Do feminists seek gender equality or role reversal?

Question

Does feminism mean women as equals or does it mean a role reversal with women as superiors?

It just seems like some want to destroy the very idea of masculinity and manhood. On the other hand I know historically women have held fewer rights and privileges than men.

Answer 1

Feminism does not seek role reversal or gender equality. Women and men can no more be equal than oranges can be equal to apples. Feminism seeks equal pay, the right to vote, the right to get a bank loan, the right to drive a car, the right to own a house, the right to use libraries, the right to get promoted when qualified, the right to work, the right to go to law and medical school, the right to be be represented in medical research, the right to run for public office and the right to protect their children from men who are abusing them. All of these rights that we take for granted now were not always enjoyed by women. These rights were fought for by male and female feminists.

"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy."
Abraham Lincoln.

This nation has a history of limiting exactly who "We the People" means. When The United States of American began, only people who owned property were considered "good enough" to be allowed to vote. Blacks were not allowed to vote because many people did not want them to be "superior" to whites, that they were "supposed" to be inferior slaves because that was their "natural" role, due to their "natural" lower intelligence and brain size. Many people said the same thing about women when they fought for the right to vote, that they were "naturally" inferior in emotional maturity and intelligence. But, in a true democracy, all may not be "equal", but all should have equal rights. Feminism is about democracy.

Feminism is a completely different concept than femininity. Notions of "proper" or "appropriate" femininity and masculinity are cultural fashions that change from society to society and from time to time. For example, the height of "femininity" in China at one time was having one's feet tightly bounded when young and deforming the feet until women were crippled, all for the erotic pleasure that men got from unwrapping the feet and snorting the stench of the feet. Having stinky, crippled feet was considered more "feminine" for much longer and by many more people than holding doors open for women has been considered to be "masculine" behavior. Perhaps, the "correct" stench of feet is the REAL measure of femininity and holding doors open for women is a FALSE masculinity. Or, at times, long hair on a man is the TRUE length of masculinity and wearing lace is preferred for men, not women. In some nations it's ok for heterosexual men to walk down the street holding hands. In some cultures, skinny is feminine. In other cultures, the fatter a woman, the more sexually feminine she is. Who is "right"?

See my point? It gets meaningless in a hurry and is not worth the bickering. Whenever someone starts insisting that the "fashions" that turn him or her on personally must be practiced by EVERYBODY, you are crossing the line from sexual fashion into political fascism. That's why people scowl at "roles". Roles are fashion. And, roles are ok. But, forced roles are fascism. We can individualy enjoy our personal sexual fashion preferences and notions of femininity and masculinity . . . AND support democracy and equal rights.

Answer 2

Men & women are NOT equals.

In general terms [yes, there are many exceptions], feminism doesn't strive for gender equality, because males & females ARE different, & rightfully so! Why would we want to be the same as men?

Feminists also do not seek role reversal, as that's still an unhealthy power balance.

Feminism is about being accepted for our differences.

For example, given that men are physically unable to have babies, then it's up to the woman to give birth, right? So, why should she lose service time in her place of employment while on maternity leave? The fact that she needs time off to give birth should not disadvantage her in the workplace, just as it doesn't disadvantage the father.

Answer 3

Feminism can mean both it just depends on who you talk to. Personally I feel that it means to treat women as equals. In our generation, women are not the type to sit back and take care of the babies, clean house and have dinner waiting on the table for you. We are a generation of hard working, doing three things at once females. I don't know about other women but my husband and I are a team and he never forgets that hes the man of the house. But yet I still work a full time job with crazy hours, make sure our baby is taken care of, pay bills, clean house and make dinner when I get home before him. But he's always there to help. Sometimes women will be inferior and sometimes we will be superior, but thats ok.

Answer 4

Interesting question, I was just discussing - okay, arguing - this with my husband last night. He doesn't like the word feminism (as do many) because he thinks it implies that women are trying to be better than men or more like men.

Personally, I call myself a feminist not because I want either of those things but because I will not be satisfied until women have equal rights to men's. Even in the United States, women are still paid, on the average, $1.50 less per hour than men. I've experienced this personally, even.

But feminism to me does not mean being better than or more like men, not at all. For example, a lot of so-called feminists speak out against women being homemakers, which is ridiculous - women fought their way into the working world, and now they shouldn't have a choice not to work? I disagree with that - I think the ultimate freedom IS having that choice.

Answer 5

The answer to Your question lies with those whom You ask, and Their interpretation of the Feminist dogma, credo, manifesto and propaganda most in tune with Their particular world view. Be it Liberal or Radical Feminism.
Most Feminists I know like Men (and I work in the fields of Nursing and Community Care, so that would be thousands), and are decent human beings. But there are those who have Their own agenda. These are the ones who have ruined the Feminist movement and forced Women to realign Themselves with more moderate groups. We all see examples of this type of behavior every day. Young Women who think that They are entitled to a job because They want that it. School Girls who are taught to reproach School Boys for Their immaturity, whilst They Themselves are still playing 'dress up' with fashion and make-up. Same sex predators and gender orientation manipulators.
We all talk about 'equality', but the simple fact of the matter is that We all seek to be better than We actually are, and perhaps even better than Our neighbor. Such is Human nature.

Answer 6

Women mostly seek gender equality. We should be equal among job opportunities, the same salary as a man in the same work role.

Answer 7

I consider myself to be anti-feminism. Feminism to me means that you are FEMININE. not masculine.
I get upset when I see the masculine being diminishes. I see it more and more on T.V. that show, a few years ago, "Everybody loves Raymond" I hated that show. His wife constantly blamed him for everything and most of it was her fault. There was nothing funny about the show, but you see it on the street every day.
I hope that one day people will stop doing this and treat each other with respect and dignity regardless of gender, religion, race, or any other factor they can throw in there.

Answer 8

Both Equals

Answer 9

They don't even know what they want. They want the best of both worlds - that's only some women. Other women that I love want to give the best of both worlds - want to be treated like a lady and treat me like a man.

In college I studied stuff like this. It's all about penis envy.

Answer 10

Equality was obtained and surpassed a few decades back, like gaining the ability to decide both male and female reproduction.
Feminists do not seek equality for that would mean that women would be required to do all the things men have always done like work on garbage trucks, oil drilling rigs, the military (selective service), stand an even chance of being named "non-custodial parent" and subsequently be ordered to pay child support, having to prove the claims of paternity, rape and assault, etc.
In case you haven't noticed, women are already superior in western societies and gaining.

For relative proof of both women's superiority and their wish to refuse equal treatment to men, ask a feminist if men should enjoy the right to abandon a child as women are throughout the US. (See link below for an example then compare it to paternity law and failure to pay child support).


EDIT: Gosh, Nomadic, now the myth of the pay gap is up to $1.50? I've always wondered why feminists don't just say that women are forced to work for nothing, it's just as true and sounds better. Do feminists really expect to be paid extra just because they are women?

Answer 11

A true feminist knows that stepping on men to get what she wants is in no way conducive to equality. One who doesn't know this is more of a misandrist.