..another feminist thread!

[monkeytrousers]

Has 'equality' feminism led women up a blind alley by placing the bar for equality at what men have rather than what women need?

I'm going to be posing a question like this for my dissertation - though it's going to be more about the media and feminism. When I thought of this as a possible question though it struck me that I may be charged with being an anti-feminist. What do you think? (I'm not looking for ideas, just opinions BTW)

Don't think it's anti-feminist. Interesting debate to be had about it, I would think. The way it is phrased means the answer depends entirely on who is defining what women 'need' though.

I'm not sure that women necessarily all need one set of things and men need another. I think a lot of our problems come from the fact that we assume the needs of both "groups" can be clearly defined. Yes, there are differences around bearing and to some extent, raising children but the evidence seems to be that so far, no-one can clearly and reasonably define what all men or all women need so perhaps we should pursue a different course?

I think that there are fundamental differences between men and women that mean we "need" different things.

For instance, no man is ever going to give birth, very few(!) are going to breastfeed - so no provision needs to be made in law for men's rights in pregnancy and postnatally to be protected.

I think that striving for equality will mean both men and women won't get the best deal possible.

I think the 'bar' has to be placed at equality because many women will need and/or want that to be themselves fufilled.

The key to making it work is by not placing unnecessary and/or unrealistic expectations on women. They shouldn't be made to feel obligated to reach for that bar or even aim for it if it's not what they want. But they should feel it's theirs for the taking should they want it.

The equality should be the opportunity and the potential not the actual achievement.

As John F. Kennedy proclaimed,
'We cannot strive for equality before first embracing diversity!'

Can you be a bit more specific re what you mean about the media & feminism?

Do you mean about how women feel about being portrayed in media or is a free for all

I can't Mercy, that would be giving too much away, especially as I've only got a plan really - I've made this question a chaper in it now rather than an overarching theme. You're right of course about the definition of terms, 'need' especially. That will require a bit of research as to what women were calling for in the 60s/70s, although germaine Greer has always been there shouting for 'liberation'.

There was quite a wide range of feminist aims, some were looking for gender eqaulity within the system as it stood, and others were more interested in reforming society to suit a more female agenda. You will have a lot of reading to do to cover all the bases on this one

germain greer once said something to the effect that women were completely missing the point if they strived only for what men have.

what do men have that women need? do all men have it? i think one has to be very careful when speaking about a whole gender.

i think there is often an assumpion of better pay, prospects, benefits maybe that go along with a job, power. yes for a few. i reckon at grunt level everyone is kicken in the bollocks equally, is that equality?