I read an infuriating?anti-feminist article today after a friend sent me a link. Being?a devout feminist, my friend wanted to know my?thoughts on?the piece.
You can read the original article, “I Am A Mother Of Two Children And I Cannot (And Will Not) Support Feminism”?here.
The author says she has taught her two sons to be gentlemen and treat?women with respect.
So far, so good. Men SHOULD strive to respect women and have good manners. But then she continues to say that she can no longer support feminism because it “suppresses masculinity.”?She explains that she cannot?align with feminism because it has turned into something?degrading and offensive.
She writes:
“I’m a wife, mother, sister, daughter, business owner, sports nut and beer lover, but I am?not?a feminist. I may have been at one time, but then I became the mother of two boys and I realized that I cannot align with a message that has changed into something degrading, offensive, accusatory and opposed to the morals and messages I am teaching my kids.”
Clearly, this woman does not understand what it means to be a feminist. She cites examples of feminist groups but completely misinterprets their messages to be?centered?on man hating.
The main problem with her article is that she says she stopped being a feminist in the first place because feminism received?a bad name, but she’s?only adding to its bad rep by reinforcing false stereotypes!
Feminism does not mean a woman must hate all men. Feminists don’t believe every man on the planet is out to rape them and they don’t set out to disrespect men, as this woman’s article suggests.
What feminism does stand for is women’s empowerment. It means defending women?s? rights to their own bodies and choices. Feminists demand respect for women. Aka no rape, no sexual harassment, no lewd comments, and no demeaning attitudes or jokes. Feminists also know that women and men should be treated and paid equally.
To the author of this anti-feminism article, ?I’m sorry that you honestly think your sons? masculinity is?threatened by the messages feminist groups are putting out there. I’m sorry that you don’t trust your sons enough to behave around women dressed provocatively that you have to slut shame ?easy? girls in your article. I’m sorry that you’re still stuck living in the 1950’s and?you don’t think men and women are equal. For you and the messages you are sending your children and your readers, I am truly sorry.
Alecia Pasdera is a recent college graduate from Wisconsin who is currently working as a copy editor in Kentucky. Her academic background is in journalism and communication. Alecia sees a lot of problems with the world today, and although she doesn’t have the power to change them singlehandedly, she does have the power to write about them and raise awareness. It’s her belief that education and knowledge are the strongest tools in making tomorrow a better world for everyone. You can follow her personal blog at allthingsgrowingup.weebly.com.
