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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Why are feminists so threatened by the MRA movement?

635 replies

LaVoixDeLaRaison · 09/09/2014 18:47

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?

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ballsballsballs · 10/09/2014 17:20

Poor old sad Mortifying Dickhead and his oh so reasonable arguments.

I take my hat off to all who replied.

TheOriginalSteamingNit · 10/09/2014 17:28

I'm glad this wasn't deleted - would have been perfect fodder for them to fuel their notions about hysterical women banning and deleting stuff they don't like, although I know that wasn't the intention.

Also, it's been entertaining! And I can't wait for the opportunity in real life to refer to someone as a Mortifying Dickhead.

(And, if I hear Cameron talking about being 'heartbroken' again before the news is out, I suspect I'll get the opportunity!)

PetulaGordino · 10/09/2014 17:31

interestingly, nowhere has MNHQ said that the people reporting were asking for it to be deleted. Kate just said "thanks for all your reports". the decision to delete was MNHQ's, for the completely understandable reason that they don't really want to increase their workload by fending off MRAs for the next three days. but i'm glad they've agreed to reconsider, despite that

PetulaGordino · 10/09/2014 17:31

i would imagine that the people reporting were just asking for MNHQ to keep an eye, especially after the reddit link

Hakluyt · 10/09/2014 17:32

I don't understand why anyone reported, to be honest........

PetulaGordino · 10/09/2014 17:39

well i didn't report so i don't know, but it's a fairly obvious MRA troll/goader, and people may well have thought it worth keeping an eye

ThinkAboutItTomorrow · 10/09/2014 19:11

Sorry missed most of the thread but given men are in charge of well, everything, given the woeful representation of women in positions of power, all the things MRAs are complaining about are within male control. So, the MRAs are just arguing with men who have lots of rights about men having some more rights. Really don't get it.

WinifredTheLostDenver · 10/09/2014 22:07

Can I still post?

SevenZarkSeven · 10/09/2014 22:11

No.

SevenZarkSeven · 10/09/2014 22:11
Grin
WinifredTheLostDenver · 10/09/2014 22:27

Oh no, my PinkBrain is all confused now!

Grin
AnnieLobeseder · 11/09/2014 09:04

Thereyouarepeter, if you're still around, you might find this interesting.

Domestic Violence Kills More People Than Wars, Global Study Finds

AnnieLobeseder · 11/09/2014 09:06

“The one regret I have is we call it domestic violence as if it’s a domesticated cat. It is the most vicious form of violence there is,” Biden, who was instrumental in passing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) two decades ago, told the Today Show this week. “This whole culture for so long has put the onus on the woman. What were you wearing? What did you say? What did you do to provoke? That is never the appropriate question.”

This quote is from US Vice President Joe Biden. He sounds like a righteous dude.

WinifredTheLostDenver · 11/09/2014 09:08

Go Biden!

Zazzles007 · 11/09/2014 10:12

I like Biden as well, he seemed like a righteous dude to me when I was following the US elections closely some time ago.

WhatWouldFreddieDo · 11/09/2014 13:31

just managed to catch up (a little light relief from Scottish IndyRef threads)

I also need to read and digest, but yes, Biden sounds excellent.

TessOfTheFurbyvilles · 11/09/2014 13:57

VP Biden is amazing, I can personally vouch for him, as I met him two weeks ago at a Democratic fundraiser.

I went up and spoke to him, and thanked him and Obama for fighting for women's rights, which Repugnicans Republicans want to take away from us. We spoke for a couple of minutes and it was clear it's an issue he does indeed feel most strongly about.

He then commented on my heavily pregnant state and said, "a future Democrat in there I hope!" and I told him if me and DH have our way, most certainly.

A very affable, genuine man.

(I went into labor three hours later, which I keep joking was down to the excitement of having met VP Biden, perhaps I should write and tell him!)

AnnieLobeseder · 11/09/2014 14:06

That's a great story, Tess! I'm embarrassed to say I'd never heard of him, and it hadn't even occurred to me before today that I didn't know who the VP of the US was. International politics aren't my strong point Blush (though I've been watching all the stories of the GOP's war on women with appropriate horror).

FuckOffWeasel · 11/09/2014 14:21

COngrats tess . I've never tried politics for starting up labour. I'll keep it in mind for next time there will never be a next time god, let there never be a next time

Not sure why everyone is so worried "that we are playing in to their hands" by having the thread deleted. There is literally no way this thread could have gone that they would have seen feminist as reasonable human beings. short of copious blow jobs and offers of deluxe sandwiches

Zazzles007 · 11/09/2014 14:33

I've been watching all the stories of the GOP's war on women with appropriate horror

Oh god yes, talk about Mortifying Dickheads.....

TessOfTheFurbyvilles · 11/09/2014 14:45

Oh but there is no war on women, the GOP trolls on Twitter tell me so! Wink

AnnieLobeseder · 11/09/2014 14:47

Well then Tess, you should thanks them for their wisdom and make them a sandwich in gratitude!

PetulaGordino · 11/09/2014 14:50

i had to look up GOP

the republicans are so keen on civil liberties and individualism. but that doesn't include women's liberty and individual choice to have an abortion

TessOfTheFurbyvilles · 11/09/2014 14:56

Petula - they aren't keen on extending rights to African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, poor people or atheists.

In fact the only group GOP seem to think rights should exist for are wealthy, white middle-aged men from the South.

PetulaGordino · 11/09/2014 14:58

i know. you look at these words and they just don't mean what you think they would mean

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