Feminism seen as "uncool." (minority, Article)

[Nanda]

A common problem I'm seeing with young women today is that they don't really understand what it is to be a feminist, and they're believing all the negative connotations that have come to be associated with feminism. This is most commonly illustrated by the phrase "I'm all for equal rights, but..." Which is usually followed up by some negative misconception about what feminists are like. It's very sad, because by remaining ignorant to the problems facing women, they won't be equipped to combat them. What do you tell a young woman who believes that feminism is uncool or unnecessary? Or if you're a young woman who thinks that, why do you think that?

[sandandfoam]

Why limit it to young women ? I think older women and men should all be feminists too.

[Storm]

Unfortunately, I do think that the feminist movement has been hijacked by an anti-male agenda, to the point that I read an article (years ago) labelling those of s who lack such an agenda "femaleists."

[BucephalusBB]

I don't know, how does men-ism sound?
+

edit: What I mean: The name sound nothing like equality at all. It sounds like it is all based upon women, wich is the startingpoint ofcourse, but not the endpoint.
Maybe it's just in the name

[Hema]

I used to believe the negative connotations but afterwards I realized that real feminists just want equality, they don't hate men or anything like that...so now I consider myself to be a feminist.

[Nanda]

Originally Posted by stephenw

Why limit it to young women ? I think older women and men should all be feminists too.

While I agree, when women's rights are threatened, more often than not, it is young, unmarried women who are directly affected, and yet statistically, they are much less likely to register and vote. How can we expect anyone else to stand up for us when we won't stand up for ourselves?

[tomspug]

Originally Posted by Nanda

A common problem I'm seeing with young women today is that they don't really understand what it is to be a feminist, and they're believing all the negative connotations that have come to be associated with feminism. This is most commonly illustrated by the phrase "I'm all for equal rights, but..." Which is usually followed up by some negative misconception about what feminists are like. It's very sad, because by remaining ignorant to the problems facing women, they won't be equipped to combat them. What do you tell a young woman who believes that feminism is uncool or unnecessary? Or if you're a young woman who thinks that, why do you think that?

I think it's just another example of the more fringe idealists being louder than the reasonable ones.

[Nanda]

Originally Posted by tomspug

I think it's just another example of the more fringe idealists being louder than the reasonable ones.

Hm. Maybe. Thing is, I've never met a man-hating feminist. I've seen lots of reasonable women accused of being man-hating feminists (myself included). I wonder how much of it is based in fact, and how much of it is fabricated by the people who feel threatened by women wanting equality.

[Storm]

Originally Posted by Nanda

Hm. Maybe. Thing is, I've never met a man-hating feminist. I've seen lots of reasonable women accused of being man-hating feminists (myself included). I wonder how much of it is based in fact, and how much of it is fabricated by the people who feel threatened by women wanting equality.

Well, the majority of the self-proclaimed feminists I've known were at least somewhat anti-male. Most only mildly, but a couple were extreme.

ETA: IRL. The ones online seem to be more reasonable.

[gnomon]

I think that feminism for many people is seen as no longer relevant, outside academic literary and psychological theories, and many have donned the original mantle of feminism without applying the label.

I've met many a man-hating woman but whether or not they were a feminist I don't know. Also considering the shift of the mainstream movement away from general ideals of equity before they accepted minority cultures I suspect many may still see feminism as a white woman's movement.