History of Feminism

NuclearDem

(16,184 posts)

12. Gender stereotypes and societal pressure to conform to the gender binary is what drives a lot of it.

Mon Oct 28, 2013, 05:38 PM

Oct 2013

I'm certain there are a lot of great potential allies out there who are afraid of taking up that duty because of the rank homophobia and prevalence of rape culture in their own environment.

I know for a fact this is a huge problem in the military and in university settings. The taunts about "cockblocking" or an unwillingness to have sex with a drunk woman at a party being perceived as "being gay" are major problems men my age have to deal with.

But the way I've come to see it is that it takes a "real man" (I hate to use that stupid gender normative term, by the way) to fight something as powerful as rape culture.

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On allies and male feminists [View all] KitSileya Oct 2013 OP

I agree Arcanetrance Oct 2013 #1

You were definitely on my mind when I described men who do all these things. KitSileya Oct 2013 #2

And there it is ismnotwasm Oct 2013 #3

I agree with you, all these excuses they make are just so much smokescreen KitSileya Oct 2013 #10

Men who do nothing are actually complicit in the patriarchy. Gravitycollapse Oct 2013 #4

"Doing nothing is, in essence, the same as endorsing it." i had to do the hardest thing in the world seabeyond Oct 2013 #8

this is no different noamnety Oct 2013 #5

Here's my view as a young man who sincerely wants to help... YoungDemCA Oct 2013 #6

you are right. it is the reality of it. it is hard. and if you do not speak up then you are part seabeyond Oct 2013 #9

I see what you're saying, KitSileya Oct 2013 #11

Oh absolutely YoungDemCA Oct 2013 #14

a very good Op and i could nto agree with you more. i know that when women, especially our young seabeyond Oct 2013 #7

Gender stereotypes and societal pressure to conform to the gender binary is what drives a lot of it. NuclearDem Oct 2013 #12

Here is one example of how allies can use their privilege to fight oppression. redqueen Oct 2013 #13

Most of us would rather be comfortable. YoungDemCA Oct 2013 #15

+1000 smirkymonkey Nov 2013 #16