myth wrote:
I have not read the entire thread so I apologise if some of my points have been addressed. The following is simply my take on the subject of gender discrminiation in general:
I believe in "equal" "rights" (although both terms "equal" and "rights" are somewhat sketchy and may need to be clearly defined within this context) and dislike the term "feminism." If it were about equality, why would it be called that?? The term itself seems to indicate favortism towards females. (Yes, I read about how it's just a carry over from when they were fighting for women's right to vote. If, then, you are not still fighting for women's rights specifically, I suggest you use a different label.)
I also agree with the "too much anti-male propoganda" group. I think that Western society currently favors females and ends up giving them special treatment, not equality. Every sitcom and many comercials display the women controlling their male partners with threats of witholding sex as well as being smarter, more mature, and more responsible than their male partners. Granted, females are oftentimes portrayed as unreasonable or crazy as well but it is rare for them to appear stupid or controlled by a powerful spouse. Much rarer than the inverse. I don't consider "sex objects" to be derrogatory as this is where most of their power comes from cultrurally. So a woman shown to be very attractive and desirable is one that is powerful and in control of the stereotypical male.
I have seen a few examples of an abusive male who physically damages his female partner but those examples are extreme and the male is (rightly) vilified. Compare this to the hundreds of examples I have seen in the media and in real life of females slapping males in the face who they simply considered rude or disrespectful and this is accepted. What would happen if a male did that to a female? "Don't you talk that way to me!" *slap!* Public outrage. This view is somewhat reasonable because females are usually physically weaker and a male usually is capable of doing significant damage to a female if he so chooses. However, I don't think a female who physically attacks a male should be condoned in any form, nor the other way around. Females should not take advantage of their protective status in this manner. The fact that you are physically weaker is exactly why you shouldn't pick physical fights. You would only do so if you were confident there was no way that person was going to retaliate against you.
Not to mention the vast snarky little comments by female relatives and co-workers I hear on an almost daily basis where they unfavorably comment on their spouse and cackle and agree with eachother on how usless men are. Do men have these sorts of conversations about women? They might, I haven't heard any but they are unlikely to engage in such behavior in my presense even though I would not be upset at them for it. The women referenced above do say this in front of males, though, because (again) of their protected status. In my experience, men are more likely to laugh things off. God forbid you offend a woman.
Just a few examples of the attitude, not intended to be a synopsis of the problem at large. I do not in any way consider society to be male-dominated nor my own life. I don't generally see things in terms of gender until presented with a blatant double-standard which is usually female-favoring based on my observations. For the most part, I think things are generally equal with occasional isolated discrimination on both sides and society as a whole in general favoring women in a few key areas.
*edit* Been scanning through the previous pages a little bit and I seem to laregly agree with Tequila.
now thats how to post a view. brilliant. agree 110%. i wish i could have posted that.