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ismnotwasm

(41,975 posts)
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 06:31 PM Dec 2013

You know feminism is not "the opposite" of MRA's

Or Men's groups. There is a false dichotomy here and it's this; in order to have relevance, those with no clear agenda, nothing but just strong emotion--usually anger--need an "other" to define themselves.

Feminists fought injustice, for decades we have fought it. We fight for reproductive rights. We fight to own our sexuality, we're beginning to pull ourselves out of the white, cis, hetero trap-- a trap that can only lead to more injustice. We MUST not get trapped into it and embracing intersectionallity IMO, is the best way--at least it's my way.

I'm not saying toxic males and their groupies aren't harmful-- they cause incredible, perhaps irreversible damage-- but the feminisms I'm familiar are more about action and activism and truth, Not ridiculous blogs and conspiracy discussion boards--and although blogs and discussion boards exist in abundance with feminisms-- and yes a few are whacked out--there is actual activism to attach to it. In other words, we get out there and do shit.

A feminist activist is always threatened with something violent, not nessisarily at DU, where no matter how we might not like the system, that shit doesn't fly, (unless it's coded very carefully and passes a jury) and it doesn't matter what "kind" of feminist you are; from Feman to Eco-feminists, you speak up, you will be threatened with violence. Period. Always.

People have short attention spans. We always have weeks of one topic or the other, with thread after thread after thread, just as we have recently with gender, but you see DU is not a fraction of who I am or what I do.

But there's just something about feminists and feminist topics isn't there? Something threatening or tiresome or perhaps even irrelevant to detractors. And if you find that strange on a progressive discussion board, well that's because it is.

I have a difficult time describing how repulsive it is to me personally be considered an "opposite" in order to give a discordant and dishonest set of vague ideas substance.

There now, I just wanted it get that out. I'm going back to reading Hellblazer--NOT a feminist comic book although it has it's moments, but I'm rereading the entire series, because I have it first of all, but mostly because I always love the anti-hero's like John Constantine. Like Seabeyond.


Because nobodies perfect, as they say.


15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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You know feminism is not "the opposite" of MRA's (Original Post) ismnotwasm Dec 2013 OP
THANK YOU cinnabonbon Dec 2013 #1
Sandman might be a movie ismnotwasm Dec 2013 #2
Elfquest is incredibly feminist-friendly cinnabonbon Dec 2013 #9
No, more comedic actually. ismnotwasm Dec 2013 #13
Heh. Good to know. cinnabonbon Dec 2013 #15
OMG Elfquest! redqueen Dec 2013 #10
They were so GOOD. cinnabonbon Dec 2013 #11
They really were, I loved them... redqueen Dec 2013 #12
ah ism, this is such a very very good post. you and redq have address this issue often in hof seabeyond Dec 2013 #3
Yeah, it was pretty astonishing, that it is given equal footing boston bean Dec 2013 #4
Didn't know what MRA was. dipsydoodle Dec 2013 #5
Great point! They are not sides of a coin. One is a progressive movement. Squinch Dec 2013 #6
And the other is largely, if not entirely, regressive. nomorenomore08 Dec 2013 #14
+ a qazillion k&r Little Star Dec 2013 #7
It's downright ignorance (blind or otherwise) xulamaude Dec 2013 #8

cinnabonbon

(860 posts)
1. THANK YOU
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 06:35 PM
Dec 2013

Finally, someone said it!

And Hellblazer brings me back. My gosh. I used to live on comic books growing up. (though I liked Sandman and Elfquest better)

ismnotwasm

(41,975 posts)
2. Sandman might be a movie
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 06:40 PM
Dec 2013

How, I don't have any idea-- sounds like futility to me-- but I just reread that one too. Then I'm going to reread Preacher. Haven't read Elfquest-- but it sound interesting

cinnabonbon

(860 posts)
9. Elfquest is incredibly feminist-friendly
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 08:00 PM
Dec 2013

considering the time it was made. And the art style is so gorgeous.

I didn't know Sandman might be a movie! Exciting. Hellblazer was cool and I do own most of it, but I have to admit I never got to read Preacher. I got the impression that was darker than Hellblazer. Is it?

ismnotwasm

(41,975 posts)
13. No, more comedic actually.
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 11:42 PM
Dec 2013

Preacher is pissed off at God and goes and a quest to ask him some question, with his girlfriend ans a drunken Irish Vampire.

redqueen

(115,103 posts)
10. OMG Elfquest!
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 09:28 PM
Dec 2013

I completely forgot about those books!

I read those around the same time I was reading the Hitchhiker's Guide series, and for some reason I remembered everything about one, and nothing about the other. Holy crap... holy crap... thank you so much for reminding me!

cinnabonbon

(860 posts)
11. They were so GOOD.
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 09:39 PM
Dec 2013

Strong female characters everywhere. It definitely passes the Bechdel test. And they were pretty equal in their relationships, too, which always stuck with me when I read it.

I'm all excited that someone else remembers them. I hope you find some of your old ones! But if you don't , I think the Pinis digitally colored everything and put it online. Be warned though, her digital coloring skills aren't as mindblowing as her watercolors were.

The Hithchiker's guide to the galaxy was also amazing. Aww. It's been a while since I've read it, now.

redqueen

(115,103 posts)
12. They really were, I loved them...
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 09:50 PM
Dec 2013

Thank you so, so, so much for reminding me. I am smh that I could have forgotten them... what the hell.

Thank you!

 

seabeyond

(110,159 posts)
3. ah ism, this is such a very very good post. you and redq have address this issue often in hof
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 06:42 PM
Dec 2013

and i really do not think it gets enough attention or is as prominate as it should be.

Feminists fought injustice, for decades we have fought it. We fight for reproductive rights. We fight to own our sexuality, we're beginning to pull ourselves out of the white, cis, hetero trap-- a trap that can only lead to more injustice. We MUST not get trapped into it and embracing intersectionallity IMO, is the best way--at least it's my way.


but honestly, in the fem movement, i think this is ONE of the top priorities, for all of us. so glad to see you included, and of course you would.

thank you for this post

boston bean

(36,221 posts)
4. Yeah, it was pretty astonishing, that it is given equal footing
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 06:43 PM
Dec 2013

with feminism.

My thoughts exactly. Thanks for posting.

nomorenomore08

(13,324 posts)
14. And the other is largely, if not entirely, regressive.
Sun Dec 29, 2013, 01:03 AM
Dec 2013

So if they're "opposites" in any sense then that's it.

 

xulamaude

(847 posts)
8. It's downright ignorance (blind or otherwise)
Sat Dec 28, 2013, 07:51 PM
Dec 2013

that equates feminism with the MR 'movement'.

Ridiculous.

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