Feminists: What do you think is the agenda of some anti-feminists?

Question

-Is it striving for male superiority and women's subjugation?
-Is it woman-hating?
-Is it working towards re-establishing a patriarchal society?
-Is it striving for a religious, conservative nation?
-Is it working towards a time when men ruled the home?
-If they disagree with only some of the things that feminism is about, but really believe in equality, why aren't they working with feminists on the issues they agree on? Why focus only on what they disagree with?

Seeing so much hatred expressed towards women in the forum today has made me wonder what the anti-feminist agenda for some of these people is really about?

Answer 1

Well, it's obvious that some who call themselves "anti-feminists" are actually really only women-haters, but, there are a few antis here who actually don't seem to hate women. Of those that don't hate women, it's been my observation that they want to bring attention to some inequalities that men today have to face. They seem to think that feminists ignore their issues, and in some cases create their issues, and so they oppose feminism. I'm not saying that I agree with any of that, except the part that yes, men do have inequality issues that need to be addressed. I don't think that feminists ignore their issues, but I do think that by them blaming feminism and in the process attacking a cause that is actually honorable (feminism) for the fact that the inequalities exist, they are not helping to get women to champion their causes. The fact is, very little discrimination toward men has been a direct result of feminism. As I said in a post last night, quotas are indeed an issue that resulted from feminism, and yes, quotas (in my opinion) are unfair and do result in reverse discrimination. However, the intent behind quotas was to allow women to gain access to jobs that have been traditionally male-dominated. The intent was good, but the result was flawed, and in need of correction. I don't think it's right or fair for antis to want us to throw out the whole concept of feminism just because a mistake has been made in the effort to correcting inequality. I think it's reasonable to expect that there will be "bumps in the road" in the efforts being made to correct hundreds of years of inequality. It takes time, awareness, and a willingness to analyze such things in order to fix any mistakes that are made along the way. Feminism is about equality, not special privileges, not "hand outs", and our intent is to eliminate prejudice. Quotas only served to increase prejudice, not eliminate it. It is a mistake, but it is correctable, and I see no reason for us to look at this mistake and think we have to abandon a cause that is honorable. I see no reason to go back from where we came. We need to learn from mistakes and continue to move forward.

The hatred you are seeing in this forum today (and everyday) is really not about feminism or anti-feminism at all. It is about hatred. These people have issues. It's obvious. I will not answer their questions. You can't reason with someone like that. Best then, I suppose, to report or ignore them.

EDIT: I also think that some of the opposition we see toward feminism comes from those who are afraid of change. Changes that affect women inadvertently affect men. Some men don't want change. They are happy with the way things were. (Why shouldn't they be?) What they fail to understand is that even though they have been quite satisfied with the "way things were", women, in general, were not. I see some men saying "I just want a return to TRADITIONAL "family values", which to me means "roles." They don't want change because it will affect them, and they liked having things the way they were. (To me, this shows a lack of empathy and understanding toward what women might want- it's "all about men" and it's rather self-centered.)

Answer 2

Yes. There are women who, believe men and women are equal and believe that women have a right to be a homemaker. It seems that if a woman has the natural desire to stay home and raise her children they look at you like you are lazy and stupid or brainwashed by a male dominated society. A woman who is a homemaker has a very important job and that is raising children to become good adults and members of society. I actually have two degrees, and made very good money for myself when I was single. However, when I had a baby, I felt the natural urge to be home with my baby....to take care of her and teach her. I get alot of crap from other women, which really suprises me, when the first question they ask now that my daughter is nine months is Are you working yet?, and when my answer is no, they act shocked or make some rude comment. Other anti-feminists don't believe in abortions and women being in the military.

Answer 3

I wish there was some sort of universally agreed upon definition for an anti-feminist. As it stands now, I've seen everyone from Paglia to masculists to misogynists labeled as antifeminist. Personally, I agree with feminism insofar as it is working towards an equality of oppurtunity and not equality of outcome. However, I disagree with any idea that women, because of the nature of society, require that men have their own liberties restricted. If that is anti-feminist, than so am I. Your last choice of agenda seems likely for someone like me. I would tend to work against that with which I disagree. If I lend my momentum to a philosophy that allows both female supremacists and equalists, then I will be in part to blame if the former viewpoint achieves its goals as well.

Answer 4

I don't know why we can't all get along. In the posts I see answering here, the anti-fems are very dismissive and don't even try to find a common ground.

So I'd have to say, 1. yes, 2. yes, 3. a definite yes, 4. probably yes, 5. yes, 6. You know, they couldn't promote a partial agenda because that would show support for all the agenda. I can understand that because that's what I would do.

Personally I can not understand why some try so hard to undermine their own best interest. But they do.

Answer 5

If by "anti-feminist", you mean the traditionalist group, I think that they just want to share their perspectives. Things like no-fault divorce and taxpayer-funded childcare are not "judgement free". They make life better for some women, and WORSE for others, namely housewives. Plus, being told that others have an "egalitarian" marriage, but those silly traditonal women must have a caveman for a husband, no ambition, a "patriarchal" set-up, or some nonsense like that, is incredibly insulting.

There is a great deal of hubris is claiming to speak for all women, but then refusing to understand why I don't want my husband's tax dollars paying for another woman to use childcare so she can be upper middle class and we can stay lower middle class. I just want the right to not be *penalized* for my life choices as a woman. That's one thing I hope everyone can agree on.

The website "Ladies Against Feminism" has some interesting points. They are clearly NOT anti woman or pro-domestic abuse, or just trying to please men. Anti-feminist women tend to be married, so why would they be trying to earn a few pats on the head by other men?I consider myself a "choice feminist", but I find that a few of their essays make good points nontheless.

I am just against trying to force people to make certain decisions, a problem I find in all ideologies, both anti- and pro-feminism. Both groups claim to be working for women's best interests, but only one of those groups has the arrogance to claim the the women in the other group must be stupid, misled, or just didn't get the "liberation" memo.

Answer 6

Some anti feminists are misogynists who are hoping for the first 5.

Others are men who see genuine inequalities that society has given men because of aftereffects of feminism. They believe that the best way to establish total equality for themselves is to oppose feminism, which is actually quite misguided since feminism is about equality. They would be much better of working *with* feminists to solve the inequalities that both men and women face, rather than fighting against people who actually believe the same things they do.

Answer 7

It seems there are two types of "anti-feminists." There are the ones who don't like using the word "feminism" because they believe it implies favoritism toward women. They don't believe one gender is superior to the other, however many of them say they feel feminism has gone too far to the point that now men are being discriminated against. I don't agree, but they make some good points. Fair enough.
Then there are the ones who use the old "The Bible says blah blah blah." These people's opinions don't matter.

Answer 8

For the male anti-feminists, it appears to be a combination of misogyny and the desire for male superiority. That's why you might see questions like "Why are men so much smarter than women?" or "How can you take women seriously when they have such high-pitched voices?"

For the female anti-feminists, it's a combination of religious conservatism and the desire for men to lead the home. That's why you might see questions like "Why do feminists have kitchenphobia?" or "Why do feminists hate the family?"

Answer 9

I think most feminists are very wrong and have no life. They are jealous of the ones who are traditional and have what it takes to lead fruitful lives. Most of these feminists are just big talkers and non do'ers. Takes just one week to figure it out. Cheers

Answer 10

I think you see hatred when a man just puts his view across and it differs from yours. You have blocked me before for disagreeing with you.

Anti feminists are surprisingly enough against feminism, hence they call themselves anti-feminists. No agenda just seeing some of the extreme views of feminists and turning away from it.

Feminists always have the agenda when they say they are about equality and time and time again have been exposed as not for equality but in female superiority.

I don't believe in the "patriarchy", I am not religious, equality as you well know is difficult to define and bring about.