What Does "Feminism" Mean to You?

[nnmartin]

Are you mentally retarded? Seriously. Are you?

Not at all.

Feminism just goes against the grain of nature.

If women really wanted to be equal then they would just adopt the position of 'a stiff upper lip' - and get on with it, like a man!

Feminism tends to be a classic case of 'having your cake and eating it'.

 

[Revoltingest]

Are you mentally retarded? Seriously. Are you?

That's mean.
If he is, it's unfair to him.
If he isn't, it's unfair to retarded folk.
I jest a little, but let's not reduce innocent unfortunates to an insult.

 

[nnmartin]

I'm just waiting for doppelganger to add some more insight here.....

retarded..how so?

 

[painted wolf]

What is Europe's system that you are referring to.

In many, if not most, European nations mothers (and sometimes fathers) are allowed significant time for child care (exactly how long varies but it can be as low as three months up to 4 years) without fear of loosing their jobs or taking a cut in pay/benefits upon return. In many cases they still draw some salary, paid in part by their employer and in part by the state.

The USA is the only developed nation that does not provide for maternity leave and penalizes working women for wanting to also be mothers.

In fact every other developed nation provides better support for mothers than the USA... even countries with otherwise dismal records on the treatment of women do a better job: Saudi Arabia for example, lets working mothers take 10 weeks off at between 50 and 100% pay.

wa:do

 

[nnmartin]

how can a father justify taking 4 years off work (or a woman for that matter)?

that's a bit long, surely.

 

[painted wolf]

how can a father justify taking 4 years off work (or a woman for that matter)?

that's a bit long, surely.

It goes until preschool age.... clearly they would rather not pay for child care centers and would rather encourage parents to care for the child so the state doesn't have to.

One parent is cheaper than a few dozen trained infant/toddler child care professionals and support staff.

wa:do

 

[Pegg]

I'm rather curious what feminism means to different people. Please take a moment to describe what it means to you.

simply that gender is no reason to discriminate and withhold certain rights.

 

[Me Myself]

simply that gender is no reason to discriminate and withhold certain rights.

The irony of this is that this is definetely what I think of, be it that I am thinking on the good associations I have with it or the bad

 

[ChristineES]

I'm a stay at home mom as well, but I also plan on having a career as well.
I'm also having problems finding a job, but I hope that's more a function of the economy than my choice to stay at home.

What is unfortunate is that women are almost always forced to choose between a career and being a parent and it seems you are shamed no matter which way you choose. In this regard, Europe has the far better and more equitable system.

IMHO calling mothers who choose to have a career bad parents is a sick sad ploy... it's a hard enough choice as it is.

By the same token shaming women who choose to be stay at home mothers is pathetic.

wa:do

My mother held down a full time job and was able to be a parent, too. I agree- it is a "d***ed if you do, and d***ed if you don't" type of deal- but as the late Rick Nelson once said "you can't please everyone, you gotta please yourself". Staying at home was my choice- and I don't curse women who had a different choice than mine.

 

[Shuddhasattva]

Some views:

The family unit is not necessarily the only surefire method of raising children to be decent human beings. The old tribal unit ("it takes a tribe to raise a child") used to work as well, but is now even less practical than the family.

But I know what doesn't work. Raising children on daycare and TV. Absentee parenting does not work.

Does that mean that women should be in the home? No. It means somebody needs to be at home, at least some of the time, especially in the early developmental years - say until age 8~. After that, the child will naturally crave greater independence and time to themselves.

I fully believe that mothers should work - full time, if the father is able to be, at least a significant part time, at home, part time if not. Jobs which can be done from home would seem ideal, whether 'telecommuting' as an employee, or self-employed.

I have seen a lot of women sacrifice family for career, and a lot of screwed up young people as a result. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if men were more comfortable with a nurturing role, which is not at all 'against' male nature, or somehow the sole preserve of femininity, but of course our society, just as much as it scripts for less-than-ideal female outcomes, also does the same for men. It is generally a more privileged 'less than ideal,' but it is damaging - very damaging.

 

[Me Myself]

I agree someone should stay with the kids on those early ages, if posible (be it mother or father)

Unfortunately I am sure this is not always posible u.u

 

[Shuddhasattva]

Yes, the ratrace has consumed us. Worse than seeing people sacrifice their families for careers - whether male or female sacrificers, sold on the lies of the ratrace as they concern their gender, is seeing people slave away to support their families, yet not able to give any real personal time to their families. Say, single mothers juggling two jobs just to stay above water, and deprived of the opportunity to really spend time with their children.

 

[nnmartin]

simply that gender is no reason to discriminate and withhold certain rights.

so how do you incorporate that idea into the patriarchal philosophy of the Bible?

there is irony here I'm sure.

 

[Apex]

Saw this and thought it was relevant to this thread. I would pull some quotes from it but I am on my phone... :/
Carrie Lukas: There Is No Male-Female Wage Gap - WSJ.com

 

[painted wolf]

Saw this and thought it was relevant to this thread. I would pull some quotes from it but I am on my phone... :/
Carrie Lukas: There Is No Male-Female Wage Gap - WSJ.com

The key to this is in the very first statement.... single, childless, urban and young.

Once a woman decides to change any of those statistics... well, so much for "no wage gap"... :sarcastic

wa:do

 

[Willamena]

Yes, I almost added that to my earlier post. When we disdain femininity the masculinity that remains is a sick and twisted shadow of itself as well.

I had opportunity today to realize this same thing in adults who, in denying their childish behavior, present a twisted image of adulthood.

Go me. :-/

 

[uu_sage]

As a male feminist (and proud of it) I define feminism as the equality of men and women and working together to ensure freedom, equality and opportunity for both men and women.

 

[Rakhel]

Magic Mike (2012) - IMDb

I think this men are earning just as much, if not more, for stripping.


Oh! And these guys here:
Chippendales Male Revue Las Vegas | Chippendales







but i think you have to meet a certain body criteria

 

[nnmartin]

Perhaps when men stop getting off at the nonsense you described above, then we'll be treated equally.

so do you think that you can change the biologically ordained nature of humanity?

how is that possible.

Men are driven by sexual urges, so a woman acting in this way will always have some kind of power over him.

but equality means that vice-versa should also be true - when will this occur?

 

[Rakhel]

so do you think that you can change the biologically ordained nature of humanity?

how is that possible.

Men are driven by sexual urges, so a woman acting in this way will always have some kind of power over him.

but equality means that vice-versa should also be true - when will this occur?

You don't think women have sexual urges?
You don't think that women have a need to be in control?
Why should a woman be restricted to a certain role, simply because she is a woman?