Trixie Films takes the question, “what is a feminist,” to the streets of New York.
There are quite a few stereotypes about what a feminist woman —that they are men hating lesbians, for instance. This and many other negative feminist stereotypes came front and center when Trixie Films asked New Yorkers what they think a feminist is, for their 2006 documentary “I Was a Teenage Feminist.” To be sure many of these stereotypes still exist today, especially the idea that men have suffered as a result of feminism. I think that if men took feminism and gender equality seriously it would actually benefit men.
How do you define feminism? Do you think it can benefit the lives of men?
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Feature photo via Flickr/ juliejordanscott
Original video via http://www.trixiefilms.com/
You would suspect that this article would receive a lot more responses than just one. I know my response never got out of moderation. I wonder how many more were stuck in moderation, Makes me wonder what they said because I didn’t think mine was particularly slanderous. I just defined feminism based on my perception of the common denominator Some feminists want to help men, some are anti-male, and many are indifferent (some because they have bigger fish to fry and others because they don’t particularly care) all seek to improve the lives of women. Not sure how that was… Read more »
Feminism is basically about women’s equality. The issue is any idealogy’s gap between theory and practice. I quit reading feminist blogs on WordPress, Jezebell, etc because they mostly trash men – and in a way that is called misogyny when MRAs (I am not one) do it to women. Tone matters, and as such I think feminists have contributed to their image problem, though certainly backlash also plays a big role.
” To be sure many of these stereotypes still exist today, especially the idea that men have suffered as a result of feminism.”
Well it’s true to a certain point. Not all feminist actions are good for men in how they are carried out, such as the early VAWA which was harmful to male victims by locking them up due to primary aggressor laws. The big question is whether the positives outweigh the negatives in the movement. Are there more good feminists than bad? I believe so.
I think feminism is a political ideology that seeks to maximize opportunities, minimize responsibilities, and improve the lives of women through societal advantage. This (the reality) is different from what feminism claims to be.