Could it be possible feminism needs a "make over" if so many men and women have a problem with it?

Question

Let's forget about the men and women who are quite obviously sexist. There are many men and women worldwide who have valid complaints about feminism.

Wouldn't it be prudent to give feminism a "make over" so it truly starts practicing what it preaches?

Answer 1

No. Its core values remain the same. If a bunch of loonies (on either end of the spectrum) choose to make a hash of what it means, the only task is to spell out what feminism is and ensure that any extremism is not associated by name.

Answer 2

I do think real feminists should do more to distance themselves from radicals, and maybe take a more meritocratic view of the wage gap. But that's about it.

Answer 3

.....that sounds interesting...could you define the parameters for us please?

Answer 4

That would be so cool. It will never happen, but we can dream...

Answer 5

That would be like slapping lipstick on a pig.

Your thoughts would be nice if it truly ever happened.

Answer 6

The only makeover it needs is to clarify the difference between feminists and man-haters.  There is a difference and people get them both confused because:

A.)  Man-haters call themselves feminists

B.)  Some people are ignorant and think there is no difference

Answer 7

Interesting response from some of the other posters.  For a while I've noticed that anti-Feminists want Feminists not to be sexist and to not only consider women's rights, but men's rights too.

But even if Feminism considered both sexes equally, it appears that it won't make a difference at all to the anti-Feminists?

For me personally, the core meaning of Feminism is working towards better rights for women/women to be equal to men.

The core meaning of Feminism did not state that men should be scorned or lose rights and Feminism today should be more considerate of men as equals and work towards solving issues of inequality.

In the end though, I doubt even that will appease critics.

So what's the solution?  Feminisms can't just turn into anti's overnight because that seems like turning their backs on women's rights, which they will not do.

The only genuine answer is Equality, but there are extremists in that movement as well.

Answer 8

Not anymore so than Nazism needs a "make over."  Any hateful philosophy is non-constructive and should be marginalized for the sake of society.

Answer 9

Absolutely, right after we clean up christianity ~ another doctrine which arouses a lot of opposition in our culture and has been continually accused, for over 2000 years of making trouble and causing dissent.

And, let's not forget that there are thousands, perhaps millions of people worldwide who have legitimate criticisms of christianity, including some people who are quite senior in the various branches of that organisation.

Let's forget about people who are blatantly anti religious, and just concentrate on those who have a genuine interest and a valid cause for concern.

I believe Christianity has many millions more adherents than feminism, and has been around a lot longer, so on the basis of 'elders first', let's start with them.

Once we get them sorted, we should have the weekend left over for feminism, doncha think?

But, come to think of it ... isn't one of the main criticisms of feminism that it HAS changed? That it is no longer the movement of Emmeline Pankhurst?

Gee, so how would changing help?

I think what the critics want is their own way, not 'better' feminism.

Big surprise!

Cheers :-)

Answer 10

Of course it should be changed to reflect modern times, at least in the western world, but that would defeat its whole self-promoting philosophy.  

The feminist movement doesn't seem to be concerned with it's mass appeal, or even the masses in general. The fact that most of the views of feminism are completely one-sided and don't take into consideration the effect it has on others proves this point..

Changing it's appearance will do no good if the core belief is still based on sexism.  It will only serve to make it look even more absurd.

Answer 11

So you asking if feminism should change, in order to appease it's critics?

It wouldn't make any difference. The people who currently have a problem with feminism have a problem with what *they THINK* feminism is about, with little or no regard for getting their facts straight. How would a "makeover" change anything?

Answer 12

As a gender studies student I think the problem with 'feminism' is that most people don't understand it.

Feminism is all about equality between men and women. There are more radical strands but in every theoretical stance these always exist.

Answer 13

Katherine, I do not see men and women worldwide having a problem with feminism.  I had not even heard it discussed in recent years before coming to Gender Studies...and I am around a LOT of people.  Oh I do not mean that women do not have complaints about men and men complaints about women, but none of them crying...it's because of feminism.

There are some issues that still need attention I will grant you, but any societal change takes time to really be effective and to become accepted generally.  Does it need a make over...no, that would be a start over, what it needs...outside this forum...is education, a better understanding of its goals and people to stop making it a woman verses man issue because it is not.

Feminism, like the Civil Rights Issues of the 60s is going to be sooner or later.  We can be part of the problem or part of the solution.

Answer 14

It would make it easier to swallow for those on the fence (the non-feminists) but some of the concepts are fundamentally wrong in the eyes of staunch antis and it isn't so much holding the beliefs they do that I take issue with as much as it is imperialising it on others

If they stopped doing that then maybe I would at least stop being anti

p.s. I fully agree with the poster below me. The core of feminism isn't about treating people the same as much as it is drawing attention to the inequalities of a specific demographic. This is wrong since demographics are not homogenous entities and are made up of individuals who each choose their own outcomes. They should be treated fairly not equally

Basically you perpetuate the focus on demographics which the patriarchy began

Answer 15

Makes no difference to me; tie it with a bright pink ribbon and I still won't buy into it.  I don't have a problem with it; it's just not my cup of tea.  By stating that states that I have no problems with it.  I'm not going to die by not being a feminist, nor will I die for not believing in equality.