Has the feminist movement gone too far? (choice, abortion)

[Fluffy]

This is just largely out of curiosity after a debate we had at school (single-sex boys school).

The results at our school were 13, 14 and 4 respectively when we voted at the end of the discussion. What does everyone else think?

[Ceridwen018]

A bunch of boys arguing about whether the feminist movement has gone too far or not? I hope my vote is made apparent when I say that that idea makes me sick. Don't flatter yourselves, boys, thinking that any woman cares about your opinion on the feminist movement. Stick to your own isses and don't hurt yourselves.

[linwood]

Originally Posted by Ceridwen018

A bunch of boys arguing about whether the feminist movement has gone too far or not? I hope my vote is made apparent when I say that that idea makes me sick. Don't flatter yourselves, boys, thinking that any woman cares about your opinion on the feminist movement. Stick to your own isses and don't hurt yourselves.

This is exactly where the feminist movement has gone too far.

Men can`t discuss womens issues because they belong to women.

Strikes me as false, in fact if men aren`t a part of the discussion the issues will never be resolved.

[Jaymes]

13, 3, and 4 for what? Did I miss something?

And really, guys having a say in the feminist movement is like guys having a say in abortion. You can talk about it all you want, but you don't make the decisions.

Edit: OH! 13, 3 and 4 in respect to the poll?

[linwood]

Originally Posted by Jensa

13, 3, and 4 for what? Did I miss something?

And really, guys having a say in the feminist movement is like guys having a say in abortion. You can talk about it all you want, but you don't make the decisions.

Yes exactly and it all depends on the perspective of the parties involved.

The fact is that it is not women alone who make those decisions in this society, in fact most are men.

Your abortion analogy is perfect.
It is my wifes right to choose abortion if she wishes but to think I have no part in the issue is simply wrong.

Had she aborted our daughter her choice would have impacted me in a serious way which would have in turn impacted her in ways she could only have imagined..most of them not good.

Simply put she could have aborted but if she thought she could so so without my reaction seriously affecting her life she would be very wrong.

Take this analogy and use it to encompass gender relations across the board and it still works the same way.

The point is that womens issues are not simply "Womens Issues" they are societies issues and all should be involved in the process of insuring equality for all.

[Lintu]

I agree with Ceridwen. Women's issues are women's issues, and it's really pretentious for a bunch of boys to pretend they have any idea about any of it.

[linwood]

Originally Posted by Lintu

I agree with Ceridwen. Women's issues are women's issues, and it's really pretentious for a bunch of boys to pretend they have any idea about any of it.

Like I said, thats where feminism has gone too far.

[FyreBrigidIce]

I am taking a course called Gender and Society in college this term and found out there are actually more than just one feminist movement. Before taking this class I would not have had a clue how to respond to this post. In fact I thought that there was one feminist movement and that most feminists hated all men. I now know how wrong I was.

There were three waves of feminist movements. The first one started in the 1800's and grew out of women's efforts in other movements, such as, abolition. there were 2 separate groups of feminists in this wave. These women realized that their efforts were hampered by not having a legitimate voice in public or politics. Women had to secure their own rights to be heard and counted in public and civic arenas. This movement did not succeed because during that time women were not considered individuals but only property of men.

The second wave ran roughly from 1960 to 1995. The movements of this wave sprang from different sources, sought diverse goals and pursued distinct rhetorical strategies. There were 9 different feminist groups during this wave.

The third wave is emerging recently and is goes by the names of girl power, the third wave, and girlie feminism. It is still in its formative stage yet certain features are evident. This latest wave believes that feminism should include all women and celebrates the diversity of women. Third wave feminists believe that although their movement is built on the foundation of the earlier movements, the second wave didn't create a "complete package of entitlement."

The information provided above comes from my textbook, Gendered Lives Fifth Edition by Julia T. Wood (pages 60 to 82)

There are 3 men in this class and understand the movements very well. In fact, before this Chapter they were very open minded and understood more than men are perceived to understand. I agree that women's issues affect everyone. Plus there are men's movements that are profeminist, so men can and do understand more than some women give them credit for. Myself included before I took the class I am in.

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by linwood

Like I said, thats where feminism has gone too far.

And I respect your opinion but still disagree.

[Isis-Astoroth]

Though women's issues may be of a relevance to the men directly/indirectly involved in them, generally it is the women who make the choices; a man cannot make the ultimate decision for an abortion. I think that feminism has its place at the moment as there is still inequality in many areas of society which need to be seriously addressed and changed. Without some degree of feminism, changes, I feel, will not occur. However, I do think that sometimes feminists have too much of an extreme view, and turn it into a 'society needs only women' argument and seeks to put down men, which is no good for anyone. I do think that battles between genders to prove which one is the most intelligent and the 'better' only increases the fuel that encourages extreme feminism, or maybe it is a cause of such battles. Both are possible. In modern society equality needs to be reached, with the support of both men and women.