I am disappointed that there are two separate options for: "I am a male and it rocks." and ""I am a feminist and it rocks."
I am a feminist, that happens to be male, and gender equality rocks. Gender isn't just a "women's issue". Men are also paying the price for our assumptions on gender. What we call masculine and feminine... they are all made up. They are social constructs. I mean really, think about it. How many things in this world are gendered?
Pink is for girls, blue is for boys... how the hell can a COLOR be gendered? Or even the colognes or perfumes we buy. You mean to tell me what scents I smell like, something that is one of my human 5 senses- THAT has a gender? Why? How? Who made this shit up? Why is chin length hair on women considered short, but on a man considered long? How is what I EAT, part of my gender? Do you know how many ads I've seen of women laughing alone, eating salad? There's an entire website for it! Why are my five senses, which are HUMAN traits, being labeled as "masculine/feminine", "male/female", "man/woman"? Even people who use religion to justify the differences in gender, where in the bible does it say, "Man shalt not wear pink." I mean really... these constructs are harmful to women AND men, because we are being pressured to be defined. I am a human being. I have fluidity! I TOO have emotions, and kindness, and nurturing qualities. Women ALSO have aggression, logical minds, and strength.
The only reason we have labels like these in our society is because we think that labels always simplify things. When in reality, these labels do so much more harm then good. Because when you label something, you restrict and limit it. And we all have desires that are "masculine" or "feminine", because they are HUMAN desires. To be told I can't do something because I am man... that just suppresses who we are. All men are emotional, but because they have been told by society so so much that "real men" are not emotional in thousands of different ways, they suppress those emotions and turn them into anger- which men ARE allowed to be in our society. And we wonder why so many men can be so violent and angry. It's not because of any "natural instincts". It's because we are limited in how we perceive men and women. But these are all lies we have been told even since the day were we born.
We label things because we think it adds order to our lives. It is all societal contructs, but without them our world would fall apart. As for feminine and masculine labels, these change over time. Long hair was once common for men and they use to wear skirts. Some cultures still do.
Pink for girls and blue for boys is a new thing. The theory is that it switched with the introduction of color photography. Blue was associated with girls because it is a softer color and was connected to the Virigin Mary. Pink is bold and similar to red which is associated with masculine traits. No reason to think these thing will not change again. But we really need to stop acting like one is better than the other. Nor can we act like they are the same.
Oh of course there are stereotypes. I have a degree in Women's and Gender Studies, and a degree in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Studies. When a man claims he is a feminist, typically he gets praised because he's an awesome modern man that believes in equality. But typically when a woman says she's a feminist, people think she's some man-hating lesbian. The concept of being a feminist is, in itself, a paradox.
Feminism: Good or Bad?
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I am disappointed that there are two separate options for: "I am a male and it rocks." and ""I am a feminist and it rocks."
I am a feminist, that happens to be male, and gender equality rocks. Gender isn't just a "women's issue". Men are also paying the price for our assumptions on gender. What we call masculine and feminine... they are all made up. They are social constructs. I mean really, think about it. How many things in this world are gendered?
Pink is for girls, blue is for boys... how the hell can a COLOR be gendered? Or even the colognes or perfumes we buy. You mean to tell me what scents I smell like, something that is one of my human 5 senses- THAT has a gender? Why? How? Who made this shit up? Why is chin length hair on women considered short, but on a man considered long? How is what I EAT, part of my gender? Do you know how many ads I've seen of women laughing alone, eating salad? There's an entire website for it! Why are my five senses, which are HUMAN traits, being labeled as "masculine/feminine", "male/female", "man/woman"? Even people who use religion to justify the differences in gender, where in the bible does it say, "Man shalt not wear pink." I mean really... these constructs are harmful to women AND men, because we are being pressured to be defined. I am a human being. I have fluidity! I TOO have emotions, and kindness, and nurturing qualities. Women ALSO have aggression, logical minds, and strength.
The only reason we have labels like these in our society is because we think that labels always simplify things. When in reality, these labels do so much more harm then good. Because when you label something, you restrict and limit it. And we all have desires that are "masculine" or "feminine", because they are HUMAN desires. To be told I can't do something because I am man... that just suppresses who we are. All men are emotional, but because they have been told by society so so much that "real men" are not emotional in thousands of different ways, they suppress those emotions and turn them into anger- which men ARE allowed to be in our society. And we wonder why so many men can be so violent and angry. It's not because of any "natural instincts". It's because we are limited in how we perceive men and women. But these are all lies we have been told even since the day were we born.
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howaminotmyself
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suckonthis9
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We label things because we think it adds order to our lives. It is all societal contructs, but without them our world would fall apart. As for feminine and masculine labels, these change over time. Long hair was once common for men and they use to wear skirts. Some cultures still do.
Pink for girls and blue for boys is a new thing. The theory is that it switched with the introduction of color photography. Blue was associated with girls because it is a softer color and was connected to the Virigin Mary. Pink is bold and similar to red which is associated with masculine traits. No reason to think these thing will not change again. But we really need to stop acting like one is better than the other. Nor can we act like they are the same.
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willyma
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hahaha funny how history changes things.. 500 years ago i could beat my wife. does that make it ok today?
I wanted to see if people agree with the feminist movement. but do not label themselves as "feminists".
maybe there is a stereotype to being a feminist, or not enough appeal being one? I only ask the questions.
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A-Hor
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Oh of course there are stereotypes. I have a degree in Women's and Gender Studies, and a degree in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Studies. When a man claims he is a feminist, typically he gets praised because he's an awesome modern man that believes in equality. But typically when a woman says she's a feminist, people think she's some man-hating lesbian. The concept of being a feminist is, in itself, a paradox.
Please do not use -ists or -isms.
Please do not use the Archaic term referring to a fictitious nether world.
Thank you.