Kevin: "No, modern feminism is fighting stereotypes that harm, oppress, degrade, and punish women. Modern feminism has fought gender-based persecution carried out by men against women. Modern feminism has fought for women's rights to vote, to be legally considered "persons", to have jobs, to earn equal pay for equal work, to be represented fairly in all facets of society, and to live life without fear of being discriminated against because of their gender."DDN: "Yes. And they've also created just as much derision between the sexes as has any male cheuvenist sexism proceeding them. What of that?"
Some men resent these achievements of the feminist movement. Do you blame the feminists or do you blame the men who resent them? The same argument you are making could be made of the movement to abolish slavery, and the civil rights movement. Much of the anti-black sentiments in the south (and among other north americans) could equally be blamed on the accomplishments of these activists. Does that make what they have fought for wrong? Stop blaming those fighting for equality. It is those stuck in the traditional values of the status quo who need to start taking responsibility for these issues.
Kevin: "I always thought gender was a social consruct."
DDN: "You're kidding me, right? Anatomy, psychology, biology, theology……..what field of study would concur with this view? Oh yeah, Feminism, the one TRUE hard science to replace all other bodies of scientific knowledge."
Well, current sociology and psychology certainly have a dialogue ongoing which seems to suggest that gender is a social construct. Can I give a simple example? The colour pink: why is it a girl's colour? For that matter, why are cars a male thing and why are dolls a female thing? And what of how we dress and what games we play? Are these not all dictated to us by society? They are not biological I presume...
DDN: "Wouldn't we be better off being allowed and supported in following the natural inclinations we have has men and women?"
Please give an example of these "natural inclinations." Surely not the natural inclination to beat our partners, nor the natural inclination to avoid the colour pink...
Let me re-explain my position, as it appears to be lost in all this. Men and women are socialized. Among other things, men are socialized to view women as objects, and to a certain extent persecute women through violence. While SOCIETY is responsible for this, and we must all work to change it, men are the perpetrators, and they must also acknowledge some responsibility for this. Violence takes many forms, from jokes to insults, from emotional abuse (more common than you seem to think against women) to physical abuse. It can be stopped, as can all the other inappropriate treatments you have mentioned, which I contend are committed by both men and women. As far as murdrer and physical abuse go, men are the primary perpetrators... let's assume some responsibility.
None.
