As an AVID news reader and NPR junkie, and reading a lot of 'Feminist' arguments, I just can't be.
Some gems I have found, without source because I am lazy:
1. Profession has a lecture on human sexuality. Student claims to be a 'feminist' and argues professor was not sensitive enough to her needs by having a conversation so explicit and hurt her feelings, which was by her account 'sexist'. Woman claimed that she was sexually abused (I use the term loosely as she provided no evidence of this) and this lecture was a trigger (Which the student as informed of what the lesson was on). Professor is now under review.
2. Woman on a mission to Africa blames the white man for all female plight. Is raped by an African Male while on her mission. Blames white men in Western Society on attempts to get a book deal out of it.
3. Countless women report sexual assault by men because men 'rape them with their eyes' when wearing yoga pants. Such women argue that it is their right to wear such clothing and it is comfortable, and men should not be allowed to visually violate them due to this.
I can keep going. Some of the things I read and listen to shocks me.
You can call me sexist. I cook, clean and take care of my misses. I also provide and do all the 'work' a man would be assigned by traditional gender role. I also think women and men both have some advantages due to genetic disposition, chemistry, and how our brains are wired. Since will agree different emotional range and tolerance for others. When if comes down to it, women are better than men in many fields due to genetic disposition without considering any work or education level involved. The same can be said of men in some extents.
This being said, 'equal' is not what many popular feminists are shooting for. Women and men should have equal rights. But as a man, I can never:
1. Wear Yoga pants and get special treatment if people look at me because of it (I would get sent home from work, while my coworkers get to work, for example).
2. Get a professor to change his lesson plan because of my sensitivities and prior life experience.
3. You catch the drift.
This all being said, women are not treated equally to men. If you were to put me in any non - western country where women are not treated fairly by society, I am MORE than willing to vote, demonstrate, and donate to help the cause. I think that the priorities of the modern feminist movement are WAY OFF.
When did it shift from trying to mitigate the oppression of women in the work place to trying to advocate special and preferential treatment in all sectors of society?
In the US women have not have the right to vote that long for goodness sake. I can give plenty of real examples of women having unequal rights to men in one context or another. Most often now in the corporate world where biases and the psychological inclination to like 'those like you' often limits the advancement of women. Although the numbers are getting better, it is a real issue.
But most often I hear feminists touting an agenda which is more about personal bias and superiority than making things equal. This may not be the popular opinion, but until any group truly wants equality and not the advancement of one group over another, I cant identify myself with them or support the cause. It never stops at fair or equal, it is always about getting an advantage. This is human nature. I can't specify any blame. But trying to get special treatment above others in asinine.
