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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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gincamparidryvermouth · 09/09/2014 22:37

And if I were wearing a fedora and identify as an 'epic gent', would it make my arguments any more or less valid?

Yes, obviously, because it would mean you were a mortifying dickhead.

BuffyBotRebooted · 09/09/2014 22:37

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SevenZarkSeven · 09/09/2014 22:36

Winifred I was just thinking about that - that the gender directive meant they shot themselves in the foot with annuities.

But then, the latest budget (UK obv) has just changed the rules so that people are no longer compelled to purchase annuities.

I hadn't thought to link the 2, but it's maybe not a coincidence at all.

Car insurance is of course compulsory.

What were your thoughts Winifred?

BuffyBotRebooted · 09/09/2014 22:34

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femin · 09/09/2014 22:34

What have I actually seen MRA's do?

Threaten feminists. Try and stop a women only swimming session in Camden used by a lot of South Asian women because it is "sexist". Complain that violent men are only getting supervised access to their children.

I wonder why I don't take what MRAs say seriously?

WinifredTheLostDenver · 09/09/2014 22:33

I don't mind the insurance thing.

The annuity thing is economically more meaningful, IMO.

LaVoixDeLaRaison · 09/09/2014 22:33

PenguinsIsSleepDeprived
No, I'm not saying whether I'm female or male. Again, I don't think it makes my argument any more or less correct, so it's irrelevant.

LineRunner
People who use insults like that our childish, regardless of gender. I assume that most of you are female, but I've got no way of knowing that. What I do know is that the poster tried to insult me by suggesting I wear a fedora and refer to myself as an 'epic gent'. That's childish, plain and simple. Fortunately, some of the posters in this thread have been more mature, and not stooped to the level of name-calling, even though they strongly disagreed with what I have to say. In an adult world, that's how discussion works.

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ouryve · 09/09/2014 22:32

And it's not just feminist women who take issue with MRA. This article makes me grin from ear to ear because this is a man pointing out to other men just how ridiculous a plea for more rights for men really is.
www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/08/robert-webb-roll-roll-see-man-talking-about-feminism-what-could-possibly-go-wrong

SevenZarkSeven · 09/09/2014 22:31

The interesting thing is that it would be better for men, young men especially, if they reduced their rates of serious car accidents.

That would reduce untold amounts of pain, grief, young lives damaged and so on.

But no. That wasn't the focus. The focus was "well STATISTICALLY men should pay more than women but snoffair cos WAAAH and anyway women can't drive for toffee I don't care what the stats say" and that was the end up that.

Laws which were brought in to protect minority/oppressed groups from being discriminated against were used by the group with the privilege to improve their own lot at the cost of the group with less money/power.

So, you know. Same old same old.

WinifredTheLostDenver · 09/09/2014 22:31

I was referencing this sentence, which seemed to imply you see yourself as a feminist but lament being called a "feminazi".

You do realize that this is why we get called 'feminazis' right?

If it helps, I don't think you're coming across as a feminist so you probably won't get called a feminazi. You can relax.

AnnieLobeseder · 09/09/2014 22:29

or.....

Why are feminists so threatened by the MRA movement?
LineRunner · 09/09/2014 22:28

Here he comes with the 'childish' accusation again. Women = children in his bubble?

ouryve · 09/09/2014 22:27

Because they're rancid arseholes who need to grow up?

PenguinsIsSleepDeprived · 09/09/2014 22:26

Are you saying you are female? Because if you are, you have a monumental and surprising lack of understanding of the female situation, and particularly women's experience of threats of violence and of actual violence.

LaVoixDeLaRaison · 09/09/2014 22:26

WinifredTheLostDenver
LineRunner
BuffyBotRebooted

'We' as in people who are all concerned about oppression. I think we can agree that we all belong to that group at least?

gincamparidryvermouth

And if I were wearing a fedora and identify as an 'epic gent', would it make my arguments any more or less valid? You're trying to insult me and it's childish, and has no place if you're aiming to actually present a coherent counter-argument. If you have no interest in doing so, then please continue with the insults. If you like you could focus on my lack of sexual attractiveness and experience, or make sweeping claims about what catastrophic event must have happened to me for me to have an opinion different to yours.

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BuffyBotRebooted · 09/09/2014 22:26

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LineRunner · 09/09/2014 22:25

I'll you what else is French.

Fucking French stuff and that.

BuffyBotRebooted · 09/09/2014 22:24

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gincamparidryvermouth · 09/09/2014 22:23

I've not given any indication of my gender

LOL.

gincamparidryvermouth · 09/09/2014 22:23

He even has the voice of reason in his name. Wow. That's us told.

inorite? AND it's in FRENCH like a PHILOSOPHER!

BuffyBotRebooted · 09/09/2014 22:22

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LaVoixDeLaRaison · 09/09/2014 22:22

PenguinsIsSleepDeprived
Why assume that I'm a man? I've not given any indication of my gender, so isn't this assumption merely indicative of your own prejudice? Would you like to tell me that I'm white and heterosexual too?

SevenZarkSeven
Apologies if that is how I have come across, because I absolutely do think that we should campaign for these groups in the areas that they do face oppression. I focused on the more 'trivial' issues (including but by no means limited to insurance) because I'm aware that I do not support a radical feminist theoretical perspective, and these are issues that radical feminists typically disagree with (in my experience). I did not mean to downplay the oppression suffered by other men (indeed I think they are affected by the issues I've mentioned as well as many more), or suggest that we should not campaign for the issues which directly affect them.

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SevenZarkSeven · 09/09/2014 22:21

LaVoix has just outed self as a card-carrying redfem who is doing a reverse AIBU style troll-attack to ensure that our MRA rebuffing skills are all up to snuff.

I think that's what just happened anyway.

I came to the conclusion using logic and evidence so I must be right.

gincamparidryvermouth · 09/09/2014 22:21

Do you really think it's correct to ban people like me from posting? If so then I wish you well, you can live in your bubble and never have to come into contact with anyone who holds different opinions to you

LOL yeah the ONLY place women come into contact with people whose opinions are different from our is on message boards.

I daresay this attitude might not serve you so well in the real world though.

You sounds like you're wearing a fedora and self-identify as an "epic gent."

AnnieLobeseder · 09/09/2014 22:21

HTH.

Why are feminists so threatened by the MRA movement?
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