-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
G
1. Being anti-feminist is not about being anti equality. It is about not taking on a label that has come to symbolize hatred for men. Modern day feminism is an ugly thing.
Linda Sarsour said "no thanks" to the pro life womens groups who wanted to participate at the Women's March in January of this year, so feminists in this country do not want to associate with women who are prolife and identify as feminists.
Abortion is murder, (50% murdered babies are girls) but that is another topic.
If the vast majority of Christians behaved and believed as the Westboro bunch, I would not want to be labeled Christian even if a smaller percentage of the Christians shared my beliefs.
2. If I were a venture capitalist, the one thing that would be on my mind is MONEY. I am sure smart, wealthy businessmen decide which businesses they want to invest in based on which businesses can make them MONEY. As Kevin Leary likes to point out, he could care less about how nice a person is, if their business plan is idiotic, and won't make any money- he won't invest.
In the US, we have something called SBA loans- Small Business Administration loans. There is a loan ONLY for minority business owners, women are considered a minority. So a woman can get an SBA loan, where a man WITH THE SAME business can not. Kind of preferential treatment, in my opinion.
3. I appreciate your candor about mansplaining. Personally, I think both men and women can be condescending. I know I have been condescending, and I am not a man.
4. I am not too fussed about Google, to tell the truth. If there is a problem, I trust the Department of Labor will set it straight.
Thank you for the information about their maternity and paternity leave policies, which are very generous.
Personally, I don't think the Venture Capitalist scenario is a problem. Venture Capitalists don't care if the person is a man or woman. They care about money. I highly doubt a woman with a fantastic business plan would get turned down by an investor simply because she is a woman.
If there IS a problem at Google, then it will get remedied. Why? Because in the US we live in an equal society.
Feminism is no longer necessary in the US.
Linda Sarsour said "no thanks" to the pro life womens groups who wanted to participate at the Women's March in January of this year, so feminists in this country do not want to associate with women who are prolife and identify as feminists.
Abortion is murder, (50% murdered babies are girls) but that is another topic.
If the vast majority of Christians behaved and believed as the Westboro bunch, I would not want to be labeled Christian even if a smaller percentage of the Christians shared my beliefs.
2. If I were a venture capitalist, the one thing that would be on my mind is MONEY. I am sure smart, wealthy businessmen decide which businesses they want to invest in based on which businesses can make them MONEY. As Kevin Leary likes to point out, he could care less about how nice a person is, if their business plan is idiotic, and won't make any money- he won't invest.
In the US, we have something called SBA loans- Small Business Administration loans. There is a loan ONLY for minority business owners, women are considered a minority. So a woman can get an SBA loan, where a man WITH THE SAME business can not. Kind of preferential treatment, in my opinion.
3. I appreciate your candor about mansplaining. Personally, I think both men and women can be condescending. I know I have been condescending, and I am not a man.
4. I am not too fussed about Google, to tell the truth. If there is a problem, I trust the Department of Labor will set it straight.
Thank you for the information about their maternity and paternity leave policies, which are very generous.
Personally, I don't think the Venture Capitalist scenario is a problem. Venture Capitalists don't care if the person is a man or woman. They care about money. I highly doubt a woman with a fantastic business plan would get turned down by an investor simply because she is a woman.
If there IS a problem at Google, then it will get remedied. Why? Because in the US we live in an equal society.
Feminism is no longer necessary in the US.
D
What she described in that song was how I grew up. Two parents avoiding each other quietly. And when I visited friends' homes the same thing was happening. It was common for men to come home from a hard day's work, and dinner was waiting at the table for them. As were the children. And after dinner, Dad disappeared. (In my case, he slept on the sofa until we all went to bed, so he didn't literally disappeared.) And on weekends? The fathers were hunting, fishing, playing golf, just about anything but spending time at home.
It didn't seem like much of a reason to marry a guy. And, yeah, maybe to have babies, but then the woman was the one raising them. Way too much work.
It didn't seem like much of a reason to marry a guy. And, yeah, maybe to have babies, but then the woman was the one raising them. Way too much work.
G
Okay, I actually have some information about this. There is some question about why girls do not get Science and Math degrees and why they don't go into STEM professions. In the US, millions of dollars have been pumped into programs and yet, very few women are much interested in these professions. Is it socialization? Is it genetic? I don't know- perhaps a mixture of both. I do know that women who are gifted in math and science gravitate more towards becoming medical doctors than engineers. Perhaps it is that desire to nurture people, which I believe God has given women that makes scientifically and mathematically gifted women choose "the helping professions".
There is certainly nothing stopping women from going into any field of study they desire. As a matter of fact, there are all sorts of girls only programs designed to interest girls in STEM professions.
My point is this, never before have opportunities for going into any field been more accessible to women. They are choosing not to avail themselves of these opportunities- but I do not believe it is due to male oppression. There is a lack of desire, that is all.
There is certainly nothing stopping women from going into any field of study they desire. As a matter of fact, there are all sorts of girls only programs designed to interest girls in STEM professions.
My point is this, never before have opportunities for going into any field been more accessible to women. They are choosing not to avail themselves of these opportunities- but I do not believe it is due to male oppression. There is a lack of desire, that is all.
D
I honestly think it's the difference between men and women. Men "fix things." At least that's what they want to do whether it's a car, or their wife, or their job. They like to do something to make it work right.
Women are verbal more. Not that we necessarily talk more, (although I certainly do lol), but we like expressing stuff. One of the things hubby had to "fix" when we were married is the concept that just because I gripe about my boss doesn't mean I hate my job. It usually means I didn't like what the boss did that day. And I had to tell someone, so he got stuck being the someone. (We had to work on our communication skills, since I realized I shouldn't have quit that job simply because that was his first answer on how to fix the problem. lol)
"Fix things" - STEM, teaching, and physical labor.
"Verbal" - languages, history, teaching, and office work.
That's not to say all men or all women are like that, but the majority are.
I can tell you 20,000 things about how Microsoft Word works. He can tell you 20,000 ways to install it properly. As far as how it works? He's good that he can type something in it. As far as installing it? I'm good knowing he can do that. lol
We really were made differently, and on-purpose differently.
Women are verbal more. Not that we necessarily talk more, (although I certainly do lol), but we like expressing stuff. One of the things hubby had to "fix" when we were married is the concept that just because I gripe about my boss doesn't mean I hate my job. It usually means I didn't like what the boss did that day. And I had to tell someone, so he got stuck being the someone. (We had to work on our communication skills, since I realized I shouldn't have quit that job simply because that was his first answer on how to fix the problem. lol)
"Fix things" - STEM, teaching, and physical labor.
"Verbal" - languages, history, teaching, and office work.
That's not to say all men or all women are like that, but the majority are.
I can tell you 20,000 things about how Microsoft Word works. He can tell you 20,000 ways to install it properly. As far as how it works? He's good that he can type something in it. As far as installing it? I'm good knowing he can do that. lol
We really were made differently, and on-purpose differently.
This CBN article confirms what you wrote.
Taking Back the Music -- CBN.com Black History Section
The thread's title and original post are counterproductive and exclusionary in dealing with opposing opinions and don't assist in closing the gap between the different groups.
These statements scream volumes about the gaps in your knowledge, what you need to learn about the feminist movement and the rights they're currently campaigning for, the many challenges of oppression that women still face in the world today. Not only in Iran or Iraq but on your own soil, in crime, the media, workplace and other sectors where we're fighting for liberation.
In 2015 feminist and crime writer Tara Moss put the issue on the fore of women who can collectively come forward about sexual assault and it's not until a man steps forward as a witness that their testimony is accepted by the judicial system.
Over the past 12 months Fox news has gotten rid of both Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly because of their sexual harassment on women - but it was a matter of years before those women were believed and action was taken.
Lisa wilkinson, an Australian feminist did a significant amount of journalistic work on female mutilation in India. Christian, conservative feminist Christine Caine's life work is dedicated to freeing women from human trafficking.
In our federal parliament in 2014 there was 1 woman and 19 men. That alone is enough to tell you that women are not being selected on merit because there are a lot of very educated women in the coalition who didn't get a look in. There's many women knocking on the door of politics and they're not there to sell Avon. They've actually got talent that needs to be recognized. Experience only comes when you get a chance in the first place and that's what feminists have fought so hard to attain. When it wasn't a quota system, women end up being ignored altogether.
In Australia, men's football will be covered in depth all year round, but women's sport such as netball will barely be troubled for column inches.
That propaganda is incredibly dangerous. Do you know the statistics for violence against women in your part of the west? Here we have about 2 women a week die from it. Women's domestic violence centre's are closing because of a lack of funding.
Domestic violence: High-profile women use social media, television to speak out
Rather than being exasperated at feminists who are making a significant difference in the lives of women globally, take a leaf out of their book, exercise some compassion, beginning with your own awareness and create a positive change in the lives of less fortunate women around you.
Have your place in the home, you're entitled. Don't take away from women who have fought so you have the choice to enter the workforce before and during marriage, earn as much as your male coworkers and do everything they can to protect you from harassment while you're earning your bread. Respect them and join them in their efforts to make the world a better place.
These statements scream volumes about the gaps in your knowledge, what you need to learn about the feminist movement and the rights they're currently campaigning for, the many challenges of oppression that women still face in the world today. Not only in Iran or Iraq but on your own soil, in crime, the media, workplace and other sectors where we're fighting for liberation.
In 2015 feminist and crime writer Tara Moss put the issue on the fore of women who can collectively come forward about sexual assault and it's not until a man steps forward as a witness that their testimony is accepted by the judicial system.
Over the past 12 months Fox news has gotten rid of both Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly because of their sexual harassment on women - but it was a matter of years before those women were believed and action was taken.
Lisa wilkinson, an Australian feminist did a significant amount of journalistic work on female mutilation in India. Christian, conservative feminist Christine Caine's life work is dedicated to freeing women from human trafficking.
In our federal parliament in 2014 there was 1 woman and 19 men. That alone is enough to tell you that women are not being selected on merit because there are a lot of very educated women in the coalition who didn't get a look in. There's many women knocking on the door of politics and they're not there to sell Avon. They've actually got talent that needs to be recognized. Experience only comes when you get a chance in the first place and that's what feminists have fought so hard to attain. When it wasn't a quota system, women end up being ignored altogether.
In Australia, men's football will be covered in depth all year round, but women's sport such as netball will barely be troubled for column inches.
That propaganda is incredibly dangerous. Do you know the statistics for violence against women in your part of the west? Here we have about 2 women a week die from it. Women's domestic violence centre's are closing because of a lack of funding.
Domestic violence: High-profile women use social media, television to speak out
Rather than being exasperated at feminists who are making a significant difference in the lives of women globally, take a leaf out of their book, exercise some compassion, beginning with your own awareness and create a positive change in the lives of less fortunate women around you.
Have your place in the home, you're entitled. Don't take away from women who have fought so you have the choice to enter the workforce before and during marriage, earn as much as your male coworkers and do everything they can to protect you from harassment while you're earning your bread. Respect them and join them in their efforts to make the world a better place.
D
Sexual harassment. We do have the manpower to fix this. The problem is it is a civil law, not a criminal law, so only the rich can sue bosses for sexual harassment. Kind of defeats the whole concept of "working," since we're working to make money.
But being a quiet, little woman (and only one of those words describes me honestly lol), I solved the problem my own way. I aimed for the groin! Let a man try to tell anyone else the woman is lying when he's in an inverted L-shape holding his crotch gingerly! For that matter, he probably can't even talk. (Actually, he ducked, but he never tried to grab my butt after that.)
What we need is for it to be what it really is -- assault! Assault is criminal. No lawsuit required.
Men's sports over women's sports -- No kidding. I've seen women's professional Bball! It looked like high school Bball! If women want equal attention in sports, than they need to be equally as good at it! Professional sports is business. It's profit! The best sells, the rest snores. Either we're good enough to play in professional sports, or we're not. And when a woman can join a man's Bball team, a man's baseball team, (which I think will happen in my lifetime), or a man's football team, (I can see a female kicker, can't see a female tackle, and that said knowing I was great at tackling until the guys caught up, and then passed, my size lol), then dagnabit, pay her as much as they'd pay her if she was a man! If she can't? Then stand in line, because not one of us here is that good, and we've learned to live with it.
If you want women's sports to make it like men's sports, then foot the bill to get the team you want on TV. It's business, not charity. That IS equality! We really aren't men. We're simply not lesser because of that.
Domestic abuse. Also an equal opportunity crime, but it is a crime. I've known two men who were raped. I'm married to a man whose first wife physically abused him. (Or tried. She had razor blades and knives. He had a good foot and a good 100 pounds over her, so he could grab her by the wrists and pull her off the ground until she gave up trying to slit him open. Didn't help him at all the night she considered it as he slept.)
This isn't a feminists problem. This is a society problem. 75% of spouses who leave the abuser are killed eventually by the abuser. What's the problem? No crime before the murder. At best a lockup for the weekend, if you leave marks. No motivation not to leave marks. Nothing stopping the increase in the violence either. It is like rape -- the proof is on the target's head, and the crime is so embarrassing -- a sign of weakness -- not very many targets want to become victims to our justice system too.
That there is a societal problem, not a women's problem. That's one where men and woman need to be equal on what to do about that.
And a bunch of women hitting a train to Manhattan taking off their shirts after they board, doesn't do diddly squat to address anything important. And singing to a terrorist leader doesn't. And "Why can't we all just get along" chants don't. And thinking "women's health" means "let me kill as many babies as I start" doesn't. And screwing every famous man/woman who has the moral IQ of an amoeba doesn't. Worse yet, that's pretty much all that is happening with the modern-BS-feminists today.
BTW, funny thing about modern feminists. They scream and get highly insulted if a guy says, "Nice a$$" to them. Maria Shriver not only didn't flinch at that one, she married the guy who said it to her. So, apparently, if you're good looking, rich, and/or powerful, it's okay, but if you're not, then it's not. That was the first thing Arnold Schwarzenegger ever said to her and it worked!
Double standards drive me nuts(ier)!
But being a quiet, little woman (and only one of those words describes me honestly lol), I solved the problem my own way. I aimed for the groin! Let a man try to tell anyone else the woman is lying when he's in an inverted L-shape holding his crotch gingerly! For that matter, he probably can't even talk. (Actually, he ducked, but he never tried to grab my butt after that.)
What we need is for it to be what it really is -- assault! Assault is criminal. No lawsuit required.
Men's sports over women's sports -- No kidding. I've seen women's professional Bball! It looked like high school Bball! If women want equal attention in sports, than they need to be equally as good at it! Professional sports is business. It's profit! The best sells, the rest snores. Either we're good enough to play in professional sports, or we're not. And when a woman can join a man's Bball team, a man's baseball team, (which I think will happen in my lifetime), or a man's football team, (I can see a female kicker, can't see a female tackle, and that said knowing I was great at tackling until the guys caught up, and then passed, my size lol), then dagnabit, pay her as much as they'd pay her if she was a man! If she can't? Then stand in line, because not one of us here is that good, and we've learned to live with it.
If you want women's sports to make it like men's sports, then foot the bill to get the team you want on TV. It's business, not charity. That IS equality! We really aren't men. We're simply not lesser because of that.
Domestic abuse. Also an equal opportunity crime, but it is a crime. I've known two men who were raped. I'm married to a man whose first wife physically abused him. (Or tried. She had razor blades and knives. He had a good foot and a good 100 pounds over her, so he could grab her by the wrists and pull her off the ground until she gave up trying to slit him open. Didn't help him at all the night she considered it as he slept.)
This isn't a feminists problem. This is a society problem. 75% of spouses who leave the abuser are killed eventually by the abuser. What's the problem? No crime before the murder. At best a lockup for the weekend, if you leave marks. No motivation not to leave marks. Nothing stopping the increase in the violence either. It is like rape -- the proof is on the target's head, and the crime is so embarrassing -- a sign of weakness -- not very many targets want to become victims to our justice system too.
That there is a societal problem, not a women's problem. That's one where men and woman need to be equal on what to do about that.
And a bunch of women hitting a train to Manhattan taking off their shirts after they board, doesn't do diddly squat to address anything important. And singing to a terrorist leader doesn't. And "Why can't we all just get along" chants don't. And thinking "women's health" means "let me kill as many babies as I start" doesn't. And screwing every famous man/woman who has the moral IQ of an amoeba doesn't. Worse yet, that's pretty much all that is happening with the modern-BS-feminists today.
BTW, funny thing about modern feminists. They scream and get highly insulted if a guy says, "Nice a$$" to them. Maria Shriver not only didn't flinch at that one, she married the guy who said it to her. So, apparently, if you're good looking, rich, and/or powerful, it's okay, but if you're not, then it's not. That was the first thing Arnold Schwarzenegger ever said to her and it worked!
Double standards drive me nuts(ier)!
G
No, and perhaps I should have defined the term as there seems to be some misunderstanding among our international users as to why women may proudly proclaim to be antifeminists.
I would venture to say the vast majority of women and men in the US, I would hazard near 100%, absolutely believe in equal pay for equal work, and it is codified in our law. So, if a woman is NOT being paid equally, she had recourse to the law. It is pretty much a non issue, now. I am not saying it does not happen- but it is illegal and can be remedied. I would say nearly 100% men and women in the US believe women have the right to vote, hold public office, go to school and university, and obtain any job available. This is pretty much a non issue, too.
This is what might be termed "historic feminism" or first wave feminism.
The problem is with third wave feminists, who think that all sorts of things are "male oppression", like manspreading- a man sitting with his legs apart to accomodate his anatomy, or "mansplaining" a man speaking condescendingly to a woman, or air conditioning, or the word "bossy", or women choosing to be homemakers, etc. This is all under the umbrella of feminism today, not to mention abortion. I guess abortion is my main problem with it.
It also denigrates men in an effort to uplift women, and says "women do not need men". Well, God made women to need men and men to need women. Just today, I read a person's post on another Christian forum saying that a woman's use of the f word was feminism.
It is rather dreadful, what feminism in this country is. I am not a feminist, but it does not mean I believe in domestic abuse, ir that men should be paid more for the same job.
I would venture to say the vast majority of women and men in the US, I would hazard near 100%, absolutely believe in equal pay for equal work, and it is codified in our law. So, if a woman is NOT being paid equally, she had recourse to the law. It is pretty much a non issue, now. I am not saying it does not happen- but it is illegal and can be remedied. I would say nearly 100% men and women in the US believe women have the right to vote, hold public office, go to school and university, and obtain any job available. This is pretty much a non issue, too.
This is what might be termed "historic feminism" or first wave feminism.
The problem is with third wave feminists, who think that all sorts of things are "male oppression", like manspreading- a man sitting with his legs apart to accomodate his anatomy, or "mansplaining" a man speaking condescendingly to a woman, or air conditioning, or the word "bossy", or women choosing to be homemakers, etc. This is all under the umbrella of feminism today, not to mention abortion. I guess abortion is my main problem with it.
It also denigrates men in an effort to uplift women, and says "women do not need men". Well, God made women to need men and men to need women. Just today, I read a person's post on another Christian forum saying that a woman's use of the f word was feminism.
It is rather dreadful, what feminism in this country is. I am not a feminist, but it does not mean I believe in domestic abuse, ir that men should be paid more for the same job.
J
I believe cultural heritage is in play whenever our attitudes towards feminism is on display. The OP is from a part of the world where things are not necessarily working like they are in, say, Australia or Western Europe. In the southern parts of the U.S., we haven't quite reached the standards of what some would refer to as feminism, and the way we are brought up, we may not want that solution either. Whether this is a bad thing or a good thing isn't obvious.
I'm aware of the fact that the southern way may can be seen as, at least to some extent, provocative, but I think we all just have to acknowledge that different types of culture will make us see feminism differently.
I'm aware of the fact that the southern way may can be seen as, at least to some extent, provocative, but I think we all just have to acknowledge that different types of culture will make us see feminism differently.
Last edited by a moderator:
Thanks for the reputation, so glad it reached you!
It’s astonishing how those with no education and no activism to speak of, haven’t contributed towards those causes and standards that they hold feminists up to. If they wish to make the world a better place for women, I'd encourage them to attain an in depth formal education on feminism and its influences in society, history and today for western and developing countries alike.
Y
I'm fairly certain I have no firm idea of how to properly define what a feminist is. By extension, I couldn't define an anti-feminist other than to recognize the prefix. I could probably look it up online, but I don't know if I care enough to know. What I really wanted to say though is there are some good tunes here, and some I hadn't heard in many years.
G
I will try to address all of your points. I suspect we may agree on more than you think, actually. Just like Depleted and I agree on more than we thought we did at first glance. I would say Rachel, as well, but I am not sure about what her views on abortion are.
Originally, I posted it as a joke- because I know some of these old songs would be frowned upon today by most feminists. And even Paul Anka's "You're Having My Baby" was frowned upon in his day by feminists (which is rather sad, because it is a beautiful song, but I digress).
I have absolutely no doubt that women are working to end oppression of women in countries where women are treated horribly. I know there are Christian groups that work to end child trafficking, as well as secular groups. I doubt I have very much in common politically with Susan Sarandon or Mira Sorvino, but they have become activists against human sex trafficking, which I definitely support as a worthy cause. I am glad there are groups fighting against female mutilation and the Chinese one child law, which has resulted in the abortion of girls and abandoning baby girls to die.
On our own soil, that is something different. Women are able to go to school, and in fact women now outnumber men when it comes to graduate degrees. Women have no barriers in education, and in some cases are given preferential treatment (affirmative action). Title IX has made sure that female athletes are given equable sports scholarships (granted, there are not many or any girls playing college football), and girls are allowed to play on any sports team they wish. Even in the benighted deep South, where I live, we had a girl on the 7th and 8th grade football team. This happens all across the US in middle and high schools. Girls are allowed and DO play on football and baseball teams, but boys haven't availed themselves of playing softball, yet. The college level is different, I know.
Women are allowed to enter any branch of the military they like- and into active combat.
In the media, I see as many women as men. Women are exploited in the media, but it is generally self exploitation. I attribute it to a lack of morals and the degradation of society rather than male oppression. For every woman exposing herself, there are 10 who are not. It is not what MUST be done to get ahead in Hollywood. Julia Roberts said she would never do a nude scene, and she did pretty well for herself in the movie business.
I know there is the complaint of women anchors given the boot if they are over the hill, but Jane Pauley was given the prestigious CBS job hosting Sunday Morning, and there is probably no woman more respected in broadcast journalism than Barbara Walters, and she worked well into her seventies.
I am not sure, but I have noticed a trend in local news coverage. Gone are the days with super thin blonde anchors, only. Women of all sizes and ethnicities are anchors, and I think this is probably the case in many local news broadcasts.
I don't really know very much about printed journalism and how many women work in that branch of the media.
I am not familiar with the Tara Moss piece, but find it very suspect. So, is she basically saying that a woman who is raped, the rape must be witnessed by a man, in order for a conviction to be made? Is this supposed to be the way the US works?
When a woman reports being raped in the US, the first thing that happens is she is given a rape kit in a hospital. This means DNA is swabbed from her. There have been many convictions based on DNA evidence.
If you mean sexual assault without rape, like being touched or something- that is pretty much a "he said, she said" sort of thing. It is not beyond the scope of possibility that a woman could falsely accuse a man of sexual assault. It happens. Neither the man NOR the woman's word should be taken as all evidence necessary. I remember one case where a teen girl was angry with her male principal about her suspension for acting out. The teen later accused the principal of molesting her. It was a "he said, she said" case- no evidence. He lost his job and reputation. Years later, the girl admitted to making up the story because she was angry at her principal. I hate to say it, but women can be vindictive. So can men, of course. Neither sex is morally superior.
I am not for domestic violence, of course. No one is for domestic violence. But I don't see the correlation between saying a little girl or woman who orders people around is "bossy" and beating women up. I think it is absurd to take words out of the language, much like the Party was doing in the book, 1984. The premise was, if words can be removed from the language, then thinking can be controlled. I guess if "bossy" can be removed- then we can control how people think about bossy people? I suppose the same is true with removing pronouns such as "she" and "he" and replacing it with "they" to make everyone equal.
I am glad Ailes and O'Reilly were removed. They should not have been allowed to say whatever they wanted, just because they were the head honchos. The problem with sexual harassment cases is it is very often "he said, she said". God knows I wanted Bill Cosby to be innocent of the charges against him, I admired him- but as the women came out with their claims, it was apparent he is most probably guilty. If I heard one accusation without solid proof, I'd have my doubts, too. It probably took years because more than one person had to come forward.
I would like to get back to words. Words mean a lot to me, they always have done. I do not like all the connotations of the word "feminist" in my country. I do not like the fact that feminists have abortion as their top right to defend, and I do not like that they have aligned themselves with people who believe in promoting Sharia law and have adopted the hijab as something to represent their cause. I do not like the connotation that the word feminist conjures up in many Americans' minds- an image of a woman who thinks being uncomfortable in an air conditioned office building is oppression, or that men are oppressive and enemies of women.
I do not think women have to take a label they do not like, because as an American woman, I am free to identify myself politically as I choose. If I eschew the term "feminist", it is my right to do so.
Originally, I posted it as a joke- because I know some of these old songs would be frowned upon today by most feminists. And even Paul Anka's "You're Having My Baby" was frowned upon in his day by feminists (which is rather sad, because it is a beautiful song, but I digress).
I have absolutely no doubt that women are working to end oppression of women in countries where women are treated horribly. I know there are Christian groups that work to end child trafficking, as well as secular groups. I doubt I have very much in common politically with Susan Sarandon or Mira Sorvino, but they have become activists against human sex trafficking, which I definitely support as a worthy cause. I am glad there are groups fighting against female mutilation and the Chinese one child law, which has resulted in the abortion of girls and abandoning baby girls to die.
On our own soil, that is something different. Women are able to go to school, and in fact women now outnumber men when it comes to graduate degrees. Women have no barriers in education, and in some cases are given preferential treatment (affirmative action). Title IX has made sure that female athletes are given equable sports scholarships (granted, there are not many or any girls playing college football), and girls are allowed to play on any sports team they wish. Even in the benighted deep South, where I live, we had a girl on the 7th and 8th grade football team. This happens all across the US in middle and high schools. Girls are allowed and DO play on football and baseball teams, but boys haven't availed themselves of playing softball, yet. The college level is different, I know.
Women are allowed to enter any branch of the military they like- and into active combat.
In the media, I see as many women as men. Women are exploited in the media, but it is generally self exploitation. I attribute it to a lack of morals and the degradation of society rather than male oppression. For every woman exposing herself, there are 10 who are not. It is not what MUST be done to get ahead in Hollywood. Julia Roberts said she would never do a nude scene, and she did pretty well for herself in the movie business.
I know there is the complaint of women anchors given the boot if they are over the hill, but Jane Pauley was given the prestigious CBS job hosting Sunday Morning, and there is probably no woman more respected in broadcast journalism than Barbara Walters, and she worked well into her seventies.
I am not sure, but I have noticed a trend in local news coverage. Gone are the days with super thin blonde anchors, only. Women of all sizes and ethnicities are anchors, and I think this is probably the case in many local news broadcasts.
I don't really know very much about printed journalism and how many women work in that branch of the media.
I am not familiar with the Tara Moss piece, but find it very suspect. So, is she basically saying that a woman who is raped, the rape must be witnessed by a man, in order for a conviction to be made? Is this supposed to be the way the US works?
When a woman reports being raped in the US, the first thing that happens is she is given a rape kit in a hospital. This means DNA is swabbed from her. There have been many convictions based on DNA evidence.
If you mean sexual assault without rape, like being touched or something- that is pretty much a "he said, she said" sort of thing. It is not beyond the scope of possibility that a woman could falsely accuse a man of sexual assault. It happens. Neither the man NOR the woman's word should be taken as all evidence necessary. I remember one case where a teen girl was angry with her male principal about her suspension for acting out. The teen later accused the principal of molesting her. It was a "he said, she said" case- no evidence. He lost his job and reputation. Years later, the girl admitted to making up the story because she was angry at her principal. I hate to say it, but women can be vindictive. So can men, of course. Neither sex is morally superior.
I am not for domestic violence, of course. No one is for domestic violence. But I don't see the correlation between saying a little girl or woman who orders people around is "bossy" and beating women up. I think it is absurd to take words out of the language, much like the Party was doing in the book, 1984. The premise was, if words can be removed from the language, then thinking can be controlled. I guess if "bossy" can be removed- then we can control how people think about bossy people? I suppose the same is true with removing pronouns such as "she" and "he" and replacing it with "they" to make everyone equal.
I am glad Ailes and O'Reilly were removed. They should not have been allowed to say whatever they wanted, just because they were the head honchos. The problem with sexual harassment cases is it is very often "he said, she said". God knows I wanted Bill Cosby to be innocent of the charges against him, I admired him- but as the women came out with their claims, it was apparent he is most probably guilty. If I heard one accusation without solid proof, I'd have my doubts, too. It probably took years because more than one person had to come forward.
I would like to get back to words. Words mean a lot to me, they always have done. I do not like all the connotations of the word "feminist" in my country. I do not like the fact that feminists have abortion as their top right to defend, and I do not like that they have aligned themselves with people who believe in promoting Sharia law and have adopted the hijab as something to represent their cause. I do not like the connotation that the word feminist conjures up in many Americans' minds- an image of a woman who thinks being uncomfortable in an air conditioned office building is oppression, or that men are oppressive and enemies of women.
I do not think women have to take a label they do not like, because as an American woman, I am free to identify myself politically as I choose. If I eschew the term "feminist", it is my right to do so.