Can a man teach feminism?

[lucydogz]

Reading the Guardian colour supp today, an article about gal dem quotes 2 young black women saying they were shocked, when taking a class on Feminism at Bristol university, that it was taken by white man.
Firstly, I see no relevance in his race. But why shouldn't a man teach Feminism?

Who wrote your book Chem?
Even the dictionary definition was changed to equality from liberation is some editions.
I would remind you though that Feminism was not a term applied to the women's movement in Rome in the First Century or the Suffragists in the 1800s.

Well yes. Males can know oppression. Not female oppression but nevertheless they can. Your point is he wouldn’t understand feminism like a woman as he lacks her experience, so he shouldn’t teach. My point is that is a ludicrous argument given how often in life people are doing things or also teach things that they didn’t experience in the same way. If you think i was purposefully being misleading I must admit you overestimate my intellect / linguistic capability. Or you have an incredible negative bias against male posters on this forum.

I honestly believe your argument is logically equivalent to saying Ruby Rose shouldn’t take the role as she is no real lesbian. Both situations is someone complaining that a person is doing something they cannot truly understand and taking away a job of an oppressed group. And yet you even called the other situation “adult bullying”.

No, in both situations a Group is claiming someone is taking the role of a minority. Yet in the other thread this was made fun of while here it’s acceptable. You’re also wrong about ScaJo, it wasn’t about whether the character was trans or not, it was decided it was to be and then ppl were mad no trans actor got the role of a trans character. Which makes it an equivalent situation to the ruby rose one.

thebewilderness your question about the author - I am guessing that you are saying it is wrong. The book isn't to hand, or I would check but if you are saying it is wrong then there is little point. Where does your definition that feminism means liberation, not equality, come from exactly? And what is your source re the dictionary definition changing?
Thanks

I honestly believe your argument is logically equivalent to saying Ruby Rose shouldn’t take the role as she is no real lesbian

A woman who has relationships with other women is a lesbian no? Or bisexual? I don't know enough about her but if she was hounded out of a role for not being lesbian enough, to play a lesbian role, that does indeed sound like bullying.

I can't see that has anything to do with a man teaching feminism. Surely Roby Rose does indeed understand lesbianism, being that she is, was or has been in lesbian relationships.

You’re also wrong about ScaJo, it wasn’t about whether the character was trans or not, it was decided it was to be and then ppl were mad no trans actor got the role of a trans character.

The role wasn't a trans one, it had been 'historically transed' and of course, it was a cartoon - so never existed in the first place. People get mad about everything women do, I believe there is a rule about it.

In both cases Ppl are claiming that someone’s is taking the job of a minority group. In Both ppl are claiming the person cannot fully understand what they are doing.

But that’s irrelevant. The role was to be trans. Whether or not that’s right is irrelevant to the fact that now an existing trans role was not given to a trans actor. And here we have ppl mad a role they think should go to a woman not given to a woman. And yet in the former ppl generally on this board ridiculed it, as they did with ruby, but in this thread it’s suddenly ok.

In both cases Ppl are claiming that someone’s is taking the job of a minority group. In Both ppl are claiming the person cannot fully understand what they are doing.

People can claim what they want, doesn't mean each instance is:
a - valid
b - the same
c - relevant

And of course you are missing the point that the jobs in question are acting roles. Not teaching roles.

True. But the answer to all a-c is yes. It’s intellectually dishonest to deny this.

So you’re saying one can’t teach something one hasn’t experienced? Why? History teachers haven’t experienced history unless maybe it’s a very recent topic.

Feminism is irrelevant today. I went to Bristol Uni and I can't believe that there would be any reason to teach 'feminism' other than in a historical context in which case I don't see why there should be a problem with the gender or race of the person teaching it.

Have the transgender advocates forcibly transitioned another Lesbian? Is that what you are talking about?

So you’re saying one can’t teach something one hasn’t experienced? Why?

You think some actors used to be/have experienced being/identify as/are cartoons?

Ok.

Feminism is irrelevant today

It is so irrelevant you came here to tell us that. Weird.

I should say, forcibly transitioned a Lesbian, post mortem.
Becoming quite the latest trend in female erasure, eh?

Early in the thread someone observed that a man shouldn't teach feminism because any man who wanted to teach feminism had by definition failed to understand it. I think this bears repeating

Early in the thread someone observed that a man shouldn't teach feminism because any man who wanted to teach feminism had by definition failed to understand it. I think this bears repeating

Aw shucks.

Question is, can a cartoon character teach feminism? Or is it too irrelevant, even for them?

So to sum up we should, as a country, not make any effort to teach feminism as a political theory because it might have to be taught by a man.

Young people studying an A level in politics can study socialism, liberalism, conservatism, environmentalism etc but the feminists on MN feel feminism should be removed from the syllabus.

Is that right?

Is that right?

It is all irrelevant. Haven't you heard?

No. That’s exactly my point pajamas. Neither teacher nor actor have. And yet this board deemed it fine to laugh at the criticism about the casting, but here it’s suddenly fine. You’ve also yet again managed to dodge the issue.

Feminism is historical. There is no need for a feminist movement anymore because we have achieved (unless I am mistaken) equal rights with men.

user that is not the issue being debated here. Also you’re quite clearly just baiting.

Early in the thread someone observed that a man shouldn't teach feminism because any man who wanted to teach feminism had by definition failed to understand it. I think this bears repeating

Repeating it does not make it correct. There is no reason why feminism as a political or philosophical academic concept cannot be taught by a man.

I have asked this before but if it can only be taught by a woman then which women?

Any women? Including liberal feminists ? Right wing women? Left wing? Women like Laurie Penny or Polly Vernon are usually written off on here as the wrong sort of feminist. Are they suitable candidates?

I'm having a Gaudy Night moment, as the evil women take bread from the mouths of hard-working men, in the name of their misplaced insistence on intellectual rigour.

Lass saying a man can't do something for an't mean any woman can

A woman cannot be a sperm donor. Doesn't mean every man can either.