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"Not in my life..."
Is what I find myself often thinking when I reflect on the inequalities between men and women that I hear about so much in the media and around the dinner table, bar, or any other social setting these days as many of us discuss current social issues and trends.
Now, I'm not saying these issues don't exist and that I don't have the need, or know the need to advocate on behalf of equality and fairness. And I can totally recognize how past and present generations (men and women alike) have created the equality I (we) now benefit from.
But the evil patriarchy and obvious division that is often referred to is not (obviously) evident in my flow - work, social, home, etc.
So I wonder, what's my duty as a man now living (mostly? entirely?) in an equal state with those in my workplace, social, home and other aspects of life?
Now there are people that are obnoxious, unfriendly, competitive, use hierarchy to their unfair advantage, expect less of those around them, belittle those around them, and the list goes on. I don't immediately jump to inequality or ideologies that would suggest that their "snowflaking" or being a "boss bitch" - or referred to a result of an "evil patriarchy", or any other trendy stereotype that goes along with any of these division ideologies that exist that we're all battling right now. I see people acting unfairly and in inequality as people in a fair and equal world taking advantage of their role, power, prestige, and/or many other factors that have absolutely (in my opinion) nothing to do with a fundamental inequality.
To partly answer my own question listed above, I believe part of my roll is to identify and advocate responsibly, to defend the equality we've achieved but to also not jump to creating more division by saying something absurd like "oh you're just a result of an evil patriarchy" and suggesting it's socially wrong and needing change.
There will always be assholes - men and women - in this world. And to take away the achievements we've had socially and to overly emphasize ideals that create diversity is in itself going against the results we're starting to enjoy in our western world.
I'm part of a changed and changing world. I'm an advocate of change and equality for all, and I will responsibly understand and advocate (to the best my knowledge and experience allows) what this means for those in my immediate influence. And I will not unfairly jump to trendy ideologies and arguments that create division and take away from the progress we've made socially just because a man or woman hurt me or pissed me off. I will address all of these issues head on, personally and I will responsibly - moment to moment, day to day - create awareness and a social flow that allows for growth and advancements in my life; for all those I connect with and interact with.
If you're experiencing blatant inequality in your life, in a fundamental and profound way (as a man or a woman), then I'm all about identifying with and acknowledging change in a fundamental way. There are people and places that can help you and that care for you. Seek them out and become the change you need or seek in life, and start by challenging individuals. And socially we are all cheering for you and trying to make a difference. Change has come, change is coming. We are the change we (past and present) wanted to see in this world.
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I've really tried to look into feminist ideology but it is still incoherent to me. Of course betterment of the life of women is a wonderful goal, but I don't like how one ideology claims itself to be synonymous with that and all encompassing. One can still contribute toward that goal yet not follow an ideology as nebulous and divisive as feminism.
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On November 23 2018 05:09 Starlightsun wrote: I've really tried to look into feminist ideology but it is still incoherent to me. Of course betterment of the life of women is a wonderful goal, but I don't like how one ideology claims itself to be synonymous with that and all encompassing. One can still contribute toward that goal yet not follow an ideology as nebulous and divisive as feminism.
I have family and friends (men and women) that identify strongly with extreme feminist view points. Many of their claims and ideals didn't really sit well with me and I had to think long and hard at my own behavior, my workplace, social life, etc. and try and make sense of it all. The social pendulum is really swinging right now and it's a hard road to navigate.
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There is a philosophical movement that believes all humans are created equal and have inalienable rights, and that we should not discriminate by sex or any other reason, it's called Classical Liberalism. It is one of the pillars of our civilizations.
Truth is that different man and woman experience positions of power, abuser or victim, wealth and poverty, etc. People are unique and different, and there is very little merit on feminism and it's narrative that we should group humans by sex and make wide encompassing claims of power and victim hood (which are also very dubious).
You seem like a decent person, don't let feminism guilt trip you, always do what's right and aim for fairness regardless of peoples sex.
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Whatever history says..
we must have been (us "boys") under a heavy female tyranny for centuries.. (picture amazones wipping their boots on our faces) ..
.. seeing just how much women and girls are oppressed now?
Yes women are oppressed, from birth till grave and boys (yes most of us remain boys and never get to be men!) don't usually notice!
Now that's not to say we boys deserve less, just that we are so immature that we don't notice or care!
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Ehh... Sometimes online Youtube personalities and the like can go too far with feminism, yeah, but I've never really met a huge amount of people with views that are so extreme. The vast majority of feminists are perfectly happy for me to go about my business being a guy as long as I have some respect for their ideology and don't get overly defensive about it.
It worries me to see people getting so offended by the ideas of feminism, like, what is it that you think you are defending? We don't live in a perfect society and there is alot of structural injustice (despite claims to the contrary that we have fixed all of the inequality - the same claims that have been made for decades and proven untrue), so why is pointing out injustice so offensive?
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On November 26 2018 09:22 GoTuNk! wrote: There is a philosophical movement that believes all humans are created equal and have inalienable rights, and that we should not discriminate by sex or any other reason, it's called Classical Liberalism. It is one of the pillars of our civilizations.
And it was mostly a lie, for the record. It was used as a cover for capitalism, as the capitalist class was expanding and seizing the means of production in the transition from feudalism (and dispatching the Diggers in the process but hey, I hear Cromwell is a hero...). It certainly wasn't concerned with equal rights for black people as they went into the slave trade, or for Native Americans as it made sure that the rules were created in a way that allowed our fine liberals to steal their lands. Or, hey, since we're talking about women, I hear they couldn't vote back then, sounds like something classical liberals should have looked into.
Even today there are exceptions: for example, if someone is a migrant, that is deemed a very important fact, and worthy of denying that person some rights.
edit: besides, since you most likely lifted that line from PragerU as the phrasing is the same, it's important to point out that even if classical liberalism was concerned with equality for all, inalienable rights and an absence of discrimination, it doesn't follow that feminism can't be concerned about those things also. Just because an ideology claims an idea doesn't mean that another ideology can't also claim it.
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On November 26 2018 18:42 Nebuchad wrote:Show nested quote +On November 26 2018 09:22 GoTuNk! wrote: There is a philosophical movement that believes all humans are created equal and have inalienable rights, and that we should not discriminate by sex or any other reason, it's called Classical Liberalism. It is one of the pillars of our civilizations.
And it was mostly a lie, for the record. It was used as a cover for capitalism, as the capitalist class was expanding and seizing the means of production in the transition from feudalism (and dispatching the Diggers in the process but hey, I hear Cromwell is a hero...). It certainly wasn't concerned with equal rights for black people as they went into the slave trade, or for Native Americans as it made sure that the rules were created in a way that allowed our fine liberals to steal their lands. Or, hey, since we're talking about women, I hear they couldn't vote back then, sounds like something classical liberals should have looked into. Even today there are exceptions: for example, if someone is a migrant, that is deemed a very important fact, and worthy of denying that person some rights.edit: besides, since you most likely lifted that line from PragerU as the phrasing is the same, it's important to point out that even if classical liberalism was concerned with equality for all, inalienable rights and an absence of discrimination, it doesn't follow that feminism can't be concerned about those things also. Just because an ideology claims an idea doesn't mean that another ideology can't also claim it. replace with "most"
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Isn't PragerU just a lobbying group concerned with getting public support for policies that benefit the owners of PragerU?
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On November 26 2018 20:22 Jockmcplop wrote: Isn't PragerU just a lobbying group concerned with getting public support for policies that benefit the owners of PragerU?
Not entirely sure... I'll do a little research into this. It is an interesting set of vids tho that's for sure.
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On November 27 2018 05:00 mewithoutDrew wrote:Show nested quote +On November 26 2018 20:22 Jockmcplop wrote: Isn't PragerU just a lobbying group concerned with getting public support for policies that benefit the owners of PragerU? Not entirely sure... I'll do a little research into this. It is an interesting set of vids tho that's for sure.
Here is another interesting set of vids:
+ Show Spoiler + + Show Spoiler + + Show Spoiler +
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