"Feminism is equality"

[MrGHardy]

This is a response by a woman to a man talking about feminism:

"Your understanding is wrong. Where does everyone get this idea that feminism is some kind of for-all happy umbrella? It's for the equality of women vis-a-vis men. And men, Mr. Read, don't get to decide what feminism is."

I have come across this so often recently, where feminism is portrayed as "for equality so it is also for men" etc. and this Twitter user used a good phrase: "some kind of for-all happy umbrella".

I think it's a deliberate misrepresentation of feminism, in order to distract the discussion away from the issues, away from women, and to paint women in a bad light as some sort of female supremacists if they disagree with the idea, feminism is equality for all i.e. also for men. The idea "feminism is for women does not imply it is not for equality" seems also hard for people to understand and is easily misrepresented.

How do you deal with this? If you constantly have to first convince people that feminism is not for men, not a blanket "for-all happy umbrella", it gets very frustrating and distracts from the issue at hand (and instead leads to a debate about what feminism is, and what its goals are and who it is for). Additionally, as a man you are quickly accused of mansplaining (especially by women who for some reason believe that feminism is also for men) or at least asked for a definition which is a) difficult to do for me b) at least in my case necessarily leads to accusations of mansplaining.

We have already told you what feminism is but you're not listening!

All men have to do is LISTEN. But you can't even do that.

Love that Sparticus.

I'm sorry, I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that you're unable to tell me what it is because you don't actually know yourselves.

If we didn't know what a feminist was, we'd have done your work for you.

That's kinds the deal with feminism, it's a bitch like that.

and if you knew what a feminist was, you wouldn't ask.

Pat Robertson's explanation is one of my favourites:
"Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."

A meme doesn't explain the political and aspirational concepts of feminism.

We already said it was women's liberation. But then if you're the type of man who looks at the handful of women in his own family as some kind of evidence that women are not subjugated then you will never get it.

"Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians."

Exactly.

Now do you get it Shooz?

But then if you're the type of man who looks at the handful of women in his own family as some kind of evidence that women are not subjugated then you will never get it

In what way are women subjugated in the UK? Educate me.

DrNuShooz
Women face issues that men don't. For example;

Miscarriage.
The cost of menstrual products and the fact they are subject to taxation.
Cervical cancer and access to smear tests.
Access to abortion and contraception.
Coping with domestic violence when you have children, have to leave because of violence, and you lose your home and job.
Access to rape crisis support and counselling, including STD checks.

If you can't see the need for feminism, that's great for you. Other women have different lives, and have worked out ways to provide the support they need.

Feminism is political advocacy for women and girls worldwide.

Really not hard to define at all.

Educate me.
This will require work on your part. Please submit a 3000 word essay on the history of the women's liberation movement in 20th century Britain. We will mark it and give you a grade. Reading lists are widely available elsewhere in the forum. Deadline: three weeks from today.

If you constantly have to first convince people that feminism is not for men, not a blanket "for-all happy umbrella", it gets very frustrating and distracts from the issue at hand

Just rereading the op and this bit is particularly resonating with me ...at this precise moment!!

Crow

Men face issues as well. What you have stated there isn't subjugation. I see the need for men and women to be treated equally..

I suspect shooz is a teenager and just fancies a bit of a bunfight

datun

Especially with the 'stop lying' bit...quite a whining tone there

And no one was lying!!

Whining and demanding

Will there be a tantrum next .

DrNuShooz

Men dont need equal treatment to women as they never miscarry.

This will require work on your part. Please submit a 3000 word essay on the history of the women's liberation movement in 20th century Britain

Ha ha. I have a free weekend as DS is on holiday with his DGP. I'm tempted to actually do this.

But in return I expect you to answer questions like "even though women are subjugated in the UK more women than men go onto to higher education"

Do we have a deal? Can I make it a 1000 words?