Marf
SWRP Writer
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2012
- Messages
- 3,645
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I'm not going to lie, your post upset me. I'm a little lost for words, but I'm going to try my best to formulate a response despite being pretty anxious about this.I'm an 18 year old male, but I'm gonna give this a shot and share my own personal opinion.
You are 18, you are barely an adult. When I was that age I didn't regard myself as a feminist, because I hadn't noticed the need for it. I sincerely hope that as you mature, so will your thinking and that you will do the same.I do not believe women are treated unfairly in american society, at all. I think women are on a completely even playing field with men, and I believe that these "feminist movements" are a bunch of BS.
You don't "give a damn"? Ok.Now I could care less how people are treated around the world in other countries. So I don't really know how women are treated in countries outside of the U.S. and quite frankly I don't give a damn.
That was a pretty atrocious and insensitive comment considering the abhorrent (that's a kind word for it) acts against women in developing countries. It was dismissive and cruel, as though the issues outside of 'MURICA, issues we need to be outraged about, don't exist. Female genital mutilation (FGM), war rape and other forms of extreme sexual violence against women, young girls and toddlers, sexual slavery/trafficking, underage marriage, systematic torture and abuse etc. occurs every hour. Educate yourself before making such remarks. Pick up a book like Waris Dire's Desert Flower.
That's where you are wholly and utterly wrong. It is not simple. Sexism, such as racism and other forms of discrimination in developed countries are not as overt as as they are in the third world. It is seeping and insidious, it is something you become accustomed to at a young age because of its' subtly. You don't realize how bad it is until you get older and become more socially astute. It is still socially acceptable in developing countries to sexually demean a woman or view her as an object, but it's so heavily ingrained in our societal norm that we don't acknowledge it as a problem.I do believe women are equal to men. That's pretty much as simple as it is.
I'm a victim of sexual and emotional harassment over 6 years during school, I have female friends who are survivors of sexual assault and domestic rape. I have frequently been cat-called, hit on, honked at in the street for the way I am dressed and approached with inappropriate or sexual intention. I no longer wear alternative fashion which used to be my hobby because it attracted too much unwanted attention. My sister is butch/androgynous and was made to wear dresses and bullied because of her appearance, because she didn't match our school's set idea of of what a girl should look like. She developed anorexia and still lives with severe body image and self-esteem issues. It's more nuanced and complex than "You can't do that because you're a woman", it's about a lack of human dignity and basic respect, which is even more damaging.Tell me, in your own personal lives do you see women sincerely discriminated against? Do you, yourselves see a woman picked on just because she is a woman?
Women typically don't do things such as opening doors for men, because according to the social status quo, they are weaker, dependent and rely on somebody else to do things for them. More often than not, a man opening a door for a woman he doesn't know is not trying to be a gentleman, he is using it as an excuse to gain her affection. I would feel grossly uncomfortable if a strange man opened a door for me or pulled out my chair. My last male friend frequently approached me with affectionate and gentlemanly gestures, stroked my hair/cheeks etc, before eventually asking to sleep with me and see me naked. My sister, who prefers to be treated as a boy, always feels really embarrassed every time a waiter pulls out her chair and places her napkin when we go out.Hell I think you could argue men are the ones that get the short end of the stick socially. How many women opt to open a door for a man? Or pay for a meal? Which granted that's the way it should be, momma needs to teach every man how to be a gentleman.
Why? Not all women are 5'2" and 100 lbs. Men and women come in all different shapes and sizes and many are just as physically capable as each other. Society has a set, falsified perception of what genders are supposed look like aswell as their physical capabilities. There are many 6+ foot women who are just as strong and physically able as their male peers, and they should not be denied the opportunity to fill sporting, physical or combat roles if they are fully able to.However there are things that a woman should not be able to do. Such as combat military; ya I said that.
I didn't respond to all of your post. I'm hoping some of the more politically astute members tackle your other points.
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