to think the term "menz" is bloody irritating?!

[Squtternutbaush]

Since we've had the recent influx of (anti)feminist threads appearing I've noticed that anytime an issue arises that might put males at a disadvantage they are dismissed with this bloody belittling term and its really starting to grate on me now.

I understand that in most peoples eyes feminism is about equality but it seems that some are intent on turning it into a war between women and men and being just as disrespectful to males as they complain that males are to females.

I'm not denying in anyway that feminism is a great thing or that women haven't been at a disadvantage forever but I don't see how this attitude helps the cause.

I have a son and a daughter and I want them both to have a respect for people regardless of gender!

There's a difference between annoying and condescending/nasty Chunderella

Sorry had to bugger off on the school run.

FGM isn't compatible to male circumcision IMO because FGM is done purely for a male to exercise supposed rights over a females body by removing and mutilating vital sexual parts (organs?) to ensure that he has peace of mind and has no benefit whatsoever to the victim whereas male circumcision is done under the guise of religion to benefit (questionable at best) the male as a sign of masculinity by removing unnecessary skin which in most cases has no I'll effects.

There's also the way they are carried out, FGM is a brutal and traumatising event whereas male circumcision is a calm medicalised procedure.

At least that's how I view it but I'm no good explaining myself on "paper".

What do you mean it's 'working'?

Is the word actually designed to make people feel the person posting it, is being irritating and childish then?

Sorry, squtternut- I misunderstood you- somebody very quickly put name right

Chunderella IMO its doing exactly the opposite, I would love to venture onto the FWR boards and learn more/become more involved but the fact that it seems widely acceptable to be so dismissive to other human beings stops me from doing so.

Hakulyt it was my fault, I was posting and running... Never good, I wasn't clear!

I thinks it's horrible and patronising.

Also don't understand how you can want abolish gender in one discussion but focus entirely on gender in another and patronise those who attempt to bring up equality. Ummmm.. Make up your minds. Do you want equality or not? Are we equal or do you just want to play the equality card when it suits you?

That's your choice, though! Like what Hakylut said, it's not up to feminists to make everything all nice and unthreatening for everyone. If you think feminist discussion doesn't do enough to avoid hurting men's feelings and that stops you engaging, well maybe that's also something for you to think about.

FWIW I have a DH, DBro, DF, DFil, DSF (hope those are correct acronyms) - I love them all, luckily none of them are sexist fools - doesn't mean I can't be angry about the patriarchy! Doesn't mean I can't see that society is heavily geared up in their favour!

The above was to Squtternutbaush

Andmyunpopularopinionis- could I ask you to read my post of 9.06 and comment?

play the equality card when it suits you ? There's a phrase that presses my "disengage" button.

No matter what I'm reading or how interesting it is, as soon as I read the word 'menz', I just scroll down to the next post.

The reason being, the poster immediately loses credibility for me, so I don't bother reading any more.

And my - the poster who started the thread on gender abolition is a different person from the OP, and neither has used the 'menz' line. People on FWR are all different and have sometimes conflicting views, much like any other area of MN. There is no group mind that we are required to make up.

Yeah - what Lovecat said basically. I've had a enough of this anti FWR stuff.

Hiding thread.

Apologies for my impending derail....but I have also been told on the FWR board that I am harmful to feminism because I chose to be a SAHM. Apparently by not using my qualification and skills in the workplace I am helping to perpetuate gender inequality and supporting patriarchy. I think it was this particular accusation that has made me sceptical about some posters on the FWR board.
I thought feminism was supposed to increase equality and the choices that women can make, surely one of those choices should be choosing to be a SAHM if it is what a woman wants to do.

"Apologies for my impending derail....but I have also been told on the FWR board that I am harmful to feminism because I chose to be a SAHM. Apparently by not using my qualification and skills in the workplace I am helping to perpetuate gender inequality and supporting patriarchy. I think it was this particular accusation that has made me sceptical about some posters on the FWR board. "

Presumably you were also told by others that you weren't? People have different views. There is a well known poster on the education boards who also is very opposed to SAMH. Would that make you sceptical about posters on the Eucation boards?

It's not about fighting for equality in the sense of 'whatever we fight for on behalf of women we must equally prioritise and fight for it on behalf of men'.

It's about creating equality within a world that overwhelmingly advantages men.

If you can't hold this context in mnd, then fighting to equalise women with men can look a bit like taking things away from men/attacking/dismissing men.

But it's not. And we have to be able to have a space to talk about it, from a women's point of view, without forever having to also consider 'men' as a whole.

We all know individual examples where 'a man' we know is different to 'the men' in general. It's just these examples don't help tackle the structural problem, and derail that talk.

That's all it is. Once you 'get' that, use of 'the menz' becomes clearer and loses the dismissive sneery tone some people feel is implied. It's just not like that at all.

Yes hak some posters did tell me that I wasn't harmful to feminism but they were outnumbered by the posters who said the opposite. Like I said, it made me sceptical of SOME posters on the board, not all.

That's all it is. Once you 'get' that, use of 'the menz' becomes clearer and loses the dismissive sneery tone some people feel is implied. It's just not like that at all.

No it really doesn't

Thisis I'm not asking people to constantly consider men's feelings or make it a fluffy place but it is daunting for people who want to join in but are worried about setting off a massive argument by saying the wrong thing, it doesn't help me learn anything about feminism and it doesnt help me discuss the issues I may be facing without realising or what I can do about it.

I have no issue with what is being said but I do have an issue with how its put forward.

I also don't have the thread I commented on in "Threads I'm on" so assumed it had died off, I haven't seen any replies.

yanbu it is a horrid term
weird that it is used by people striving for rights.
I bet they would object to being called womez
I hate the way people think shutting people up with a sneer is ok, imo means you lost the debate