Is it possible to disagree with the majority of mainstream feminist theory and feminist writers?

Question

Without being classified as an anti-feminist?

Because I believe women should have equal rights as men, and should primarily have choice, above all others.

Though I think feminism as a movement is pretty misguided and seems to be based on upon the concept that women are ALWAYS the victims and men are always the OPPRESSORS. Combined with the idea that mankind has an eternal death sentence or debt to pay for all the years of the patriarchy ruling the planet.

And above all the harmful idea (that some seem to accept without thought or reason as if it's some know fact, though probably taught to them by in their gender studies classes) that gender is nothing but a societal fad or a sociological construction, and that all we are is a blank slate, so potentially, we can be socially engineered to behave in the right way, by those in power or with significant influence on society – the education system. The other criticism is that a lot of feminist theory and diatribe seems to be socialism/marxism under another name – anti-family bias, anti-capitalism, gender/s*x oppression instead of class oppression. Another common theme is court manipulation through the bending of court jurisprudence in order to get laws passed.

Of course the other thing about western feminism is the anti-male discrimination in the areas of reproductive rights, child custody, alimony, and property division in divorce, pointing to statistical figure.

I also object to so-called "positive discrimination," also known as "affirmative action" against men and women in the form of quotas in the areas of employment, education, politics, and healthcare.

In my personal opinion I believe western feminism and western masculism should unite to become egalitarianism, while women’s rights should be focused mainly in the Middle East.

Am I a feminist or an anti-feminist?

Answer 1

I, too, believe that mainstream feminism has gotten a bit off course.  I think many early feminists would not be pleased with the direction the movement has taken.  I would say many of the modern day "feminists" are actually anti-feminist because they do more harm to our gender than help.

Answer 2

I think you're an egalitarian. However, I don't think you realize that most feminists object to what's being done in their name.

Answer 3

Essentially you're saying that the thousands and thousands of patriarchs who have ruled over women, oppressed them, and essentially enslaved them have nothing to do with the reasons behind Feminism?  

It's as if you are just so amazingly free to forget all the things that have caused the rifts and problems between the genders.  These are things that are only within the last 100 years starting to get fixed in the United States and the rest of the WEstern world.  The Middle East hasn't even taken a baby step toward that!  

I'm not sure why you feel the need to attack Feminism for it faults when I believe that even WITH all the faults (yes, unfortunately, as humans, ALL our ideologies have faults) Feminism has taken mankind on it's first important step toward righting the wrong against women that had been happening for thousand and thousands of years.  

Instead of nitpicking around all the political mumbo-jumbo of the feminist movement, take a step back to look at The Big Picture and see what you're really arguing against.  You might be surprised.

Answer 4

I think your neither, you just want people to relax and be free. WITHOUT having a "cause" being promoted all the time.

Answer 5

No, not without being labeled an anti-feminist and a horrible person.

Answer 6

Sounds like you and I think a lot alike.

I want women to be happy. What i am down on are memes I see from earlier decades about how if a woman is smart she should not threaten her man by discussing intellectual things for instance. I like a woman with a little grit who can do for herself just fine, thank you. however, on the other hand I think that there are a lot of problems in modern culture. Dual income couples are less likely to have s*x on a regular basis for instance. I think being a parent and spending a lot of time with the kids is important  for both parents but if one had to go off to the office and work it should be the father. And I think that most moms should not work because it reduces the total stress in the system.

Kids and couples, everyone seems to be suffering from the stress of trying to do so much in so short a time. So, should all women be at home in the kitchen? No, absolutely not. We need Donna Karens in this world. But I also think we need to slow down and get back to having more moms be moms.