To dislike "Radical Feminism"

[InternetPerson]

I've got nothing against feminists that fight for womens rights and genuinely want the best the best for everyone and don't hate anyone, but "RadFems" tend to be full of bitterness and hatred. And I'm not just talking about kids, these are high profile, intelligent women with power and influence. Do you think it's unreasonable to dislike something where most people think men are inherantly evil and to be feared? Or do you think their hatred is fair and we should respect them for their good work in trying to make humans hate eath other even more?

Like, I said, I have nothing against Feminism, it's done a lot of great work down the years and still does, but "Rad Fem" and "Feminism" are too completly different things in my opinion. Is this a wrong conclusion?

AIBU?

What a fantastically cool old lady BigChocFrenzy, and how sad that someone's first response is to denigrate her appearance.

Oh and last night when I was looking around the site instead of sleeping as I should I saw 'radical' being used in a variety of contexts, without any comment that meant the person using the word was spoiling for an argument or in some way aligned to terrorists. It's a really stupid argument.

Is 'militant' no longer being used as an insult toward feminists?

I think even radical isn't shocking enough.
Feminazi is so much more appealing.

ReallyTired - that is simply tragic

It used to that girls were forbidden to be in church choirs. There was lots of crap that girls could not sing 50 years ago. Feminists campaigned to make churches and cathedrals give girls opportunities. Having girls in the church choir paved the way to allow women deacons and then women priests.

Making it impossible for a boy to become head chorister means that choirs In the future will have no tenors, baritones or basses to sing church music. Having nothing but a treble/ Sorprano/ alto choir is a less rich experience.
We need opportunities for both men and women, girls and boys. Sexism against men and boys. Some choir choirs do this by having a head girl and a head boy.

Most sexism against women is deemed silly and trivial and not on a par with being raped.

Do you think without male leadership all the boys will leave then ReallyTired? I'm not sure I see the connection otherwise. It seems a bit odd in a choir that presumably includes adults (as very few 13 year olds woudl have a full bass voice surely?) most of the voices are excluded from a leadership role. I'd find that irritating as an alto and might well chose another choir to sing with, but presumably this is just one church?

I don't like discrimination either way (or for other none sex related issues for that matter), but there are structural reasons why discrimination against the dominant group (in this context boys/men) is less of an issue.

Thank you nooka for pointing out what a completely stupid argument that was. Friday night is night in our house so wasn't entirely sure if is been missing some subtlety that meant it was an entirely logical POV

I did the quiz linked a few pages back and turns out I'm a rad fem , so thanks op. You have inspired me to find out more.

to be honest I find the idea of a man who has grown up with all male advantage suddenly deciding that he would like to try being a woman, growing a pair of breasts and having his genitalia removed....
and THEN trying to colonise feminism and female spaces...
a bit creepy.
Sorry but I am with Germaine Greer on this one.
I would never be rude on a personal level though.

NO obviously, your experience is unique.
As was mine
Like I said no need to swear.
I am no expert of course.

no no I wouldn't be so rude ego! I am sure you are not creepy.xx I would never say 'chick with dick'
And I know what some men can be like about transwomen, utter pricks. I would stick up for you there ego, every time.

This isn't a trans thread, Ego, you're just spooling for a fight.

Thank you, Buffy, for your post this morning; it was well thought out and informative.

OP, I am glad you came back, however briefly, to point us to your source of information on RadFems. As a PP pointed out almost all those quotes are decades old, taken out of context, etc. I think engaging with current feminism debates might give you a better idea of which ideology you do/don't agree.

Are you seriously saying that transwomen don't grow up with male privilege?

Trans battle going on, I'm a bit ignorant but I'm very interested in learning how a transwoman grows a dick.

And yet again a discussion about feminism has become a discussion about trans.

I don't say 'chicks with dicks', I will happily use peoples preferred pronouns, because I can be polite, but the way some trans people insist that womens spaces, womens issues, womens health etc. are no longer 'womens' because they have decided to redefine what a woman is, is total bullshit.

It's also tiresome to spend your whole life trying to break out of the boxes of gender stereotyping only to have trans people called 'brave' for gushing about their female brains, their empathy, their goddamn nail varnish.

Ego seriously? Nobody on here was interested in talking about how radical feminists approach Trans issues until you brought it up, with your aggressive "I'm Trans, ask me" approach
Radical feminism is about more than just Trans issues.
Of course Trans women grow up with male privilege, privilege is about how society treats you as a member of a particular social group, not how privileged you feel inside.