Can a man teach feminism?

In relation to men's behaviour, violence, how men behave towards women is not the same in all societies and all cultures.

That is actually the one thing all cultures seem to have in common regardless of the variety in style.

chemistrylab

Both siderism doesn't really work when the subject is Feminism, or male violence against women, but nice try.

I don't think rules are helpful, it is down to the parents to decide for themselves how they want to do it.

I had to laugh at this. NAFALT. Thread after thread on here about women picking up the slack because the fathers decided for themselves they just can't be arsed. Didn't read any further.

@bertrandrussell my post refers to bringing about legislative change for specific issues and cultural change. In relation to men's behaviour, violence, how men behave towards women is not the same in all societies and all cultures. There are things which could be done now to bring about future change. So definitely not just carry on the way we're doing. It is all things women can do. I thought your suggestions were mostly backward steps.

Chemistrylab- so basically just carry on the way we’re doing. Working well, isn’t it?

I’d say it depends how they teach it.

@fruitonaplatter sorry, I have only just had a chance to reply. I think I was saying teaching it is more comparable to teaching history than a language. Language is a subject in relation to which the personal experience is fairly essential if you want to teach it. Feminism is an academic subject like history, geography, law. No personal experience required. feminism is about liberation feminism according to the dictionary is the belief that men and women are equal, nothing to do with liberation. To you it may be liberation, to me it is choices, to someone else it is something else. But the definition is equality as I said. With equality you can make it what you like for your own life, so I am happy with the dictionary definition. I would prefer to work in partnership with men rather than be liberated.

@bertrandrussell I think that your list is asking for patronage by men and special rules for women. I don't think women want or need either. The need for equality is never going to be redundant, and history of how we have got to where we are (not far enough, granted) should not be wiped out, in my opinion. In relation to your points my comments would be:

1. Take full responsibility for their fare share of domestic work and childcare I don't think rules are helpful, it is down to the parents to decide for themselves how they want to do it.

2. Challenge sexist/ misogynist/violent talk and behaviour every time they see it and wherever they see it Again, I don't think we need rules, we need laws which are easily enforceable and we need to look at why men (and sometimes women) behave like this. In relation to violence, people are violent if they lack empathy and self control. It is not inevitable that anyone in our society should behave like this, it is down to upbringing and culture or at least that is the case for the vast majority. Things need to change but making it a man task to help women to tell people off for bad behaviour is not going to help.

3. Stop using prostitutes. I would say stop using prostitutes who are trafficked, pimped or desperate. Women who work as independent prostitutes have posted on mumsnet more than once to say that they want to do the work they do, what they want is legalisation and protection.

4. Challenge sexist work practices-for example making sure that any panel, board or committee they are on at least represents the sexy balance of the organization - if necessary refusing to go on it if it isn't Again, these rules are just patronising. The right people for the job should be on the panel/board/committee. Women are excellent in their own right they do not need to be patronised like this. We have laws protecting women in the work place and you will find that the decent organisations follow them. In graduate professional roles I have never, ever found that I have been sidelined because I am a woman. I do accept that there are work places and bosses which do not understand the law or want to apply it, but the solution is not getting men to step in to help us.

5. Stop watching porn I am guessing you mean porn which is demeaning? I would say it would be better to fight for better laws to stamp it out, to make it illegal to display or sell demeaning images.
We don't need men to help us do that.
6. Stop buying and playing sexist video games, and films that don't pass the Bedschel test And again
7. Watch Nanette weekly to keep their minds focussed really?
8. Think about how they parent their boys, and remember that they are the next generation of men Yes, granted, though this applies equally to women.

Not sure, but the women seem to like it lol.

'Lol'?

'anyone for anal'?

Vile vile misogyny.

And fucking stupid misogyny too. 'Do I have to stop watching porn too?' No, it's totally ethical when women watch other (teenage) women being raped for their sexual pleasure, you go girl.

Toonces can drive, but not very wel.

Sorry, it is Bertrand with the checklist, not Bewilderness.

If you watch the rape torture and abuse of women for entertainment and sexual stimulation you are a lot of things, starzig, but a Feminist is not one of them.
But thanks for showing us who you are.

What if the choice was between a man who was interested and enthusiastic about feminism and a woman who was not in the slightest bit interested in it.

I do not know how I could possible choose between a man who imagines he knows what it is to be a woman because he read up on it and a woman who knows what it is to be a woman but didn't read the Feminist theory.
Oh wait! Yes I do.

Nope

Not sure, but the women seem to like it lol.

Oo is it special ''approved by Dworkin'' non exploitative porn?

Are women to stop watching porn too? Let me know and I'll switch off my other computer

Here is my handy checklist of things that men can do help make the need for feminism redundant. It doesn’t include teaching feminism. Incidentally, does any institution tech feminism any more?

1. Take full responsibility for their fare share of domestic work and childcare.
2. Challenge sexist/ misogynist/violent talk and behaviour every time they see it and wherever they see it
3. Stop using prostitutes.
4. Challenge sexist work practices-for example making sure that any panel, board or committee they are on at least represents the sexy balance of the organization - if necessary refusing to go on it if it isn't.
5. Stop watching porn.
6. Stop buying and playing sexist video games, and films that don't pass the Bedschel test.
7. Watch Nanette weekly to keep their minds focussed.
8. Think about how they parent their boys, and remember that they are the next generation of men.

What if the choice was between a man who was interested and enthusiastic about feminism and a woman who was not in the slightest bit interested in it.

But why would it be??

That's what you always get with this argument isn't it? It's as boring as NAMALT. 'What if the choice for the new CEO was between a white man who had fought for the rights of women of colour's all his life and a black woman who only had one GCSE and that was in Keeping Black Women Out of the Boardroom'?'

I mean really. Like that's the fucking problem situation here.

First thing in the morning I am going down to SOAS and applying to teach a course in post colonialism.

I think that as a white British person I will have lots to offer. Especially when I have young people of colour from places like India and Zimbabwe in my class. I can imagine how delighted they will be with their new professor.

In an ideal world I agree a female would teach feminism but it may not be possible.

This isn't about what happens, it is about can a man really do the subject the justice it deserves. I see nothing from any man, that leads me to think they get it.

Apart from Graham Linehan, or Michael Conroy. But they would be the first to say that they wouldn't dream of overstepping the mark and deeming themselves able to teach it.

What if the choice was between a man who was interested and enthusiastic about feminism and a woman who was not in the slightest bit interested in it

I've always found the men who profess to be feminist or know all about it, tend to be utter creeps or just using it to lure vulnerable people in.

If a man tells you he is a feminist, work out what he is getting from that - as it will usually be a power grab.

I would find it odd if a man was teaching a whole module on feminism but male academics should absolutely be aware of and incorporate feminist theory. Also, having a vagina is not enough. Not all women are feminists by a long stretch. All of society needs to become more feminist and feminism needs to be woven in throughout the curriculum, not just at uni, but at school. It should be compulsory, not elective. Men should be forced to study it. Virtually no men study feminism at uni- it doesn’t interest them. I feel the same about critical race theory- it shouldn’t just be an option that is taught by POC for POC.