Feminism Underrated?

[HabemusFrancis]

Hello all. As a Catholic I (and all of you) believe that the feminist movement of the 1960s-70s contained fatal errors. Chief among these was the promotion of contraception, abortion, free “love” and the misguided belief that men and women are equal in all things and are the “same”.

I have heard many Catholic priests and youth speakers denounce “new age” feminism for these reasons. But I feel they really don’t give feminism its due. It has done a lot of good, even the 60s and 70s kind.

Becuase of these newer feminists, sexual harassment has become a public issue and is no longer considered OK to do. Because of them women cannot be fired for their appearance or age. Also because of them women cannot be paid less for equal work.

But I believe “new wave” feminism’s greatest contributions to society came in the areas of sexual violence awareness and prevention. Because of them women who have been assaulted can report their crime to police and get their attacker locked up without being stigmatized or shamed into silence.

I don’t know, but I strongly suspect that new wave feminism also contributed to the greater awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse. I do know that before the early 1980s, CSA was shrouded in shame, silence, and secrecy, and practically never made the headlines or evening news.Perhaps the greater sensitivity toward female victims of abuse was extended toward children as well.

What do y’all think?

 

[RPRPsych]

Hello all. As a Catholic I (and all of you) believe that the feminist movement of the 1960s-70s contained fatal errors. Chief among these was the promotion of contraception, abortion, free “love” and the misguided belief that men and women are equal in all things and are the “same”.

I have heard many Catholic priests and youth speakers denounce “new age” feminism for these reasons. But I feel they really don’t give feminism its due. It has done a lot of good, even the 60s and 70s kind.

Becuase of these newer feminists, sexual harassment has become a public issue and is no longer considered OK to do. Because of them women cannot be fired for their appearance or age. Also because of them women cannot be paid less for equal work.

But I believe “new wave” feminism’s greatest contributions to society came in the areas of sexual violence awareness and prevention. Because of them women who have been assaulted can report their crime to police and get their attacker locked up without being stigmatized or shamed into silence.

I don’t know, but I strongly suspect that new wave feminism also contributed to the greater awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse. I do know that before the early 1980s, CSA was shrouded in shame, silence, and secrecy, and practically never made the headlines or evening news.Perhaps the greater sensitivity toward female victims of abuse was extended toward children as well.

What do y’all think?

Interesting.

The trouble is that “feminism” (like “liberal” and “depression”) has undergone a massive amount of semantic drift over the years.

I agree that the greater openness about, and sympathy for, victims of sexual abuse and rape is a positive, and not a negative.

I also think those who inveigh too strongly against anything to do with “women’s rights” should try living for a brief while in any Muslim-dominated country (or even the more “traditional” pockets) of my own, and walk a mile in the shoes of the women there.

Nevertheless, I cannot extend my support to the modern feminist movement, because of its many other moral flaws and errors - most particularly the support of abortion, and its cloaking under the “pro-choice” euphemism. The fact that an ideology has some good points (hello there, liberation theology) does not mean that we ought to overlook its failings.

 

[Abbigaelann]

I firmly believe that one might better hope to be listened to in all issues, if approached from the standpoint (also in agreement with supposed USA values) of Egalitarianism. The term feminism does seem rather biased! In areas of child abuse from males, perhaps better education in relationships and not the social stigma games of his prowess and supremacy might best be addressed. I.e. they’re spoiled rotten and think what they do is okay and grin about it as they are male. I should hate to trouble them with the ideas that if certain male attributes were the only thing keeping them from equality, there have been those who have seen fit to minimize or do away with the deterrent. In marriage, it seems too many have held on to key phrases that they see supportive of sexist views as opposed to the ‘fine print’ of the covenant.

 

[HabemusFrancis]

What country are you from? A mediterranean country perhaps Portugal or Italy?

 

[Elizium23]

I live in mortal fear of the accusation of sexual harrassment and it drives me crazy. I have been accused of harrassment before, and one of the incidents occurred when I tried to put a stop to a woman harrassing me. The feminist culture has given birth to a rampant paranoia about harrassment and abuse. I think it’s out of control, the pendulum has swung quite far in one direction. I don’t mean to minimize anyone’s suffering and I don’t want anyone to think that I support these kinds of evils, but I just think that our society has gone a bit too far off the deep end here.

 

[R_C]

It has done a lot of good

No it hasn’t. It has led to things to get fixed along the way, but in itself it has done no good: evil cannot do good, or lead to good. Evil is the absence of good.

Even Satan possessing the man that lived in the cemetery did good inasmuch as Christ delivered the man and many believed because of that.

Feminism it is a gravely erroneous way of thought and has led many, many souls to perdition, besides wielding an almost mortal blow to family and moral values especially safeguarding women and girls.

Sure, those things were evils in society and had to be removed. Exploitation of workers was also an issue, but communism wasn’t the solution (though it definitely led to social struggles of significant magnitude that ultimately stirred things enough for workers to get a more fair and dignified treatment - at least in some countries like Italy).

This is an issue that has not left the Church untouched. Despite the old heresy of ordaining women that pops up every so often (someone even had the distasteful idea of sending a little girl to tell the Pope she wanted herself to become Pope - and thus priest), we also have seen issues with the societies of religious life.
Already in 2004 Pope John Paul II warned in a document elaborated with Cardinal Ratzinger that feminism blurs the biological difference between man and woman. And it was last year that Pope Benedict XVI Benedict decreed that the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, a group that represents more than 80 percent of the 57,000 Catholic nuns in the United States, had “serious doctrinal problems” and promoted “radical feminist themes incompatible with the Catholic faith,” criticizing it for taking a soft line on issues such as birth control and homosexuality. Not too long ago, Pope Francis reaffirmed the findings of the assessment and the program of reform.

 

[Nandarani]

**I suggest you research Edward L. Bernays, his contribution to feminism, for he and his cohort are credited with creating it - and this is germaine to your concern about whether ‘underrated.’

The intent was to destroy the family to divide and conquer the culture and double the tax base for those in control of the country.

Our own people were brainwashed to accept and even welcome the situation as some believe is happening with other issues, for example, immigration and multiculturalism, today. But that is another subject.

“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. …We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. …In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons…who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.” Bernays was one of those controlling individuals and he was proud, very proud, of that. This is documented, and other quotes are even more incriminating. As I suggested, do the research.

This well-known quote of his sums it up nicely, and innocent people are as taken in today as they were at the time Bernays rolled out the cigarette, touting it as a symbol, which, when held in the fingers of a woman and smoked made the female equal in power to the male.

I can’t speak to child abuse except to say that it is massively increased and statistically, most of it is committed by live-in partners brought in by single parents (mothers). The male feels no sense of responsibility or compunction about children which are not his.**

 

[Elizium23]

Just one more prong in the multi-level attack of Population Control.

 

[RPRPsych]

I can’t speak to child abuse except to say that it is massively increased and statistically, most of it is committed by live-in partners brought in by single parents (mothers). The male feels no sense of responsibility or compunction about children which are not his.

In my experience as a professional, a lot of it is committed by fathers, uncles, other male relatives, and “family friends”, so that statement is not always true.

 

[Elizium23]

Fighting Unwanted Cat Calls, One Poster At A Time

I will tell you that some of the times I was accused of sexual harrassment, I was simply trying to date or talk to a woman, and she was too timid or polite or stupid to tell me clearly to leave her alone. At 41 I still don’t understand the “dating game” and how to recognize when I’ve crossed a line and just leave someone alone. It is thoroughly ingrained at me that if I am persistent or charming enough, I will win her over and she’ll fall for me. I don’t know whether this behavior was conditioned or learned or if it’s just an innate part of my male DNA.

If feminism is so great, then why are women still afraid to tell guys to leave them alone? Why must couples play a “dating game” with Byzantine rules instead of just being open and honest to each other as equals? Why are battered women so reluctant to leave their abusers? Where are the feminists helping them make the hard decisions? Why in the world do women bend to pressure from their boyfriends/husbands/rapists to procure abortions, when feminism should be telling them they are good enough to raise a child alone, or at least find another man who will care for both of them?

The truth is that women and men are not equals and never will be. Sure, we can find equivalency in employment, and common ground among the sexes, but there are inherent differences in man and woman that must be identified, exploited, and celebrated. Women and men each have their own areas of specialization and excellence and our varied roles in society should reflect that, not cover it up like a dirty secret. People say that the Catholic Church oppresses women, because they can’t be priests, because she would prefer them barefoot and pregnant, because look at how Eve is portrayed as the first sinner. To that I say, why do we have so many female saints? Why do we offer hyperdulia to Mary, the Mother of God? Any Church that hates women wouldn’t be putting them on such pedestals. Women have an equal shot at personal holiness just as men. Women can give glory to God through their deeds and station in life. Women are the miraculous carriers of new life (pregnant men notwithstanding) and have a unique and valuable role in families that cannot be diminished.

Feminism seeks to diminish men and belittle us and raise women up in power over us. It does this in the name of equality, but in reality it’s more like Affirmative Action. Its methods are repugnant to people of faith. The fruit of feminism is Population Control. Just look at the sex-selection abortions being done all over the world. Don’t deny that it happens in your own backyard just as surely as it happens in China. Entire generations of women are being genocided in the womb and whose fault is that? Not the men. “Get your rosaries off our ovaries” they cry, and then murder their own kind. It’s tragic. And yet the Church has men’s organizations that fight against this mentality. Priests for Life and the Knights of Columbus - who honors women more than these? As a Knight, I honor women, especially the pregnant ones and those who are discerning a vocation, because I know they hold the future of the world in their hands. Without faithful women to bear and raise children as Christians, our culture would meet death. Without strong women brave enough to enter the convent and make their lives a sacrifice to God, we would be poorer in spirit.

I encourage women who courageously follow the Church’s teaching and live a counter-cultural life that affirms our traditional gender roles, but looks to a brighter future, when women don’t live in fear of abuse or oppression, are free to speak their minds, and truly share in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

 

[R_C]

I suggest you research Edward L. Bernays, his contribution to feminism, for he and his cohort are credited with creating it - and this is germaine to your concern about whether ‘underrated.’

The intent was to destroy the family to divide and conquer the culture and double the tax base for those in control of the country.

Our own people were brainwashed to accept and even welcome the situation

Great post.

 

[R_C]

In my experience as a professional, a lot of it is committed by fathers, uncles, other male relatives, and “family friends”, so that statement is not always true.

Actually, the majority of cases are not committed by live-in partners brought in by single mothers, but in fact by the single mothers acting alone (usually above 26% of all cases), and in general by women (always above 52%). Just check the statistics for 2011, 2010, 2009.

It’s very sad, but it’s a statistical fact, at least in US. I am not sure about what this can contribute to this discussion, but at least is one more myth worth addressing: that most of it is perpetrated by men.

 

[HabemusFrancis]

Are you referring to sexual absue? Or child abuse in general ( emotional, physical and sexual?)

I think it is more likely your statistics are accurate about all abuse, as opposed to sexual abuse.

I know female sexual abuse is rather under reported yet I still think it is substanitally less than male sexual abuse. Not that this is evidence, but I used to be kind of fan of “To Catch a Predator”

And never on any of those many episodes I have seen, has Chris Hansen apprehended a woman!

 

[R_C]

Are you referring to sexual absue? Or child abuse in general ( emotional, physical and sexual?) I think it is more likely your statistics are accurate about all abuse, as opposed to sexual abuse.

I know female sexual abuse is rather under reported yet I still think it is substanitally less than male sexual abuse.

In the specifics of the most recent statistics (2011), 9.2% of reported abuse was sexual, while 73% was neglect, 17.6% physical, 8.1% psychological. I do not know the specifics of that 9%, but I would tend to agree with your statement.

 

[edwest2]

Feminism, as it is understood today, was born in 1966. The goal was to divide a house, family and marriage against itself. To destroy the complementary nature of the sexes and replace it with a classic Marxist class warfare system. Women. The eternal victims class. Men. The eternal enemies class. The National Organization for Women was against women as housewives, against stable families in general, against children, in general, and against the idea that men and women should meet, interact and after a period of time, marry for life. Men were removed from the equation. They were not solution-oriented regarding the real problems that men and women faced and still face. Cooperation with the enemy was forbidden.

The first President of NOW, Betty Friedan, called the family “a comfortable concentration camp.” The co-founder of Ms. Magazine in the early 1970s (yes, that’s where that divisive word comes from), Gloria Steinem, said “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.” They spread fear, distrust and suspicion regarding all men. This created fertile ground for No-Fault Divorce in the 1980s and beyond. Later, men became nothing more than playthings for some. To be used, discarded and replaced at whim.

You can look at NOW today www.now.org/

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, with the approval of Pope John Paul II, gave a brilliant analysis of the situation, which included sexual relationship issues outside of the heterosexual type as well. He distills down and illuminates the whole thing. And calls for the one thing missing in too many lives, collaboration between men and women.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20040731_collaboration_en.html

Understanding, healing, forgiveness, true love.

Ed

 

[ljwahn]

The problem with feminism is abortion. Fifty two million children have been killed since 1973. we have sacrificed these babies on the altar of equality. One can never achieve a good end by a bad means. Look at feminist leaders and what they believe. Look at feminist nuns and the problems they have caused. I will agree that feminism is underrated, not for the good its done, but for the bad.

 

[Thorsson]

I think a good comparison of the Susan b Anthony list (SBAL) with NoW, NARAL, PP and any other group that purports to be pro woman should be made. What I immediately noticed was tht SBAL supports women as women exist. .

So lets cover some facts:
Women have the ability to make a baby, give birth and feed the baby. Men do not. Emanating from this are various emotional, physical and other differences. None of which prevent women from being a good engineer, scientist or lawyer, etc. this also doesn’t prevent men from being good at these professions. Equality makes sense in some areas. Not others.

Because of this women need different healthcare, the ability to leave and reenter the workforce, etc. this may lead to differences in pay, upward mobility, etc. but are good accommodations. There’s no place for harassment.

But when you look at the feminist “wwomen groups” they are about making women into poorly behaved men. Not even honorable men. Making the reproductive system dysfunctional. that ones body become altered, disfunctional or whatever in preference to ones lifestyle or career. Rather than the other way around. Seems like the self loathing has mixed up the priorities.

Finally,
Was the patriarchal society of per feminism perfect. No. Neither was my dad. But I wouldn’t dismantle, destroy or remove him because he was only 90% a good dad. Men providing for women/wives and family is a great sacrifice. But the fact feminists egos wouldn’t let the humble and important nature of the wife/ mother role satisfy them until they were like men.

God made us man and woman. for reasons i dont fully understand, more than just children He specifically wanted that union. Feminists want to be like men. Two men don’t make a children or a family. But that’s another argument…

 

[dcastlen50]

Hello all. As a Catholic I (and all of you) believe that the feminist movement of the 1960s-70s contained fatal errors. Chief among these was the promotion of contraception, abortion, free “love” and the misguided belief that men and women are equal in all things and are the “same”.

I have heard many Catholic priests and youth speakers denounce “new age” feminism for these reasons. But I feel they really don’t give feminism its due. It has done a lot of good, even the 60s and 70s kind.

Because of these newer feminists, sexual harassment has become a public issue and is no longer considered OK to do. Because of them women cannot be fired for their appearance or age. Also because of them women cannot be paid less for equal work.

But I believe “new wave” feminism’s greatest contributions to society came in the areas of sexual violence awareness and prevention. Because of them women who have been assaulted can report their crime to police and get their attacker locked up without being stigmatized or shamed into silence.

I don’t know, but I strongly suspect that new wave feminism also contributed to the greater awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse. I do know that before the early 1980s, CSA was shrouded in shame, silence, and secrecy, and practically never made the headlines or evening news.Perhaps the greater sensitivity toward female victims of abuse was extended toward children as well.

What do y’all think?

Thank you for your request for our opinions. One problem I have with the (shall we say) conservative feminist - those not opposing The Church’s teaching regarding life - is there denunciation of Paternalism. I once had a feminist that told me that Paternalism was the major cause of family problems in her part of the country. I begged to differ noting that her problem with Paternalism was probably an issue of ambiguity.

That is her equating machismo with paternalism. Can you comment?

 

[dcastlen50]

Hello all. As a Catholic I (and all of you) believe that the feminist movement of the 1960s-70s contained fatal errors. Chief among these was the promotion of contraception, abortion, free “love” and the misguided belief that men and women are equal in all things and are the “same”.

I have heard many Catholic priests and youth speakers denounce “new age” feminism for these reasons. But I feel they really don’t give feminism its due. It has done a lot of good, even the 60s and 70s kind.

Because of these newer feminists, sexual harassment has become a public issue and is no longer considered OK to do. Because of them women cannot be fired for their appearance or age. Also because of them women cannot be paid less for equal work.

But I believe “new wave” feminism’s greatest contributions to society came in the areas of sexual violence awareness and prevention. Because of them women who have been assaulted can report their crime to police and get their attacker locked up without being stigmatized or shamed into silence.

I don’t know, but I strongly suspect that new wave feminism also contributed to the greater awareness and prevention of child sexual abuse. I do know that before the early 1980s, CSA was shrouded in shame, silence, and secrecy, and practically never made the headlines or evening news.Perhaps the greater sensitivity toward female victims of abuse was extended toward children as well.

What do y’all think?

Thank you for your request for our opinions. One problem I have with the (shall we say) conservative feminist - those not opposing The Church’s teaching regarding life - is there denunciation of Paternalism. I once had a feminist that told me that Paternalism was the major cause of family problems in her part of the country. I begged to differ noting that her problem with Paternalism was probably an issue of ambiguity.

That is her equating machismo with paternalism. Can you comment?

 

[Evan]

Here’s an interesting take on the psychosis of feminism

crisismagazine.com/2013/welcome-to-the-mental-ward

An example

So then, on Monday, the harridans of the National Organization for Women announce the great discovery, that it is a bad thing for men to beat women black and blue. We wonder what took them so long to discover it. APPLES FALL TO THE GROUND, runs the headline, with the helpful addition, Effects on Agriculture Undetermined. So terrible a thing it is for women to be beaten, they must promote a national law, the Violence Against Women Act, to ensure the safety of women against the fist of a brawling boyfriend.

Then on Tuesday, the same harridans announce the great discovery, that it is a good thing for women to join the infantry, to confront not boyfriends, but enemy men who will be at the peak of their physical prowess, armed to the teeth, and filled with the rage of killing and plunder and rape.