What's Wrong With Feminism, From A Former Feminist
That headline is about the writer of the article I linked.
I've actually never been a feminist or described myself that way. I realized that I was not a feminist my freshman year at the University of Michigan, after I took a women's studies class that had us reading about how all men are rapists.
Feminists frequently get their panties in a bunch over my refusing to call myself a feminist -- a term I would be embarrassed to use to describe myself. In fact, on the Facebook page of an academic society I'm the president of, my explaining that I am not a feminist but a humanist -- for the fair treatment of any person, no matter their genitalia -- sparked a post by an aghast woman and a long conversation.
Well, Barnard student Toni Airaksinen, formerly "an obedient soldier in the crusade against the patriarchy," writes at Quillette that she is not a feminist (though she attends a women's college), and I'm with her on her reasoning:
Feminism is purported to be a movement towards equality. Fair enough. Most reasonable people support that. But feminism manifests itself differently; instead of the focus on rights and equal opportunity, it is on personal victimhood, political correctness, and attacking others. And, as with all movements, the parameters of feminism are defined by the loudest voices. It is this dominant ideology that I cannot associate myself with.Contemporary feminism inculcates adherents into a cult of victimhood and exquisite vulnerability--it panders to women's traumas and teaches them that they have been victimized solely because they are female. Women's only sin? Living in a world dominated by the patriarchy. The remedy, especially for college students? Trigger warnings, safe spaces, overblown statistics on assault, intolerance of dissent and vitriolic attacks on men.
...In one year, I took three Women's Studies classes. My professors taught me that, because I was a woman, I was victimized and oppressed. Prior to enrolling, I did not see myself that way. Students were told that we are supposed to be angry. Rage was a "normal" reaction. To dismantle the systems of oppression, confrontation was required. For me, and many of my peers, these classes made us feel heady with righteousness. The more strongly we identified with these feelings, the closer we came to a sense that liberation was possible. My growing awareness and attachment to the feminism movement felt powerful, exhilarating, and even erotic.
Yet, after a while, I became disillusioned. Mentioning anything that didn't support the notion that females were unilaterally oppressed would be akin to blasphemy. Offer a more nuanced reading of the pay gap? Traitor! Bring up the topic of males who suffer violence? That doesn't matter! Suggest that the term "rape culture" is inflammatory and doesn't reflect reality? Off with your dick!
In an exquisitely dazzling climax to one of my classes, after weeks of throbbing tension between the (white) professor and an outspoken (black) female student, the student accused the professor of being racist. (In contemporary intersectional feminism, notions of class and race are collapsed into the struggle for gender liberation). The student claimed that the professor was singling her out for inappropriate use of her laptop because she was black. Instead of defusing the student's accusations, (as was her responsibility as an adult and teacher) something extraordinary happened. In a paroxysm of indignation, the professor defended herself by saying that it was she that had experienced "the most" oppression in life, since she "once was a woman in the STEM field." The professor then claimed she could not have been racist, because she was "from Italy." Some students joined the argument, taking sides. Tears were shed. The professor lost control of the classroom. What began as a midterm day devolved into a match of Oppression Olympics.
Feminism, as I've said before, has become a way to have unearned power over men.
The identification as a victim that comes with is also an extremely pernicious form of thinking -- a self-fulfilling prophecy that I want no part of, and that no emotionally healthy woman should want any part of.
via @rsmccain
Italians can't be racist? That's a new one.
Ben at January 16, 2016 7:06 AM
Rationality takes flight entirely in such environments.
Amy Alkon at January 16, 2016 7:57 AM
Personally I look forward to the day when hispanics are the largest demographic.
In that moment all the racists blaming mexican will become SJWs and all the SJWs blaming white people will become bigots
And all of the worlds ills will be the fault of Spain
lujlp at January 16, 2016 8:11 AM
Mexican-Indian vs. Mexican-Spain is very real (at least w/those I been around that are 60+).
It took me no time to pick up on the hostility but it did take a few minutes/comments to understand the hostility.
It will be interesting politically but I think the Spanish descendants might come out of the gate quicker and harder.
Bob in Texas at January 16, 2016 10:11 AM
@"Students were told that we are supposed to be angry. Rage was a "normal" reaction. To dismantle the systems of oppression, confrontation was required"
That is not dissimilar to how child soldiers in 3rd world countries are brainwashed to hate their 'enemies' and convinced to take up arms.
Lobster at January 16, 2016 10:12 AM
One of the disturbing aspects of feminism is that apparently original sin only visited the men. Women never lie (e.g., about rape). Women are never violent (ha!). Women are never mean, never gossip, never torment anyone. No wonder women are unhappy!! Such perfect creatures forced to share a world with MEN! Who smell bad! Who fart! Who commit crimes!
And yet virtually every road, building, and appliance was designed and built by men. How oppressive! All loggers, miners, and fishermen (well, 95% at least) are men. Most farmers (I mean real farmers) are men. How cruel they are to die in large numbers in industrial accidents! How inconsiderate to supply all the lumber, minerals, oil, coal, fish, and food we need! Chivalry meant that men kept in mind their greater strength and used it to protect the weak. Men I know are proud to do the heavy lifting and provide for their families. Feminism means pretending that a 105 lb woman firefighter can carry someone down a ladder, pretending that women want to do construction when they really don't want to, pretending that women can pull their weight in combat. It is a conceit, posturing, anger against nature that they weren't born male. What the heck?
CL at January 16, 2016 11:54 AM
The hilarious meme that has emerged lately is the claim by many that "You are SO a feminist." They've been saying, "well, if you believe in equal rights and equal pay for equal work, you're a feminist!" But that's nonsense. Christina Hoff Sommers and Camille Paglia believe in those things but they're rejected as feminists by the filluminati because they differ on other issues. if I said that some gender difference or innate or that some of the pay gap is because of choices women make, no one would consider me a feminist. If I said I thought sex work was great, no one would consider me a feminist. And if you're pro-Life -- as 45% of women are -- or even moderate on abortion -- as 70% of women are -- you're not a real feminist.
I think this article is a good illustration of this.
Mike at January 16, 2016 1:26 PM
Feminism does help men ... to wish that women get the "equality" feminists seek -- good and hard!
Jay R at January 18, 2016 11:48 AM
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