Do you agree with this statement about the cause of feminism?

Question

"No woman becomes a feminist without being a victim of discrimination." - another user

I've never experienced s*x discrimination. I'm still a feminist. What's wrong with this picture?

Answer 1

I would disagree.  Some women who have never been the victim of sexism still want equality for all women.

Answer 2

I disagree.  A woman becomes a feminists because she strives for the economical, political and social equality between men and women; no more and no less.  And this just might be where she got it from.  You, know I'll let you in on something; over in Mecca, now this is only Mecca where this occurs, women are not allowed in any restaurants.  Those restaurants are for the men only.  Yes, that is discrimination. Nope, no women and children allowed, even if they are with another male member of their family. I'm still an anti-feminist, so such things haven't influenced me.   I think, "Oh well, I guess the best part is I won't die from it." Making such a transition were it ever asked me would be rough; however, like I said it won't kill me. All I'd do is send Saad out to McDonald's and have him bring it home.

Answer 3

I believe one becomes more (beg my pardon for using the word) of a Feminazi after such an experience. Feminism is just a good idea that many smart, good natured, sensible people partake in.

When someone personally feels discrimination upon themselves, a normal person would find a way to right the wrong, and probably move on. Some, though, feel the need the stew over this incident and turn it into a lifestyle, and have it overtake their sensible side.

So, to stop from being long-winded in an answer that could've been one word, ill say no, experiencing discrimination does not a feminist make.

Answer 4

i think that no one becomes a feminist without having a bad experience or experiences with guys.

not just through discrimination. but through failed relationships. or even through rejections.

Answer 5

Have you ever worked before? Have you ever applied for a loan  at the bank  and been turned down even though you had better credit history  and collateral that a man?  Just because you were a woman. I have been told that the company was going to have  to downsize  and they were not going to lay John doe off because he had a wife and two kids to feed. Did they think my kids lived on water? Have you ever applied for a job and be  Asked at he interview , What if you have more children? What if you had to come in early what would you do with your kids? Are you going to get remaried >this influnces your overtime williness.?  How old are you?  

Either you are still young and cute in your 20's.  and they cater to you ---(Get fifty, fat, and female  and you will find real discrimination.  mabe it's different in another part of the country. But in 100 miles of where I lived it''s been nothing but s*x discrimination, for the last 35 years. It is still a man's world ,honey;

Answer 6

If you were to make the argument that all people suffer some sort of s*x discrimination - then this statement becomes true although irrelevant.

Otherwise it's just another generalization which fails in many instances.

Answer 7

A lot of feminists think because there are a few common sexist idiots that all men are bad. That is simply not true, that is like men starting a mens rights group because of the common idiot female discriminating against them, which never happens.

The difference between men and women is women can't deal with stupid people as well, so thus they are offended more easily and are more emotionally so they are more likely to protest or make a affirmative action group for emotional support. Its basically a lazy way of a solution when you complain about your problems but never try to fix them.

Men just sit back and let people insult them because they simply don't care what other people have to say about them.

Answer 8

I'm a guy, a feminist, and I've never experienced gender discrimination either...

One doesn't have to be the direct recipient of discrimination to recognize that it does happen, and to realize that it's wrong.

Blatant Discrimination is the tip of the ice burg anyway. Our culture STILL has an attitude that does not encourage women, and domestic abuse against women is still rampant.

Answer 9

You've got the heavy hitters giving good answers.  I agree with the Califonian fruit about the connotations of the word cause.  I think also that though we may experience discrimination - we are not necesarily victims.  Rio a lot of discrimination is subtle - it is part of our journey in life to see it in ourselves and to raise awareness in others.  When it's dark we can be in an empty room or perhaps the room is full of things we just can't see until we explore it.  Plato said very rough paraphrase here - when we look at a straight stick in the light of day, it is that, a straight stick.  The same stick when immersed in water will appear bent.  Is the stick straight or bent?  That is the question.

Answer 10

feminism has evolved into a hate ideology in practice. The lure of hate ideology's is that it "scape goats" a different race,religion or gender thus making the person who falls into the hate ideology feel better about themselves.

    And it also creates a position of pride, since most hate groups are also supremacist groups as well. The whole we are better than you kinda of thing.

Answer 11

Disagree. Some women grew up with equal opportunity to any male, or grew up as pampered princesses with more opportunity and privilege than any male, yet will become "feminists" simply because their college institution, the media, or other feminist women tells them that they're supposed to be a feminist. Other women who have equal or more opportunity to men will be feminists out of selfishness -- they already are as advantaged as men, but will play the "victim" role to their advantage to receive more perks and privileges than they already have.

Answer 12

I disagree with your suggestion that there is a "cause" of feminism (as though it were a disease in search of a cure).  

I think that we don't always understand that we are the victim of discrimination - but we are nonetheless.  This is often the case with the young girls: they have so little life experience that they can't put the pieces of the puzzle together.  This is simply because they haven't got all the pieces yet.  As they mature a picture will begin to emerge: they will "see" things they were oblivious to before.  As Groucho Marx once quipped: "Time Wounds All Heels".

If they become educated then of course the pieces of the puzzle are all there and they can "see" what their uneducated counterparts - can't.

I can remember being the victim of sexism from when I was just a small child.  The message was in no uncertain terms that boys were higher on the totem pole, and that hurt.  It hurt a lot.  Of course back then I was too young to understand what sexism is: I only knew that I somehow wasn't quite good enough.  It didn't matter what I did: it was something I had no control over.  It simply WAS.

*I think that some of the posters here fail to make a distinction between individual acts of discrimination and systemic discrimination.  I am talking about the latter - and that's what we SHOULD be talking about.  Define your terms when you post your question or else you get a Tower of Babel (which is what this question has become).  We all need to be on the same page, otherwise we are talking at cross purposes.

Answer 13

I became a "feminist" the moment I met a lady back in the 1950's who was an officer in the U.S. Army AND owned a fishing boat that made her money and served as her home as she traveled all over the world in it.  Back then, I had not heard any messsages whatsoever that women could be self-sufficient and self-determining.  I actually could not comprehend a woman surviving without a meal-ticket.  I became a "feminist" not because a petty man discriminated against me but because a great woman inspired me.

Answer 14

I cannot think of anytime I have either Rio.  I had some bad experiences with an abusive spouse, but that was not about feminism, it was just that person and who he was.  By then, my feelings about equality were already set. And I certainly continued to like men to this day if that is what the person was implying.

I think its simplistic to think that women would not want equal rights unless they had been discriminated against.  My grandma and mother were both avowed feminists for their time and they have told me some stories about how things "were", but they became feminists to make a better world for everyone, both their sons and daughters.

Edit - Furry, then that would go for men as well.

Edit - I thought of something, long forgotten.  I am probably older than most posters here.  On career day at school the girls choices were teacher, nurse and beautician.  And no one encouraged even the smartest girls to consider college.

I did not think of it as discrimination then.  I did go to college later, as did my mom.

Note though that I do not consider myself a feminist because I do not like being labeled and pidgeon holed into a generalized category.

Answer 15

I never "became" a feminist; I just have always been.  And I have never been a "victim" of discrimination, but I have seen plenty since my school days.  I watched the changes being made.  When it was directed towards me, I redirected it, or refused to play by their rules.  My success has come from working hard; my emotional strength from playing by MY rules.

The statement is ridiculous, as most of their statements are.  

ETA:  We've all had negative experiences with the opposite gender.  So what?  I've had many more positive ones and those experiences didn't change my political beliefs.  That's also a ridiculous charge.

Answer 16

You're right, and the other user was wrong.

Answer 17

I don't agree with it either.  You do not have to experience something to know it is the right thing to do.  Equality among all people seems pretty logical to me, but I have never been an overweight black, Jewish homosexual...but I I know it is wrong to discriminate such.

Answer 18

I agree with Baba... although I don't consider myself feminist, I have just always practiced equality in my relationships and in life in general. Not that I knowingly sat down and said I am going to be an Equalist, but this is just how I have always seen things. If you condition yourself this way, while maintaining an open mind, you are less likely to be overwhelmed by inequality and be in better footing to accomplish real change.

"View all problems as challenges.

Look upon negativities that arise as opportunities to learn and to grow.

Don't run from them, condemn yourself, or bury your burden in saintly silence. You have a problem? Great. More grist for the mill. Rejoice, dive in, and investigate."

-Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, "Mindfulness in Plain English"

Answer 19

I profoundly disagee.  I'm an ardent modern Feminist because I adore women & men, and I want nothing more than ensure that things are wonderful for men and the same way I wish to advance the interests of women.  I find that re-defining the English language to suit my needs to be the greatest way to advance equality.  I love everyone for I'm a modern Feminist.

Answer 20

Feminism is a movement, it's not a timeless doctrine like say the more general freedom from discrimination because its about who you are (female) NOT what you are (a human being)

Therefore you only need it while women are specifically as a group being oppressed. Once we get over that we can focus on the important issues like human beings being discrimated against by their governments etc. and class discrimination

The point is freedom from discrimination affects every human being, feminism really doesn't so its relevancy exists for as long as there is a consensus that women as a gender group are being discriminated against.

Many already question it, do you?

edit: and most ppl question the latter california raisin. For example an individual act of discrimination against a women DOES NOT necessarily indicate systematic discrimination yet that's the connection you immediately make if a woman is discrimated against. It must be based on her s*x.. yet if a man is discriminated against it's because he is another human who got a raw deal unless he's black in which case it must be race. You can see the inconsistency?

Answer 21

Because it is a nice idea, but it doesn't become real until you experience discrimination yourself or watch it happen to another woman you identify with. It can be major or subtle, but it's still there.

edit to Morgan: Exactly!

Answer 22

You know as women we're supposed to be all empathetic and whatnot, right?  So you can always empathize with those who do experience discrimination, even if it hasn't been a problem in your life.   :-)

More seriously, how do you know you've never been a victim of s*x discrimination?  People may not announce what they're doing when they discriminate based on s*x, and they may not even realize they're doing it. You might never know why a person made the decision they made.