Feminism

I know that currently there's some controversy over Kaley Cuoco's comments (whether taken out of context as she's saying on twitter or not), but I do think of this more as a situation where she misspoke more than anything. I could be wrong about it. Her comments did make it seem like she thinks women in general should be behaving like she does, but I think she possibly meant that she just believes it's right for her. Which, if she likes cooking for her husband every day? More power to her. My issue is more with people thinking that woman should have to or should want to do those things.

EDIT: In other news, Missouri is still looking awful.

@ Collin Berend
There are not enough women in politics to successfully oppress men. You are assuming that we have an equal number of women to men to win votes in politics and completely oppress them. We don't. And we haven't in the past. So how did these men supposedly get oppressed? The hypothetical women in your situation never existed to oppress men.

It's because they oppressed themselves.

Gay men get oppressed. Because gay was seen as feminized and men hate women so they hated gay men.

Trans men get oppressed. Because men hate women so why would a man want to become a woman?

Men get shit for staying home with the kids and showing emotions. Because those things are seen as feminine. Men the women so they hate men who share those characteristics.

Real Feminism addresses these issues and tries to fix them by challenging and attempting to dismantle the patriarchy.

@ CallusedSilk
I think it's more of an issue of people having an antiquated view of feminism and not a lot of history on the movement. And these are failing of society and the people who demonize feminism.

@ dru is beautiful.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend
There are not enough women in politics to successfully oppress men.

Because not a lot run for politics. The ones who do have been crazy, like Sarah Palin who I would NEVER let run this country when she thinks we should nuke Russia and the middle east... No, no no no no no no. Absolutely not. She is mentally crazy in half the things she does. Hilliary? I would not mind her in Office. The thing is, the ratio of women and men RUNNING for politics is VERY low. Most of the time it is men. And do not say women can no do it because they are oppressed, because they can. And it also changes with letters and votes. Spreading awareness.

And lets be honest, do you trust politicians? I don't and I do not trust the current House. Obama is your best hope, best make sure you get a democrat in the house in two years.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend You are assuming that we have an equal number of women to men to win votes in politics and completely oppress them.

In America? Yea, there is a good number. You also assume every man is going to vote against women being equal? It is a small margin that would, over 70% of males would support equality of women. Why? Well the big one stems from current young adult generations who are mainly progressive "I don't care what young do" can do attitude.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend We don't. And we haven't in the past. So how did these men supposedly get oppressed? The hypothetical women in your situation never existed to oppress men.

It's because they oppressed themselves.

The hypothetical women in my situation? You people like to not fully read what I said. Where did I even come up with a scenario of women? I just said you need to go into politics. The make to women ration in america is not that far from being even...

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend Gay men get oppressed. Because gay was seen as feminized and men hate women so they hated gay men.

No they are not. First off, I have a boyfriend and neither of us are flamers (the name of people who are men and gay and act like women), we act like most men you might see, because that is what we are attracted too.

Second, homosexuals, by the way goes for women too, are hated because it is against religious doctrine, not because men hate women. Gays are hated because the bible and other religions say they are abominations. And that came from bronze age men, it has nothing to do with hating women... The RELIGIONS hate change, they hate men being weak, they hate worship of other gods and non-believers. It has nothing to do with "You look and act like a women and women are bad!"

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend Trans men get oppressed. Because men hate women so why would a man want to become a woman?

No it isn't and what of Transmen? Because men do not like women acting like men because men hate women? That is not what or why transgenders and homosexuals are hated... And this is coming from someone who is of said group.

It is both genders, it isn't men being hated for acting like women and it has nothing to do with hating on women. Who is telling you this lie? That is not true in the slightest.

For example, that girl who killed herself recently, it was because the hate of RELIGION. Because God makes no mistake, it wasn't because of man hating, especially when WOMEN do it too, but because she is told she is wrong, she isn't a girl because God made her a guy and he makes no mistakes and more.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend Men get shit for staying home with the kids and showing emotions. Because those things are seen as feminine. Men the women so they hate men who share those characteristics.

No they aren't, it is because women can work and not work if they want, but it is seen in modern society that the man has to work. It has nothing to do with hating women or being 'feminine'. It has to do with standards. Feminist attacked Christopher Hitchens because he said, when asked about women working: "No, I do not think they should. They can if they want, but they do not have too."

Meaning you have a choice, but in nature the man has no choice. It stems from us being the provider. And goign from provider and doing what in nature and what has always been, women doing it makes the man look weak, like he can not protect his house. Sure, looking weak on that is a wrong view, I agree, but it stems not from women hating. That is false my friend.

Again, this stems from tradition and religion. Have you heard what republican conservative Christians say all the time? "Tradition" They talk about upholder tradition. Not because they hate new ways, they just know the old way 'works' and is safe. It's like being afraid to leave your home. It has nothing too do with women hating.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend Real Feminism addresses these issues and tries to fix them by challenging and attempting to dismantle the patriarchy.

What you stated are not real issues, not in America. You want to know what it a BIGGER issue? Women being beaten and killed in the Middle east and in India, hell you go to jail for kissing. You want to attack civil rights, that should be your first step, not what you see here. What you see in America and the UK is NOTHING compared to what women have to deal with in other places... To think otherwise is selfish in my opinion. I'll find the source, but I remember watching and reading about a case where India had this hospital inject women and kill them for reasons that are insane.

And there is no real patriarchy in America. Women can join Congress, women can become god damn presidents... It takes action, it takes votes, it takes standing up and also money. Money is a big issue. lol

Men in America do not have issues voting for women, they have a bigger issue with voting for atheist, Muslims and homosexuals than they do women...

I do not mean to sound rude, if I did that is not my intention, but to say something like gays are hated because men hate women is absolutely wrong and outlandish. It has nothing to do with men in today's world hating men. You ask many it is because of religion and 'It is not natural', not because they hate women.

I say, if you want to change the world, go to where it is needed most, not America I can tell you, it is in other places, like the Middle East where they say "She is lucky to be beaten". And again... Religion. It stems from religion because religion is where old views still hold.

I do not believe in patriarchy, it does not work with men also having oppression issues, it's not workable. And yes, maybe 200 years ago it was, now, no. To say anything today is the patriarchy I say is false and reject it, why? Because women are not seen as worthless or lessor nor do men try to subject women. Men have issues too, if we wanted too run things, why would we work against us? That doesn't work. A true patriarchy is the Middle Easy were you have NO right.

People should just be for equality and really, what is the point of banner names? I say nothing, it's best to do it because you want too. Using a banner is like saying you do charity because you want into heaven.

Please keep all discussion respectful. Disagreement and debate is fine, condescension is not.

If someone is being offensive towards you, please do not respond in kind, as bashing and belittling can result in a temporary ban. PM a board moderator or any staff member you are comfortable with and we will mediate the situation. Thank you.

@ Collin Berend
Ahh, the "their oppression is worse than yours" argument. All it means is that youdont think women here deserve to live a life without oppression. Just because I think a woman shouldn't be oppressed in America doesnt mean I think the women of the Middle East should be oppressed.

It means I care enough about all women to not want any to live in oppression. If you think women in America need to be punished with oppression, that is another discrimination issue. ALL WOMEN deserve to live lives free of oppression, not just some women.

As to the rest of your arguments, you're simply arguing well documented misogyny for the hell of it and I am not even going to waste my time addressing that because there are better things I can do, like sharing articles about misogyny in India.

@ dru is beautiful.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend
Ahh, the "their oppression is worse than yours" argument. All it means is that youdont think women here deserve to live a life without oppression.

[Edited by admin] that isn't my mindset or view. I have stated and still firmly do, believe in a pure equality. I view a deer to be neigh level you are on. Only difference would be brain power and what you might do with it, like stopping a black hole from sucking earth up or something crazy like that.

That is why when people question me on being pro-choice, they attack me with a barrage of "You just support murder". My only, and really only needed response is that the child, like you, are no different than the animals outside. Like you being potential for great, you could be potential for bad. The child is potential life, but the meat you eat was potential evolutionary to make a possible change, minute, but the road would be paved.

I am sad to hear that is all you got from my post, but I will say I strongly believe you missed my point. I also wont lie, I am not entirely sure where that was conjured up from. I have stated many times I support equality for all.

I am not even sure where you got that since I never made an "their oppression is worse than yours" argument anywhere. That or your are not very clear in what you are saying because I would have to say I am lost on what you are talking about. Sorry.

But you pulled a straw man fallacy on me, Dru.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend Just because I think a woman shouldn't be oppressed in America doesnt mean I think the women of the Middle East should be oppressed.

I never implied that was even remotely your thought, not once. I am saying if you fight for justice and equality, your first mark should be the Middle East and Asia and Africa, not things like Gamergate or what scientist wear, or what person be is being told to and not to do, or what your pay is. No, issues as they may be, the only selfless act is goign to places where women are beaten, treated as cattle and even sold and played with in sex like dolls. Making your life far more luxurious than there. by focusing on pay equality over their equality is, in my opinion, a selfish act.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend It means I care enough about all women to not want any to live in oppression.

What about men who are oppressed? Why not use a non-banner name? Why fight for women instead of anyone of any gender or sex? Why pose yourself in a pool of people claiming women are oppressed, when truly in America, you are hardly oppressed to the point men are standing above you laughing as they rule with a patriarchy, which is actually non-existent in America today.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend If you think women in America need to be punished with oppression, that is another discrimination issue. ALL WOMEN deserve to live lives free of oppression, not just some women.

If I think? [Edited by admin] you are not reading my post correctly and missing the point. I never said anything remotely close to women needing to be oppressed and punished, not even a sliver.

All women? Likewise I agree and yet I will say, so do men. Women get less sentencing for the same crime, women do not have to sign up for the draft. That is just a very small point in what men go through, yet I hear no one fighting for it. I think women's rights and men's rights are asinine. I just fight for equality of all, human, animal, life forms, and even 'aliens' should they ever choose to land on this poisonous of a cancer planet. Hopefully giving the gift of change.

It isn't all women deserve fair treatment and equality and not some, it is all humans deserve equality. That very statement you used showcases the very philosophy I have been trying to say I distaste, that you act like men have no issues worth fighting for, only women. Women have it bad enough in America you will fight for them vs those in Africa and other parts of the world, but not even a sliver for man. Why? There is no difference between you and I is a few biological differences. You are still a human.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend As to the rest of your arguments, you're simply arguing well documented misogyny for the hell of it

Actually no it isn't, that is a very sad view you are beholding right now and honestly, I am surprised between Silk and I being banned for a short time, you got nothing with that offensive statement you spouted out about homosexuality and transsexuals, blaming it on men hating women. And in fact, I might report it, it makes me sick.

Silk was far more kind in her approach than you have, only displaying hatred towards men based on who knows what. I want to say modern day feminism brainwashing, but I do not know you and thus could never say such a label to you. But all you have done was misread, unable to comprehend and even twist words while missing the point of everything I said. Not once did you post and take it into consideration. When explaining to you why gays are hated and why it isn't men, but religion, you choose to ignore it and use the misogyny word. I do not think you know what that word means; it means to hate women, and nothing I said nor am I even close to such a state. But I guess man hating or lumping or fallacies and offensive post are fine for you, but not me.

[Edited by admin] I am not arguing for the hell of it. Sorry that is the impression you are getting, but that isn't right nor true.

dru is beautiful.:

@ Collin Berend and I am not even going to waste my time addressing that because there are better things I can do, like sharing articles about misogyny in India.

OK, fine, if that is what you wish to do, I have no issues with that. Not like I am disagreeing. Hopefully it makes changes when you share it though.

I need feminism because despite being the legal to have sex age of 16, my friend cannot purchase more than one emergency contraception pill. (We checked the box, which had another four slots for pills.)

Edit

@ Collin Berend
You can feel free to report me for any opinions I have. They can all be backed up, unlike your sexist views.

I need more feminism with more WoC, and trransgendered WoC. I don't know, but sometimes I feel that being Latinx and a feminist is sometimes hard. You have all these ideals and things engraved into your head, and then feminism came along and saved me--pretty much it saved me, there is no better way to put it.

I just wish there was more awareness for women of color, and especially now for black women.

That is all I want to say on that though.

I'm sort of a critic when it comes to feminism. Sites like Tumblr have completely ruined a once respectable movement (but first wave feminism was undeniably racist towards black women)
Feminism has accomplished a lot for women, but I also feel that a lot of so called "feminists" go on the web to bitch about their problems instead of helping women who are having their genitals mutilated in Africa.
However, here's my biggest criticism of feminism: How can we make both genders equal when we're only focusing on the issues of one of them?

@ Angels and Roses
I confess that I'm still sort of learning the ins and outs of the feminism movement throughout the years, but I do have few questions for you. One, I'm not entirely sure what you expect the average person to do when it comes to genital mutilation in Africa in a practical manner. The 'bitching' that you're dismissing though is usually an attempt to get awareness toward a topic. Nothing can be done to fix a situation if people aren't readily aware that it's going on. Also, there have been cases where when there is enough of a public outcry about something, people in power are then pushed to actually do something about it. Sometimes people just don't know in general what to do. Do you specifically know what you can do individually to help stop genital mutilation? Because I have a degree and I don't.

Also, technically speaking, the issue with feminism wouldn't be a one or the other thing when it comes to gender. There's more than two genders and the feminism movement is still getting better about the various genders, specifically within the transgender community. However, I don't think (I could be wrong though) that you meant the trans community. That being said, of CIS men specifically, can you tell me what issues of theirs you'd like to see the feminism movement addressing?

@ CallusedSilk
One of my biggest issues with feminism is its main theory: the patriarchy (but I'll get to that in a later comment).

I will use this comment to address your questions, however.

I have no problem with anyone raising awareness to something as abhorrent as female genital mutilation (but there's little to no awareness about male genital mutilation). Where I have the problem is where fundamentalist feminists find sexism and misogyny in every "controversial" statement a man makes. An example of this happened to a well-known gamer on Youtube called Markiplier. He did a walkthrough series with a good friend of his and they came onto the topic of domestic abuse. He said that a man should be able to defend himself if a woman hits him and vice versa, which I whole heartedly agree with. Tumblr feminists had a field-day with his comments, saying the video should be age-gated and his channel taken down. Nothing came of it, however.

I have no problems with non-radical feminists. I do disagree with some of their movements, but I know that the majority of the feminist community are not like Anita S. or other "radfems".

These videos should help clarify my stance on some feminist issues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eCnmeaoGMA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2bvAMj-GLc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JA4EPRbWhQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Nw3zyYpvs

I, for one, desire to either be a liberal politician, human rights activist/lawyer or investigative journalist. I want there to be true equality in the world. I don't think one gender needs to be made equal to another as they are already equal, it's that people just don't view the two (or three, depending on how people identify gender wise or at all) genders as equal, even feminists, which is where a lot of the problem lies.

Anyone can help. It can be something as small as donating to charity or getting actively involved in whatever liberal movements are out there. In a practical sense, the only way to stop it would actually be to either get the nation's respective government to outlaw the practice and make sure the law is obeyed. This would be hard, however. But if you feel really strongly about your feminism (or just human rights in general), it would be worth it. A girl was shot in the head by the Taliban (and survived) because she wanted girls to be educated (I think she won the Nobel Peace Prize, but I'm not sure)

I don't support feminism, or men's rights activism. Both movements bring up good, valid points, but are going the wrong way about it. I am for equality in the sense that it's both genders, not making one gender equal to another. If someone believes that one sex needs to be made equal to another sex, isn't it some form of sexism towards that gender, since they need to be made "equal"?

I understand why people identify with the feminist movement. Feminists are a hundred percent right about one thing: gender roles are the problem. That's why gay men and the transgender community are so misunderstood and hated, and I can see why they would identify with the movement and support it. I don't really know much about the transgender community to talk about them in fear of spreading misinformation, but I wasn't referencing the transgender community in my previous post.

I also didn't mean to offend anyone when I said the "two" genders. Feminism mainly focuses on men and women rather than anyone else outside of the traditional gender bracket. That's what I meant :D

CallusedSilk:

@ Angels and Roses
Do you specifically know what you can do individually to help stop genital mutilation? Because I have a degree and I don't."

Right now, I can't do anything except spread awareness around my hometown and on the web, and support any groups who decide to take action. I do write some essays on the issues that I hope to get published. I do understand that the majority of people don't have the time nor money to fly out to Africa to take action, but the "bitching" I mentioned has nothing to do with these serious issues, rather than radfems making every statement and action a man makes is sexist. I do hope one day I can help with these issues, though.

Patriarchy was an apt description for how we lived as little as sixty years ago. Men did oppress women, and while women aren't oppressing men, sexism exists towards men, and this is all because gender roles. I think we should all work together to rid the world of gender roles and sexism. How can feminists and men's rights activists claim to fight for equality when they aren't working together? I don't believe in a feminist community, or even an LGBT community, (I am a strong gay rights supporter). The whole world is one great community, and we need to work together and talk about these issues.

@ Angels and Roses
Okay, first and foremost. Even in your own examples, the 'radical' feminists are described as pseudo-feminists. So why are you using the 'radical' people as a reason to discredit an entire movement? Tumblr has a ton of stuff on there, not everything is what you're going to agree with. It is the best and the worst of everything. I can find douchey atheists on there, douchey christians, douchey feminists and douchey everything there, because there are douchey people. Do I agree with everything every single person has ever said under the guise of feminism? No. That's not the point. I mean, the Amazing Atheist is specifically talking about the most melodramatic of the internet if he's talking about people that are saying that rape is worse than genocide. He's also your only example, and he is, once again, purposely pulling out the most extreme examples. It's like getting your opinion on the Republican party by just listening to Anne Coulter or Rush Limbaugh.

I love that you have high ambitions. I really do, and I wish you all the luck in the world. However, I'm not sure how you can say all genders are equal, but then admit that people don't see them that way. You actively admit that's where problems arise. Feminism is about trying to limit the problems that result from that. We may not be able to change hearts right away, but we can change laws to protect genders so that genders being equality is not just in theory, but in practice as well. Also, I understand charity can be a good thing, but it's also a matter of knowing about those charities or even just being able to donate anything. Sometimes people just don't know what charities to turn to to help out or they feel like they can't afford to help, or they just literally can't afford to help. The people that do know how to make a difference are wonderful and they deserve all the respect and recognition in the world. You still haven't addressed the fact that a lot of people don't know what to do. And there isn't always an easy way to figure out. So, once again, why is there a problem with people discussing their frustration online and why demean it by calling it 'bitching'?

What does the men's rights activism movement bring up? Because, from my experience, they've mostly just brought up sexist stereotypes and used it as justification for their movement. Also, gender roles are really not the only reason why there's issues with homosexuality and the transgender community. Like, it's part of it, but it is not the only reason. Another is just historical issues since it wasn't until the 60's that homosexuality wasn't listed as a mental illness in America. Transgendered is still technically listed in the huge book of mental illness/disorders in America. There's also religious connotations with those issues and the idea that they're going against God's grand design. It wasn't all that long ago that being gay was against the law. That goes beyond gender roles. The offensive stereotypes about the LBGTQI+ community goes way beyond gender roles.

My next question is that I want to know why your specific type of comments are considered just spreading awareness, but when someone else wants to talk about things, even if they aren't something you consider serious, why it's okay to call it bitching. Why when someone wants to have a discussion about something they see as injustice, would you demean that? Just because it's not genital mutilation doesn't mean that it shouldn't get talked about. If we only ever talked about the biggest of the big issues, then we'd all be sitting around going, "Yeah, but this isn't genocide."

Something about the repetition of feminism and 'men's rights activists' is just driving me nuts. I'm trying to be super mature about this, but this is seriously making me angry. Feminism is a decades old movement about a group that has actually been oppressed. It's like saying that the civil rights movement and the white power movement should have been given equal air time and should have worked together. I just can't take it seriously at that point.

@ CallusedSilk
You seem to have ignored a lot of my post.

I have other problems with the movement besides pseudo-feminists, as I said in "One of my biggest issues with feminism is its main theory: the patriarchy (but I'll get to that in a later comment)".

Also, I explained the "bitching" comment, " but the "bitching" I mentioned has nothing to do with these serious issues, rather than radfems making every statement and action a man makes is sexist" and "Where I have the problem is where fundamentalist feminists find sexism and misogyny in every "controversial" statement a man makes. An example of this happened to a well-known gamer on Youtube called Markiplier. He did a walkthrough series with a good friend of his and they came onto the topic of domestic abuse. He said that a man should be able to defend himself if a woman hits him and vice versa, which I whole heartedly agree with. Tumblr feminists had a field-day with his comments, saying the video should be age-gated and his channel taken down. Nothing came of it, however." I'm not saying all feminists bitch. I'm saying the pointless rants radfems make are bitching.

Also, as I said in my previous post, "I have no problems with non-radical feminists. I do disagree with some of their movements, but I know that the majority of the feminist community are not like Anita S. or other "radfems"

The reason I referenced T.J (The Amazing Atheist) is because he helped me see what feminism was. I was a feminist once, but I admit to being largely ignorant of its teachings, theories and practices. When I watched his videos, and saw him deal with pseudo feminists (I know not all feminists are like this) and dismantle the notion of a "patriarchy", I decided to leave the movement.

The civil rights movement and the KKK are different: One of the movements was racist and the other was anti-racist and trying to get rights for blacks, who the KKK were racist against. Not all MRAs are sexist, just like not all feminists are sexist. MRAs and feminists both bring up valid points, as I said in " Both movements bring up good, valid points, but are going the wrong way about it"

None of the members of these movements are for true equality: if they were, they would be fighting for the rights of both, not one. Yes, women were oppressed and still are in a lot of countries today. Men haven't been oppressed, per se, but sexism and unfairness still exists towards them. However, feminism is not needed in the western world, where it's needed is Islamic countries.

I don't know much about the Republican party as those sort of politics don't exist in Ireland. All political parties are liberal, even if they were founded in conservative roots. I've researched into the Republican party and I don't agree with their pro-life, no gun control, anti gay marriage, taxing the poor and barely taxing the rich policies. Whether those policies are currently active in American politics today, I simply don't know.

I also didn't claim that my previous comment was spreading awareness. I do try to spread awareness, and I didn't claim that the women spreading awareness on these topics were bitching, as I said in "I have no problem with anyone raising awareness to something as abhorrent as female genital mutilation (but there's little to no awareness about male genital mutilation). Where I have the problem is where fundamentalist feminists find sexism and misogyny in every "controversial" statement a man makes"

If people don't know what to do, than they need to research. It's not up to me to tell them what to do.

As the niece of a gay male, I know all about why gays and transgenders are discriminated against. I do know what the Bible says about homosexuality, and I know that homosexuality was considered a mental illness.

CallusedSilk:

@ Angels and Roses

However, I'm not sure how you can say all genders are equal, but then admit that people don't see them that way. You actively admit that's where problems arise.

Just because something is outlawed doesn't mean it's put into practice. Drugs are illegal, but that doesn't stop people from selling them and using them.

I also don't understand why you misunderstood by most. All genders are equal. The reason gender equality movements exist is because people don't see them that way. Feminists don't see women as equal to men, so they say "We're going to make women equal to men". If they thought that women were already equal, why would they such a contradictory statement? It sounds to me that they were men as superior, and are going to make women equally as good, without realising that women and men are already equal, it's just that people don't view them as equal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbRwe9srFfA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1oYtp1iO7A
This should also clear some of my stances.

Another interesting video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oqyrflOQFc

@ Angels and Roses
My issue is that despite you only having problems with pseudo-feminists, you have let your opinion of those people color your entire view on feminism. You've pretty much said that the pseudo-feminists are the reason why you don't identify as feminist, which means that it is relevant to the conversation at hand. Patriarchy, while not my biggest concern when it comes to feminist issues, is still an issue in a lot of areas.

You also ignored a lot of what I said. My point was that you've decided you get to call someone else's opinion bitching. I don't care why you think it's bitching. I really don't. Calling anyone's opinion 'bitching' is entirely disrespectful, demeaning and condescending to their point of view. Even when it comes to your single youtube example? It's still not fair to address those human beings and their opinions as bitching. That was my point with that. You still can't see how your own judgment of them is cruel and unnecessary.

Some republicans are like that. Not all.

Once again, my point about the spreading awareness is that you've decided what deserves to be talked about and what does not deserve to be talked about. The point of discussion online is for people to discuss it. Not everything that gets discussed is going to be viewed as important or serious by everyone that sees that discussion. That doesn't mean that it's not worthy of being talked about. I don't perceive some things as sexist. If you look back at my former comments, you'll see I don't always agree on what's deemed sexist or misogynistic by people online. You can disagree with them, just be respectful about it and stop calling it bitching.

If women were truly equal in all forms of society then we wouldn't be having a lot of the discussions that we currently are. Women are more likely to be killed by their spouse than men are. Women are significantly more likely to be sexually abused. Laws are constantly trying to crop up to interfere with a woman's reproductive rights. One state in America tried to make it so that officers could use deadly force to stop a woman from getting an abortion. Women are still demonized for being sexually active and that's not just an American issue. Amanda Knox was in Italy and essentially was targeted for being sexually active. We still have cases where people claim women were 'asking for it'. We've got dozens of women coming forward about Bill Cosby and yet a lot of the talk about it is how those women are trying to get famous. We've still got talk in politics about how women are too 'emotional' to ever be president of the United States. There was a study in Texas that showed not that long ago that when women were arrested for similar crimes to men they actually got longer sentences than the men did. When it comes to the crime of prostitution, the prostitutes are more frequently gone after and get longer jail sentences than the male clients are. In the porn industry, women are paid significantly less than their male counterparts, are treated worse and are at a significantly higher risk for disease. They also have a much harder time getting hired for anything afterward than any guy is. There are still studies showing where if you submit two identical resumes to places hiring and the only thing you change is the first name from a male name to a female name that the male name is much more likely to get hired.

Sexism can be in the way you say things too and how you approach someone as well. People do need to be careful about how they interact with people and it does make things really tricky.

That all being said: are we in a much better place than we were hundreds of years ago? Yes. Absolutely. 100%. Women's place in the world is much better than it was even 50 years ago. Women couldn't serve on juries or open a bank account in a lot of places in America and weren't in many colleges at all back then. I am in no way saying women aren't doing much better than they were historically. In many ways, the world is much better than it was 50 years ago. I've never heard a feminist try to say women were worse off now than they were 50 years ago. That still doesn't mean we can just stop and everything's now fine. Nothing's perfect and I don't think it will ever be perfect, but that doesn't mean we stop trying to improve. There's nothing wrong with trying to improve and to try to eliminate the injustice of the world. What I have a problem with is people taking the 'radical' side of any group and deciding to generalize it to the entire group. It's how isms start in the first place.

You keep saying you don't have a problem with the 'non-radicals' of the feminist movement. Okay, great. Then why are almost all your videos specifically addressing the radical side of the movement as to why you're not part of it? Why are they the only ones you're willing to talk about? How can we all work together to fix the problems that do exist if the only thing you're willing to talk about are the people you don't like?

@ CallusedSilk
I never said that radfems were the sole reason that I don't identify as a feminist. I have said several times that I have a problem with their main theory: patriarchy. All feminists accept the patriarchy, it's central to their movement. I accept elements of sexism in the Western world, but not the patriarchy.

I have explained many times that I'm not dismissing valid points as bitching, I'm talking about the Anita S esque rants that they do.

@ Angels and Roses
My mistake, I thought it was your main concern since almost all of the videos you linked to were about discrediting the radical portion of it, and not dismantling the idea of a patriarchy. Which, not all feminists see it as the central part of it, since I'm a feminist and I consider sexism having multiple factors, one of them being a patriarchy, but it's not the sole reason.

Once again, even if they are doing an Anit S esque rant? Don't call it bitching. It's condescending and demeaning. Would you want someone looking at your post that you put thought and effort into and going, "Well, she's bitching about people again"? I doubt you would, so don't do it to other people. Just because you don't see it as valid doesn't mean it's not valid to that person.