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We Still Need Feminism Today

Undoubtedly, the argument surrounding both the merits and demerits of the feminist movement remains one of the most fiercely-contested issues of our age. Individuals on both sides of the philosophical aisle have tended to take a hard line on the topic over the years, and a variety of different feminist “waves” have sprung up to tackle a widely divergent and often contradictory set of problems. (Even if both groups exist under the umbrella of traditional feminist philosophy, for example, the aims of so-called “TERFs” or “trans-exclusionary radical feminists” will be radically different than the aims of trans-inclusive feminists.)

Do We Still Need Feminism Today?

The following arguments regarding feminism represent only a small fraction of the various dialogues that exist around the topic, but discussing various viewpoints around feminism may go some way towards elucidating few key issues related to this fascinating subject. Indeed, it has never been more important to understand what makes feminism such a compelling and contentious subject across the globe.

All the Yes points:

  1. Women are Human Beings, and All Human Beings Deserve Equal Rights
  2. Discrimination Against Women Perpetuates a Culture of Violence
  3. Women Internalize Negative Societal Viewpoints from an Early Age
  4. Society Improves as it Progresses

Women are Human Beings, and All Human Beings Deserve Equal Rights

Are Women Human Beings, and do All Human Beings Deserve Equal Rights?

Yes because…

In terms of cognitive perception, there can be little doubt that both genders experience reality and emotion in much the same way. Regardless of gender or biological sex, in other words, human beings tend to have nearly identical emotional palettes and capacities for mental and physical pain. Because causing pain to a woman is as immoral and unethical as causing emotional and/or physical pain to a man, and because discrimination causes individuals pain, discrimination against women is immoral and unethical.

Moreover, because of the extremely deleterious effects of social prejudice on women, discrimination against and persecution of women in the form of antifeminism is also immoral and unethical. Just as a man would regard it as a significant moral offense to be subjected to mental or physical pain during a social encounter such as a job interview or a discussion about a pay raise, it is equally morally objectionable to subject a woman to such pain.

No because…

In their skill sets and emotional responses to various situations, women and men experience life in significantly different fashions. Because of these differences, moreover, true equality between the sexes in various social spheres is an impossibility. For example, most women simply cannot hope to adequately compete with their male counterparts in certain events such as professional sports games or military battles. Just as a woman would struggle with competency issues in one sphere of society, moreover, it may be true that there are other spheres in which her competency level would negatively affect her performance in comparison with the wider group.

An acknowledgment of these differences is not discrimination; rather, it is simply an admission that different individuals have different strengths. This is demonstrated by the fact that there are numerous fields where women tend to outperform men by a wide margin: In the future, for example, it may be found that the greater amount of compassion that women tend to exhibit tends to make them stronger political leaders than men. As the journal Foreign Policy points out, for example, Baroness Margaret Thatcher is widely regarded within the United Kingdom as one of the country’s greatest Prime Ministers. Her capacity for empathy may have been an asset in the socially-rigorous world of politics.

By this logic, in fact, it would not be an example of discrimination for a political party to elect a female as its leader; rather, it would simply be an acknowledgement of a natural propensity for women to excel in the field of politics.

Discrimination Against Women Perpetuates a Culture of Violence

Does Discrimination Against Women Perpetuate a Culture of Violence?

Yes because…

Undoubtedly, much violence against women occurs due to widespread beliefs about the role of women within society. For example, domestic attacks perpetuated on women by men often stem from controlling behaviors on the part of such men; these behaviors are reinforced by cultural notions that women should be subservient to their male counterparts and/or that men should be the heads of both their households and their societal institutions.

In Afghanistan, for example, a strong culture of discrimination against women has led to an epidemic of acid attacks against females who do not “fit in” with notions of traditional femininity. According to the BBC, moreover, Afghani civil rights leader Malala Yousafzai was shot by a member of the Taliban for speaking up against the lack of educational opportunities for women within the country.

As in the case of the Taliban, it is clear that distorted and violent notions of masculine behavior tend to emerge around fundamentally antifeminist belief systems such as ultraconservatism and ultra-religious orthodoxy. They also enable other members of society to sweep episodes of violence “under the rug” via a system of denial and cognitive dissonance. For years before allegations against him were widespread, for example, the powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein acted against women with almost total impunity.

o wit, unless the relationship between traditional notions of femininity and male violence are addressed via feminism, widespread violence against women is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

No because…

For the most part, societal problems such as domestic violence are moral weaknesses rather than political belief systems.

For example, it is perfectly rational for the male head of a household to believe both that women should adopt traditional roles within society and that violence against women is morally wrong. While some individuals attempt to create a link between traditional social values and violence against women, the truth is that violence against women is its own “value”: If members of the Taliban perpetuate acid attacks and other assaults against Afghan women, it is because groups who perpetuate such violence fundamentally hold the value that such violence is a societal good. Not all traditional values are equally moral.

In the United States, for example, acts of violence against women committed under any circumstances are heavily penalized. Most people who hold traditional viewpoints with regard to traditional gender roles in society abhor violence against women; they also criticize and condemn any man who would attack a woman. Again, while the traditions of some cultures create an atmosphere of violence and oppression, this state of affairs does not imply that all traditions are therefore morally wrong. Many traditions are deeply beneficial to society: For example, a culture that values a strong work ethic will often produce excess resources that can be used to benefit all members of that culture. Should such beliefs be discarded merely because they are a part of a cultural tradition?

Women Internalize Negative Societal Viewpoints from an Early Age

Do Women Internalize Negative Societal Viewpoints from an Early Age?

Yes because…

For women who grow up in a patriarchal society, the capacity for internalizing negative beliefs about female roles within the culture at large can be both immense and catastrophic in its effects. When society objectifies women on a regular basis, for example, many women will begin to base their self-worth solely on their appearance. This is a harmful and unacceptable outcome. It is also an outcome that feminist theory can help society avoid in the future.

It is also clear that current notions around femininity subtly reinforce the power of men while denigrating women. Within popular culture, men can be depicted as slovenly and careless about their appearance. Such men are even regarded as antiheroes and countercultural icons.

Yet women who neglect their looks in the same way often become objects of shame and ridicule. Tabloids regularly feature photo spreads of female celebrities that serve to denigrate any powerful woman who does not maintain a “perfect” appearance at all times. This kind of body-shaming perpetuates a cycle of social embarrassment in which women of all ages struggle to develop genuine foundations of self-esteem; that struggle can manifest itself in a variety of mental health conditions such as eating and anxiety disorders. If women do manage to succeed under the pressures of such a system they are are often made to feel as though their success is only due to their outward appearance.

It might be almost beside the point to assert that such a system violates the human rights of women. This is not the ideal of a country such as the United States, where all people should be regarded as equal regardless of their gender, sexuality, or ethnic background. To discard that ideal is to discard one of the most fundamental values in the American belief system.

No because…

While it is tragic that women internalize negative beliefs about their appearances vis-à-vis popular culture, men also struggle against negative stereotypes about their gender on a daily basis. However, men have a paucity of social support to deal with such issues when they arise. In contrast, body image issues experienced by women are given wide coverage and sympathy within the mainstream media.

Women are indeed regularly confronted with unrealistic standards of beauty, but men are inundated with unrealistic images of masculinity from an early age. They are expected to be good providers with high incomes. They are expected to remain silent about any problems they experience. They are expected to fight and even die for their country. All these issues receive very little attention in the culture at large, and yet men are often humiliated and portrayed as weak if they so much as speak out about their feelings on such matters.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, in fact, the suicide rate among American males is far higher than the suicide rate among American females. Indeed, men who even discuss suicide with reference to unrealistic societal standards of “proper” male behavior are often ridiculed on television and in films. It is perhaps even more troubling that domestic abuse against men is often treated as a subject of derision within the media.

While it is true that it is dangerous and regrettable for women to have to internalize negative beliefs about femininity, it is equally regrettable that men internalize negative beliefs about masculinity. Clearly, the solution is to work towards an equitable system that reinforces healthy beliefs in both genders. Treating the issue solely as a problem experienced only by one gender is unfair and unwise in the extreme: Men struggle too.

Society Improves as it Progresses

Has Feminism Had Significant Impacts To Society?

Yes because…

One of the greatest arguments for the relevance of feminism lies in the fact that feminism has advanced society for hundreds of years. We need only look at what society used to be to recognize that feminist change was essential for moral progress. Moreover, to deny the continual need for such change in the future would be to effectively hold society back from moral progress. A glance at any history book shows this to be true.

For example, women during the Victorian era were treated as little more than human chattel: A married woman was the property of her husband, and the power that such men could exert over their wives was often abused in the extreme. According to The Atlantic Monthly, a man who was dissatisfied with his wife’s behavior during the Victorian era could have his wife committed to an insane asylum. There, his wife could be subjected to electro-shock “therapy” in a bid to “cure” troubling behaviors such as “insubordination.”

Tragically, any woman who spoke out against an emotionally or physically abusive husband could be branded as a “lunatic” and locked away for years. Tragically, with the absolute male power of the Victorian patriarchy came the absolute power to silence any assertion of female rights.

To halt the progress of feminism would be to return to an age such as this. Moreover, we do not yet know how future societies will view our own treatment of women: The way in which women are treated in contemporary society may one day be seen as a profound injustice. Because it is the duty of every citizen to root out and eliminate injustice, it is the duty of every citizen to support the rights of women and fight for feminist ideals. To do less would be to shirk a civic responsibility, and history has looked unkindly on those who have remained silent when innocent people have suffered.

No because…

Simply because something happened in a less enlightened age does not mean that such practices continue to this day. Nor is feminism necessarily the light by which the culture at large sees its way forward to a better and more equitable future. Even when they bring much-needed attention to important issues, feminist rallying points such as the “#MeToo” movement have sometimes caused society to regress in its standards of justice.

In the wake of revelations about powerful sexual predators such as Harvey Weinstein, for example, it seemed that the culture at large was almost ready to do away with evidence-based trials altogether. At the slightest hint of misconduct on the part of celebrities, many feminists were prepared to ruin the careers of popular entertainers. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, for example, the popular comedian Aziz Ansari was decried as a rapist in 2018 due to scurrilous accusations against his character stemming from a completely consensual sexual encounter. Are such baseless accusations the hallmarks of a society moving “forward” in its moral conception of itself? In fact, these situations are more reminiscent of 17th Century witch hunts than they are futuristic utopias.

Here are the results of the poll questions above. Please participate in order to ensure that your individual voice and input is included!

Do We Still Need Feminism Today?

YES
75.95%
NO
24.05%

Are Women Human Beings, and do All Human Beings Deserve Equal Rights?

YES
90.33%
NO
9.67%

Does Discrimination Against Women Perpetuate a Culture of Violence?

YES
78.25%
NO
21.75%

Do Women Internalize Negative Societal Viewpoints from an Early Age?

YES
73.95%
NO
26.05%

Has Feminism Had Significant Impacts To Society?

YES
84.27%
NO
15.73%
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kia
2 years ago

First of all, to me, this society still kind of needs feminism, but without really emphasizing it. It’s not a bad thing to have feminism, but it IS bad that some women these day use excuses such as ” You must respect woman, and obey me, or else I’m gonna call you as a sexist.” use their gender as an advantage to treat men unfairly. As a woman myself, strongly believe that although women (everyone, including different gender, skin color, and so on) should be respected, but OVER emphasizing feminism is not a good thing to do, because it’s so toxic after all.

t
3 years ago

feminism definitely helped women a lot and I am not against that, but it has gone too far.

Mgtow Demon
3 years ago

Myopic focus on the “issues” females face today leads to disgustingly distorted worldviews wherein the male experience is not recognised to any extent. Callous feminist remarks, such as “women are the real victims of war” or “I love male tears”, in reaction to genuine male suffering (e.g. circumcision, war injuries, unequal child custody etc.), are examples of the sheer indifference feminism induces in regards to male consideration. A holistic view of *both* male and female issues is far superior to feminism.

All Genders Can
3 years ago

i am really upset that 4% of voters sad no to women are human and all humans deserve equal rights. saying no to that is completely absurd. that hurts me.

Mgtow Demon
3 years ago

“that hurts me” — Stating your feelings isn’t an argument. For instance, people can be “hurt” when they are sent to jail for committing crimes, but we see that as the correct course of action. Moreover, someone feeling “hurt” doesn’t justify decision solely based on that merit (more context is required).

All Genders Can
3 years ago
Reply to  Mgtow Demon

am I not allowed to say that it hurts me that people think I do not deserve to be treated equally?! it is not an argument, it is a FACT. it is offensive.

Simon
3 years ago

Some people Might think that people who were not born to good purposes do not need to be treated equally, would you treat a murderer as you would treat, say Mark Zuckerberg? I wouldn’t

All Genders Can
3 years ago
Reply to  Simon

Women deserve to be treated equally. If a woman is a murderer then obviously she would not be treated the same. Women, in general, did nothing wrong. You people keep making cases related to people who did crimes, but I am just saying that women are equal. People said women are not equal, and Mgtow Demon made it as if it did not matter that that hurt me at all. Simon, I don’t know what your point is. Treating a murderer like you treat others has nothing to do with it. The question was, are women human beings, and do all human beings deserve equal RIGHTS. People said no to this and therefore said that women are not human beings and all humans do not deserve equal rights. Saying this is completely outrageous and that is what I am saying. It is extremely offensive. All I even said at first was that I was offended but according to Mgtow Demon, I am not allowed to say that because it is not an argument and gave the impression that some people’s feelings do not matter. If that is not what you meant, okay then, but that is what it sounded like to me. You keep getting the wrong idea about what I am talking about. I hope it is clear now.

Choi Jiwoo
3 years ago
Reply to  Mgtow Demon

But she can state how she feels about this topic because it’s how she feels she isn’t speaking for anyone else and what really doesn’t make sense is you comparing this topic with criminals this was specifically talking about feminism, not criminals.

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