Why are feminists so threatened by the MRA movement?

[LaVoixDeLaRaison]

When I was at university, the Gender Equality society (of which I was a member) chose to rename itself the Feminist society, arguing that the only way equality could be achieved was by focusing on women's issues. This led some other students to set up an MRA group, which was met with some resistance from the feminists. On this very board I see commenters angrily referring to MRAs as if they are all members of an evil homogeneous group.

Isn't it possible that men and women both suffer oppression from society in different ways? That the levels of this oppression are not necessarily equal, but are still important if we are to achieve equality? I often see feminists agreeing with certain 'male issues' (e.g. media stereotypes, elevated male suicide rate), but suggesting that feminism has other priorities, and if they want to do something about these issues then they should make their own groups. Why do they get criticized when they do exactly that? Better still, wouldn't feminism be better off if it didn't alienate so many men (and women, focused on a wider range of issues, and stopped pitting the sexes against one another?

PenguinsIsSleepDeprived

Please then, tell me why it is relevant? I'm happy to answer that question, as long as it has some relevance to the discussion in hand. If your terms of reference differs significantly from mine (which clearly it does), perhaps you could try and explain to me why it's important that we disclose our gender if we want to discuss gender issues?

WinifredTheLostDenver

Yes, absolutely I believe that. I've seen similar things from people purporting to be MRAs myself, so I don't doubt that for a second. It is a truly disgusting thing to say, and I hope that these people are identified and will get the just punishment for their abuse. That does not mean that all (or even most) of the people who support men's rights activism are like that though.

Yes, but whether or not I am a mortifying dickhead, my argument (as detailed by my posts in this thread) would be exactly the same

No it wouldn't, because if you weren't a mortifying dickhead then you wouldn't post tedious pompous crap.

Since no one else has done it, allow me .

Insurance or annuities?both probably!

But all who get car insurance can be 20 one year and 50 in a later year; age distinction is not discrimination on that basis.

TA, zazzles!

I won't take what you have to say seriously

Guess what...?

That annuities stuff is fascinating. I wondered why the government were suddenly so keen to let 57 year old men piss away their lump sums on red sports cars.

Jelly. Wall

(Any flavour you like Winifred. I like raspberry)

Did anyone get OP to state which men's rights need to be activated?

Buona notte, Buffy!

BuffyBotRebooted
Sorry, what contradiction were you suggesting I had made? Also, what was your point about lived experience vs ad hominem? I'm not sure I understand your issue with it. In my defense I'm trying to answer about five different posters at once, so it's hard to keep track of everything.

gincamparidryvermouth
Well that pretty much confirms that you don't have anything useful to say, you just have contempt for anyone who doesn't subscribe to your view of the world. Please continue to insult me if you like, but unless you have anything to say which is relevant to the discussion, I'll be ignoring your posts.

The Original no one had got the OP to say anything other than waffle that sounds complicated to their gender irrelevant brain.

Winifred- true, but that isn't how the EU frames age as a protected characteristic.

And on that note, I am off to not sleep. Again.

steve's that'll be you getting ignored then!

Aww, sorry you're not sleeping.

Gute Nacht!

Please continue to insult me if you like

Cheers, will do!
In my minds eye you are a cat walking on its hind legs with a cane in one paw, twirling its moustache with its other paw.

I can't decide if the cat is wearing a fedora or a top hat though.

Like a Poirot of cats?

I was about to congratulate gincamp for getting told off and sent away... I shall be extra banished now

Winifred - I would, but the chick isn't so keen...

PS how will you know if I've said anything relevant to the "debate" unless you read my post, Mr Tibbles?

Like a Poirot of cats?

Yes! And of course it's French. Maybe it's sipping champagne...

My contribution to this argument is this, link freethoughtblogs.com/lousycanuck/2013/02/22/11-signs-you-might-be-an-mra/:

11 Signs you Might Be an MRA

1. You have no problem with the gender wage gap. But you hate having to pay for dates.

2. You insist that it’s a scientifically proven fact that men are stronger than women. But you complain about society believing that it’s worse for a man to hit a woman than for a woman to hit a man.

3. You believe that the age of consent is unfair and that there’s nothing wrong with having sex with teenage girls. But when you find out that a teenage girl enjoys sex, you believe she’s the biggest slut in the world. 

4. You hate when a woman automatically assumes that a man is a douchebag before getting to know him. But when you like a woman who likes another man, you assume he’s a douchebag just because he’s not you.

5. You believe that if women want equality, they should be drafted into the military. But you also believe that the military is not a place for women.

6. You hate when women assume that men are like wild animals. But you believe that a woman who doesn’t cover up and make herself invisible to men is just like someone wearing a meat suit around wild animals.

7. You hate the fact that men are bullied for not conforming to their male gender roles. But when you find out that a man disagrees with your beliefs about women’s rights, your immediate response is to try to emasculate him by comparing him to a woman as an insult.

8. You hate when women assume that there are no nice guys. But you call yourself a nice guy and act like it’s a rare quality that should cause women to be all over you.

9. You hate when women assume that men just want to get laid. But when you find out that a man is a feminist, you assume that he’s just doing it to get laid.

10. You hate when women make generalizations about all men. But when a woman calls you out for being sexist, you claim that all men think like you.

11. You insist that women should be responsible for protecting themselves from being raped. But when they follow the one piece of advice that actually works, which is being aware of red flags, you complain about them assuming that all men are rapists.

Have at him ladies .