Opinion on feminism?

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

My beliefs about what feminism means to me mostly involve various efforts at the dissolution of at the very least a society whose power structures operate around gender (and I do think that gendered discourse infects power structures whether or not they actually have to do with sex per se), if not the dissolution outright of gender and sexuality as originary concepts of identification (in fact, I would rather see sexuality dissolved than gender; I'd be fine with gender as an originary concept as long as it had nothing to do with social power or biological sex). Accordingly, I think liberal feminism is half-assed at best and actively working against what I believe in as a queer Christo-feminist with radical-feminist sympathies at worst. I don't think that the practical effect of the project of liberal feminism is to create greater social equality at all, because it takes as granted and in some cases even exaggerates the ideas behind the power structures it purports to criticize. In the form of things like 'Slutwalk' or 'feminist porn', it's redolent of an if-you-can't-beat-them... mentality which I think is really unhelpful.

I...think...I agree with this...somewhat, as a queer-commie radical feminist.

I'm sorry. My use of English has been broken* by the UMass College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

*Broken?--or made better?!

[angus]

So what do you lot think about feminism?

negative.

Santorum...?

also negative.

[Redalgo]

Maybe I have a very different understanding of radical feminism than a lot of people, but doesn't it basically replace the Marxisant focus on economic inequalities and injustices with those related to sex as a prime factor in causing social conflict and steering the course of history? From what I read awhile back, radical feminism also views the state as an inherently male institution which can only ever serve the interests of men. It has to be destroyed via militant revolutionary action instead of using reforms from within the existing system, and then ought to be followed up with a completely new culture featuring institutions that are not patriarchal.

Are we thinking about the same thing? Some clarification might help me in evaluating my position.

[angus]

Are we thinking about the same thing? Some clarification might help me in evaluating my position.

Marxism is rather more egalitarianist than feminism.  When implemented properly--not that it ever is, and not that I don't fear its proper implementation to begin with--Marxism does not put special emphasis on gender, except to say that both genders should be regarded equally when possible.  The folks I've met who grew up in Hungary, China, Bulgaria, etc., and who later attended graduate school in the US, UK, France, etc., frequently commented that the ratio of males to females is so high in those Western societies compared to those to which they are accustomed.  Female physicians, female scientists, and female researchers are not uncommon in the former Warsaw Pact countries.  One positive aspect of Marxism is thus that it is egalitarian regarding the sexes.  For that reason--and, frankly, for a few others--I have a grudging respect for Marxism on some level.

Feminism, on the other hand, is fundamentally anti-egalitarian and unabashedly sexist.  In this aspect it is no different than masculinism, and it is therefore something that I could ever support on any level.  It is a philosophy based on fear and contempt, and one that mongers fear and contempt.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Are we thinking about the same thing? Some clarification might help me in evaluating my position.

Marxism is rather more egalitarianist than feminism.  When implemented properly--not that it ever is, and not that I don't fear its proper implementation to begin with--Marxism does not put special emphasis on gender, except to say that both genders should be regarded equally when possible.  The folks I've met who grew up in Hungary, China, Bulgaria, etc., and who later attended graduate school in the US, UK, France, etc., frequently commented that the ratio of males to females is so high in those Western societies compared to those to which they are accustomed.  Female physicians, female scientists, and female researchers are not uncommon in the former Warsaw Pact countries.  One positive aspect of Marxism is thus that it is egalitarian regarding the sexes.  For that reason--and, frankly, for a few others--I have a grudging respect for Marxism on some level.

Feminism, on the other hand, is fundamentally anti-egalitarian and unabashedly sexist.  In this aspect it is no different than masculinism, and it is therefore something that I could ever support on any level.  It is a philosophy based on fear and contempt, and one that mongers fear and contempt.

...

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sage

[Link]

So what do you lot think about feminism? Will anyone openly agree with Santorum (or his wife) that feminism is bad and women ought to stay at home, care for the children, and be proud of it, or does that issue actually put Santorum as being too much of a throwback, even for Republicans?

I agree with a previous poster.  That is kind of broad question.  What I find particularly offensive is most people don't have the economic freedom to even make that decision.  It's all hands on deck just to scrape out a meager existance.  Santorum's pompus ass needs to go [censored] himself.

[Link]

i was wondering nclib, are you a women yourself? I could never really tell. Sorry if I'm sounding mean.

No, I'm male. No offense taken. I don't see feminism as being anti-male, and I don't consider male feminists any more contradictory than whites active for blacks' civil rights, pro-immigrant natives, etc.

What's your take on black white supremacists?

[angus]

What's your take on black white supremacists?

Ever watch Boondocks?