There is something to be said about reflective essays, but most of it is to be said to yourself.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Feminism
I, as shocking as it may be, am a feminist.
I realize the negative connotation that “feminism” has in some circles, as it’s often referred to as man-hating as well as filled with double standards. I disagree with them. Merriam-Webster defines feminism as “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” I stand with that view, and I think that human beings, regardless of biological sex, should be equal on political, economic, and social grounds. By saying I am a feminist, I am not agreeing with those who call themselves feminists and then degrade men and/or create double standards.
This reason I’m making for this post is because of one of the Amazing Atheist’s videos, which was titled “It’s Only Sexist When Men Do It.” He explains that on a television show called “The Talk,” a man’s penis was cut off in an event and they laughed about it. He then points out the hypocrisy in our society that if they were men, laughing about a woman’s breasts being cut off when she asked for a divorce, the way it was received would change massively. I agree with that as well. However, at one point he says this is why he can’t take feminism seriously.
Feminism, or the feminist movement, did not cause them to laugh and it did not create the double standard. The people who claim to be “feminists,” and give into this double standard are not really feminists. By saying laughing at the suffering of a male is any different from laughing at the suffering of a female they then place females and males on two different planes which are not equal, and it hurts the feminist cause when they do that.
Just because a portion of its followers may go about it in an unbecoming or counterproductive way, shouldn’t cause the idea to lose credibility, because the idea isn’t responsible and can’t be because it’s, you know, not a cognitive being, for the actions of the people who advocate for it. It reflects on those individuals only. And it’s not okay to judge an idea based on partial observations of its followers, because it then creates a poor generalization of all of them.
An idea should be judged for its value and credibility.
And individuals should be judged the same way.
I realize the negative connotation that “feminism” has in some circles, as it’s often referred to as man-hating as well as filled with double standards. I disagree with them. Merriam-Webster defines feminism as “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” I stand with that view, and I think that human beings, regardless of biological sex, should be equal on political, economic, and social grounds. By saying I am a feminist, I am not agreeing with those who call themselves feminists and then degrade men and/or create double standards.
This reason I’m making for this post is because of one of the Amazing Atheist’s videos, which was titled “It’s Only Sexist When Men Do It.” He explains that on a television show called “The Talk,” a man’s penis was cut off in an event and they laughed about it. He then points out the hypocrisy in our society that if they were men, laughing about a woman’s breasts being cut off when she asked for a divorce, the way it was received would change massively. I agree with that as well. However, at one point he says this is why he can’t take feminism seriously.
Feminism, or the feminist movement, did not cause them to laugh and it did not create the double standard. The people who claim to be “feminists,” and give into this double standard are not really feminists. By saying laughing at the suffering of a male is any different from laughing at the suffering of a female they then place females and males on two different planes which are not equal, and it hurts the feminist cause when they do that.
Just because a portion of its followers may go about it in an unbecoming or counterproductive way, shouldn’t cause the idea to lose credibility, because the idea isn’t responsible and can’t be because it’s, you know, not a cognitive being, for the actions of the people who advocate for it. It reflects on those individuals only. And it’s not okay to judge an idea based on partial observations of its followers, because it then creates a poor generalization of all of them.
An idea should be judged for its value and credibility.
And individuals should be judged the same way.
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