men, who've been taught by example or experience to despise women. I worry about some of the young women who are ignorant of the long struggles other women have experienced just to get the right to vote or own their own property, or who now enjoy the right to apply to more than a handful of "female" jobs...

I have to laugh when men and women say they don't understand why feminists are lesbians or hate men...most of the lesbians I know don't think of men at all...it's quite a myth that lesbians hate men...also I don't understand what wanting to be paid a fair wage or wanting to have the ability to safely walk in your neighborhood has to do with disliking or hating men?

I can only assume that some people are so frightened by changes in the roles of women and men, that they long for a mythical time when the roles were clear and rigid, and everyone had its "place".

I know I have had times where I thought I'd scream if one more person asked me when I would marry and have children...I can understand why some women have lashed out when asked about marriage, children, homemaking, etc.. some of us have had to "fight" to have the right to do anything other than what others wanted us to do...

Not many of the stereotypes about feminists are true...some very frightened and angry people have made up whatever they could to discredit women and men who would dare to change the choices that men and women have to live and work together...and since some of these people have very loud mouthpieces to spread their lies and hysteria, many people believe them..they also denigrate anyone who dares to question or challenge their women hating agenda...I think some men and women believe they are doing god's will, or saving marriage, or saving the family, but ultimately, they are only trying to limit the choices of both men and women to decide for themselves how they want to live, play and work together...there are also some women who say that women should stay in the home and live out their lives as though it was still the 1950's, serving their men, but usually these women travel and have professional jobs, and do not live the life they say that all the "other" women except themselves should be living...these women truly confound me with the hyprocrisy of their lives...

Answer 4

Generally, the biggest opponents to feminism are men and women who don't know what it is.

Frightened, insecure and confused people automatically hate what they do not understand.

Women, next time you go to vote, sell your house (by yourself), raise your kids alone, get a job, go to university, take birth control or decide your life's path for yourself, remember those who made it possible for us.