MPs discuss feminism in the school curriculum

Can they discuss sexism against men?
Indoctrination in schools is a bad thing.

Reply 2

Original post by balanced

Can they discuss sexism against men?
Indoctrination in schools is a bad thing.

It's about the history of the movement. It's not just about sexism either, it's about women's issues. Feminism is a movement deep rooted in history which has achieved a number of substantial issues such as getting women the right to vote, getting them equalities in the work place, looking at reasons why vulnerable women go into prostitution, abolishing the legalization of marital rape etc,
Yes, third wave feminists can be a bit silly at times, but it's incredibly narrow minded to not look at what has been achieved in context.

There is no history of a deep rooted men's rights movement akin to feminism. There still isn't really today. Mens' rights should be discussed and highlighted but those who pretend to be about men's rights really just seem to be anti-feminists. It's fine for men to campaign on men's issues, it's not okay for them to say women can't campaign on women's issues.

If MRA really did care about men's rights, they'd be campaigning against austerity as male poverty is one of the key causes of suicide. They'd also move away from this image that men must be Macho and emotionless as mental health issues is so prevalent and a big cause of suicide.
Instead, MRA tend to go for the 'men should be men' approach which means those who do suffer from depression and anxiety don't speak out and get the help and treatment they need.
But how many MRA will be campaigning on those issues? Instead they seem to focus on issues that effect women, not men.

In that respect feminism has done more for men's rights, by challenging gender roles and the ideas that men showing emotion is a sign of weakness.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 3

ChaoticButterfly

20

Original post by Bornblue

It's about the history of the movement. It's not just about sexism either, it's about women's issues. Feminism is a movement deep rooted in history which has achieved a number of substantial issues such as getting women the right to vote, getting them equalities in the work place, looking at reasons why vulnerable women go into prostitution, abolishing the legalization of marital rape etc,
Yes, third wave feminists can be a bit silly at time, but it's incredibly narrow minded to not look at what has been achieved in context.

There is no history of a deep rooted men's rights movement akin to feminism. There still isn't really today. Mens' rights should be discussed and highlighted but those who pretend to be about men's rights really just seem to be anti-feminists. It's fine for men to campaign on men's issues, it's not okay for them to say women can't campaign on women's issues.

If MRA really did care about men's rights, they'd be campaigning against austerity as male poverty is one of the key causes of suicide. They'd also move away from this image that men must be Macho and emotionless as mental health issues is so prevalent and a big cause of suicide.
Instead, MRA tend to go for the 'men should be men' approach which means those who do suffer from depression and anxiety don't speak out and get the help and treatment they need.
But how many MRA will be campaigning on those issues? Instead they seem to focus on issues that effect women, not men.

In that respect feminism has done more for men's rights, by challenging gender roles and the ideas that men showing emotion is a sign of weakness.

MRA answer to problems for men is to not fix them but take us all back to when women were majorly oppressed. So at least women had it just as bad if not worse. They also for some reason compel reject some kind fo class analysis of things as that would be dangerously left wing. Working class wage slave men has nothing to do with class but everything to do with evil oppression by women.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 4

balanced

Original post by Bornblue

It's about the history of the movement. It's not just about sexism either, it's about women's issues. Feminism is a movement deep rooted in history which has achieved a number of substantial issues such as getting women the right to vote, getting them equalities in the work place, looking at reasons why vulnerable women go into prostitution, abolishing the legalization of marital rape etc,
Yes, third wave feminists can be a bit silly at time, but it's incredibly narrow minded to not look at what has been achieved in context.

There is no history of a deep rooted men's rights movement akin to feminism. There still isn't really today. Mens' rights should be discussed and highlighted but those who pretend to be about men's rights really just seem to be anti-feminists. It's fine for men to campaign on men's issues, it's not okay for them to say women can't campaign on women's issues.

If MRA really did care about men's rights, they'd be campaigning against austerity as male poverty is one of the key causes of suicide. They'd also move away from this image that men must be Macho and emotionless as mental health issues is so prevalent and a big cause of suicide.
Instead, MRA tend to go for the 'men should be men' approach which means those who do suffer from depression and anxiety don't speak out and get the help and treatment they need.
But how many MRA will be campaigning on those issues? Instead they seem to focus on issues that effect women, not men.

In that respect feminism has done more for men's rights, by challenging gender roles and the ideas that men showing emotion is a sign of weakness.

I believe austerity helps the poorest the most, with left wing policies leaving the country is financial gold for a few years, only to crash the economy, leaving the poor left out.This is why people view austerity as bad for the poor, when in actual fact it is brought about because of an economic crisis.

Reply 5

Original post by ChaoticButterfly

MRA answer to problems for men is to not fix them but take us all back to when women were majorly oppressed. So at least women had it just as bad if not worse. They also for some reason compel reject some kind fo class analysis of things as that would be dangerously left wing. Working class wage slave men has nothing to do with class but everything to do with evil oppression by women.

Exactly.
If anything those on the left and/or feminists are better on men's issues such as poverty and mental health, which are two of the biggest causes of male suicide.

It's why MRA 'concern' for men's rights is so fake. They don't really care, they just dislike feminists. A common one they focus on extensively is the fact legally women can't rape men.

They may have a point, but what is a bigger problem for men today, the fact that when a woman 'rapes' a man it is called sexual assault, or the fact that many men are committing suicide because of poverty and mental health issues?

Now I don't agree with everything feminism does or says, but at least it focuses on issues that effect women, whereas MRA doesn't really focus on issues that effect men.

Reply 6

meenu89

19

Dr Rupa Huq is the sister of Konnie Huq, the former Blue Peter presenter.

oh not this again

InB4 angry people.

Without taking a judgement on the merits of Feminism I think it really should play some part in a Politics syllabus. It's arguably been one of the most important and influential movements both within (and outside of) politics in the 20th century so having no mention of it seems to me to be rather foolish.

Reply 10

username2228735

I very much doubt students will be taught about aspects of feminism that actually promote equality of genders, and instead the focus will be on 'how not to hurt a woman's feelings'. Shame what this movement has become.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 11

sleepysnooze

3

Original post by ChaoticButterfly

MRA answer to problems for men is to not fix them but take us all back to when women were majorly oppressed.

why do you think that? if you think it's okay to generalise MRAs as sexist, why isn't it equally okay to generalise all feminists as feminazis?

Reply 12

Original post by Aceadria

I very much doubt students will be taught about aspects of feminism that actually promote equality of genders, and instead the focus will be on 'how not to hurt a woman's feelings'. Shame what this movement has become.

Uchh.
It is talking about studying feminism from a historical perspective and what the movement has achieved.

Reply 13

Original post by sleepysnooze

why do you think that? if you think it's okay to generalise MRAs as sexist, why isn't it equally okay to generalise all feminists as feminazis?

Because i've yet to see a MRA who actually cares about men's rights.
How many MRA focus on poverty and mental health, the two biggest causes of young mens suicide?

If MRA cared about men's issues they'd be campaigning against austerity and a class system which causes male poverty.
If they cared about men's issues they would not assert that all men have to be macho, as it means men who have mental health issues are too afraid to seek help for fear of being perceived weak.

Why do MRA reject any class analysis for poor men?

I've yet to come across a MRA who actually cares about men's issues and isn't just an anti-feminist.

Feminism is not perfect by any means but it actually cares about issues that effect women.

Reply 14

username2228735

Original post by Bornblue

Uchh.
It is talking about studying feminism from a historical perspective and what the movement has achieved.

No, it wasn't. The whole issue was about role models and expanding feminism to more than just women.

Reply 15

Original post by Aceadria

No, it wasn't. The whole issue was about role models and expanding feminism to more than just women.

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jan/11/feminism-reinstated-a-level-politics-syllabus-schools-minister

It's not. It's about the historical feminist critique of our political and class system.
It's not about third wave or post-modern feminists.
I don't see anywhere where it says that it will be about not hurting a woman's feelings.

Reply 16

balanced

Original post by Aceadria

I very much doubt students will be taught about aspects of feminism that actually promote equality of genders, and instead the focus will be on 'how not to hurt a woman's feelings'. Shame what this movement has become.

1st wave: very noble and brave indeed
2nd wave :s-smilie:

till good, but oddities emerging
3rd wave: Ministrants , who no longer care about both gender's rights.

Reply 17

scrotgrot

16

Original post by Bornblue

http://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/jan/11/feminism-reinstated-a-level-politics-syllabus-schools-minister

It's not. It's about the historical feminist critique of our political and class system.
It's not about third wave or post-modern feminists.
I don't see anywhere where it says that it will be about not hurting a woman's feelings.

That historiography is false. We might compare it to the jingoistic way British history used to be taught.

Kids will have enough de Beauvoir, Arendt etc shoved down their throats when they go on to university.

Imagine if kids were taught about class rather than gender at such length. Teachers are supposed to be left-wing, I'd far rather they were doing it properly.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 18

Original post by balanced

1st wave: very noble and brave indeed
2nd wave :s-smilie:

till good, but oddities emerging
3rd wave: Ministrants , who no longer care about both gender's rights.

They've done more for men's issues recently than men have. Especially with regards to mental health. Challenging gender stereotypes such as men showing emotion is weak, has encouraged more men to speak up and seek help when they are upset rather than hiding it out of fear of being seen as weak.

It's MRA lot who hold the view that men must be macho and emotion is a sign of weakness which is incredibly damaging, given that mental health is the number one cause of young male suicide.

Obivously feminism cares primarily about women's rights, but they've done an awful lot more for men than MRA have.

Reply 19

sdotd