More Confusion on Feminism…

16Dec/104

More Confusion on Feminism…

The race is on...?

I've blogged about feminism before. Back then, I was confused about why most people I meet who call themselves feminists are more interested in becoming "more equal" than men, rather than a nice, balance of equal. This time, I'm confused about women who feel the need to become men (not literally) in order to feel empowered.

This makes no sense to me.

Women don't need to act more like men because women aren't men. I hear women on TV, talking about what to wear in order to get by in the workplace, and they're talking all about how women aren't wearing enough "masculine clothing". And how "it's a mans world, you need to act like a man to get by in this world" and the whole time I'm slamming my head into the desk over and over again until my forehead is sore.

On opposite end of the spectrum, there are the women who are overexaggerating the idea that you can be super-duper feminine and you'll be better than men. Not "equal to men" and this time the idea seems to not even be "more equal", but better than. Music videos like this one (below), where the idea is "I can play american football better than you in broken heels":

Since when did women need to prove themselves as "better" than men? Since when did we need to dominate and own the world as if we were somehow owed it? Why is there even a debate about who is better? Everyone is different. Why do we need to make a point that my differences are better than your differences?

Filed under: Inside my head, People are Weird Leave a comment

Comments (4) Trackbacks (1) ( subscribe to comments on this post )

Majington Mooj
December 16th, 2010 - 23:41

I quite agree I’ve always disliked how people use the term “equality” instead of “me becoming superior to you”

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Russell
December 17th, 2010 - 11:01

I’ve always had a problem could not agree more but If I make your point I get called sexist because i’m a boy silly people!

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Nik
January 5th, 2011 - 00:30

It’s not a matter of being equal or better than, it’s a matter of being treated like a person. People treating people like people. Many things that seem harmless these days actually just reinforce the old man-strong woman-fragile mindest.

I want to be respected for the work I’ve done and put forth, and not have it credited to the breasts I happened to be born with. Working in a digital environment, you’d be surprised how often that sentiment comes up. I don’t want my achievements written off because “women always get special treatment”. And I certainly don’t want to be knocked down a peg by my own gender for expressing such feelings

Also, just as a note about the fashion thing- ever notice how most women’s business wear is extremely limiting to mobility? Pencil skirts… high heels.. stiff shoes.. tight blouses… Nothing against being a girly girl, I rock bubblegum pink headphones and dangle cute shit off of my purse. But I can run like hell if I need to, and I don’t need to package myself up like a well groomed poodle just to go to work in the morning.

(apologies if this is not the same Sarah who linked me to this post via Tumblr, I am just assuming)

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- Sarah
  January 5th, 2011 - 03:49
  
  It is indeed the same Sarah, and thanks for your comment I agree that people should be treated like people. My arguement is: Just because a man is doing something nice for a woman, it doesn’t mean that he’s doing it to enforce any ancient “women need protecting” mindset. Most men I know would do such things for anyone, and I see so many women who take offense to such behaviour, it’s almost discouraging people from treating people nicely at all in fear of coming across that way. Honestly, I believe that, on some level, everyone has a subconcious mindset that “women are fragile”, including women (after centurys of being treated in such a way, it eventually leaves an impression) and women are paticulary defensive about the label. So when a man does something to be genuinely friendly, the woman cries “disrespect” out of some kind of need to prove that she’s not fragile. If anyone is acting more “chivalrous” towards someone different to them, it’s usually society that is putting pressure on the individual – to be accused as sexist / rasist / anything-ist in this age gets you an enormous amount of disrespect.
  
  I also appreciate the feeling of wanting to be appreciated for the work you’ve created rather for your gender. A female friend of mine has recently taken up game design and has been told she has a better chance of getting into the industry because they need more women involved. In the defense of the industry though, there’s so much pressure from media outlets, the government etc to show they are employing equal amounts of different groups – if they fail to meet a quota on how many of a minority they are employing there can be serious consequences. I’m not in support of this, but it really helps to understand why people think the way they do.
  
  We’re a society run on fear of offending anyone. By taking offense at any small act of possible “special treatment”, we’re only encouraging that ^^;
  
  I certainly didn’t mean to “knock you down a peg” on Tumblr and I apologise if thats how it came out (being limited to only so many characters makes you come across as blunt!) Thanks a lot for your comment, I really appreciate the reply! Also, I love your work and loved it before I even knew your gender
  
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