Is feminism becoming an obsolete movement?

[exploited]

[Hyperion]

[Hyperion]

There's a variety, but I think when the majority poisons the well, you have to jump ship, even if it's only by changing the name.

For example, I used to identify as a communist. I still view myself as an anti-propertarian, anti-statistic communalist (a communist, basically), but the term is just beyond repair since there's so many Stalinists and Leninists. I instead associate with more favorable terms like 'mutualism' or 'libertarian socialist.'

Or you can get crazy with adjectives and identify as a "progressive pro-egaltarian anti-radical feminist."

It's just being smart. Most people will tune you out within five seconds if you don't have a carefully crafted pitch. We live in a society where you have to appeal to someone's interest in the first 1-2 minutes or you lose them. That is good and bad. It reduces the amount of air-farting that academics like to perform, but it leads to smaller attention spans. Feminism has been spoiled, I feel, beyond repair by organizations like NOW.

[exploited]

That form is the dominant form. When you are talking about an ideology, you focus on what most people who identify with that ideology believe in.

As I already stated from the first post I made, there is a clear need for men and women to oppose gender roles. Agreed, 100%. Problem is, the vast majority of feminists are unwilling to even consider male issues. Look at Dharma's behaviour, and how he reacts when men attempt to organize to rectify those problems.

So either that changes, or a wedge is driven between male and female feminists, which helps no one.

[exploited]

A lack of self-esteem? What is with the puritanical nature of Second Wavers? A girl can't show off for men because she wants too, but because she has low self-esteem?

The whole thing just reeks of something off, like there is a proscribed path to self-worth for women, and making out with her female roommate to the amusement of those they are partying with... well, it just isn't part of it.

[The Comrade]

is this something only women experience?

[The Comrade]

but this is what's important to the discussion. do women need feminism because of insecurities and sexual self-esteem issues? i think that's a leap, considering these things affect men pretty much as equally. people like to rag on the whole "oh you never seee an ugly girl with a hot guy" and other dumb shit but the reality is that men face just as many body issues, both personal and societal, as women do.

[The Comrade]

but this is the point. you can't bring up an issue and say you need a gender exclusionary movement when it affects both genders.

[The Comrade]

and no two women have identical problems either so why have a movement?

that kind of logic is silly.

[exploited]

I disagree with the idea that the genders are so different that I am unable to understand women's issues, or how women feel, because I am a man. The same can be said going the other way too.

It smacks of sexism, IMO. I know you're not sexist, but I can't figure out the logic that women experience low self-esteem in ways that are totally unique to women and inexplicable to a man.

To give an example, as a skinny dude, I face a shit ton of comments about my appearance, from men and women alike. I know how it feels to be judged by appearance - how does this differ from what a fat chick goes through? I don't think it does. We are all subjected to bullshit standards and ideals, it's just that men don't blame it on matriarchy and then exclude female input on the subject because they are incapable of "understanding."