Do people purposely try to misunderstand men's rights activists?

Question

...It seems so.

Here is a typical conversation with someone clueless about men's rights activists:

clueless: "Why do you want women to have no rights?"

MRA: "We want women to have "equal" rights to men. No more, no less.



clueless: "Why do you hate feminism when all they want is equality?"

MRA: First wave feminists fought for equality. Today the fight is for special treatment, PC speech codes & Marxist ideas.



clueless: "Why do MRAs want to allow men to beat their wives? Why the fuss over VAWA?"

MRA: Last time I checked, beating ANYONE was illegal & punishable. There is no need for VAWA. ...Other than to demonize men & take away their Constitutional rights. The name alone is quite sexist and misleading considering domestic violence happens to BOTH men & women.



clueless: "Why do you want women to have no rights?"

MRA: OK, I'm going to get a beer.

EDIT:

QUOTE FROM TERA: "Why do you think feminism today is about wanting special privileges? Can you give me an example of this?"

-affirmative action. (I could stop right here)

-The ability to opt out of parenthood where men cannot.

-Title IX in schools which will scrap an entire men's varsity sport if there aren't females that wish to participate in that sport.

-Lobbying against "shared" parenting which would make child custody "equal."

-VAWA which gives women more rights than men.

-Lobbying for "equal representation" in areas where standards have to be lowered to let women in. (police/military/firefighting)

Feminists are quite active in all of these areas where it isn't "equality" they're after. It's getting a "leg up" & ensuring a very slanted playing field in favor of women.

That's NOT equality. That's false empowerment and stacking the deck.

Answer 1

It seems that the MRA and the Feminists are actually one in the same. The issues are the same, just replace the gender with a male or female. Both are fighting for equality and rights for their genders. One side restoring the reputation of their gender as not being the aggressors in DV or VAWA, while the other side, claims that it is. Maybe if VAWA changed it into VAVA, "Violence Against Victims Act." Isn't this act suppose to protect the Victim? Irregardless of the gender?

The common denominators in ALL issues from both sides are, EQUALITY and FAIRNESS. So instead of attaching a specific gender such as saying, Men or Women, why not say, the Individual. After all, we ALL live our own Individual lives and we ALL have to be responsible for our own actions. Let the issues that protect men or women, be replaced with Individual protection. After all, the protection will be a blanket for every Individual.

Equality and Fairness is an issue that will always be fought for, but to fight for the importance of it, is a struggle if both genders don't see eye to eye. The fight for Equality and Fairness should be fought for ALL, not just ONE. "United we stand, divided we fall." That quote sure has so much meaning to it.

Answer 2

Just as people misunderstand feminists, people misunderstand MRAs. I see the two as going hand and hand in a way. One issue that I think is BIG right now for MRAs is getting custody (full or half) of children in a divorce. Any man who wants and is willing to fight for custody of his children has my respect. And with women being more career focused, more men should be at least sharing the parenting responsibilities.

Answer 3

Yes, you've hit the nail on the head again!!! Excellent observation.

However, just like issues such as D/V, if they begin to acknowledge the truth (that MANY men are physically, verbally, emotionally & mentally abused) they fear such acknowledgement will somehow take something away from them (such as....money - because it would have to be 'shared' with man-friendly d/v centers). Thus, instead of acknowledging men have problems - they repeat the lies and hold a finger to each ear to block out the reality of life.

It is easier on them (and more importantly, the cause) if they simply misrepresent our motives. Feminists have had their day and proven their intentions (death threats to researchers who showed men & women were equally abusing one another, Erin Pizzey recevied death threats too, poems about castration, talk of killing men to 10% of the planet's population, etc.) MRA's have not made such talk - and in my experience when any particularly mouthy MRA is observed, they're quickly removed & disowned... thus trying to keep the 'gene-pool' clean... Conversely, feminists will not speak out against extreme misandrists such as Dworkin & Mary Daly.
So it's my opinion, while MRA's will attempt to keep things balanced - feminists are happy to claim to be fighting for (selective) equality and turn a blind eye to hate, chauvanism and female supremacy.

ETA: Tera - I'm surprised at you making a mockery of my answer!!! Tsk. I should spank you. But are you implying every accusation is legit, even when 50% of the accusers in the above recollection openly admittedly lying?

Feminist: "Why do you think feminism today is about wanting special privileges? Can you give me an example of this?"

MRA: "Well, I've enquired about having a 'mens officer' at my college and the feminist Union President simply will not allow it, and will not answer further questions - all presented politely. Also, look at VAWA - why the need to specify women only as if they're somehow more worthy of protection than children or men?"

Feminist: "Isn't holding the door open for someone else just a matter of simple courtesy?"

MRA: "Indeed it is - so why do some feminists get upset about being treated equaly?"

Feminist: "Why do you believe that half of all women who claim to be raped are lying about it?"

MRA: "You're misrepresenting my response - I did not say "I believe", I only mentioned that I have read & heard different reports than those offered by feminism. Additionally, why would you refer to a police officer who said his 'opinion' on the matter as being 'bigotted'? Isn't that just a shaming tactic?"

Feminist: (silence)

Answer 4

Yes, I agree. In our society, discrimination against men is considered to be non-existent.

"Most of us feminists here have expressed support for masculism" - RIO

Umm, hello? Most? When was the last time *most* feminists were in support of granting men reproductive rights, abolishing affirmative action, VAWA, "equal outcome", etc. So your statement is very misleading given that reality just doesn't bear it out. In fact, this is just one big joke, designed to *supposedly* represent *most* feminists stance in a pathetic attempt at saving face. You're not fooling anyone, Rio. So go peddle your BS elsewhere, it will not sell here.

Answer 5

"Why do you want women to have no rights?" - As far as I am aware men's rights activists or masculists are not pushing for women to have no rights. That would be ludicrous. What they are fighting for is EQUAL RIGHTS for men and women.

I'm an equalist, believing that [quote] men and women are born different but equal, are of equal worth, and are deserving of fair treatment under just laws. [/quote] Equalism will eventually consign feminism and masculism into the dustbins of history where they belong.

Answer 6

You make a clear and insightful point for Men's Rights Activism. And I would agree that MANY (not all) of the so called feminists are pushing for rights that would deny men equality.

But please also recognize those men who operate as MRA who are nothing but chauvenists and upstarts...just as there are 'feminists' who are anything but the true notion of the term.

Answer 7

You'd think if ignorance is bliss - what is the person denoted as 'clueless' in that converstations problem .... lol

Chalk me up for a beer as well ... theres only so long I can tolerate a cyclical conversation because the other side refuses to acknowledge anything beyond how they want to see things could be real.

Answer 8

Yes feminists purposley deny men have issues and try to put the issues of women on men who try to fight for mens issues. There are plenty of feminists and feminist organisations who will fight against mens issues.

Answer 9

Yes, they do, that's because they, themselves, feel threatened. The MRA is not taking from anyone; it wants things to be just is all, as in justice for all. The very ending words of The Pledge of Alligence are liberty and justice for all.

Answer 10

You can't expect someone to automatically understand the need for masculism. It takes time for someone to be able to see the point.

Either way, why keep complaining about it? Most of us feminists here have expressed support for masculism, if not its spokesmen.