MRA's (Mens Rights Activists) are extremely critical of feminism. [View all]

[boston bean]

Actually, I feel pretty confident in stating they really can't stand feminists or feminism.

Yet, I'm not so sure why they feel that way. I was reading an article posted on DU from Jezebel (a feminist site). The article explains how feminists are on the side of men in many ways where the patriarchy affects them in unfair ways. The below issues are something feminism has been addressing for a very long time, and critiquing in theory socially constructed gender roles. The listing below is usually tossed about MRA's and by those who are critical of feminists and feminism. I think many just don't understand what the patriarchy is or what it is that feminists are speaking about. Hopefully, this article will help to answer questions, and maybe bring forth a greater understanding of feminism and feminist issues.

Part Four: A List of "Men's Rights" Issues That Feminism Is Already Working On

Feminists do not want you to lose custody of your children. The assumption that women are naturally better caregivers is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not like commercials in which bumbling dads mess up the laundry and competent wives have to bustle in and fix it. The assumption that women are naturally better housekeepers is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to have to make alimony payments. Alimony is set up to combat the fact that women have been historically expected to prioritize domestic duties over professional goals, thus minimizing their earning potential if their "traditional" marriages end. The assumption that wives should make babies instead of money is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want anyone to get raped in prison. Permissiveness and jokes about prison rape are part of rape culture, which is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want anyone to be falsely accused of rape. False rape accusations discredit rape victims, which reinforces rape culture, which is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be lonely and we do not hate "nice guys." The idea that certain people are inherently more valuable than other people because of superficial physical attributes is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to have to pay for dinner. We want the opportunity to achieve financial success on par with men in any field we choose (and are qualified for), and the fact that we currently don't is part of patriarchy. The idea that men should coddle and provide for women, and/or purchase their affections in romantic contexts, is condescending and damaging and part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be maimed or killed in industrial accidents, or toil in coal mines while we do cushy secretarial work and various yarn-themed activities. The fact that women have long been shut out of dangerous industrial jobs (by men, by the way) is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to commit suicide. Any pressures and expectations that lower the quality of life of any gender are part of patriarchy. The fact that depression is characterized as an effeminate weakness, making men less likely to seek treatment, is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be viewed with suspicion when you take your child to the park (men frequently insist that this is a serious issue, so I will take them at their word). The assumption that men are insatiable sexual animals, combined with the idea that it's unnatural for men to care for children, is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want you to be drafted and then die in a war while we stay home and iron stuff. The idea that women are too weak to fight or too delicate to function in a military setting is part of patriarchy.

Feminists do not want women to escape prosecution on legitimate domestic violence charges, nor do we want men to be ridiculed for being raped or abused. The idea that women are naturally gentle and compliant and that victimhood is inherently feminine is part of patriarchy.

Feminists hate patriarchy. We do not hate you.

If you really care about those issues as passionately as you say you do, you should be thanking feminists, because feminism is a social movement actively dedicated to dismantling every single one of them. The fact that you blame feminists—your allies—for problems against which they have been struggling for decades suggests that supporting men isn't nearly as important to you as resenting women. We care about your problems a lot. Could you try caring about ours?

http://jezebel.com/5992479/if-i-admit-that-hating-men-is-a-thing-will-you-stop-turning-it-into-a-self+fulfilling-prophecy

In contrast to that, if you visit a well known Mens Rights Activist (MRA) website, you will see their contempt for feminism. For example their mission statement:

Mission Statement

It is the mission of A Voice for Men to:

Promote the dissemination of information that will expose misandry and gender-centrism on all levels in our culture;

Oppose any form of gender-centrism. We propose to foster the equal valuing of men and women socially, regardless of sexual orientation and identity, as well as their equal treatment under the law;

Recognize the institution of marriage and the family unit as the foundation of civilized society. However, we support the trend away from that institution until the current legal zeitgeist making it unsafe for men and children is corrected. We support an end to “no fault” divorce and support default shared custody in the event of divorce. We seek to promote awareness of information designed to protect men and fathers who are already married;

Promote a rejection of sex based chivalry in any form or fashion.

Promote the legal and nonviolent antagonism of all agents of misandry and gender-centrism, from members of academe, to holders of public office, to law enforcement and other state functionaries, to popular bloggers and to corporate agents who promote misandry and gender-centism for profit;

Support peaceful acts of civil disobedience when necessary;

Educate men, women, girls and boys about the threats they face in feminist governance and to promote an end to that governance;

Debunk sex based lies and distortions wherever they occur;

Offer a more reasoned, cogent and intellectually honest view of sexual politics;

Address the variety of problems faced by men and boys under feminist governance and attempt to ameliorate those problems;

Push for an end to rape hysteria, DV hysteria and false allegations;

Promote a culture that values equal treatment under the law for all human beings;

Facilitate a new social contract between men and women, leading to mutual respect, accountability and expectation.

http://www.avoiceformen.com/policies/mission-statement/

Not sure why they hate on feminism so much or deny that the patriarchy exists..., but there you have it from a feminist point of view and a mens rights activist point of view.

Some of the bullets of the MRA mission statement are extremely concerning to feminists like purporting there is "rape hysteria, DV hysteria" and others bullets...... Something to think about I suppose. MRA's deny the patriarchy exists. They blame feminism for their issues, they do not see feminists as a partner. They seek to tear it down. They blame a social justice movement that strives for equality. It doesn't make much sense to me... but there you have it. Food for thought I guess.