The male view of feminism is all over the board, ranging from super supportive to super against it. The male perspective that supports feminism can see the fight for equality and agrees that women should be treated as equals with males. The other side, however, believes feminists and feminism itself consists a group of women who center their hate around men and see it as useless and aggressive. That side of the argument can be summed up in an email sent to writer Sushi Das, "I do not
think it's men or boys that need reforming. I think women are the
main instigators of hate against one half of the population," (1). They are not alone in their thoughts. Many females themselves find feminists or supporters of women's rights to be stubborn, offensive, one sided, and ridiculous. There have been many times where other women have expressed their hatred towards feminism by saying things such as, "this is why I hate my own gender," or, "feminism is stupid, there is nothing left to fight for, yet feminists keep fighting for attention to put the male gender down." This has been done in the book Persepolis as well, where other women even help in joining the movement to force all women to wear the burqas even if they wish to not wear it. The truth of the matter is simple, the people who believe such about feminism or the battle for equal treatment and the moral rights of women have the wrong mind set and are not grasping the concept of feminism. Women don't want to be treated better if men are going to be put down in the process. The purpose is for men and women to be treated equally. The intention isn't to make men feel like they cannot speak their mind. If they do feel that way, then like Sushi Das said, "if you're a man and you have an opinion, speak out. Put your case. It will stand or fall on its merit. Stop being scared. There are plenty of women willing to listen. And if you get howled down, get up and say it again. That's how women got their voices heard in the 1970s." Most feminists and supporters do not hate men. Some do, realistically, but the majority do not and just want to be seen at the same level as the males of society. As fighters for the moral cause towards women, men are encouraged, even respected and admired, for supporting feminism. It can be easy to think that feminism is strictly for women, considering the name and how the term began, but it is in fact a cause for both genders. Some males have said they need feminism so men can wear leggings without being judged. So do not be confused or mislead, women's rights is not to knock men down, but to build both genders up and have women stand as equals. To allow women the same moral and social freedoms as men. Feminism is not against males, but for equality.
Das, Sushi . "Raising the volume on what men think about feminism - Opinion - theage.com.au." The Age - Business, World & Breaking News | Melbourne, Australia. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 May 2013. <http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/raising-the-volume-on-what-men-think-about-feminism/2005/12/21/1135032082534.html?page=2>.
Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis. New York, NY: Pantheon Books, 2003. Print.
While all of this may be true, the only feminists that I've really come across are the radical ones. The ones that try to put men down and aren't fighting for equality. My history teacher had a story, "I was at the store and this woman with a lot of bags was trying to get through the door. I held it open for her and she started yelling at me for a good ten minutes. "I'm a strong woman! You don't think I can open my own door? etc," I would open a door for anybody. I don't understand." And he walked away from her. He now associates feminism with the radicals. I've met a few feminists who share my idea of feminism: equality. But they're hard to come by. ~Charlee
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