I confess I did not care for the article. I also did not agree with it academically. These are two very different but important things to note in my opinion. I had high hopes for the article given its topic as it seems to me the feminist movement has fallen from the public's eye as a matter of import. There is still much to be accomplished in the way of equal opportunity, treatment, and justice for the sexes (to include the now diverse selection of genders). I agree with the author on these points and was glad to see someone approach the issue.
I did not 'like' the article for it's tone and deviation from an academic mode. There are far too many strong descriptors and unqualified generalizations of my sex to suit my taste. The author seems to assert that the problem lies with all men, including the 'most progressive, repeatedly which surely cannot be accurate or considerate of the reader (especially in the case of males who would otherwise be sympathetic to the cause). Of the many slanders laid upon 'men' in general is the proposition that feminism (re-defined as humanism) is being held back by men and that, as such, it is men who are holding back the progress of all mankind. The language is very strong and unbalanced, presenting women as without extremist or abusive factions or individuals. Again, granted, being a male it is possible this is a defensive, emotional response but I honestly believe my reaction would be the same should such generalizations be made of the entire opposite sex.
I disagree with the article academically as a great deal must be accepted as truth to lay the foundation for this article. Chiefly, that all men (even progressive ones) strongly oppose the feminist movement. Many? Certainly. Most? Quite possibly, but here sits at least one who is contrary to that fundamental assumption. Second, it is asserted that the feminist movement in itself is without internal fault prohibiting progress and that the betterment of all mankind is hindered completely by men. As I often like to say, "I supported feminism until I met a feminist." There is a great deal of factionalism within the feminist movement that both cause internal strife (preventing a unified movement) and damage the cause through poor example (extremists and hypocrits). Such is the case with any movement and were I not readily able to provide examples from my personal life I would simply say it is reasonable to believe such troubles would be found in the feminist movement by extension.
continued...an_aikidokaApril 10 2007, 22:27:35 UTC
Even the very premise of the article seems contradicted by its delivery and arguments. The conclusion urges a unification of the sexes for the common good, to discard artificial roles and redefine ourselves for the progress of all mankind. Yet the majority of the article singles out the males of the species and piles labels, roles, and generalizations about them throughout. I feel the ultimate goal of combating racism, for example, is for children to one day not comprehend any distinction between people based on cosmetic differences. As such, I feel organizations such as the NAACP are harmful as they must constantly re-enforce a division between 'black' and 'other' to exist. There can be no National Association for the Advancement of Colored People if there is no distinction between race. Likewise, feminism cannot exist without a distinction between the sexes. In this light, perhaps it would have been better for the author to have bypassed feminism altogether and make a call for a larger humanist movement. The author's 'us and them' mentality seems to be the ultimate enemy of humanism (or feminism for that matter) and thus destructive to the cause the author professes to support.
On a final note, I found only two references to males being victimized. First the author claims that men as well as women and 'the black man across the street' (by saying this we can only assume the author really means 'white men' when the word men is used, and is thus exhibiting a racist worldview) are victims of the larger machine. This seems to be a call to arms, informing men that they are but tools as well and they should turn against the powers that be. Yet, elsewhere the author characterizes the greater machine as being patriarchal in nature and, in fact, man. This may seem like a stretch, but at the very least my readers might see how I find the author's granting that men may be victims as well has an ulterior motive. Secondly there is the reference to abused children. While the author does admit that male children are also abused the author asserts this to be done only by the father. Further, the author claims male children often, in turn, abuse their sisters. I do not deny these situations happen. They are, however, not ALL that happens. Boys are abused by their mothers, sisters, female teachers, and other women in positions of power, not just older males.
With my attempt to approach this article as fairly and impartially (or at least introspectively to grant a transparent hermeneutics of suspicion) complete, I would like to part with a single, personal bias:
Boys get abused too. Only nobody seems to give a fuck about the boys.
I did not 'like' the article for it's tone and deviation from an academic mode. There are far too many strong descriptors and unqualified generalizations of my sex to suit my taste. The author seems to assert that the problem lies with all men, including the 'most progressive, repeatedly which surely cannot be accurate or considerate of the reader (especially in the case of males who would otherwise be sympathetic to the cause). Of the many slanders laid upon 'men' in general is the proposition that feminism (re-defined as humanism) is being held back by men and that, as such, it is men who are holding back the progress of all mankind. The language is very strong and unbalanced, presenting women as without extremist or abusive factions or individuals. Again, granted, being a male it is possible this is a defensive, emotional response but I honestly believe my reaction would be the same should such generalizations be made of the entire opposite sex.
I disagree with the article academically as a great deal must be accepted as truth to lay the foundation for this article. Chiefly, that all men (even progressive ones) strongly oppose the feminist movement. Many? Certainly. Most? Quite possibly, but here sits at least one who is contrary to that fundamental assumption. Second, it is asserted that the feminist movement in itself is without internal fault prohibiting progress and that the betterment of all mankind is hindered completely by men. As I often like to say, "I supported feminism until I met a feminist." There is a great deal of factionalism within the feminist movement that both cause internal strife (preventing a unified movement) and damage the cause through poor example (extremists and hypocrits). Such is the case with any movement and were I not readily able to provide examples from my personal life I would simply say it is reasonable to believe such troubles would be found in the feminist movement by extension.
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On a final note, I found only two references to males being victimized. First the author claims that men as well as women and 'the black man across the street' (by saying this we can only assume the author really means 'white men' when the word men is used, and is thus exhibiting a racist worldview) are victims of the larger machine. This seems to be a call to arms, informing men that they are but tools as well and they should turn against the powers that be. Yet, elsewhere the author characterizes the greater machine as being patriarchal in nature and, in fact, man. This may seem like a stretch, but at the very least my readers might see how I find the author's granting that men may be victims as well has an ulterior motive. Secondly there is the reference to abused children. While the author does admit that male children are also abused the author asserts this to be done only by the father. Further, the author claims male children often, in turn, abuse their sisters. I do not deny these situations happen. They are, however, not ALL that happens. Boys are abused by their mothers, sisters, female teachers, and other women in positions of power, not just older males.
With my attempt to approach this article as fairly and impartially (or at least introspectively to grant a transparent hermeneutics of suspicion) complete, I would like to part with a single, personal bias:
Boys get abused too. Only nobody seems to give a fuck about the boys.
Reply
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