After reading several of Amanda Marcotte's posts online , I’m left wondering if her outlook on of feminist theory is less about equality and more about a way of life, and whether she and those like her are doing feminism more harm than good.
NOTE: If you, gentle reader, are of the mindset that feels men should have no opinions on or critique of feminism, then stop reading now.
From its beginnings, “feminism” has never been an omnibus term. The women’s movement has seen differences in methods and goals on issues such as rights, sexuality, pornography, free speech and aspects of institutional reform. One central, common tenet has been to free women from the subordination of men in the social, political and interpersonal arenas without regard to class, age or religion.
From the posts that I’ve read, I can’t help but believe that Marcotte depicts feminism as only a constant state of victimhood. Her perceptions are as through a lens of the chronically oppressed, and the entirety of experience can be expressed in terms of a female/male struggle for dominance.
When a state of oppression becomes an article of faith then things go horribly wrong:
- It opens up the assumption that the victim is always right, so the focus of dialogue – if any – is on only one side of the dynamic. Plus, it removes any requirement for self-analysis on the part of the oppressed.
- It demeans the accomplishments of women who have achieved a measure of success on their own terms. Whatever progress a woman makes is automatically placed within a context of the male, ignoring the merits of her talent and effort.
- It paints men with an overly broad brush. Men have no real incentive to change because they’ll always be in the wrong.
There was, no doubt, a time when a strong, all-encompassing indictment of social structures was close to the truth. However, social structures and mores are always in a state of flux, and if feminism wants to achieve its core goals it needs to shrug off narrow and self-restricting ideologies like Marcotte’s and adapt to the ever-changing dynamic between women and men.
(As with each of my opinions or commentaries, I invite discussion. If you think I'm wrong then tell me why. Open dialogue and rational debate are hoped-for in this joint.)
Comments (3)
I think that what you say is (1) true, and (2) in part, hard to implement.
The reason is that while on some level feminism is theory and politics and philosophy, the way most women experience feminism in real life is as a response. This is the reason it exists, and the way it is most helpful to us as women.
It's a response to the times when you ARE made to feel worthless or stupid or merely decorative, or otherwise less because of your gender. If we didn't have to feel like that ever, then there would be no feminism. And that's the thing ... most of us don't go around theorizing or planning policy, etc. We go around living our lives and then suddenly, when we least expect it, we are smacked in the face with Donald Trump telling a male candidate on his reality show on national TV that if he "nails" the woman sitting next to him (who is not only a successful business woman, but is there to compete and try to win the very same show), he will automatically win said TV show.
This kind of thing ... I just don't expect anymore. And yet it still keeps happening. In real life. It's real. Not just on my television, but in my own life, in person. Every time a new person comes into my office and looks at me and winks and tells my boss they can see why he hired me, it's there and is ugly. And it's really at those times that I am likely to rant in a way that might sound like Ms. Marcotte. Because that is how I actually feel. It's not me theorizing or analyzing, it's me having feelings, and so it's perhaps not as reasoned as one might hope.
And unfortunately, at the calm times, when no one is looking at me as anything other than just a person, I am not thinking and talking about feminism, because at those times I don't need it. What feminism is for me, and I think for many women, is the simple act of saying: NO. This is wrong. And here's why it's wrong.
And that only happens when something is wrong. When you are feeling empowered and accomplished, you don't need it any more.
But just because feminism is the most empowering and helpful when it is a protest, that does not mean it is directed against every man (or even only men, for that matter) and it does not mean it is a rejection of all things male. I know in my case, I would welcome a male voice to back me up when I am trying to point out how something could possibly make me feel demeaned. And I would welcome any voice that had something to say as long as it is a voice that is treating me like a person of value and intelligence, and not like an object of limited usefulness.
Posted by KT | February 20, 2007 6:27 PM
Posted on February 20, 2007 18:27
KT:
Your make some excellent points. It helps me understand and I thank you for that.
That wink-and-nod backhanded compliment you received is boorish, and if your boss isn’t immediately shutting that down then his handling of it is equally so. I’ve seen men do that kind of objectifying and I feel it’s an awful way to treat anybody. I guess The Donald doesn’t get a lot of corrective feedback from those around him.
If I understand you – and please correct me if I’m wrong – feminism is conduit for standing up to the sexist injustices that women face. That makes perfect sense. I’d think any reasonable person could get behind that logic.
We men could certainly do a better job of guiding each other away from sexist behaviors. It’s not enough for us to only act with equanimity with women, we have a duty to counter and correct sexism in other men.
And if you ever need that male voice to back you up, just let me know.
Posted by machine | February 20, 2007 9:08 PM
Posted on February 20, 2007 21:08
Excellent post, KT, but I want to just add that feminism isn't just saying "NO," it is also saying, "I WANT" without needing to explain why.
I want an education.
I want a job that pays me the same as a man doing the same job.
I want to have a job and a family.
I want to concentrate on raising my family without needing to work at a job.
I want to wear pants.
I want to cut my hair short.
I want to love.
Posted by CLG | February 21, 2007 9:33 AM
Posted on February 21, 2007 09:33