For those who view feminism as mostly negative, did the movement begin with good intentions?

Poll - Total Votes: 15

Feminism has been a destructive movement

Feminism has been great for our society

I truly dont have enough information to make an informed decision

I don't care

Show Results

You can only vote on one answer.

I am not a feminist because I don't identify with most movements because people will assume many things about what I believe that I probably don't even agree with. I believe that women are smart and strong and are also different than men and occupy different roles in the family and community. But, why is feminism this hot button issue for men lately? Why is the narrative so negative? I've never even hung out with any hard core feminists so why are men so focused on this as a major issue? Has it really been that bad for our society if so why do you feel that way?

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CountScrofula · 41-45, M

The idea that feminism is anything less than a net positive is a strange one to me. Like... was life better for women in the mid-19ths century before right to vote or own property?

beckychandler · F

@CountScrofula Legal equality is not really what the feminist ideology is about. Legal equality has (thank God) been achieved. But feminism is stronger and more powerful today than it has ever been!

CountScrofula · 41-45, M

@beckychandler Sure, but I bet if I walk down a dark alleyway I'll be less afraid of sexual assault than you ever will be.

I've also personally done equity data work to demonstrate a wage gap.

Legal equality is nice, but it's not like you erase -all of human history- in a couple generations.

REMsleep · 41-45, F

@beckychandler I agree with what you said very much. Feminism and women's suffrage were different movements in my mind.

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@REMsleep One is simply a subset of the other. The movement the get women the right to vote was part of a broader push for women’s rights that we group under feminism. It’s an umbrella term.

REMsleep · 41-45, F

@QuixoticSoul I understand how you could group them together because they are certainly related but the broader term feminism was not in use at that time and the primary causes of the feminist movement were also not the same and due to the huge separation of time and aims, motives I do believe that they cannot rightly be grouped together. Every movement elevates and changes over time and you can't continue to respect it as the same movement.

QuixoticSoul · 41-45, M

@REMsleep Sure it was - the term has been in use since 1837. Women's suffrage movements in UK and US are the most prominent parts of what we refer to as 1st wave feminism.

And yeah, the primary causes of feminist movements were the same. They're still the same - a real or perceived lack of equality between men and women.