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Why are feminists so threatened by the MRA movement?

635 replies

LaVoixDeLaRaison · 09/09/2014 18:47

When I was at university, the Gender Equality society (of which I was a member) chose to rename itself the Feminist society, arguing that the only way equality could be achieved was by focusing on women's issues. This led some other students to set up an MRA group, which was met with some resistance from the feminists. On this very board I see commenters angrily referring to MRAs as if they are all members of an evil homogeneous group.

Isn't it possible that men and women both suffer oppression from society in different ways? That the levels of this oppression are not necessarily equal, but are still important if we are to achieve equality? I often see feminists agreeing with certain 'male issues' (e.g. media stereotypes, elevated male suicide rate), but suggesting that feminism has other priorities, and if they want to do something about these issues then they should make their own groups. Why do they get criticized when they do exactly that? Better still, wouldn't feminism be better off if it didn't alienate so many men (and women, focused on a wider range of issues, and stopped pitting the sexes against one another?

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StevesBollockAnalogy · 09/09/2014 23:32

No, I'm sorry, that's bollocks. The vast majority of feminists would say our patriarchal society as it stands is damaging for men. The fact is that it is far easier and more convenient to decide that a lot or most feminists are the radical "feminazis" than to think 'maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I am part of he problem". Feminism is not misandry, and anyone exhibiting misandrist views is not a feminist. It is as simple as that. Feminism is believing that men and women should receive equal rights and opportunities. Stop hiding behind the extremists.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 09/09/2014 23:32

I prefer the less subtle... (Thanks for these Zazzle, always useful to have stored).

Why are feminists so threatened by the MRA movement?
Zazzles007 · 09/09/2014 23:31

Come off it, we see right through you. Just because you are unable to see when others are lying, doesn't mean that others can't see when you are lying.

LaVoixDeLaRaison · 09/09/2014 23:31

PetulaGordino
Sorry for how I've come across because that's incorrect, I do believe that. I believe that self-styled MRAs systematically send abusive and threatening messages to many feminists. I just don't think the people who are genuinely interested in men's rights (and the wider scope of overall gender equality) should be tarred with the same brush as these idiots.

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PetulaGordino · 09/09/2014 23:30

Men's issues are never going to be "primary" in feminism

Why would they be?

Men will benefit as a whole through feminism's goals but it's never going to be the primary focus

The whole world is focused on men's issues. That is the point

Zazzles007 · 09/09/2014 23:30

Oh this is a good one too!

Why are feminists so threatened by the MRA movement?
ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 09/09/2014 23:30

All of your posts basically read 'blah blah, poor men blah blah, why aren't women fighting for our rights?!'

LaVoixDeLaRaison · 09/09/2014 23:28

Zazzles007

Where have I blamed any of the problems I've listed on feminism? In an earlier post I said exactly the opposite, so I'm curious as to why you've arrived at that conclusion.

StevesBollocksAnalogy
I fully intend on responding sensibly, that's been my intention on all posts! I'm glad that you find some of the issues affecting men abhorrent, because not all feminists would agree with you. If you feel that the issues affecting women are more pressing (and in most cases I'd be inclined to agree), then that's absolutely fine, and I'm not trying to say that you personally should devote your energy to problems which are secondary. What I am trying to say is that there should be room in the feminist movement for men's issues to be supported by those who do feel that they are primary, but this has become impossible due to pressure from radical feminists who attack MRAs, when really most of them want to work towards the same goal.

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PetulaGordino · 09/09/2014 23:27

Um, it's not just me alone who has received threats from MRAs. Why do you not believe that this is systemic behaviour of self-declared MRAs towards feminists?

Zazzles007 · 09/09/2014 23:25

'Like' Hoppy!

I like this one too, I think it is apt as well.

Why are feminists so threatened by the MRA movement?
ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 09/09/2014 23:25

Good apples are hide to find in the MRA ocean of arse holes.

I think its up to you to point me in the direction of the nice, non rape-threateney MRAs.

I'm waiting.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 09/09/2014 23:22

I like this one, for when we're getting into debates about (lack of) lived experience.

Why are feminists so threatened by the MRA movement?
LaVoixDeLaRaison · 09/09/2014 23:22

BuffyBotRebooted
Can you provide examples of where I've been condescending? Obviously I believe that my opinion is correct and yours is wrong (and I'm sure you believe the opposite), but I've tried to argue my perspective in a mature way, without resorting to name-calling.

Yes obviously the power dynamics are relevant, did I suggest they weren't somewhere?

PetulaGordino
I've been threatened by a feminist before, but I don't feel that all feminists are terrible people, especially since I identify as an equity feminist myself. There are bad apples in every bunch (admittedly lots of them in certain MRA groups, but don't let that stop you from finding the non-threatening ones).

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Zazzles007 · 09/09/2014 23:20

Please respond sensibly and actually say something instead of just typing words that sound good in your head.

Absolutely, faux intellectualism on the OP's part.

Zazzles007 · 09/09/2014 23:19

I think this sums up the OP's intentions:

Why are feminists so threatened by the MRA movement?
StevesBollockAnalogy · 09/09/2014 23:17

The fact is that the patriarchy damages men, in ways that you have already used as examples, at the same time as it oppresses women. We are working on the issues that affect men because they are held in place by the same things that oppress women in our society. MRA (in my experience) are not interested in dealing with the patriarchy, in my experiences, they want to keep the privileges that come at the expense of women in the patriarchy.

The issues that affect men are issues that I find abhorrent. The fact is that women are facing so much worse and it seems to be more urgent, in my eyes.

Please respond sensibly and actually say something instead of just typing words that sound good in your head.

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 09/09/2014 23:16

Also, your talk of maintaining anonymity online shows that you either don't know, or are ignoring the depths to which men will stoop and the lengths to which men will go, when it comes to threatening women.

And I have no desire to put myself through that to prove a point that you would be able to see if you just have looked at the news.

BuffyBotRebooted · 09/09/2014 23:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PetulaGordino · 09/09/2014 23:13

The response to the original query, that is

BuffyBotRebooted · 09/09/2014 23:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PetulaGordino · 09/09/2014 23:12

This has been answered numerous times

Because MRAs threaten feminists with violence. I'm not sure how much clearer that can be

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 09/09/2014 23:11

I was indeed going for the manly wisdom meme. Clicked on wrong one because I'm bleary eyed and snotty.

However, even through the snot I can see that all the many difficulties MRAs talk about facing, the terrible discrimination and lack of rights, are in fact being fought against by feminists. Feminists fighting to bring down rigid gender stereotypes that fuck us all over. The problem for twats like you MRAs seems to be that in order to actually benefit from this they would have to look within and do some critical self reflection, give up some of their own long held privileges and challenge themselves.

But they don't want to do that.

Cause, you know, effort.

gincamparidryvermouth · 09/09/2014 23:11

It was the distance between your point and the top of OP's head.

Zazzles007 · 09/09/2014 23:10

LOL, a breaded cat? Funnz and lolz Gin

LaVoixDeLaRaison · 09/09/2014 23:10

BuffyBotRebooted
Thanks for clarifying, I understand your grievance. I wasn't trying to say that lived experience was unimportant, so apologies for coming across like that. The specific argument I was making was partly influence by lived experiences, as well as objective content. I chose not to disclose my own lived experiences, because I'd already made my argument based on other sources. Therefore, I felt that personal comments about me were irrelevant to the discussion. Isn't that fair?

TheOriginalSteamingNit
I provided some examples off the top of my head about where I felt men might be disadvantaged compared to women, but it was by no means an exhaustive list. I can go into more detail if you'd like, but I didn't want to stray too far from the original query, which is why feminists had such a problem with MRAs.

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