The NationStates Feminist Thread

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

the eradication of violence against women.

Admirable, but every bit as impossible to do as trying to turn off the sun.

Whether justified or not, there will always be a time where a woman will be in a violent situation.

As for everything else, largely handled already in a large part of the western world, but I am more than supportive of feminism being brought into places such as the Middle East, which unfortunately...are truly patriarchal.

[Nazi Flower Power]

I don't exactly call myself a feminist these days, but I support the vast majority of what most feminists fight for and I have a deep respect for the vast majority of feminist activists out there. I'm especially fond of the blog Love, Joy, Feminism.

On the other hand, there's an undertone in much of feminism that I've become uncomfortable with, which culminates in the idea that sexism can be redefined in such a way to exclude male victims. That's honestly been the major thing that pushed me out of identifying with the movement. How could I stand as part of a movement that has announced that it would not seek to protect me if I was the one wronged?

That is one reason I am not more enthusiastic and outspoken about my support for feminism. I don't want to be all gung ho and then have people think I only care about women.

At the end of the day we do need to share the planet with men and treating them like crap is not helpful.

I know that many feminists are working against this, and I applaud them for it. I applaud the OP for acknowledging that misandry is a real thing. I wish I could be one of the feminists in this fight, but I feel that as a male my voice would be inherently unwelcome in attempts to directly reform feminism.

It wouldn't be unwelcome from my point of view, but I am sure this is something where you will get different opinions from different people.

[Highfort]

the eradication of violence against women.

Admirable, but every bit as impossible to do as trying to turn off the sun.

Whether justified or not, there will always be a time where a woman will be in a violent situation.

As for everything else, largely handled already in a large part of the western world, but I am more than supportive of feminism being brought into places such as the Middle East, which unfortunately...are truly patriarchal.

The farther away I get from the west the more I tend to be in favor of feminism. Here in the United States I tend to favor it in the extremely conservative and fundamentalist parts of the nation - namely the midwest and south - and abroad I favor it in areas like the Middle East.

[Threlizdun]

This is what I got:

Perspective Score
Liberal feminist 44
Socialist feminist 42
Women of Color 35
Radical feminist 25
Conservative 16
Cultural feminist 10


I talk less about feminist issues, because I tend to think that the issue would be best solved through a socialist reorganization of society.

Capitalism and patriarchy are definitely interconnected, and a socialist revolution would help reduce the oppression of women, but it would be insufficient to end it. The cultural traditions of patriarchy and gender and sexual roles are deeplu engrained, and need more than social and economic revolution.

the eradication of violence against women.

Admirable, but every bit as impossible to do as trying to turn off the sun.

Whether justified or not, there will always be a time where a woman will be in a violent situation.

As for everything else, largely handled already in a large part of the western world, but I am more than supportive of feminism being brought into places such as the Middle East, which unfortunately...are truly patriarchal.

Yeah, tell that to the person who sexually assaulted me for not being "feminine enough". The idea that the West isn't in need of feminism anymore is insultingly naive.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

A reminder: we do have a Gamergate, Feminisim, and Journalistic Ethics thread still open and active for the topic.

I wouldn't suggest it...

The feminist issue in Gamergate has been blown down by people on both sides, disregarding the larger ethical issues in journalism.

NS should stay away, especially due to poor sourcing done there.

Why its still open...I dunno.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

This is what I got:

Perspective Score
Liberal feminist 44
Socialist feminist 42
Women of Color 35
Radical feminist 25
Conservative 16
Cultural feminist 10


I talk less about feminist issues, because I tend to think that the issue would be best solved through a socialist reorganization of society.

Capitalism and patriarchy are definitely interconnected, and a socialist revolution would help reduce the oppression of women, but it would be insufficient to end it. The cultural traditions of patriarchy and gender and sexual roles are deeplu engrained, and need more than social and economic revolution.

the eradication of violence against women.

Admirable, but every bit as impossible to do as trying to turn off the sun.

Whether justified or not, there will always be a time where a woman will be in a violent situation.

As for everything else, largely handled already in a large part of the western world, but I am more than supportive of feminism being brought into places such as the Middle East, which unfortunately...are truly patriarchal.

Yeah, tell that to the person who sexually assaulted me for not being "feminine enough". The idea that the West isn't in need of feminism anymore is insultingly naive.

Assholes exist regardless of the terrain or setting and they can't be removed without a larger ethical concern of altering a persons own free will, regardless of the potential harm any single person can preform.

If there is one serious issue feminism still needs to tackle in the West imo, its with how the Conservatives in Government act in regards to the abortion debate, which is a damn shame because most of them are men who don't actually understand what that experience is like.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

the eradication of violence against women.

Admirable, but every bit as impossible to do as trying to turn off the sun.

Whether justified or not, there will always be a time where a woman will be in a violent situation.

As for everything else, largely handled already in a large part of the western world, but I am more than supportive of feminism being brought into places such as the Middle East, which unfortunately...are truly patriarchal.

The farther away I get from the west the more I tend to be in favor of feminism. Here in the United States I tend to favor it in the extremely conservative and fundamentalist parts of the nation - namely the midwest and south - and abroad I favor it in areas like the Middle East.

Yeah, the South is another problem...

Its likely no where as bad as people make it out to be, anyone who understands perception understands the Human mind overblows everything negative.

Its a survival instinct, so while the South is largely a problem in many ways, its still far better than the Middle East, which is just a nightmare I mean really...

Then again thats based off info I remember years ago, so I should look back into the situation once more to see if things improved in anyway.

[Neutraligon]

Liberal feminist 46
Women of Color 34
Socialist feminist 23
Radical feminist 18
Cultural feminist 18
Conservative 14

This is what I got, although not sure I agree with it.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

There's a test?

[Caltarania]

There's a test?

Under the misc spoiler in the OP.

[Russels Orbiting Teapot]

Yeah, the South is another problem...

Its likely no where as bad as people make it out to be, anyone who understands perception understands the Human mind overblows everything negative.

Its a survival instinct, so while the South is largely a problem in many ways, its still far better than the Middle East, which is just a nightmare I mean really...

Then again thats based off info I remember years ago, so I should look back into the situation once more to see if things improved in anyway.

I know that support for gay rights has expanded dramatically in the south over the last ten years, to reach parity with the opposition in many states. Support for feminism and relaxing gender role expectations may have come in the same wave, or it might not have.

[Highfort]

There's a test?

Under the Misc tab: Feminist Perspective Quiz.

[Threlizdun]

Capitalism and patriarchy are definitely interconnected, and a socialist revolution would help reduce the oppression of women, but it would be insufficient to end it. The cultural traditions of patriarchy and gender and sexual roles are deeplu engrained, and need more than social and economic revolution.
Yeah, tell that to the person who sexually assaulted me for not being "feminine enough". The idea that the West isn't in need of feminism anymore is insultingly naive.

Assholes exist regardless of the terrain or setting and they can't be removed without a larger ethical concern of altering a persons own free will, regardless of the potential harm any single person can preform.

If there is one serious issue feminism still needs to tackle in the West imo, its with how the Conservatives in Government act in regards to the abortion debate, which is a damn shame because most of them are men who don't actually understand what that experience is like.

No, when one in four women are sexually assaulted you don't get to just say assholes are everywhere. When half of all trans women are sexually assaulted, you don't get to say assholes are everywhere. I'm a statistic. I was sexually assaulted and they explained to me while violating me that it was because I didn't uphold the expected standards of femininity. When that shit happens, you don't get to just shrug it off and say that it's no big deal. If you want to tell me to go fuck myself then that is fine, but don't you dare sit hear and say that I shouldn't be concerned about a social phenomenon that I've been a victim of.

[Pan-Dymaxis]

I think the male inventors of the vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, laundry machines, and microwave oven deserve credit for making feminism possible.

Oh you laughed. I'll go burn my own fish sticks now.

[Arumdaum]

Women of Color: 50
Socialist feminist: 49
Radical feminist: 47
Liberal feminist: 46
Cultural feminist: 35
Conservative: 10

As a person of color (although not as disadvantaged in most areas compared to other PoC here in the US), I guess it was sort of natural that I had "Women of Color" come out on top, as that is what I'm most aware of. Lately I've been encountering more feminists who constantly talk about how backward non-Western nations and cultures are, and how they need to be saved by the West (I think they've been called Imperial Feminists, but I like to call them "white power feminists"); they also generally tend to disregard things like intersectionality. They bother me a considerably. Not a big fan of TERFs either.

I occasionally feel uncomfortable calling myself a feminist, not because I view the term negatively (I view someone being a feminist as a very positive thing), but rather because there times when I feel that it's not appropriate for me to call myself as a feminist as a male and someone unable to fully comprehend the struggles of women.

I try to be a good ally. I've been reading articles from Everyday Feminism for a few years now, and it's been a rather mind-opening experience for me, not only in terms of understanding the issues of simply women more, but also those of other disadvantaged groups such as the disabled.

[Arumdaum]

I think the male inventors of the vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, laundry machines, and microwave oven deserve credit for making feminism possible.

Oh you laughed. I'll go burn my own fish sticks now.

You're a few decades late.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

Assholes exist regardless of the terrain or setting and they can't be removed without a larger ethical concern of altering a persons own free will, regardless of the potential harm any single person can preform.

If there is one serious issue feminism still needs to tackle in the West imo, its with how the Conservatives in Government act in regards to the abortion debate, which is a damn shame because most of them are men who don't actually understand what that experience is like.

No, when one in four women are sexually assaulted you don't get to just say assholes are everywhere. When half of all trans women are sexually assaulted, you don't get to say assholes are everywhere. I'm a statistic. I was sexually assaulted and they explained to me while violating me that it was because I didn't uphold the expected standards of femininity. When that shit happens, you don't get to just shrug it off and say that it's no big deal. If you want to tell me to go fuck myself then that is fine, but don't you dare sit hear and say that I shouldn't be concerned about a social phenomenon that I've been a victim of.

I don't recall ever saying anything negative towards you...

Last I checked, I brought up a fact of life, assholes, jerks, twats, fuckwits, cancer, shitstrains, etc...whatever insult you want exist.

They will always exist, even in a utopia, it doesn't make your experience any less shit, because so long as there is free will, there will be bad people who do bad things.

But regardless of your experience, the situation in the western world is still far better than the middle east, you are a statistic, you make this claim yourself.

But that doesn't negate that everyone is a statistic in one way or another.

And despite your experiences, which I do have sympathy towards you for surviving, I have to question how those static's were made, because any chart or stat is rough, and can vary from institution to institution.

Regardless, the western world is a whole lot better than the Middle East, but that doesn't stop bad things from happening.

I'm sorry for what happened for you, and you're clearly not comfortable right now, you should probably take a break to cool down, I know it helps me when I'm upset, so maybe taking some time will help you too.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

Yeah, the South is another problem...

Its likely no where as bad as people make it out to be, anyone who understands perception understands the Human mind overblows everything negative.

Its a survival instinct, so while the South is largely a problem in many ways, its still far better than the Middle East, which is just a nightmare I mean really...

Then again thats based off info I remember years ago, so I should look back into the situation once more to see if things improved in anyway.

I know that support for gay rights has expanded dramatically in the south over the last ten years, to reach parity with the opposition in many states. Support for feminism and relaxing gender role expectations may have come in the same wave, or it might not have.

Regardless, its good to see some progress, the south has always been a troubled part of the US.

[Dakini]

I occasionally feel uncomfortable calling myself a feminist, not because I view the term negatively (I view someone being a feminist as a very positive thing), but rather because there times when I feel that it's not appropriate for me to call myself as a feminist as a male and someone unable to fully comprehend the struggles of women.

imo, you don't have to be a woman to be a feminist.

[Russels Orbiting Teapot]

I think the male inventors of the vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, laundry machines, and microwave oven deserve credit for making feminism possible.

Oh you laughed. I'll go burn my own fish sticks now.

I laughed, because I'm capable of doing cursory fucking research.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_Cochrane

[Caltarania]

I think the male inventors of the vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, laundry machines, and microwave oven deserve credit for making feminism possible.

Oh you laughed. I'll go burn my own fish sticks now.

I laughed, because I'm capable of doing cursory fucking research.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_Cochrane

-insert obligatory burn heal joke-

[Nyoronet]

Liberal feminist - 32
Conservative - 24
Socialist feminist - 24
Women of Color - 23
Cultural feminist - 19
Radical feminist - 15

-----------------------------------

As a woman,

I'm not a feminist.
I don't believe in feminism.
I don't need feminism.
I am an anti-feminist.

[-The Unified Earth Governments-]

Holy shit that test is long...

[Pan-Dymaxis]

I think the male inventors of the vacuum cleaner, dishwasher, laundry machines, and microwave oven deserve credit for making feminism possible.

Oh you laughed. I'll go burn my own fish sticks now.

I laughed, because I'm capable of doing cursory fucking research.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephine_Cochrane

Touché. Well played, sir, er, ma'am. Cheers.

[Caltarania]

Holy shit that test is long...

60 questions IIRC.