Is feminism really about equality?

[BemusedExpression]

I've seen it mentioned many times on these threads that feminism is about the fight for equality. Yes, feminists are concerned with attaining the best that they can for women. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, except it's less about equality, and more about the benefits acquired for females.

Sometimes these aims are the same, but sometimes, they're not.

For example, women get more lenient punishments than males for committing the same crime but feminists are less concerned about addressing this inequality as it might lead to harsher treatment for females.

Feminists strongly support women's shelters but show little interest in supporting the few shelters for males in similar positions.

Feminists campaign strongly against Female Genital Mutilation, but the campaign doesn't extend to males - if you're born male, you can expect to have your genitals mutilated soon after birth.

Fighting the cause for women? Of course they are.
Fighting the cause for true equality? Let's hear your thoughts.

Note:
1.These examples are not meant to challenge the obvious worthiness of these subjects, but to examine why we treat them unequally.

1. Please don't hate me if I've made some bad assumptions. Just put me right.

sigh

This thread is closed and is waiting for MNHQ to remove it.
Please don't post any further comments.

And what if we do?

This thread is not closed and you don't get to say whether people can post on it

It's a rare one when the OP is their own thread police after one single reply.

Let's just say that slug made me realise the futility of asking stupid questions.

Why post such a daft second post? MNHQ won't (or shouldn't) remove your thread just because you ask, as you've realised how silly your OP was.

Just put me right

Thanks, but no thanks.

@AnyFucker
Slug just put me right, so that's that.

I don't think this should be removed.

Thank you OP for realising the questions were misjudged.

I'd not seen that page before, so thanks for that too slug.

Actually I don't believe this is misjudged at all, because this is generally speaking true. If you want to be equal, you shouldn't expect anything more, or anything less. if you do, then you need to dig deep and reevaluate exactly where you stand on the sociopolitical compass.
Surely you are better working with men rather than against them?

We are equal.

No, feminism isn't about 'equality'. It's about overthrowing a patriarchal system that inherently oppresses 51% of the population.

Hth.

Ok, I can accept this point for now, but what would you replace it with? surely the most able and qualified person should get the job regardless of age, gender, race etc...

and I struggle to find anything but weak anecdotal evidence of oppression, if anything, I regularly find women are favoured in this day and age.

Every MRA ever has probably used this. Helps them deceive themselves into believing men have it so bad. Diddums.

God, is it still really like this here when the sun goes down? How depressing.
I love slug's link. A perfect antidote.
And a lol at enginerd. Favoured. Bahahahahaha.

Gosh.

I personally don't agree with feminism these days. Many women agree. It's not about equality anymore like you it was many years ago. It's about getting an advantage over men, not being on an equal level. Feminism became a mean, vindictive, man hating philosophy. Basically saying every man is evil etc. I'm all for equality but definitely not feminism. Just my two cents..

"Feminism became a mean, vindictive, man hating philosophy. Basically saying every man is evil etc"
Could you give some examples?

I definitely think there has been a big mix up in the last decade with the perception of feminism and what it is. Back 100 years ago when women were fighting (physically!) for the right to vote, that was about equality, and rightly so. Nowadays you get 16-year-olds who think the gender wage gap is awful and that women suffer more than men. The reality is, women aren't equal in any society but neither are men, both genders have their drawbacks (take paternity leave and fathers being favourable in court cases with children). There are so many things to consider and people forget about the simple things. Inequality is happening in much more ways than with women, it happens with homophobia, transphobia, racism and so much more. Feminism has a right to be alive and healthy but we mustn't get caught up in fighting for something when other issues are getting pushed aside too.

Society discriminates against both women and men in different ways.

Women still face discrimination in the workplace. Men still face discrimination regarding their children. Both are wrong.

"if you want to be equal" ??

Erm, we are. Maybe just try recognising that for once.

So you'd like feminists to fight for men too? Yeah we'll just have a party with the MRA's. That'll work well.

If men want equality
men will have to learn to lower their fists not raise them and not use them to prop themselves up in some masculine perceived higher position.

I don't believe men's history is about brave self sacrificing heroic martyrs.
That idea is pure male hype and male propaganda and self glorification

The truth is men's history is more about a bunch of vain violent thieving self concerned bullying thugs and rapists, who cornered women and girls and trampled all over them for sport and to make themselves feel good.
The hollowest victory is the most favoured of all victories for the shallowest of men!

Yeah