feminist men...

[keryx]

Over at WHB, the topic of feminism and men has been raised again. Each time there's a different angle to it.

A part of me rebels at this, that we spend so much time talking about men. But then, that group is (unlike feminist or feminist_rage) pretty solidly feminist, and generally in agreement. So we end up talking about a relatively limited assortment of topics - side issues, action items, and examination of the movement itself. Yes, it's a sort of navel-gazing, but it's valuable to talk about these things nevertheless. Like... why AREN'T more men feminists? Or why don't we recognize them? A lot of the folks asked to name 5 feminist men struggled or gave up entirely.

I know quite a few feminist men. I sure saw a bunch of at least feminist-friendly guys at the March. I can't imagine bizarrojack or elektro_c, despite whatever snidegrrl and kitty_pitchfork might have said/wanted/whatever, would have shown up if they hadn't also had some strong feelings about women's rights. Are they feminists? I don't know. But they're certainly friends of feminism.

My own partner, his friends, my best friend's last boyfriend, the guys who volunteer to do clinic defense, my dad, the guy singer from Bis. They're all at least expressive of feminist views. If you think about the textbook definition of feminism as thinking men and women should be equal and doing something about it (and more in favor of equality than counter to it, which is something I've seen too many so-called "feminist men" forget), I know a lot of feminist guys.

Honestly, I don't know what the big deal is. I don't see any reason most men shouldn't be feminists (or at least friendly to feminism). Unless they're just asshats.

Comments

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

There's a big deal? Who? Wha? Where? :)

[keryx.livejournal.com]

Hey, there are those who think men can't be feminists, or that men have to sit in the stinky commode rear of the feminist Greyhound. I mock them, most of the time, though I try to be open to their perspective.

Today, I mock.

[fatshadow.livejournal.com]

You know I love it when you say asshat.

[bizarrojack.livejournal.com]

it's true, I am a feminist.
Really the problem with people not wanting to be considered feminist is that there are so many people who think the term means whatever they want it to mean. Personally I think we need more specific and well known vocabulary for funky viewpoints that are repeatedly associated with feminism (e.g. female supremecism).

[keryx.livejournal.com]

more specific and well known vocabulary for funky viewpoints that are repeatedly associated with feminism

That is a really good point. I don't think the female supremacists should even be allowed to call themselves feminists, quite honestly. But barring their adoption of a more descriptive name, we actual feminists could call them something else.