How do you feel about men's right activism?

It seems like men's issues are something that have only recently become an issue to take note of but are equally as important as women's issues.

I think feminism took the forefront for a few decades because of the glaring lack of women's rights before the 70s. I know that was an extraordinarily long time ago for many of this site's users who weren't even born until the 90s, but for others it is still fresh in our memory. But, now it's time to take a look at the other side, to make sure there is equality for all. And that doesn't mean that we must bash feminism in order to promote men's rights.

There's a really great quote about this, it's by Chally Kacelnik:
"The thing is, it’s patriarchy that says men are stupid and monolithic and unchanging and incapable. It’s patriarchy that says that men have animalistic instincts and just can’t stop themselves from harassing and assaulting. It’s patriarchy that says men can only be attracted by certain qualities, can only have particular kinds of responses, can only experience the world in narrow ways. Feminism holds that men are capable of more – are more than that.”

I dislike the term "Men's Rights Activism" because it refers to "activism" rather than "philosophy". The philosophical base is far more important than what individual activists do if your aim is to actually understand what a movement means. If you disagree with what some Men's Rights Activists (MRAs) do or say, that doesn't mean Men's Rights (MR) philosophy is bad; it just means that some people interpret it badly. A person could say "many self-proclaimed MRAs do this...", but it wouldn't mean anything because that statement isn't tackling the underlying philosophy of MR, just some people who interpret it how they want and try to spread their own interpretation.

Academically rigourous MR movements have the same philosophical underpinnings as academically rigourous feminist movements. Both movements operate under the same framework (gender-oriented empowerment), and neither movement is a singular political or social or philosophical ideology.

I think in many ways the condition of men and the condition of women improve together. Legal benefits which women have are built on the same traditional sexist beliefs about femininity and masculinity which many feminisms focus on; that men are emotionally-stunted and strong, and women are overly-emotional and weak. Inequality regarding child custody and paternal leave (for example) doesn't exist in a society where it is truly understood that men and women are equally competent at paid work and childcare.

What I'm trying to say is that any good feminist philosopher should support MR, and any good MR philosopher should support feminism. As for actual activists, I neither know or care what they do. All I have to say is that I don't expect an activist to give equal attention to feminist and MR activism, because activists are not required to be good philosophers.

That is what I think about Men's Rights Activism.

I don't agree with either feminism or MRA. It segregates the issues between men and women, when they should be discussed together because they have a direct impact on each other, and creates this sort of "one-upmanship" between sexes to try and showcase how they have it worse or whatever.

I know this isn't what the definition of either one is but, in practice, that's what it ends up as.

*unattractive girl looks at me*

stare rape has to stop!!!! :.(

Feminism has already fucked this generation up. The harm has been done already and any measure against gender discrimination and sexism is useless and very very late to re-balance things.
Western women have already embraced feminism as their religion and permanent ideology. Women don't want equality. They want supremacy. They want the privilege that feminism has provided them with. They don't want to give up on all that power.
Men's right activism isn't a viable option at this juncture. A handful of men can't do shit against the feminist behemoth.
The only real measure would be for ALL men to stop being such pathetic simps. They should stop pedestalizing women and treat them like their vagina is some sacred temple they are unworthy of stepping in. Idolizing pussy is what brought men in this situation in the first place.

I think the world needs leadership on gender equality. More people need to give a shit. Men need to talk more and share natural goals and kinship with one another. I think a lot of men are disenfranchised and disillusioned and lack appropriate support and leadership from other men. I think strengthening these things would go along way to achieving some of the things the opposite gender would like to cement.

Much like feminists, MRA has a contingent who really there just because they hate the opposite sex. But with men's rights still being a fringe movement, this faction unfortunately makes up an even large part of the whole.

In any case, I agree with lolol555 that we'd all be better off if the men's and women's issues were tackled together instead being treated as opposing sides.

My eyes were opened to this somewhat recently, when a gay friend talked to me about it over Skype (I mention that because the conversation was originally about gay rights). The leanings against men when it comes to marriage and children actually made me afraid to get married.

People do need to be out there talking about this. There's always the risk of it becoming tainted with whatever the male equivalent of "feminazi" is, but it's important that the idea is spread.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-uncomfortable-truths-behind-mens-rights-movement/

i am fed up with the over tugging and roughness of the women who squeeze and treat mens schlongs like dildos...coincidentally reproducing mens penises in factories and giving them vibrating powers is a insult and only proves how men are seen as women pleasers who suffeer the same injustices women have fought to end since the fifties!
Spit on my penis , but note my pride!!

you are really fuckn stupid. " i am a feminist but think men should do what we do"(not exact quote). serously retard status. if your a man that lets a female over power you physically turn in your testicales. men (not gayboys/prettyboys/pansyboys) dont need a movement because we dont give a shit. that right their is why men laugh at the feminist movement and dont give a fuck. i personally dont believe in universal sufferage for anybody it should be earned. woman should not get paid the same because if theirs a fire it goes children first then old fuckers then woman then pets then the stupid ass stuffed animal your kid needs then its the men. double standards are the main thing keeping us apart. do you want to be treated equally (no normal sane woman should ever want to be treated like men treat men. not even bull dykes) or like a little princess and eventaul queen you know you want to be. just be real with yourself take a look in the mirror and then promotly fuck yourself. halla halla

the problem with it is that it takes away from and gives the wrong impression of feminism. Feminists (the real ones) also fight for the social equality of men too. The reason it's called feminism is because the reason men have certain standards to live by is because society conditions men to fear doing things that are seen as "feminine".

I'm a feminist I guess, I think men have their own issues that deserve thoughtful discussion but tbh I never saw much point in a separate "men's rights" movement.

Men's rights is the male equivalent to feminism. Neither are needed. In the words of TheAmazingAtheist "You're not going to find equality by focusing on one sex" (or something like that). Bottom line is, egalitarianism is the way to go.

Wow, I am shocked. A feminist in support of the MRM? And most people are in support of it from what the votes tell us?

Genuinly surprised.

I don't think the MRM and feminism can work together, sadly. When it comes to feminism it has a lot of beliefs that just conflict with what the MRM genuinly believes and has reason not to believe in (wage gap, patriarchy, rape culture, etc). This is why I dislike feminism alltogether even though there are "some" that are people looking for what feminism claims to be, however they have very little power or voice in the movement. You also have to remember than feminism brings in money due to the beliefs they have and the action funded to be against that percieved threat even if that threat is not there, and by refuting their beliefs, you would give reason for them not to be funded and they lose money.

I don't think the MRM and feminism can work together, they have too man conflicting views and feminism is not what it claims to be, and it's shown by the recent convention "A Voice For Men" is doing and how feminists, a group of people claiming the patriarchy is trying to take away their voices, are allowed to try make sure people do not speak about male issues.

Feminism is more so in to creating issues to keep itself relevant to the point their reasons for needing feminism is because people don't think feminism is needed, or "stare rape", and so many other ridiculous reasons.

The thing about the MRM is that they are trying to face real problems rather than create problems out of the dirt to keep themselves relevant.

I'm in support of the Men's Rights Movement.