Feminism

Legally, there are no barriers to women. Socially, women are subject to stifling gender roles, but so are men. The idea that men are the oppressors and women are the oppressed is out-dated. Yet, when you voice this view, people tend to assume you're a male who wants to reclaim his dominance rather than someone who is opposed to all prescribed gender conformity.

Oh, right, are you one of those people who only think feminism applies to the UK?

I never understand this view. In almost all societies all over the world women are oppressed, often horribly. 70% of the poorest people in the world are female. What does it matter if on a small island in Europe we've managed to get equality in the law (but not socially)? You think that the fight for womens rights should be dismissed just because in your small society you don't think it's that big a problem? Feminism is a worldwide movement- and speaking as part of a global community, 'women are the ones who get all the stick' is an understatement, if anything. Saying 'but that's not necessarily true in the UK' is as silly as saying 'but in my school there's no sexism'.

(Regarding just the UK- yes, men are oppressed by gender roles too, I completely agree. But if you look at which gender is better off- men are by far richer and more powerful than women.)

But government can't work properly if it doesn't represent its people. We need around half of MPs to be female, because we need women to have a voice in parliament. An all male government, no matter how excellent the individuals in it are, simply can't work because it's not representing the country properly.

I'm also wary about having a quota- that's not necessarily what I'm arguing for. But do you not find it incredibly worrying that only 20% of MPs are female? As a group which is so often marginalised we need to be represented in parliament. And yes, I would say exactly the same about any other minorities- I would be extremely worried if there were no black people in government, wouldn't you?

You say women have 'chosen' this- except they didn't have much choice, because there are so few female politicians. Most of the candidates are male- and unless you vote for someone purely for them being female, the likelihood is that the most viable option is going to be male.

IF all the women in the country said 'we will only vote for female candidates, every party would put a girl up'. It's the voter who is empowered, not the government.

Time and time again throughout history it's been proven that on the whole, with exceptions, it's women who fight for womens rights. If we don't have a female voice, we're going to get ignored- and we know this, because it's female politicians who have pushed for our rights in the past and who continue to. I'm not saying that male politicians are all sexist and oppressing or anything- but they can't always represent us or understand the unique and difficult issues facing us in the way that women can.

Legally, there are no barriers to women. Socially, women are subject to stifling gender roles, but so are men. The idea that men are the oppressors and women are the oppressed is out-dated. Yet, when you voice this view, people tend to assume you're a male who wants to reclaim his dominance rather than someone who is opposed to all prescribed gender conformity.

Anon or delete

Yeah so, feminism? They claim to be for equal rights but what about them not speaking out for (as we have seen today on TSR) the retierment age, the courts casual sexism towards men in children's cases, divorce, rape ect, car insurance (regardless of statistics) and paternity leave.

Another point I would like to bring up is abortions. I know it's a touchy subject but it HAS to be discussed. If a women gets pregnant she can terminate it if she pleases (And is knowingly aware of the physical and emotional side-effects). Yet a father has no right to this? Why is that? the child is 50% his. I propose a "Paternal abortion". Which would be a contract a father signs, which is in effect an abortion. It wouldn't really terminate the pregnancy, but it would strip the father of all legal and financial responsibility for the child. Women can do it when they please so why must a father (if he doesn't want the child) have to have his life screwed up when a women can choose wheather or not to have hers screwed up?

Thats hardly equal.

How can feminists claim to be equal? They are sexist towards men by NOT campaigning for these.

One of my friends volenteers as a Trauma Center and one of the projects he was working on was creating a male only trauma group. The center already have a women only one by the way. Yet when he called up a few hospitals the female receptionists claimed that a male only group was 'bad', 'illegal' and 'immoral'. I would like to know why the hell some feminists feel this way?

How can they claim to promote equality when they go against men in these senses?

Disclaimer: *NOT ALL but a number of them are against men to some extent. Even if its that they don't campaign for rights of the father in court or other points I've brought up*

Why? You need a gendered perspective when only one gender is oppressed.

It is this attitude that makes most men and a lot of women resent the feminist movement.

It's not an "attitude", it's the truth. Women still face the vast majority of sexual discrimination today, to say otherwise is completely naive.

Absolutely.

Women still face the vast majority of sexual discrimination today, to say otherwise is completely naive.

But what happens if the woman gets raped and wishes to abort? How on earth would she go about doing that?


I'm not a feminist, in fact i'll even go on to say that they annoy me. I'm very content with the way things are now, but the abortion thing is a touchy subject for me. As the woman is the one carrying the baby for 9 months, has to give birth to the baby and breast feed it I do feel that she should have a choice on whether she wants to abort it or not.

The reason why women abort is because they feel that they are unable to raise a baby in their current circumstances. It's not an act of selfishness, it's the exact opposite!
Maybe if men were the ones who had to give birth then they'd understand!

It's not an "attitude", it's the truth. Women still face the vast majority of sexual discrimination today, to say otherwise is completely naive.

How do men have the upper hand in society?