Feminists are unattractive in both looks and in spirit.

[my_aerie]

I'm more than 10,000 words behind on my NaNoWriMo. Naturally, this means you get a thorough critique of an article a friend linked me to.

Here is the drivel in question. (Alas, Oprah, I once respected you, even if I didn't like you very much

Comments

[errant_variable]

*good point*
*catchphrase*
*horribly made up new catchphrase*
*make the point that I just tried to counter*
*catchphrase*
*shoehorn self into a stereotype I claim to be breaking - didn't want that self-respect anyway!*
(go read some Aldous Huxley you self-aggrandizing airhead - then say that again with a straight face)
*catchphrase*
*proclaim that feminine types should be quietly reading in a side room*
(And the last... if you take it as an absolute, in math it's called a given, in feminine-ism it's apparently called a "revelation". Way to show strength and dynamicism. (also, it's not actually an absolute, so if you take it as a granted revelation then you mislead even more)

That article hurt to read. Figured I'd summarize for those not inclined to do so.

[my_aerie]

<3

[roseneko]

I think a large part of the problem people have with feminism (as you pointed out) is that the extremists went from "equal rights for both sexes" to "men are evil, put women in charge" - and of course, that's where all the media attention went because extremism sells papers far better than balanced viewpoints. (And then everyone's so surprised when female jocks chug beer and cause trouble the same way male jocks do...) I think it would behoove feminists in general to stress that feminism isn't about men being rapists/evil/oppressors/what have you, but about equality - or, as one of my favorite bumper stickers puts it, "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people."

[my_aerie]

Yes, the "let's put women above men because women are better/because women deserve their comeuppance after being oppressed for so long" thing that the media portrays as being part of feminism and which is really only thought by a couple extremists...that's exactly why I haven't called myself a feminist in YEARS. I'm starting up again. Feminism needs real feminists to embrace the word so drivel like this has even less of a place in the world.

[my_aerie]

BTW, I'd also like to say that I think modern feminism isn't about women--it's about gender equality. I believe it is a goal of feminism to, for instance, get paternity leave for new fathers. That's the lesser reason that I haven't been embracing the word feminism--it's a misnomer, IMO. I'm not interested in women. I'm interested in people. Both genders face some oppression, and I want to see that end.

[sandchigger]

Well, for what it's worth, I consider myself a feminist and I'm also fairly unattractive in both looks and spirit. So yeah, she's got me there.

[my_aerie]

Well, yeah, okay. But you're just one feminist. So nyah.

[sandchigger]

Yes, marster...

[my_aerie]

YOU CAN NOT BE A WOMAN IF YOU ARE NOT PRETTY! You are a man and your biology just hasn't realized it. DUH.

[my_aerie]

Glad Karen and I could give you some intelligent insight into your life and your sense of self. Any time you need to be told you're not good enough to be a woman, just ring Karen up, I'm sure she'd be glad to reinforce it.

[honeyrider]

my god this article shits me. the reaffirmation of stereotypes, the ludicrous assignment of gender appropriate behavior, the whole bullshit about women in india -- WTF. lordy lordy.

i was going to link your post from my journal because you pretty much addressed my issues with the article but since it's friends only, i might just take some time later to bitch this idiotic woman out.

[my_aerie]

Public-ized. I was thinking of making this public (which is gonna be WEIRD, all people would see is my friends only entry and this...), but didn't think anyone would care. Since you mentioned it, I public'd it. I've been thinking of making non-personal-life stuff less elitist anyway. :)