Why should men support feminism?

'Why should men treat women with decency', eh?

So according to your logic, it is also weird, when white, European women want to help black African women avoid FGM? How about when Christians go to Palenstine to be human shields at schools? When young people help old people? When ablebodied people help disabled people?

Maybe you should look up the word "empathy".

Why should men support feminism?

Two reasons at least (there may be more):

1. The world would be a better place if women had a fair share in running things.

      ---   And, more importantly,

1. It is the right thing to do. (Yes, a simple ethical fact.)

why shouldn't us men just be focusing on the areas where we fare worse and celebrating the areas where we experience benefit?

Well no, not really. In my area, I work in homelessness. Almost all the workers are female. Men's trauma services, almost all women. Mental health, health, refuges, immigrant services, children's, youth, housing... all staffed by women. There are a few men working there. Can you guess which roles they seem to acquire with startling speed?

So by all means work in MH and addictions. Just try to do the grass roots, face to face work. Don't immediately move into management. Otherwise you won't be focusing on the important areas for men.

Because society as a whole benefits when women are educated, motivated and successful. Women are more involved in child raising so are more involved in setting the aspirations for children. I'm perfectly happy to support issues where there is inequality for men, I have sons but even if I didn't, equal opportunity for everyone is the desirable state is it not?

What would you do to support it though? If you aren't fighting equality, that is good enough. I think it is for women to decide what equality looks like and be leading the charge on it and if when go along with it, that is all we need.

The difference between issues that affect men and women is where the power lies. Women didn't create a society in which men are more likely to commit suicide, men did.

By all means look at ways to reduce suicide and what can be learned from women having lower rates but it isn't a gender issue in the same way as the pay gap is, for example. High male suicide rates is not a symptom of women's power in society and they, therefore, have no reason to resist attempts to change it.

"We get paid more but you have fewer deaths at work" and similar arguments are childish. Other than a few misguided anti-feminists, I don't think men really care about the areas they fare worse because they don't see it as an injustice.

Arguing who has it worse is missing the point. It a question of whether you want a less gendered society or not.

Of course it's straight forward if you think women are people, as valid and worthwhile as men.

...if feminists are focusing on the issues affecting them negatively (workplace etc) but ignoring the areas where men fare worst (suicide/murder/assault/etc) then why shouldn't us men just be focusing on the areas where we fare worse and celebrating the areas where we experience benefit?

The things where men are better off result in a worse situation for women (e.g. the pay gap). But the areas that women better do not have a negative result on men - women having a lower suicide rate does not result in a higher rate for men.

Because you may have a daughter? Or a granddaughter? And because to make things anywhere near equal for them, you need to start now.

My husband has pro-feminist views. I didn't convince or persuade him. Women being people; and the injustice of oppression; are things you either 'get' on an instinctive level, or you don't. It's not about what feminism can do 'for men'. The entire point is that it's not about that. I think it's really strange for a man to want feminists to persuade him to support us. Our movement doesn't benefit from the involvement of the sort of men who don't understand why women should be liberated from sex-based oppression.

The problem I've seen with men's issues like "men's suicide rate" is that the vast majority of men simply cannot be arsed to do anything to help each other out.

Although we often hear that feminism is about equality, the overwhelming consensus seems to be that it's solely about achieving equality for women and focusing on their problems (this is certainly evident in practice).

Yes. Why would that surprise you? Do you castigate prostate or penile cancer support groups for not tackling the terrible issue of ovarian cancer?

It's a moral stance surely? The desire to treat everyone as you would wish to be treated. Can't see why I wouldn't support that even with a detrimental impact on my own class.

ScottCheggJnr There is a crisis of toxic masculinity which is bad for both men and women. I would definitely recommend you focus on that. You may inadvertently be helping women in the process but try not to worry about that too much.

There is very little reason for men who don't give a shit about women to support feminism.

Most people support causes that are about groups other than their own.

Knock yourself out. If you want to tackle toxic masculinity which results in suicide, murder and assault then good for you. What do you intend to do?