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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Do you think men can be feminists?

999 replies

AVirginLitTheCandle · 01/01/2017 23:39

This may sound like a stupid question but do you think men can be feminists?

I've always thought they can be but I perhaps some radical feminists will disagree with me.

OP posts:
amispartacus · 04/01/2017 13:46

I don't need to state I think that is wrong "because I am a feminist

What about..

As someone who has experience of something, I believe that we need to do insert something here.

So you bring your experience to the table - IYSWIM?

HilbertRiddle · 04/01/2017 13:50

"there are issues that overwhelmingly affect women that need to be addressed. Does that make you a feminist?" - from my experience that is way more than half way to being a feminist. Because those arguing against feminism are the ones who think no such issues exist to begin with.

No, it doesn't, and if I am honest I'd rather not be called a feminist if it means being associated with the likes of Sparrowhawk. But that doesn't change the fact that no one has yet come up with a definition of what feminism is (or what they think it is) and then shown men cannot fit that. And that is all I am arguing about, whether or not I am or not or want to be or not, called a feminist is irrelevant.

HilbertRiddle · 04/01/2017 13:51

As someone who has experience of something, I believe that we need to do insert something here.

Sounds a lot better, yes!

BertrandRussell · 04/01/2017 13:55

So what are you doing to improve things, Hilbert?

HilbertRiddle · 04/01/2017 13:57

"You're questioning my morality??? Are you for real Grin"

Yes. Do you not understand the concept of liberty or do you find it odd? And if you find it odd, then I would indeed question your morality.

Although to be fair on you, you probably just do not see how this example relates to liberty, because as I said above, arguing for something you don't think is right, or being open to opposing views, is something completely alien to you.

TheSparrowhawk · 04/01/2017 14:01

I never did anything to Lass's liberty, I said what she was doing was odd.

TheSparrowhawk · 04/01/2017 14:01

I think you possibly believe I have more power than I actually do, if you think I'm impinging on Lass's liberty!

HilbertRiddle · 04/01/2017 14:04

"So what are you doing to improve things, Hilbert?" - do I have to "do something" to be a feminist?

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 04/01/2017 14:05

I don't need to state I think that is wrong "because I am a feminist

What about..

As someone who has experience of something, I believe that we need to do insert something here

So you bring your experience to the table - IYSWIM?

But I have no experience of being in this situation. I don't live in NI. I've never been in the position of needing an abortion far less needing one and being unable to access help.

HilbertRiddle · 04/01/2017 14:06

I did not say you are infringing her liberty. I said what she is doing represents the idea of liberty.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 04/01/2017 14:12

"So you're very keen for men to be able to call themselves something that you consider to make no difference? Odd."

I think you are grossly exaggerating what I actually said which was no more than I didn't see why they could not say they were if they wanted to. Not sure how you manage to interpret that as being "very keen"

amispartacus · 04/01/2017 14:12

I've never been in the position of needing an abortion far less needing one and being unable to access help

How about?

I believe that women should be offered abortions in NI because I believe that women have the ultimate say over their body?

In other words, saying why you have that belief - giving a reason for that belief.

TheSparrowhawk · 04/01/2017 14:12

Ok...so what's the guff about my morality then?

HilbertRiddle · 04/01/2017 14:14

Ok...so what's the guff about my morality then? - that you find the idea of liberty odd.

amispartacus · 04/01/2017 14:14

Or

Because I am a feminist, I believe that.....

Instead of

As a feminist, I believe that.

TheSparrowhawk · 04/01/2017 14:16

Sorry, Lass, you're not very keen. You just want to tell feminists who can be a feminist even though you don't agree with feminism yourself.

TheSparrowhawk · 04/01/2017 14:17

I don't find the idea of liberty odd. I find someone saying they disagree with a particular viewpoint then seeking to define the parameters of that viewpoint odd.

HilbertRiddle · 04/01/2017 14:22

You said above you find it odd that someone would fight for the right of someone else to be/think/believe something, when they themselves find that something pointless.

America has gone to war in the name of that idea and I dare say it's a rather marvelous cultural development.

But as I said multiple times now, I do think by now it's not that you don't find liberty odd, just that you are wholly incapable of accepting opposing views.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 04/01/2017 14:22

Because I am a feminist, I believe that.....

Instead of

As a feminist, I believe that

Well I don't want to call myself a feminist (I have said why a couple of posts back) and my husband, who feels as strongly as I do that the situation in NI is wrong, can't (according to some feminists) even be a feminist. So the qualifier either doesn't apply and/or is meaningless as to why both of us (occasionally) donate to ASN.

I believe that women should be offered abortions in NI because I believe that women should have the right to terminate unwanted pregnancies.

TheSparrowhawk · 04/01/2017 14:25

Ha! That's rich Hilbert. You're the one who has waded into a discussion on a feminist board to tell women about feminism!

Klaphat · 04/01/2017 14:26

"there are issues that overwhelmingly affect women that need to be addressed. Does that make you a feminist?" - from my experience that is way more than half way to being a feminist. Because those arguing against feminism are the ones who think no such issues exist to begin with.

I accept climate change is occurring, because I am a normal, reasonably intelligent person. I am not a climate change denier. However I do not go out of my way to recycle, I do not campaign (or even talk) about climate change with people. Am I an environmentalist?

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 04/01/2017 14:30

Sorry, Lass, you're not very keen. You just want to tell feminists who can be a feminist even though you don't agree with feminism yourself

You are missing the point. Several early posters had no difficulty with the idea men can be feminists but generally qualified their statements that it was their opinion.

You think they can't but presented your opinion as if it were an objective fact.

I have given my opinion I think they can, if it means anything to them. That is merely expressing my opinion, which you are free to disagree with. Expressing a different opinion is not "telling" any one anything.

HilbertRiddle · 04/01/2017 14:33

"Ha! That's rich Hilbert. You're the one who has waded into a discussion on a feminist board to tell women about feminism!" - refers to what?

TheSparrowhawk · 04/01/2017 14:39

You accuse me of not accepting opposing views, and yet you're the man who has come on a board for feminists to tell women them about feminism. Somewhat ironic, no? Clearly your 'feminism' doesn't extend to listening to women (unless those women agree with you of course).

Anyhow I'm tired of engaging with you, so I'm going to ignore you from here on in. Rest assured your posts still amuse me though.

LassWiTheDelicateAir · 04/01/2017 14:45

Clearly your 'feminism' doesn't extend to listening to women (unless those women agree with you of course)

To be honest Sparrowhawk that could be said of you too.

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