Post
by Forty Two » Mon Nov 09, 2015 6:24 pm
JimC wrote:Forty Two wrote:Brian Peacock wrote:Forty Two wrote:What views represent the typical feminist?
I don't know. What do you think they are, or might be?
It probably depends on if you're talking about a person who doesn't think much about it, and just thinks feminism equates to egalitarianism, versus an activist who is advancing the cause of feminism. The major activists that publish and write on the topic do not appear particularly focused on equality. I'm a feminist if it means basic equality of the sexes under the law. However, the problem is that most prominent feminists either go beyond that, or think that preferences toward the female sex is necessary in order to effectuate equality.
For example, I've heard feminists publish and speak opening, and with good reception from their audiences, that women should speak first at conferences or in a college classroom, and that if there is to be a panel discussion occurring and women don't make up half the panel, then the discussion should terminate. This was advocated by a feminist college professor at Dalhousie, a Canadian university - professor Haivens, I think. I've seen feminists publish screeds demanding that the State pay for tampons for women. I've seen policies seriously proposed that men should be taxed more or paid less than women for the same job with the same qualifications and experience. I've seen feminists say that rape occurs any time sexual intercourse occurs which has not been initiated by the woman out of her own genuine afection and desire. I have heard feminists claim that due process and the presumption of innocence are concepts that are outdated and inapplicable to the crime of rape.
I suspect the "leading" feminist writers and commentators take cover under "moderate" feminism. The moderates think we're talking about equality. The leading voices, and public commentators and writers on the topic are concerned with much more than that.
This is, of course, a far more balanced and nuanced view than Dave the Dodo's rants. But, in terms of real effect, the fringe academics of extreme feminism (the source of your examples) have little impact in any practical sense, other than provoking outrage (which of course they delight in). However, beyond absolutely plain equality, there are serious issues about violence towards women, to take one example. Clearly, there are parts of the non-western world where this is a much bigger problem, but domestic violence (mostly but not exclusively against women) is a serious problem in developed countries as well, and at least part of this problem connects to male attitudes towards women, and as such is fair game for a feminist analysis (hopefully eschewing the "all men are violent rapists" nonsense). Additionally, for whatever combination of reasons, women who reach retirement age have much less financial security than men, particularly if they have lost their male partners. This is a real and significant issue.
Well, see here is where we get into some deeper nuance. One, men are far more likely to be the victims of violence than women, and two, men are as likely as women to suffer domestic violence than women. Women commit domestic violence at least as often as men do. That is, at least according to the published statistics. There is presently legal, systemic favoritism toward women in western countries such as the US and the UK. There is no legal, systemic favoritism toward men in those same countries.
The feminist fringe, though, is important because it is being taken seriously these days, whereas 10 or 20 years ago, they were laughed at. More and more, the PTSD suffering trigger-warned feminist is becoming an accepted feature of our culture. They are, it seems to me, slowly winning the zeitgeist of feminism.
“When I was in college, I took a terrorism class. ... The thing that was interesting in the class was every time the professor said ‘Al Qaeda’ his shoulders went up, But you know, it is that you don’t say ‘America’ with an intensity, you don’t say ‘England’ with the intensity. You don’t say ‘the army’ with the intensity,” she continued. “... But you say these names [Al Qaeda] because you want that word to carry weight. You want it to be something.” - Ilhan Omar
