Are some feminists becoming the very thing the fought against?

Question

I do wonder, increasingly, after just a couple of weeks posting on GW&S, that certain female posters will spare no opportunity to denigrate men, belittle the rights of fathers, dismiss the effects of positive discrimination, trivialize male genital mutilation and so on.

Such behavior seems most similar to me, to the Angry Harry crowd who legitimize domestic violence, trivialize rape, think women should be barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen.

In short - the radical fringes seem to have more in common with each other than the rest of us, so I ask...

Are some feminists becoming the very thing the fought against?

@ those who say male genital mutilation is the choice of both parents etc - often - agreed - the question say "those who trivialize it" - there is a difference.

Answer 1

Its cultural backlash. I dont think feminists are becoming this way, I think the women who feel this and throw it around at every opportunity had those feelings well before they came to feminism.
You are right about how extremes on either side tend to resemble each other. it happens in a great deal of arenas, just try comparing the ideologies of Bush with those of Bin Laden.
I personally feel that the fight isnt about feminists v. men or masculists, but about moderates who are capable of logic v. extremists who just want to play the blame game.

Answer 2

It's hard to say if those women were ever actually feminists; they sound like they've been raised to denigrate men at every turn. In the real world, most of us would be moderates, and the fringes would be having it out with each other on some college campus.

But keep in mind that male genital mutilation is a decision made by both parents; you don't have to blame feminism for it.

Answer 3

Yep - feminism has become what it claims to despise. A postee above suggests this forum is polluted with trolls & imposters, which is true, but fails to acknowledge that some feminists genuinely DO hate men. Thus, effectively turning a blind eye to those feminists and pointing blame only upon trolls & impersonators.

Re Angry Harry crowd, I've read a good bit on AH's site - and don't believe 'he' trivializes rape or D/V, but rather he points out how it has been so worn down that it has become trivialised because of feminist claims that just a look from a man can be construed as abuse. I would have to agree with that, just by looking I am NOT abusing someone. If my partner chooses to deny me sex, she cannot be accused of abuse (but if I push for it, and she gives in - I CAN be accused of rape). Conversely, if *I* deny her sex, it's called abuse in feminist eyes.
All AH is doing is pointing out the hypocrisy & pettiness of feminism... not condoning violence or rape.

Answer 4

feminism has nothing to with expectation of men. Truthfully when any women is in a relationship, a women just expects a man to respect, care, and show that care in small ways flowers, candies, little notes. Men seem to think its a lot but truthfully its the same women do for men

Answer 5

In many ways they are becoming exactly what early feminists have traditionally fought against.

For example, one of the hallmark virtues of feminism (perhaps the biggest one) is that a woman or a girl is not a piece of property. Yet, they fanatically rationalize a partial birth abortion - a procedure done in the second or third trimester of pregnancy in which an unborn baby is pulled out of womb partially by the legs. A pair of scissors is jammed into the back of her head to create an opening. A vaccuum tube is attached and the brain is vacuumed out. Next, the skull is crushed and the mutilated remains are thrown into a dumpster.

Now, if a girl is not a piece of property, then under what rational theory does it make sense to brutually destroy a unborn baby girl AFTER VIABILITY in this horrific and brutal manner?

Perhaps most strange of all (and almost humorous because of the degree of fanaticism) is the fact that many feminists no longer value equality - which is supposed to be their most important value. They simply value fanaticism and hating men.

Don't believe me? Read these quotes:

"I believe that women have a capacity for understanding and compassion which a man structurally does not have, does not have it because he cannot have it. He's just incapable of it." - Former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan

"All men are rapists and that's all they are." - Marilyn French, Author, "The Women's Room"

"We are, as a sex, infinitely superior to men." Elizabeth Cady Stanton, quoted in " One Woman, One Voice ", Wheeler, page 58.

"No woman should be authorized to stay at home to raise her children. Society should be totally different. Women should not have that choice, precisely because if there is such a choice, too many women will make that one." Simone de Beauvoir, author of “The Second Sex.”

“The simple fact is that every woman must be willing to be identified as a lesbian to be fully feminist." (National NOW Times, Jan.1988)

"Since marriage constitutes slavery for women, it is clear that the women's movement must concentrate on attacking this institution. Freedom for women cannot be won without the abolition of marriage." - Sheila Cronan

“I hate being in a room where we're made to feel like everybody has an equal voice.” - Bell Hooks

"The end of the institution of marriage is a necessary condition for the liberation of women. Therefore it is important for us to encourage women to leave their husbands..." –1971 Declaration of Feminism

"A good part and definitely the most fun part of being a feminist is about frightening men." - Julie Burchill

"Men who are unjustly accused of rape can sometimes gain from the experience." - Catherine Comin, Vassar College. Assistant Dean of Students.

Need I explain further?

Answer 6

This forum doesn't reflect reality (I hope so) because is contaminated by trolls and sometimes clones.
It has been long time known that many female avatars are actually male. There was this extreme troll called "La Rose", that posted questions like: "Why 99% of men are good for nothing", and the likes, she/he was so extreme that actually it was funny.
Some write an ironic question referring to a previews misogynistic question...unfortunately if you don't read the original bashing question the irony is lost and you just read a woman bashing men.

Too much confusion in here, therefore I just read trusted contributors so the negativity doesn't spoil my day :-)

Answer 7

Radical fringe groups always have more in common with each other than the groups they are on the fringe of.

Generally, radical fringe groups only promote hate.

Answer 8

Any extreme is not good for society -
some feminists are also extremists, and they ruin it for all women

Answer 9

Yes.

Examples are everywhere.

Anti-male sexism is encouraged by mainstream feminism.

The notion of "the patriarchy" is also quite sexist placing ALL MEN as discriminators/oppressors.

Answer 10

this site is not a good example of society. i have never encountered such rudeness in the real world.

and male genital mutilation? my son is circumcised . guess who wanted it done? HIS FATHER. not i. if you're trying to compare it to female genital mutilation, you can't. while you may not agree with circumcision, it is not the same as the female variety-women who have it done cannot have sex comfortably, and sometimes can barely urinate. men who are circumcised have no negative side effects.

sorry, i had to say that.