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MellowDem

(5,018 posts)
116. What a horrible analogy, and it's part of the problem...
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 11:08 PM
Jan 2013

Any group based on race or sexual orientation should be able to listen to legitimate criticism from any other person if they want to be halfway rational. They don't have to accept it and they don't have to agree with it. Can these groups be wrong, even about their own identity? Of course, considering that each group has opposing sides within them anyways. Log Cabin Republicans anyone? Can a straight person not legitimately criticize them? If their straightness is worthy of dismissing their legitimate criticism, then it's not rational. Can white groups not be legitimately criticized by black people? Really? I mean, there are many white groups I can think of that would never accept the opinion of someone else of another race on their group, and guess what, that's not a rational idea.

Course, these groups can never have someone be "the voice" for all gays or all blacks, much less all women, which is not what feminism is about anyways, because individuals don't get to choose their sexual orientation or gender or race, much less the "voices" of these non-chooseable traits. Political groups or activist groups within these social groups? Sure. You choose to be a part of them, or not, no matter your race, gender, etc.

I would hope that any group would welcome anyone who agrees with them, no matter their race, gender, etc. would welcome them to speak for them, or listen to others outside their group, or actually admit being wrong even if the person telling them isn't part of their group. I would also hope you could be welcomed as an equal participant. The fact that you think you can't and won't is the crux of the problem. It is not rational to act this way, it is the worst kind of identity politics, and it's not something that should be condoned or supported. It's what many on the right do, though, attributing people like Al Shartpon to being "the voice" of all black people, for example. And it also is the sort of logic that gives tokenism its power. As long as you're part of that group, so this logic goes, the ONLY other people that can legitimately criticize you must be part of that group. That is not rational.

There are many women opposed to feminism, and it is as legitimate for men to call those women out as for women to. Not more so. But just as legitimate. It is GOOD to have people with different perspectives agreeing on the same philosophy, and each perspective does nothing to diminish the legitimacy of a philosophy. Feminism isn't about who knows more about being a woman, it's why should women be treated equally, why should genders be treated equally.

Yes lunatica Jan 2013 #1
It depends on one's definition. Brickbat Jan 2013 #2
Indeed. It is possible for men to support feminist causes el_bryanto Jan 2013 #6
Exactly. Well said. Brickbat Jan 2013 #15
is the opposite true? hfojvt Jan 2013 #71
Yes, but I draw the line at wearing high heels. nt onehandle Jan 2013 #3
I don't. dawg Jan 2013 #4
Neither do these guys KamaAina Jan 2013 #40
And they rule! dawg Jan 2013 #44
I LOVE that photo! Those men are feminists. yardwork Jan 2013 #105
Really depends. Lots of American guys say closeupready Jan 2013 #5
I'm curious el_bryanto Jan 2013 #7
What I mean is, liking female anatomy doesn't make closeupready Jan 2013 #11
OK. Interesting response. el_bryanto Jan 2013 #12
Some women, certainly. The thread is about men, though, closeupready Jan 2013 #18
OK - than perhaps you would have better expressed yourself el_bryanto Jan 2013 #21
No, because the thread is about men, not men and women. closeupready Jan 2013 #25
So it is your opinion that most men el_bryanto Jan 2013 #29
Not complicated. The thread topic is about men, not women, not closeupready Jan 2013 #32
I enjoy discussion issues - that's why I participate on this board el_bryanto Jan 2013 #37
Okay, fair enough - that's a very plausible claim. closeupready Jan 2013 #39
Wow. Earth_First Jan 2013 #17
Trying to get this discussion off on the wrong foot already...? Earth_First Jan 2013 #8
That didn't take long. HappyMe Jan 2013 #19
I have to concur with that statement. Possible, but unlikely. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jan 2013 #34
Yes. Do I think men can truly understand many of the things women experience? No. NYC Liberal Jan 2013 #9
Yes, of course. Waiting For Everyman Jan 2013 #10
I "passed". I'm not at all concerned about the label & its application. My concern is attitudes KittyWampus Jan 2013 #13
i would have said yes in the past. i have learned different. why we decide with women, that men seabeyond Jan 2013 #14
Stop! Just STOP! closeupready Jan 2013 #20
i thought i was really being told seabeyond Jan 2013 #22
yeah, you know I get what you mean. closeupready Jan 2013 #27
exactly. the men bring in their issue and it switches to, what about the men. seabeyond Jan 2013 #28
Actually, I'm the one who brought up this issue, in a question to Will Pitt yesterday. DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2013 #78
i answered your post seabeyond Jan 2013 #82
In that case, I'm sorry for misunderstanding you, and I thank you for answering DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2013 #84
ya, well even in replying to you i really did not get that. seabeyond Jan 2013 #89
If he didn't know your gender at the time of the posting his replies KitSileya Jan 2013 #50
LOL, yes, because men are smarter than women closeupready Jan 2013 #54
I must admit the past couple of days have been very discouraging in DU KitSileya Jan 2013 #56
Totally agree. closeupready Jan 2013 #60
it's us dumbfuck men. We're not very smart, and we bring contentiousness DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2013 #79
Glad we found some common ground. closeupready Jan 2013 #83
We haven't. I was just pointing out your bald hypocrisy DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2013 #85
I don't know what you're talking about, but closeupready Jan 2013 #99
truth is a problem too, is it? DisgustipatedinCA Jan 2013 #104
So does that mandate that men should not express opinions on traditionally feminist issues el_bryanto Jan 2013 #24
a man is more than welcome to express his opinion. just as i am with black and gay issues. i also seabeyond Jan 2013 #26
Not sure I agree with that el_bryanto Jan 2013 #35
One can be empathic without trying to be anyone's "voice." Jackpine Radical Jan 2013 #41
yes. men can be empathitic. yes. men can be a wonderful voice. seabeyond Jan 2013 #46
I agree with you. n/t MadrasT Jan 2013 #59
Yes. & It's also possible for a woman to be a masculinist & . . . patrice Jan 2013 #16
No. But they can be pro-feminism and support the cause.... Little Star Jan 2013 #23
If losing your dude card is "helping yourself", I agree. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #33
I say yes demokatgurrl Jan 2013 #30
Of course! Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #31
so i have to ask. if you are white can you be the voice for blacks. if you are straight, can you seabeyond Jan 2013 #36
Bravo. You put it so well there. closeupready Jan 2013 #38
+1 Activism springs from a degree of consciousness leftstreet Jan 2013 #42
This may be the crux of the issue - Being a Feminist may not mean "voice for woman" to all people el_bryanto Jan 2013 #43
"Being a Feminist may not mean "voice for woman" to all people". that would be the co opt of the seabeyond Jan 2013 #47
Well I think there are people who would disagree with your interpretation of Feminism el_bryanto Jan 2013 #57
each post i said men are valued, appreciated needed to SUPPORT. where have i ever suggested that men seabeyond Jan 2013 #61
I stand by that el_bryanto Jan 2013 #63
and again i ask you, do you have the same role in the black movement and the gay movement? nt seabeyond Jan 2013 #65
I don't agree that it is the same thing el_bryanto Jan 2013 #66
Very interesting -- you say, "it is easy to stand up for equal rights..." Waiting For Everyman Jan 2013 #67
Clearly this problem is linguistic, not political Proud Public Servant Jan 2013 #45
Very well said. HappyMe Jan 2013 #49
read my post above. 47. here is a cutsey onion article on it. seabeyond Jan 2013 #51
I take your point in post 47 Proud Public Servant Jan 2013 #62
as i say, i have not seen it. seabeyond Jan 2013 #68
so, seabeyond Jan 2013 #69
Somewhat, I suppose Proud Public Servant Jan 2013 #81
pro femism or allie to feminist is just fine. why do you need a title? you do not need a title seabeyond Jan 2013 #86
You are right that could have been better worded el_bryanto Jan 2013 #88
but it is womans movement just like it is blacks and gay movement. WOMEN define themselves, not men seabeyond Jan 2013 #91
Maybe an example would help me understand el_bryanto Jan 2013 #93
participate. discussing beast sitting up an abusive relationship dont say, but men are abused too. seabeyond Jan 2013 #111
Hmmmmmmm el_bryanto Jan 2013 #114
My answer to all 7 of those questions would be "no". Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #48
right, because for some reason in a patriarchy the womans movement would be different. go figure. nt seabeyond Jan 2013 #53
+1 forestpath Jan 2013 #52
"The voice"? No. "A voice" yes. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #72
I don't think that identifying as a feminist means that people claim to speak for women. yardwork Jan 2013 #106
as i have said repeatedly, i use to believe that. and maybe the experience over the last year seabeyond Jan 2013 #112
I agree that it takes more than saying one is a feminist to be one. yardwork Jan 2013 #115
What a horrible analogy, and it's part of the problem... MellowDem Jan 2013 #116
Despite what Will Pitt thinks demwing Jan 2013 #55
it's not be possible for a man to advocate for equal social, political, legal and economic rights f seabeyond Jan 2013 #58
It's a basic categorical syllogism demwing Jan 2013 #64
For some reason... Jeff In Milwaukee Jan 2013 #70
If feminism were about equality, then of course they could. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #73
The other end of the rope - interesting terminology el_bryanto Jan 2013 #75
Interesting that some people see this as an "adversarial" issue. (nt) Nye Bevan Jan 2013 #90
It is, and arguably should be. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #100
No more so than women's end of the rope is holding men back. lumberjack_jeff Jan 2013 #92
I am. Taverner Jan 2013 #74
This isn't a productive question Aerows Jan 2013 #76
That is it in a nutshell. Rex Jan 2013 #77
I'm for equal rights for everyone, for every human being. MissMarple Jan 2013 #80
I don't think so. NCTraveler Jan 2013 #87
Agreed. 1-Old-Man Jan 2013 #95
No. redqueen Jan 2013 #94
by Brian Klocke. So he's the voice of feminism? He decides what it is? Waiting For Everyman Jan 2013 #101
That in no way follows logically from what I posted. redqueen Jan 2013 #107
You are offering his points with his link, aren't you? Waiting For Everyman Jan 2013 #108
I can find so many more by women and post them here. redqueen Jan 2013 #113
I am a feminist and I am a male. eltopomaravilloso Jan 2013 #96
My husband, my son and my two sons in law are all feminist males. CTyankee Jan 2013 #97
I'm very much anti misogyny and pro equal rights. War Horse Jan 2013 #98
Yes. My two sons are definitely feminists. yardwork Jan 2013 #102
It depends on how you define it gollygee Jan 2013 #103
I don't want to seem petty about this, but I say no, not really. Quantess Jan 2013 #109
"Men, in this patriarchal system, cannot remove themselves from their power and privilege Little Star Jan 2013 #110
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