Is it possible to have sexist stereotypes about women, without there being sexist stereotypes against men?

Question

I notice some people seem to believe feminism caused negative stereotypes against men. But if stereotypes against women existed before feminism, surely there must also have been stereotypes against men?

Likewise, if you challenge stereotypes about one gender, doesn't that mean you are automatically challenging the opposite stereotypes against the other gender?

For example, if you believe women are weak and dependent, then you must surely believe that men are strong and independent. Can one exist without the other? And by challenging one with feminism, doesn't that also challenge the opposite stereotypes? What are your thoughts? :-)

Answer 1

Good question.

I am not sure there was a time 'Before Feminism.'  Through history there are examples (although usually presented as comedic by American historians) of women striving for equality.  I think that the struggle for equality dates back to at least the European Dark Ages.

Juedo-Christian and Islamic religions have promoted the stereotypes. Religion has provided both reasons and excuses for why women cannot be treated as equals. This has made it almost impossible for women to challenge stereotypes because in doing so, often women are perceived as challenging religion.  And in many ways we must. The more religion-based the country, the weaker the role of women in that country, the less value women have. The same message is repeated, from Bible to Koran: Man is strong, the provider, the protector. Woman is weak, made to serve man.

Feminists have NEVER been anti-male. We have been Pro-Female. There is a difference. The only stereotypes I see are from men who believe they are the same thing.  

The stereotypes about Feminists have nothing to do with reality.  For example, Feminism has never been about s*x, except as it has to do with a woman having control over her own body. Yet we are constantly referred to as knuckle dragging, masculine appearing Lesbians. There has never been any indication that most Feminists were/are g*y or unattractive.  Gloria  Steinem, a Feminist Icon, was once hired as a Playboy Bunny.

Feminists are portrayed as man haters. Yet from the time Mary Wollstonecrat's first book (A Vindication of the Rights of Women) was published in 1792, the Women's Right's Movement has been totally and completely about that, THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN: the right to own property, the right to vote, the right to not be beaten at will, discarded at will, the right to employment, the right to equal pay for equal work, equal educationial opportunities, the right to make our own decisions about our lives.

Answer 2

yes,i think you've got it

Answer 3

Stereotyping doesn't revolve around any timeline of any ideology and are based off half truths. Most are used as an expression of ignorance to make some justified parallel to compliment a certain perspective.

People will choose to challenge whatever stereotype they wish which has nothing to do with automatically assuming the opposite must be true.

Answer 4

"I notice some people seem to believe feminism caused negative stereotypes against men"

all men are this, all men are that, the patriarchy this

the patriarchy that

yes, quite right, some people are deluding themselves into believing that feminism has created negative stereotypes against men.

Answer 5

YES. You are absolutely right. You can't repress one gender without repressing the other.  (I.E) Women are supposed to be less sexually active and chaste whereas men are supposed to be by nature polygamous.  Women are supposed to be sweet, docile, and  non-defensive while men are all potential warriors and expendable.  Women are nurturers who should stay at home.  Men are not designed to nurture and were born to win bread. All these stereotypes are damaging to both sexes.

Edit- I believe that the "unfaithful" stereotype is damaging to men because a lot of men feel pressured into having outside relationships to prove their virility. Because most women have bought into this stereotype as normal it's as though cheating is expected of us. Peer pressure comes from other males and lot of women will question themselves as to whether they have a real man if he isn't wayward.

Note- That doesn't justify infidelity.  But the problem is there.

Answer 6

So you justify stereotypes against men by means of the existance of stereotypes against women.

Its like gee, I just killed a woman. But I justfified because a woman had killed another man a week before.

Does this seem logical?

Answer 7

Why not?

" women are weak and dependent" ..." men are strong and independent". Ok. Those observations are relative, however not always relative to eachother. Are you suggesting by way of feminism; if women were to 'become stronger', that men by inverse would 'become weaker'? Why is that? Unless you are also suggesting that women can only become stronger by men becoming weaker. So women cannot be strong on their own, only by the relative weakness of men can this perception be assumed(your implication not mine).  

I happen to disagree personally, but whatever.

Answer 8

I'm not sure. But there are definitely double standards for both genders. I think men that are attractive and powerful get stereotyped as being scary and threatening  or too sexual. I think men get turned into s*x objects just as much as women do. Ex. I am asked constantly in my profession, Did it make you nervous to be left alone and talk with that man? (because he was big or muscular) and I don't even usually think about it. So yeah, there are gender stereotypes that hurt both genders and to focus on the negative consequences from one perspective can have a negative impact on the other.

Answer 9

Once a stereotypist, always a stereotypist, I say. Rarely will you see someone who can be relativist about one side and absolutist about the other at the same time.

Answer 10

I agree with you completely.

Answer 11

..in your case, i can't seem to see that.. and others are actually worse stereotypist  than you ergo, slim chance..

my thoughts are: why can't you do it like men do.. we do not have to lambaste you all  ..just to prove anything. we just let ourselves be men with all our flaws and strengths.. take it, leave it to your pleasure..

nah, you bet can't do that.. (that would be meaning again, that we are better than you at handling ourselves huh?!)

geez.. these feminist/sexist issues are very childish f--k..

Answer 12

i'm all confused, i need a drink.