Why is "Feminism" such a dirty word?

Question

I keep hearing "feminists" do this... or "feminists" do that. Feminists are man-eating, power hungry lesbians, who are constantly playing the victim, right?

Liberal feminism is the belief that women should have equal opportunities to men in our society, and the ability to decide what happens in thier lives and to their bodies (I'm not talking about abortion or birth control, I don't want to open that can of worms). Why is "feminism" such a threatening word? Why does the idea of feminism make so many men and women defensive?

Answer 1

Excellent question! Until just very recently (and some might argue it continues), society has been completely dominated by men. Overt female power is a threat to the status quo. Many men are selfish and do not want to share the wealth and the power. Therefore, any reference to a woman attaining equal rights (or, goddess forbid, superiority) will develop a perjorative connotation because it's a concept which threatens them.

Answer 2

Generally since religion teaches morals, people believe that a "religious person" is a good, well-mannered person who has a strong moral compass. (Experience says that's not always the case) It's just a quick thought, the first thing that most people imagine that the other is trying to convey. Since atheist is the opposite of religion, most people assume that it has opposite traits. Whereas religious people are assumed to be "good" because of their beliefs many people assume that atheists are "bad" because they lack those beliefs about being good and following certain moral rules. While it's true they aren't "good" because of their religion, many are nice simply because of their principles and own beliefs. To sum it up: Religon is dominated by "Do these good things and good things will happen" Those things are usually accepted as "good" and "right" by everyone of varying religions or lack of. Even though people might not believe that those "promised things" will happen if they strictly follow the rules, many are still polite and kind just because they believe that it's best and they've seem the positive effects with their own eyes. It's just a quick assumption, but most don't assume all that. I'm just saying that when people use the word "religious" to describe someone, I understand that they mean good. (This is less common nowadays or with teens. Mostly adults say that) Instinctually the opposite just seems...opposite.

Answer 3

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Speaking as a MAN I do not have a problem with equal opportunity and I support the cause unequivocally.

But I do not like feminist because as they seek out their Independence they have forgotten the basics and in the end more important issues. Such as

(1) Most people bond a couples and make families -- and we need to prepare men and women first to be mother's and father's. We are so damn concerned in our schools to make sure we track everyone for there wonderful careers that we actually do nothing towards preparing them to be a parent of which if society is to survive the vast majority of humans will bond and make children. That is just plain ignorance.


(2) Children are better off with one parent at home, couples are better off with one partner at home.

(3) Good men deserve to be respected. Unfortunately the feminist does a poor job of teaching people that to be married they must be giving and they cannot distinguishing good men from bad ones and they end up treating good loving husbands and fathers like crap. Look at how much press and how many TV showes relect the quality of a man to how much housework he does after he getrs home from work (like he was out playing football with his buddies). What a shame.

So there it is. In the search for equality the feminist has inadvertantly made women selfish and that has hurt families. How can a mature person NOT look at that fact without concern.

Answer 4

Because of all the garbage associated with it. Feminism in practice isn't very often about equality; it's far more often about victimhood and trying to get more benefits, especially in the political sense. feminists almost never accept any blame for anything. The overwhelming majority of them don't want to point out the way society and education is failing boys, they don't want to point out how many lives are scarred by false rape reports or how many fathers lose contact with their children (and their homes) because of trumped up charges; they don't want to acknowledge that women initiate abuse roughly as often (possibly more so) than men, and they don't want to admit sexism against men (misandry if you like) in the United States (there are hundreds of examples... commercials, "Boys are stupid...", and the way so many young girls act towards men today). If feminists want to start talking about the oppression and injustices they/women commit through laws and other untold measures, then maybe feminism could be reclaimed. They would also have to drop the association with the so-called "dirty, fat, hairy women," because no matter which way you slice it or dice it, take a look at Andrea Dworkin, Susan B. Anthony, and many others. They were not beautiful by any stretch of society's expectations; I'm not being a sexist pig, that's just the way it is.

By the way, anybody who REALLY wants equality should take a look at "Individual Feminism..." check out ifeminists.net.

Answer 5

There are different brands of feminism, but on the whole, it is the movement for gender equality. The media and the Right have succeeded in spinning it (right round, baby, right round, like a record) into a society of man-hating lesbians, but that's a minority. (You can find out more about that if you read Susan Faludi's Backlash. Best feminist book ever.) I myself am a liberal feminist with a touch of radical.

Answer 6

Feminism comes across as bad because we live in a patriarcal society. There is nothing wrong with desiring to be equal with men, It should be encouraged. I also think it is stupid that the word feminism seems to put a bad taste in many mouths. You get problems from men because they think they can just control and rule over everything and the women who are afraid to oppose those men. Men are intimidated by the strength and determination that women possess. Stand up for what you believe in, no matter how many oppose you. Think about it this way, women are in many ways much stronger than men. We have a higher tolerance for pain (childbirth), and lets see a man bleed profusely from the genitals for 5 days and see if he lives through it, I think not. Hold your head high and don't let it get to you. We have to be strong to get past our obstacles.

Answer 7

Because you are taking the joys out of being a woman. You promot "equallity" true, but biologically, no gender is better than the other.

You promot woman working while they have kids. So with that, weh ave to shuffle our kids off to these daycares or "fake mommies" so that we can go to work and work for some as*hole boss.

But if for the traditionalist woman out there, you think we are weak and being controled. And thats soooooooo not the case. I feel I have MORE power than a liberal feminst at home because I run it. I am the boss in my home. I run things in my home and what I say goes. Holy crap! THATS POSSIBLE FOR A NON FEMINIST???

Yes it is...

Why? Because by being NICE and loving (and giving into my sex crazed hubby) He wants to do the things I ask of him, he wants to go out and fight the world so I can stay at home and look pretty. he wants to bring me home a nice fat check and he wants to be the only man in my life..

I don't see anything bad there...

Answer 8

Whatever you think or claim it means, the fact is that it's overall PRACTICE basically mirrors that of any other hate movement.

Usually hate movements suffer from problems with their reputation. There are people that claim the KKK is about celebrating being white, in fact there are probably many KKK members that attempt to justify the movement as being moral, but you don't see them having a good name do you?

Answer 9

because many men cannot see things from a woman's point of view (and see where she is being discriminated against, or disrespected solely because of her gender)

because many women cannot see things from a man's point of view (and see where he is being discriminated against, or disrespected solely because of his gender)

feminism is trying to raise women's opportunities to those of men, in places where men have the higher status (workplace, government, etc). i think instead of attacking feminism for this, and for not helping men acheive equality in areas where they have lower status (domestic & parenting issues), there should perhaps be another movement for that purpose, or feminism should consider taking on true gender equality. because if each gender has equal opportunities, each gender needs to take equal responsibility. if men had the same rights in parenting for example, they would have to accept the same responsibility. the same for women as they acheive equality in the areas where it is/was lacking.

once men and women are truly equal (in opportunity and value, not characteristics) the family will be better off as well. currently women are still considered the primary caregivers, even when they work outside the home. men are considered the primary breadwinners, but as they are accepted as capable of being primary caregivers they can contribute more to the family. then each can contribute equally to family and society.

Answer 10

One thing is wanting females to have the same rights than men.... and a different one is the thing many feminists do, crossing the line (which many have done so long ago) and taking the world for themselves. Those feminists are bad.... in fact there are also men who are feminists, who want women to have the same rights and obligations, but not those extreme feminists who hate men. no.