2. The problem with and of Feminism
Notes:
No longer can one dare to say patriarchy, racism, domination does not exist, and no one can claim that it is not doing harm to the society, in particular, to all those that do not match its definition of the Supreme Being. But in addition to doing harm directly to all these, it is also lowering the overall level of satisfaction of the society, just like “lemons” lower the overall level of utility to the market in economics. By giving “weaker” groups inferior rewards - we create societal inefficiency, therefore capping our speed of knowledge. In other words, the faster the society finds a way that rewards its citizens based on their merit in all areas, a fair method of selection, the greater will be the pace of our progress as species.
Men, with their self-proclaimed need to compete and conquer, be worshiped, obeyed have been, inadvertently, creating an unhealthy and unrealistic role model for their children. This caused the problem to spiral and peak in the recent revival of the individualism. By “men”, I do realize that I am generalizing. In fact, the meaning is limited to those men, who had the power over history in the past, willingly promoting the dogma that benefited them most throughout time. If they were to consider the species interests - I cannot imagine a scenario in which they would want to slow down their own evolution through elimination of opportunities for survival and development to all personae non gratae, notably women and people of color, as well as animals and the environment.
Men often claim that the animal patterns of survival of the fittest have selected men to be stronger, smarter, but also more brutal, violent. Women, on the other hand, needed to be nurturing and therefore weaker, obedient. But in reply, I note that we no longer pretend to be animals, we pretend to be a separate cast of life. So why exactly are we still using animal patterns to explain human interaction with the world? We have developed contraception, genetic manipulation, in vitro insemination and on the path to develop a spermatozoid from an egg. The times have changed. The faster men realize that their success and achievements lie in an honest, open, undivided humanity, the more happy years of existence it is bound to have.
But that also goes for the victims of discrimination, as by holding grudges and stirring hate they are using the master’s tools, while trying to dismantle the master’s house. Women and minorities need to realize, that by creating affirmative actions they create reverse discrimination, therefore increasing the total discrimination levels. Here I do not speak of structures that monitor that equality is maintained in salary levels, individual rights ect. Here, by Affirmative Actions, I mean those that push on for more rights for a certain group, regardless of what the equality levels should be, because they are claiming damages for past harm. We cannot afford to discriminate another 100 years in the opposite direction because we are hurt now and were hurt in the past.
Roadblocks on the path to equality/examples:
• Writing “white people” in minuscule letters, but “Black people”, as though compensating for something. (see “Across the Kitchen Table: A Sister-to-Sister dialogue” Barbara & Beverly Smith, see Doris Davenport ) Black/white binary continuum further erodes the path to the goal of equality.
• Use of words for victims of abuse - “battered women”
• The use of the word “man” in professional titles or even in the word “human”
• The religious dogma, militarism
• Definitions and interpretations of “work”, “housework” and societal remuneration systems. Lillian S. Robinson, L. Lissjutkina
• The fact that the most important feminist book - Simone De Beauvoir’s “Second Sex” was translated by a man-zoologist, commissioned by another man. The content has been manipulated throughout the world.
• The word “Feminism” itself and the current structure of “Women’s Studies”. These words are on the second extreme of the binary continuum. They discriminate against men, who would otherwise support the cause. Also, the word has historically picked up a white-supremacist, radical taint. The word does not (no longer does?) correspond to the definition; therefore it is time to redefine the movement.
Interesting Quotes:
• “Divide and conquer, in our world, must become define and empower” by Audre Lorde
• “To say “the body” lifts me away from what has given me a primary perspective. To say “my body” reduces the temptation to grandiose assertions” Adrienne Rich
• “There is no liberation that only knows how to say “I”, there is no collective movement that speaks for each of us all the way through” Adrienne Rich
• “He says, I’m making a living. She says, I’m making life” Lillian S Robinson
· “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house” Audre Lorde