How to combat feminist-bashing?

Question

I do not understand how the fundamental belief that women and men should have equal rights has gotten so distorted. Any woman who has a job, who votes, who pursues higher education, does so because of feminists who helped make that happen.

Do these supposed feminists that hate men and think that they should be oppressed and hate sex, etc. even exist? I have never met a signle feminist who thinks or does those things.

So what do you say when someone says something bad about feminists?

Answer 1

You personally may not have met these types, but many of us actually have met them - for real. Then we look at Dworkin and R Morgan, Mary Daly, etc. You know, those who have either barred boys, expressed a desire for misandry (promoting it) or such , and what do you get? You get people who take offense at being seen as 'mutant genes' or such like. Our dislike is also based on discriminative laws that feminists have lobbied for, such as VAWA - they claim to be against sexism, but are happy to exclude men & children from the protection of violence.
We're human too, yanno.

ETA: ©å®®ĩε, you claim AF's are fighting FOR oppression of women??? Please provide evidence for this. AF's have been asking for the LAWS to treat women EQUALLY, you know - that thing you claim to be after, yet turn a blind eye to when it benefits women mostly.

Answer 2

Honestly, I support feminism but not really the type you're asking about. I have a friend that is a feminism but she doesn't hate men or sex for that matter. But I believe no one is greater than anyone. Women are strong but so are men. I believe in equality but not the "WOMEN FIRST" type movement. But at the same time, I'm very traditional. So to answer your question, I would just say everyone has their own opinion and whoever bashes feminist should respect that

Answer 3

There has been several instances of sexism towards men in this forum just in the last week, and bashing men's rights... a few who have answered this question.
The difference being that it's just accepted, so I'm not sure who you're trying to fool(The proof being that everyone is saying that haven't seen a hateful Feminist, when they're actually in this forum). There has been numerous famous ones as well, and of course politically biased statistics.

So, I'm struck with the same question as you... How did the fundamental belief that women and men should have equal rights has gotten so distorted?

Consider this: If you live inside a little box where everyone thinks just like you, you're going to end up being like parrots, just repeating each others textbook statements. There is a whole world out there...

So, if you want to combat it, then lead by example. I've met some very reasonable and wonderful Feminists.

Answer 4

In order to combat something, you need to understand what it is and where it comes from....

In my opinion, feminism takes the brunt of the bashing because it is PRESUMED to be the root of all that has gone wrong with our society. That, along with the irresponsible behaviour and sense of skewed entitlement of some women PARADING around, falsely, as feminists have given the movement a bad name.

If someone has something bad to say about feminists, I think the important thing to do is ask them WHY they feel that way....I believe that the majority of the time, the women to whom they refer are not truly feminists at all.

Answer 5

I tell them to go buy a dictionary.

It's totally sad that people buy into this garbage. But it's the first rule of debate- if you don't have a rational argument, then demonize your opponent. It's the same sad tactic as trying to equate war-protesters with terrorists... ludacris.

Answer 6

I kept trying to get one basher here, I won't say who it was, but it rimes with crappy sappy, to see how he was merely projecting his own faults onto feminists instead of pointing out faults the feminist actually had and he blocked me.

Answer 7

-It depends on who the basher is, if it is worth your time to say anything or not.
-On this forum, it's quite hopeless with the majority of bashers, they're obviously uninformed and have an axe to grind.
-I don't run into people who bash feminists except here. If I think it would do any good, I'd speak up but not here.
-Sometimes the things people say in this forum are so incredibly ignorant, it is very difficult not to respond with total sarcasm. I rarely get upset anymore, since we're not dealing with the cream of the intellectual crop here.

Answer 8

In my experience, the majority of men have one of the three reactions listed below when feminism is brought into basic conversation:

1) total apathy
2) fear of and hatred for feminism (because it challenges their basic notions of superiority)
3) they show support for the feminist belief in gender equality and seem to understand the basic concepts of feminism and may even call themselves feminists

apathetic men, if logical, can often understand feminism if a woman takes the time to articulate her views to them. the second category is hopeless and giant waste of time. they should be ignored, or possibly even challenged. after all, they are the equivalent of racists. we wouldn't put up with some guy shouting the n-word, so why do we accept a guy saying equal gender rights are destroying the world? Hitler said the same thing about Jews.

Anyway, point is, there is a lot of ignorance out there. it's hard to change minds, but it's worth a try if the guy is intelligent and open.

And no, the sexless witches do not exist. i have never met a sexless witch feminist. misogynists label feminists that way so that women like "baby on the way" or whatever her name is will be terrified of feminism. guess it works on some ladies.

Answer 9

Feminists have nothing to say except speak bad of others.... I am a happy traditional girl but who dares to spoil that feelings.... only those military ones are always speaking bad things and saying cruel things to Baby and Alexandra and me and the other people and just want to refute their answers by speaking bad of others..... they dont value opinions of others...

Answer 10

yeh I've never heard a feminist say that they hate men .....


but i have heard femi-nazis say that.

ppl don't get the difference.

Answer 11

There ARE bad feminists and bad effects on the expectations of even the average woman from misled feminism. I suggest that you become aware of the difference between feminism and misled feminism (actually opportunism) and provide guys advice on how to avoid and stop concentrating on those types of women.