WomenAgainstFeminism is wildly missing the point
Georgina Kiely explains everything wrong with the rising tide of “Women Against Feminism” online.
Recently, we’ve been seeing a massive influx of photos of “WomenAgainstFeminism” posting their own reasons why they say no to feminism.
Apparently, as feminists, we like playing the victim when situations don’t go our way and blaming it on the patriarchy is just attention seeking at its finest. The majority of the reasons posted seem to centre on the idea that feminism isn’t about equality and puts women in the position of a “victim”.
I’d argue the contrary position: that feminism is trying to readdress the balance of power in situations where women are blatantly discriminated against. A painfully relevant example of this would be the gender pay gap that is actually widening in the UK, 44 years after the Equal Pay act of 1970. In fact, the average man working full-time earns a median salary that is 19.9% more than his female counterpart.
I know what you’re thinking. How is this still possible when we have legislation specifically to counteract it? I’m as incredulous as you are, but when faced with information like this it’s easy to see why feminism is still necessary. I’m sure these women would object (as any sane person would) if they were told that they had been denied the full wage they deserve because their employer happened to notice they were in possession of a vagina. The fact that I might irresponsibly blow it all on Paperchase stationary (it’s like a sickness with me) is irrelevant; it’s mine and I want it.
The point often levelled at modern day feminists is this: “How can it be about equality if it only focuses on one gender?” The answer is simple: it doesn’t. The patriarchy is as damaging to men as it is to women. You don’t have to look very far to see examples of the detrimental effects of sexism in society for men. The crushing pressure be as masculine as possible leads to high rates of depression in men who feel they can’t express themselves without fear of being ridiculed. It’s important to recognise that power, physical control and stoicism don’t equal masculinity. Check out Jackson Katz for a TED talk to end all TED talks on the subject.
Overall, the thing these arguments seem to have in common is a fundamental misunderstanding of what feminism is and what it’s already achieved so far. You can’t say that feminism is totally unnecessary whilst enjoying all the rights it’s given you: being able to vote, being paid the same wage as your male counterparts, the ability to use birth control, to be considered valued members of society etc.
What it really exposes is a level of ignorance about what gender equality really means and their own relatively privileged status, as people who have never experienced the kind of crippling sexism that can prevent some women from living their everyday lives. It makes light of the harassment, abuse, discrimination and objectification that women experience on a daily basis. Malala Yousafzai’s campaign to get girls in Swat Valley the education they’re entitled to led to her being shot in the head, and hers is not an isolated story.
It’s a frustrating thing to watch someone explain in a very self-satisfied way that they’re not feminists, but they support gender equality and everything that goes along with it as if those are different things. These people seem to relish telling others why they aren’t feminists, imagining themselves to be radical, forward thinking and ahead of their time when they have the same goals as feminism anyway. Most feminists would agree that it’s not about one gender’s superiority over another; it’s about ensuring that men and women are treated equally in all aspects of life. It’s as simple as that.
Feminists don’t hate men. Feminists don’t believe women are superior to men. One of the most obvious and asinine retorts I hear a lot when I mention to people I’m a feminist is this: “How can it be about equality when it’s called FEMinism, you wouldn’t want it to be called MASCULISM would you?”
It’s not about establishing male rights for the same reason you don’t get the red mushroom in Mario Kart when you’re already in the lead. You don’t need the help.
Another corker is “Sexism doesn’t happen… I mean, maybe in some parts of the world where, like, women aren’t allowed to go to school or whatever… but not in this country. In this day and age.”
Shouldn’t this be all the incentive you need?! By your own admission there are still women who aren’t as lucky as you who need your help and support. As for sexism not existing in countries like the UK, that’s willful ignorance — less than a month ago the NHS were caught up in controversy over a poster featuring a crying woman and the message “one in three reported rapes happens when the victim has been drinking”.
A national body which is implicating victims in their own rape seems pretty horrific to most. The fact that people might take this tripe seriously is a scary thing.
Feminism doesn’t make women victims. It doesn’t mean you think women are better than men and it certainly doesn’t mean you’re against gender equality. That would be sexism. It’s important to know which one’s which.
Originally published at abstractmag.com on August 29, 2014.
