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?

Behold. A MAN has arrived. To tell us why we are all emotional and irrational and Doing. Feminism. Wrong. He even has the voice of reason in his name. Wow. That's us told.

LaVoix your posts are nonsensical.

"I'm glad that you agree that men can be oppressed too, even if you show a disregard for the lived experiences of men who don't fit your definition of those who can be oppressed."

What do you think my "etc" was for? It was to communicate that my list was not exhaustive. I am also not sure where I am "disregarding lived experiences". Is this about the insurance premiums again?

I also wonder if you need a quick look at some reference materials so as to understand what "oppression" actually means. "A man somewhere feels hard done by" is not evidence of systemic oppression.

"Should feminists concern themselves with the men who you believe are oppressed?"

Don't you believe that the groups of men I did mention (Poor men, non-white men (in certain countries), gay men lots and lots often to the point of death etc and so on.) are oppressed? It sounds like you don't Which might explain why you have yet again failed to demonstrate any concern for these groups.

Porto - Is there a 'fee wine for feminists' campaign. I'll join!

PortofinoRevisited

Why have you reported me? For having an opinion different to yours? You do realize that this is why we get called 'feminazis' right? I have been polite throughout this discussion, avoided making any personal attacks or insults, and tried to the best of my ability to ground all of my arguments in logic or evidence. The same has not been true of everyone who has replied to me, but I'd like to thank those who have at least been courteous, even if they strongly disagreed.

Do you really think it's correct to ban people like me from posting? If so then I wish you well, you can live in your bubble and never have to come into contact with anyone who holds different opinions to you. I daresay this attitude might not serve you so well in the real world though.

Who is this "we" of which you speak?

Ifyourehoppy

I liked it

' We'??

HTH.

Do you really think it's correct to ban people like me from posting? If so then I wish you well, you can live in your bubble and never have to come into contact with anyone who holds different opinions to you

LOL yeah the ONLY place women come into contact with people whose opinions are different from our is on message boards.

I daresay this attitude might not serve you so well in the real world though.

You sounds like you're wearing a fedora and self-identify as an "epic gent."

LaVoix has just outed self as a card-carrying redfem who is doing a reverse AIBU style troll-attack to ensure that our MRA rebuffing skills are all up to snuff.

I think that's what just happened anyway.

I came to the conclusion using logic and evidence so I must be right.

PenguinsIsSleepDeprived
Why assume that I'm a man? I've not given any indication of my gender, so isn't this assumption merely indicative of your own prejudice? Would you like to tell me that I'm white and heterosexual too?

SevenZarkSeven
Apologies if that is how I have come across, because I absolutely do think that we should campaign for these groups in the areas that they do face oppression. I focused on the more 'trivial' issues (including but by no means limited to insurance) because I'm aware that I do not support a radical feminist theoretical perspective, and these are issues that radical feminists typically disagree with (in my experience). I did not mean to downplay the oppression suffered by other men (indeed I think they are affected by the issues I've mentioned as well as many more), or suggest that we should not campaign for the issues which directly affect them.

He even has the voice of reason in his name. Wow. That's us told.

inorite? AND it's in FRENCH like a PHILOSOPHER!

I've not given any indication of my gender

LOL.

I'll you what else is French.

Fucking French stuff and that.

WinifredTheLostDenver
LineRunner
BuffyBotRebooted

'We' as in people who are all concerned about oppression. I think we can agree that we all belong to that group at least?

gincamparidryvermouth

And if I were wearing a fedora and identify as an 'epic gent', would it make my arguments any more or less valid? You're trying to insult me and it's childish, and has no place if you're aiming to actually present a coherent counter-argument. If you have no interest in doing so, then please continue with the insults. If you like you could focus on my lack of sexual attractiveness and experience, or make sweeping claims about what catastrophic event must have happened to me for me to have an opinion different to yours.

Are you saying you are female? Because if you are, you have a monumental and surprising lack of understanding of the female situation, and particularly women's experience of threats of violence and of actual violence.

Because they're rancid arseholes who need to grow up?

Here he comes with the 'childish' accusation again. Women = children in his bubble?

or.....