Why are there no famous male feminists?

Question

There are plenty of female feminists, just ask anyone and they'll at least be able to tell you these names: Valerie Solanas, Susan B. Anthony, and Oprah Winfrey (lmao). But ask someone to tell you the names of male feminists and they'll reply: ....

Why is this?

Sorry I don't care if there are male feminists, I only care WHY none of them are famous. I know a few of them. And according to Wikipedia, Oprah is a feminist, so there! :)

By the way, if anyone wants to give a list of MODERN male feminists, you're welcome to.

Alan Alda... never heard of that old geezer. He hasn't played in any famous movies. Nowhere does it state he's a feminist on his website's bio and auto biography. Conclusion: some random old geezer.

Answer 1

Perhaps it is because male feminists are not out to seek fame; I think all they really want is to be treated equally.

Still, I can think of a few male feminists (I believe they actually refer to themselves as masuclinists.) who have made quite a name for themselves; Warren Farrel, Murray Straus, Richard Gelles, etc...

As for me, I am not a feminist, nor am I a masculinist; I sir, am an equalitist. An equalitist is what I call someone who believes and lives by the conviction that equality is a right that was intended for everyone.

Answer 2

To be a feminists is something that is unatural for a man; though there are men who support the cause, they themselves cannot be a true feminist; feminist deriving from feminine - female like, pertaining to being female; they are still men, with the exception of the other kind, are truly designed to be leaders and or protectors. It was this mentality alone that had founded our fine nation - the United States of America; that also founded the Declaration of Independence. Was it not due to the women behind these great men; men such as George Washington and James Madison along with countless others, they were able to do just exactly that. It was this inborn leadership and protective mentality that lead our nation into two major wars so that we could continue having those rights and to keep our nation safe from foreign invasion and control. Things may not have turned out like that had feminism really got off the ground in those days.

Answer 3

How would You sell the idea to the world? Imagine that You wanted to nominate Me for an award. How would You go about it? Females would say "I' am an impostor as I am not a Woman and do not understand Women's issues. I have no womb ergo I have no legitimate status in the 'right to life' forum. I lack a Vagina so I know nothing of the fear and degradation, pain and humiliation of being sexually violated. I have testosterone so I could never nurture a frank and open relationship with My inner self, nor the Earth Mother. I cannot bond with Women because, as a Male, I can only look at a Female as a concubine, subordinate or inferior. As a Man the World is My personal kingdom. I can say, do, achieve, attain and acquire whatever I choose to with out working for it merely by crushing the hopes, spirit, dreams and aspirations of Women under My Jackbooted Foot. Men, such as I are guarrenteed as Our birth right a powerful and prosperous position in the "Men Only" world of the multi-national private club that is the workplace.
(Any toes that I haven't stepped on yet?)
My understanding of the history of the Women's Movement is corrupted by My total lack of participation in the cause for the emancipation and equalization of all the oppressed Women of the World Who must shake off the yoke of Male domination and Their brutal regime of MANipulation, and THEIR misogynistic suppression of OUR right to a free and equitable co-existence.
Get the idea 'Sisters'?
Now here is the thing Men don't really want to be called 'Feminist'. We would much rather prefer to be identified as "Pro-Feminist" or even, to a lesser extent, "Anti-Misogynist" (My our word which always creates debate at parties).
If You truly want a list of "Male- Feminists" (You have to love a title like that) You need look no further than the Politicians Who voted to give Women the vote. The Man who sponsored Florence Nightingale, The financial backers of every "Feminist" endeavour ever initiated. The Male electoral campaign workers.
We are legion, and forgotten.

Answer 4

Oprah is sooo not a feminist.

I know of a few male somewhat famous feminists: Chris Clarke, Auguste, Hugo Schwyzer, Michael Berube. (The two latter people are university professors and authors as well.)

EDIT: Well, which female feminists are famous, either? There hasn't been a truly famous feminist since Gloria Steinem, and that was decades ago. The most prominent feminists today are women (or men) with doctorates who teach in universities and write books, or bloggers on hugely successful websites (who also write books, and one of my faves was on Stephen Colbert a couple of weeks ago). The most fame a feminist is going to get is within the feminist community - and in that community, those ppl I listed before *are* famous. You should check out Hugo Schwyzer's blog - he's a genius.

Answer 5

Here's a famous male feminist who spent 10 months in a Canadian prison in support of a woman's right to choose: physician Dr. Henry Morgentaler. This man also survived internment at the Dachau concentration camp during WWII.

Answer 6

I think it's mainly that they're just known for other things, like fighting for human rights in general. I'm not sure which Enlightenment thinker it was, perhaps John Locke? But one of them actually came out in favor of promoting better education for women, among other things. And since many of the female abolitionists were also women's rights advocates, perhaps a few of the males were as well? I don't know any names, though, so you've got a good point.

Answer 7

If your definition of a "male feminist" is someone who wants equality for women, then there are plenty of famous male feminists: George W. Bush has appointed many women to important positions in his cabinet, Alan Alda the actor has also advanced the rights of women, and the list goes on.

I think men have advanced in wanting equal rights (and responsibilties) for women more than you think!

Answer 8

What about Alan Alda?

Answer 9

I may be missing something here. But how many MEN would like to be called feminist. Yes there are a lot of men who agree with equal rights etc but they are still male and not feminist. If you are one, more power to you.

Answer 10

im a feminist too, but im a male,so i do stand for males too, but i do agree with equality but i dont agree with male oppression in the name of equality,,, i think im a balancer if there is such a thing