[Males only please] Would you marry a feminist?

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if only that were a new and shocking experience for me. it's not, though. neither is it clever, or funny, though i'm sure he thinks otherwise.

From what I can tell, virtually everyone agrees that women deserve a full place in an egalitarian world. Really, this poll is about the proportion of people who believe the manifested feminst movement is a faithful application of egalitarian values, as apposed to those who don't. Perhaps, another poll should be taken in another forum - "Has the term 'feminism' become ambiguous and tainted such that it is functionally useless?"

To be fair I think we've covered that quite nicely here, and it wouldn't require a vote.

There is no disagreement as to what the term feminist represents. This only shows how the users of this forum are misinformed, uneducated, or just misogynist, or just plain stupid. There is no ambiguity in the definition of feminism. You should have asked "radical feminism", or other extreme groups of the movement. Your common feminist is likely to be against those radical views.

You are basically asking the question "do you hate women". I find this thread highly insulting and the fact that it has not been locked so far only shows that women are unwelcome and disrespected here. That, or that users are incapable of respect. Which is fine probably, given this is internet and all.

you don't think it's significant that most (edit* if not all) of the self-identified feminists here define their feminism along egalitarian lines, and most of those who identify against what they label feminism are claiming that many/most who label themselves feminists are not actually egalitarians?

that strikes me as significant.

i would like to see a poll of how many members of this site identify as feminists, and whether their feminist beliefs are egalitarian in nature or not. some here may be surprised by the results--or they will just ignore the results in favour of their own irrational and emotionally-driven biases. more likely the latter.

i personally have had exchanges with several very rational and egalitarian feminists (of various genders) on this forum. i'm sure they are the exception, though --or they are lying and they all secretly hate men and have very radical views and just won't admit it in this forum for some reason. yeah, that explains it.

Last edited by starvingartist on 16 May 2014, 3:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I agree. However, do you think a formal poll might provide some with a sense of closure?

Disagree. Feminism comes with certain connotations. A select few Nazis can easily tarnish an entire movement or demographic and lead to further prejudice.

While I don't consider myself a misogynist, if someone described themselves as a feminist to me I'd keep my guard up until I knew what kind of feminist they were.

Similarly, in certain parts of the world, someone could describe themselves as a Muslim and be met with suspicion or derision, whether or not they personally have hijacked any planes. People are prone to prejudice.

Discussing it gives us a chance to dispel our prejudice and grow the F up.

Edit: quotes added to save confusion

It might be more useful to invite as many women as male participants to vote. Useful, that is, to those who require some kind of closure.

I'll put one together. I don't mind spending the time. The initial post that introduces the poll will take a little while to compose. I should have it done in a few days. And, the poll will be open to anyone and everyone.

Post edit: If starvingartist or another wants to provide their own definition of "feminism" and argument for that definition, I'll be glad to coordinate timing with you so you can post your statement immediately after my introductory post. Since there appears to be consensus in that camp, I'd like that to be a single unified post, for reader convenience. But, I'm certainly making no restrictions. And, in my introductory post, I will encourage readers to read and consider your statement.

Last edited by SoftwareEngineer on 16 May 2014, 3:42 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Just a reminder :

We have ab adult section for a reason. Leave crude jokes there please.

Also its customary to make sure that the other party is comfortable with your jokes.

It would be brilliant if you all started considering that and I am going to keep a close eye here just in case

Rather you do it than the OP of this thread!

Has anyone seen him since his opening lines 12 pages ago?

I'm starting to think that the lady participants of this thread have clubbed together to hire a hitm.. hit-person.

Edit: Post in response to Software Engineer.

Last edited by Pobbles on 16 May 2014, 3:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I'll do it.

I don't. It would provoke a lot more arguing which wouldn't settle the matter, but would necessitate a poll on, oh I don't know, what 'equality' means. Do those who voted 'no' really suppose those who voted 'yes' can't wait to tie the knot with a pro-gelding separatist political-lesbian? Really?

Frankly, I'd like to turn it into a discussion group of Nina Power's 'One Dimensional Woman', a book I heartily recommend to anyone concerned with the issue(s) of feminism. You should buy it - proceeds go to The Fistula Foundation - but it crops up as a freely available pdf in a few places. GIYF.

I'm offering starvingartist and her group the chance to put something formal and inclusive together upfront in interest of fair representation and with the hope that the discussion and rebuttle process doesn't turn into a flame war. If there is not wide consensus regarding what the term really means and who it represents, then how can it be useful?

Well, for those opposed to feminism, it means something bad. Quite what the details of that 'something bad' are are often up to the imagination and ignorance of the anti-feminist, and the culture and times they find themselves in. They will assume the feminist hates men. Doesn't matter that the feminist says no, she doesn't. The simple fact that she dares to analyse and criticise from a female perspective, and finds her lot wanting, means she hates men. 'I am concerned about the plight of women facing domestic abuse', she will say. 'Why do you hate men?', they will ask her in response, when she doesn't. If she's lucky, they'll ask her the more open, 'do you hate men?', a look of pleading, bewildered concern in their faces. After a few years of this, one could not really blame the until now calm and 'mainstream' feminist for responding that, f**k it, yes, she does hate men. Hates every last one of them. Rejoices when they suffer. Wants nothing more than to disempower and embarrass and annoy all of them.

As to those who sincerely call themselves 'feminists', what they mean when they take up this term will differ.

It is a useful term, if only because it helpfully brings out the anti-feminists.

Everything might gain connotations in certain social contexts. The fact that people, men, are unable to differentiate and see past a few radicals, I believe illustrates perfectly why sexism was so prevalent in the society for so long. By that I mean that they will prejudice women without a second thought, while, for instance, to say that all Germans are nazis (even though there are still movements of fascism in Germany!) is very clearly unacceptable. But to say such oxymoronic claims as "I would not marry a feminist" is perfectly fine. No second thought, just "humor" or self-righteous implied connotations. The fact that further prejudice is so catchy, spreads like a fire, just indicates that misogyny is in the society, likely to be disguised by "political correctness".

If someone dares to create a thread like this, without any discussion, without any second thought or indication of respect to the real issues, for me, that is a serious problem. Not only it angers me, but in turn fuel sexist notions in me as well.

Prejudice against women - thats the definition of sexism aimed at females.

Discussing at the level like this, it just fuels hatred. Honestly, after threads like this, I catch myself smiling when encountering sexist things against men. I think, thank god, they deserve this. There is no logic and well rounded arguments in these threads, because by default they do attract misogynists and extreme feminists. Rational people stay away, and really that's what I should do too. It just lowers my IQ.

On the other hand, I think I've got myself a decent test for my man. On every first date, I'll just say "im a feminist" and by his response I'll know just how decent human being he is.