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Ignorant People Shouldn't Write Articles On Sexism
(October 1, 2007)
By Laurie Roberts
In a recent issue of our school newspaper, there
was an article entitled, "Reverse Sexism: Has Political Correctness Gone Too
Far?"
I just need to rant for a sec.
The principle argument made in the article was
that the feminist wave has caused discrimination against men to rise. While it
did raise some valid points, most of the article was shrouded in
generalizations and personal opinions. First of all, the term "reverse sexism"
is both redundant and meaningless. It implies that "sexism" means
discrimination towards only women. Sexism is sexism regardless of the sex being
discriminated against. The reverse of sexism would be equality.
"[W]hile
it is acceptable for a female to write a paper on feminism, if a male defends
his gender his is immediately accused of sexism and bigotry."
No, he's accused of sexism and bigotry if, by
"defending his gender," he cuts down women, just how any educated
feminist would never defend her point by insulting men. The idea that feminism
and man hating go hand in hand is something people need to stop propagating.
Defending your gender and defaming the other are two very different notions.
"Many
women preach the idea of complete equality, meaning that males and females have
the same responsibilities and should be treated the same way working side by
side in the same environment. However, it seems that when these
responsibilities may be inconvenient for them, women quickly support a more
conditional equality."
This entire statement is one huge
generalization. To say that women only want equality when it benefits them is
just plain ignorant. And, ironically, sexist.
"Currently,
there are just as many male stereotypes that men feel compelled to follow as
there are for females."
Well, boo hoo for you. That doesn't make sexism
towards women any less prevalent or serious, nor does it make your argument any
stronger, since men are still the dominant gender in most societies. Yes, there
definitely stereotypes that negatively affect men, but to use these as evidence
that men are as oppressed as women and that feminism has taken their fight "too
far" makes no sense. Just because men have problems doesn’t women don’t, too.
And the problems men face do not undercut their power in our culture.
"For
example, at a young age boys are discouraged from displaying emotions, from
crying, and are encouraged to attain a sense of social dominance."
And which gender is the one pushing this
stereotype on you poor, oppressed men? And why are boys discouraged from
displaying emotion or crying? I mean, crying is something girls do…oh, wait. Isn’t it interesting that acting like a girl (or
at least, the stereotypical girl) is something boys aren’t supposed to do? Boys
are taught to remain stoic and hold in their emotions because feelings are for
the weaker sex, or so they say. Which is the "weaker sex"? That’s right, women.
Oh, and they’re "encouraged to attain a sense of social dominance"? Really? You
think? I guess that would explain all that sexism towards women, then.
"Also,
it is always considered okay for a girl to hit a boy, yet boys are never
allowed to retaliate."
Once again, boo hoo. I don't know where you grew
up, but I was raised learning it's never okay to hit anyone of any gender.
Ever. I got punished as severely for hitting a boy as the boy who hit me. And
this is a stupid argument. You're trying to say that men are discriminated
against because they're not allowed to hit girls? Right, because domestic
violence in this country doesn’t happen enough. Way to push the important
issues.
"[M]any
schools attempt to keep the female voice heard, often at the expense of men.
For example, at a certain middle school, a school newsletter ran an excerpt
titled "Why It's Fantastic to Be a Female." If it had been titled
"Why It's Magnificent to Be a Male," a public outrage would have
occurred and parents of girls would have screamed that the school was sexist."
Again, way to generalize. The "Female"
article was printed because girls, especially at a middle school age, need
empowerment. They are just reaching puberty, and are beginning to be exposed to
the culture that tells them to act like a sex symbol and then calls them sluts
for listening to society. They're being told they can be whatever they want
when they grow up, and then find that they would make 75 cents to every man's
dollar. Young girls need to be reminded that they can break past the limits
laid down for them, and can brush past stereotypes that should have died in the
50s. That article was not a veiled attack at men. It was an empowering message
for women, and men need to learn the difference.
"Women
should stop using feminism as a way to gain a "one up" on the male
gender, or they allow men to write the same sort of articles."
When we feminist actually have an opportunity to
"one up" the male gender, we'll let you know. So far, you guys are
still way in front of us in almost everything, and we're just trying to get a
toehold in. We're not trying to gain a one up. We're trying to gain a 700 up,
to the point where both men and women are equal.
"Females
are quick to condemn males who hold opinions that may be against feminism or
women, even if it may be a legitimate point."
Let me get this straight. You're saying it's not
okay for women to be offended if men think things against WOMEN in general? And
have opinions against equality? Fine. Have your opinions; it's free country.
But don't get your panties in a twist when we WOMEN express our distaste for
your ignorance.
"For
many, it seems that women use their physical weakness and years of oppression
as a lever against society to gain personal benefits."
And finally, the big WHAT THE FUCK?! First.
"Women use their physical weakness." You're writing a paper on
sexism, and you include this little nugget of idiocy. Second. We're using years
of oppression to gain benefits. Well, gosh, HOW DARE US? There's obviously
nothing to learn from those years of oppression, and any attempt by us women to
actually gain rights, is apparently seen as a "lever against society"? Heaven forefend we should actually BENEFIT
from earning a fair wage. Forgive us, you all-powerful male. Please validate
our existence again; we apologize for deigning to break down the sexist
barriers men built up in the first
place.
If you need me, I’ll be in the science lab,
leveraging my "physical weakness" (aka intelligence) to figuratively kick some
pathetic male asses.
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