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?

Chemistrylab- so basically just carry on the way we’re doing. Working well, isn’t it?

@bertrandrussell my post refers to bringing about legislative change for specific issues and cultural change. In relation to men's behaviour, violence, how men behave towards women is not the same in all societies and all cultures. There are things which could be done now to bring about future change. So definitely not just carry on the way we're doing. It is all things women can do. I thought your suggestions were mostly backward steps.

I don't think rules are helpful, it is down to the parents to decide for themselves how they want to do it.

I had to laugh at this. NAFALT. Thread after thread on here about women picking up the slack because the fathers decided for themselves they just can't be arsed. Didn't read any further.

chemistrylab

Both siderism doesn't really work when the subject is Feminism, or male violence against women, but nice try.

In relation to men's behaviour, violence, how men behave towards women is not the same in all societies and all cultures.

That is actually the one thing all cultures seem to have in common regardless of the variety in style.

chemistry you don’t sound like you think change is possible or indeed desirable. I guess you will also say that there isn’t really any gender inequality- it’s just that women happen to choose to do all the housework and the lower paid jobs.

Yes, a man can teach a university course on feminism. He can set appropriate reading and give students essay and exam questions that test their understanding of the material. He can assess their work. He can evaluate their contributions. From a purely academic perspective it's possible.

However, a woman teaching the same course will probably be more compelling, more able to give appropriate examples from her own experience. Most importantly, she's more likely to have used feminist theory extensively in her own work.

The example of a male lecturer teaching a course on feminism as part of a politics degree is worrying because there are indeed plenty of women who have expertise both in feminism and in political theory. If a university politics department decides it's essential to offer a course on feminism, they should appoint an expert (almost inevitably a woman) to teach it - and this woman will be able to contribute to other courses offered in the department.

The biggest problem with the example is that there are departments who don't see expertise in feminism as crucial to their teaching. It appals me that there are still all male departments in the fucking 21st century.

“I thought your suggestions were mostly backward steps.”

A backward step that men should take responsibility for male violence and sexism and do what they can to bring about change?

women picking up the slack because the fathers decided for themselves they just can't be arsed well, that doesn't happen in my house. does it in yours?

@thebewilderness there is zero both siderism in my post. I wrote the post from women's perspectives and about women's interests and women's rights and women's abilities.

“women picking up the slack because the fathers decided for themselves they just can't be arsed well, that doesn't happen in my house. does it in yours?”

It doesn’t happen in mine either. But it does in mNy others. And it also hPoens in many houses where they don’t think it does. There is such a low bar for men on this subject that a token gesture is often perceived as 50/50.

chemistrylab

Since you are perfectly capable of rereading it yourself I am not going to copy and past your words for you.

chemistry you don’t sound like you think change is possible or indeed desirable I was proposing change. legislative change is the most effective change for most of the points raised by @bertrandrussell, not getting menfolk to tell their mates off.

I guess you will also say that there isn’t really any gender inequality no definitely wouldn't say this. I said that in organisations which followed the law there isn't gender inequality, and didn't say anything about the general situation because i was responding to what bertrand had said. You are right, that is an issue.

@bertrandrussell a backward step that men should take responsibility for male violence and sexism and do what they can to bring about change? the backward step is asking for patronage and special rules (as I said). Men should take responsibility for male violence and sexism indeed. Ensuring that the legislative framework supports that would be a more positive step than asking for patronage and special rules. Which is what I said.

well, that doesn't happen in my house

And is your house a perfect microcosm of society? If it doesn't happen there it can't happen anywhere? Or is this comment just COMPLETELY REDUNDANT?

well, that doesn't happen in my house. does it in yours?

Thanks for clearing things up for any who were inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt.

What legislation do you think should be introduced?

And what do you mean by “special rules”?

@thebewilderness there was no both siderism. I don't need to reread it because I wrote it.

@bertrandrussell But it does in mNy others. And it also hPoens in many houses where they don’t think it does. There is such a low bar for men on this subject that a token gesture is often perceived as 50/50 yes but patronage and special rules are not going to make a jot of difference here. You must see that. What makes a difference is education and upbringing. And to a large extent it is mothers now who are going to make the difference in relation to how they bring up their sons, because women do the bulk of childcare at the moment, in the UK, as you have said. Not palatable, maybe, but true.

I don’t think I am understanding you properly. What “special rules”?

Why is it partonising for men to look to other men and think how they can improve things?

Chemtrails, it is rude to @ people while they are participating in a conversation thread with you.
I will not be participating with you on any threads in the future.

My typos have really gone crazy tonight?

@bewilderness what do you mean, benefit of the doubt? If you have a point, make it, be clear.

@bertrandrussell read what i wrote again, I have specifically referred to legislative change and rules. (the special rules are the rules you were proposing).

Women should have nothing to say about how men interact with other men or the worid in general. They aren't men so can't understand.

thebewilderness I didn't realise that you thought it was rude. I don't think it is rude - it means that if you wander off somewhere you get an email to tell you someone has addressed you on the thread.

So my suggestions of things that men could do to improve things are “special rules”.Right.

Perish the thought that men be expected to do anything! That’s women’s job.

Women should have nothing to say about how men interact with other men or the worid in general. They aren't men so can't understand actually, it is more that none of us have the right to prescribe to others how they should do things. The issue is not men vs women, it is to do with individual rights/power/equality. We have more equality now than ever before and most women embrace it. We do not need men to make special accommodations but equally we have no right to tell them to give us special accommodations either, or tell them what to do, just as they have no right to tell us what to do.

Not my Nigel!