Do Feminists Look for Stuff to Get Mad About?

Question

Many times this sentence has been posted in this category.

According to Melissa McEwan "Of all the condescending, dismissive, and factually incorrect accusations used by concern trolls (or hostile trolls) to attempt to silence, shame, or in some other way discourage feminists from addressing sexism in all its manifestations, perhaps none is quite so stupid as the charge that feminists are "looking" for things about which to be offended—as if feminism is a product that will go out of production if there aren't enough buyers and sales are waning because sexism is, like, so over, dude.

This notion is ridiculous for a couple of reasons. For a start, misogyny is so pervasive that no one has to look for it. That said reality is even remotely in doubt is laughable, given that any YouTube comments section on any video featuring a woman will be rife with misogynist swill".

Thoughts?

Whole article at:

http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/02/feminism-101-feminists-look-for-stuff.htm

Answer 1

yes.

now, watch my thumbs down plummit to -50. and my mail box fill with death threats

Answer 2

Recently,a woman sued the Dept of Public safety over the 'Men Working' sign.  It now reads 'Workers ahead'.  She doesn't even work there, she was merely offended at the implied sexism.

Answer 3

I believe there is a % that do, many have been taught to see a double standard as reason for anger but don't realise that there are often equal and opposite double standards in play, and the fact that most sterotyping, generalising and sexism seems to come from the feminist camp invites ridiclule.

See "feminists are smarter" above. Sorry to have called you out like that, above. Its just a good example of what I was talking about.

Answer 4

Maybe about 2% of them, but there are those type of people attached to every cause.

I think the other 98% are legitimately angry or disturbed by a hostile and oppressive culture that fears women.

The situation seems to be that, like you say, sexism is deeply interwoven into almost every aspect of life, so there is a lot of c**p to be mad about, and that get's perceived as constant whining instead of legitimate observations of what's happening.

It's frustrating and childish that so many of my fellow men feel the need to shame and belittle women when they try nad stand up for themselves. It makes me ashamed because it's makes us men seem like we are all as childish, fearful, and limited in our ability to stand up for a better world.

Answer 5

The ones I've known have. Then again, they were young, in college and still trying to figure out their place and what they really believed. They've probably calmed down by now.

Answer 6

When you have people on here talking about the whole systematic effort by men to keep women down in society that supposedly exists, yes feminists are looking for things to get mad about.  You'd think we men all get together in meetings to figure out how to suppress women.

That's not to say that there aren't things out there that are sexist against women, but not everything in society is a plot to keep women oppressed.  I don't think you'd find as many outrageous conspiracy theorists in Roswell as you can on here.

Cassius- It would be nice if you explained what the heck you were talking about for once.

I have noticed that men who complain about sexism are silenced by feminists very often though.  So much for equality.

Answer 7

I don't have to look for misogyny. I'm in the military. I post regularly to this forum.

Am I angry? No. I tend to laugh things off like that. I fully believe that equality is in America to stay, whether some like it or not.

The most inflammatory people here are the trolls. Quit feeding them.

Answer 8

Dustin E, you are in the wrong place to find a woman. At least these angry women may have respected you if you spoke your mind.

Answer 9

Only as much or as little as anti-feminists do.

I did see an man ask a question earlier on which raised quite a good point and no Feminist addressed the issue but just defended the concerned Feminist's actions.

While we can agree on women's rights, we still don't have to entirely agree 100% with everything that is said or done, particularly if it's unethical.

I think if we can raise issues and wish to be heard, men should be given a chance too.

Answer 10

look for it?  don't have to.  given the pubescent crapola one can find here, one doesn't have to expend any energy at all!  there's a plethora of this kind of bullsh!t every single day and at any time of day.

Answer 11

This is just another way to demonize feminism and women who are assertive enough to go after what they need.  These people want women to be in the home and at the beck and call of her husband.  Btw I agree with that quote 110 percent.

Answer 12

Ideologues blame a group of hated others for everything that goes wrong with things in thier lives.

Neo-Cons blame liberals for everything that goes wrong

KKK members blame minorities

Liberals blame elitists or Conservatives

Militant Minority groups blame oppression

and

Feminists blame Misogyny

What evidence do I have?

How bought people who quote statistics like "women are convicted of first degree murder at a higher percentage then men therefore the jail systems are sexist against women"

Anouther good example of this would be lets say a person making a big deal about generalizations made by trolls on Yahoo Answers

Answer 13

Yes. Case in point: the whole men at work sign fiasco in Atlanta, GA. You cannot honestly tell me that you find the pronoun 'man' offensive. A better question; why do feminists feel left out when hearing someone refer to mankind? I've never doubted that I was part of mankind.

Answer 14

If anything, feminists are smarter and therefore aware of insults that others blindly overlook.  Once your eyes are opened, you can never shut them.

Answer 15

Some people do go around looking for "what is wrong" with everything. This is not limited to any gender. The most successful people I know do not address gender or race at all.

They don't give it any power and so are not  concerned with it. Granted these people are rare but I think that there is something to be learned from them.

Things can always be used as an advantage or a disadvantage....it depends on the way a person thinks about it.

Answer 16

hmm, good question. I took a communication and gender class, a few semesters ago and learned a lot.  Firstly i learned that Feminism is not what men generally think it is. It's purpose (at its core beliefs) was not meant to raise power of women over that of men, but rather to insist on equality. It sounds basic of course, but truthfully the common social misconception is that all feminists are out for female domination.  Now..feminism has come a long way, and like many other movements, there are always going to be radicals and extremists.  If the question refers to TRUE feminists, then no they dont look for things to get mad about, they look for what's wrong and try to correct it (see the Declaration of Sentiments).  BUT, feminism now has taken an ugly turn, especially in the eye of the public, you get acts such as bra burning and whatnot, people have lost sight of their goals..which then causes books questioning the need of men to be brought into question.  People like this use the platform of "Feminism" to spit out their brash ideas in order to get a following of people to cause not equality but superiority. they feel they have been damaged enough and the world owes them.  So there are several views on it, and i believe the latter group certainly does get mad about issues that are all way too juvenile and do so for attention.  Rather than good press though, they bring upon them bad press and infamy.  and keep in mind, "the squeaky wheel gets the most grease" so these radicals are focused on more and the social conception of "feminists" is then tarnished.  It's not really fair to those who have tried to actually fight for the cause, and equality, it muddies up their name and brings about bad feelings.  The label of "Feminism" in theory, should not be synonomous with angry women who hate men, its the same as radical Christians who force their beliefs. (a completely different topic but just using the analogy), in core they are not following what they would have you believe they stand for. Hope that answers it okay.

Answer 17

How about the feminist getting mad because McDonalds puts cars in the happy meals for boys and dolls for girls.