Why do some people think they can be BOTH a humanist and a feminist?

Question

So you believe in HUMAN interests equally AND you want special perks and bonuses for women exclusively?

Something doesn't add up there.

Modern feminism is about gaining special perks for women. It's about treating men as an oppressive class and legislating against them.

If you sign up for that, you are NOT a humanist.

Answer 1

Funny isn't it? Feminist claim that they are about equality when the fact is that, they focus mainly on the well being of women.

There's a huge different between humanism and feminism. Don't expect the feminist to be able to tell the different between the two.

Answer 2

I don't know about feminism seeking special perks as I haven't seen this personally, though it could be the case. However there are many other differences that are important.

First off a similarity: humanism believes that men and women are deserving of equal treatment under just laws and so does feminism. Now for differences:

1. Humanism believes that if an injustice is done you should fight against injustice while being blind to the person's sex/gender. Feminism is not gender blind as they promote fighting for women's liberation. In essence, Humanism is not parochial while Feminism is.

2. Feminism takes a hard stance that sexism is rampant everywhere in the world and has severe-mild effects on all societies in the world. A humanist might not come to that conclusion. A humanist would ask the questions: How much sexism exists in our or other societies? What are it's causes? What are it's cures? What is sexism? How do we know it exists? This leads into my next point.

3. Humanism is not just about equality. This is only a very small part of the whole movement. Humanism is also the search for truth. The way people can go about finding truth, according to humanism, is using the scientific method. Feminists seem to use a 'positive test strategy' when it comes to evaluating studies something which a scientist, or a humanist, wouldn't do.

4. Related to the above is the fact that if you are a humanist you can't believe in something without good reason to do so. What determines good reasoning is use of logic applied to anything one hears. Some feminists often believe that they are oppressed and often without giving very good reasons for feeling so (or at least reasons that are very suspicious).

5. Humanism does not believe in putting the will of a deity above the will of mankind. Sometimes Feminism does so this is a rather minor difference but a difference nonetheless. However, there are some who consider themselves 'religious humanists' but how they reconcile that religiosity with the central principles of humanism I have no idea.

6. Lastly Humanism believes that science is the answer to the worlds ills. Feminism again doesn't make use of the scientific method (most of the time).

Humanism is a product of the Enlightenment period and as such it also used some very old, some might even call them patriarchal, texts to better mankind. Feminism is merely an offshoot of Humanism like Protestantism is an offshoot of Catholicism. One is not equal to the other rather they are related philosophies. Why do some people believe they can be one and the other? Possibly because they like the term 'humanist' as it has a more positive connotation than 'feminism' does.

Answer 3

Many dictionaries define feminism as sweetness and light and reasonableness. The feminism organization (NOW) defines itself similarly. And feminists have sweet gently-perfumed farts, no doubt. Don't ever believe everything you read in a book or mission statement!

Feminists (I have to use the term loosely) themselves say different things at different times and in different contexts.

Some say that feminism is about fighting for equal "rights" for men and women both. But that's incongruous. Note the prefix 'femin-" carefully. A femin-ist organization is about femin-ism not about mascul-ism or about equal-ism. So yes, they are after 'special perks' for women. Naturally.

Some claim it is not about man-hate. But experience says otherwise and just look at some of the man-hate comments on the GS forum e.g. "all men are pigs", "throw stones at boys" and so on.

And as for ungodly "humanism", forget it! Try with "equalism". I myself am 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 into the dustbins of history where it belongs.

Equalism is not just about equality, it is also the search for truth. Equalism believes that if an injustice is done you should fight against injustice regardless of the person's sex. Some feminists often believe that they are oppressed, often without having very sound reasons for feeling so. Feminism is not gender-blind as it only seeks to promote women's perceived interests. In essence, equalism is not parochial while feminism is.


http://wiki.gosurf.tk/index.php?title=Main_Page

Answer 4

Feminism is essentially humanism for women- the belief or philosphy that women deserve equal respect and protection of their legals rights as men, as equal citizens and members of the human species. Most "feminist" issues effect families, children, and people besides women. For example, legistration about birth control and reproductive rights mean that less men have unwanted offspring. Flexible working hours mean women can take care of their children better. A true feminist is a humanist as well, and vice versa.

Answer 5

I'm not sure why you define modern feminism as gaining special perks for women and treating men as an oppressive class etc. Can you go into more detail?

Answer 6

As an anti-feminist I can't be a humanists, nor can I be an non-feminist; meaning its one or the other. In some instances there is no middle road.

Answer 7

This anti-feminism crap gets so annoying..

Just because the feminists you've come across have been man-hating idiots doesn't mean all of them are.

Generalisations about any group really are unintelligent.

Answer 8

I think you should look up the definition of feminism. it doesn't say special perks and bonuses. Though some men who are insecure in their job feel "women are going to take it"...(much like some feel about immigrants) do feel this way..

Answer 9

Special perks for women is not a feminist cause. It is a cause for opportunists who call themselves feminists and have no sense of responsibility.

Answer 10

We should have a movement that focuses on all races, both genders, and people of all sexualities. The best way to achieve equality is by working together.