Feminism--what's your opinion?

[JCPhoenix]

This seems to be a common topic recently in several threads, so I thought I’d pose the question.

I ask especially in reference to Catholicism, however, people of other denominations please feel free to express your own experiences/beliefs as to how this idealogy has affect you or your churches.

 

[slinky1882]

JCPhoenix:

This seems to be a common topic recently in several threads, so I thought I’d pose the question.

I ask especially in reference to Catholicism, however, people of other denominations please feel free to express your own experiences/beliefs as to how this idealogy has affect you or your churches.

True or false feminism??? Curious which you are referring to. Thanks and God Bless.

 

[carol_marie]

At the risk of being totally pounced on, let me say that this is MY opinion.

I think feminism is responsible for many of the ills in our society:

Children being left to fend for themselves because Mom is off making her “mark” in the world. No longer is it enough to be a good wife & mother. Artificial Birth control because women can’t go make their “mark” if their saddled with a bunch of kids. Abortion - because motherhood is no longer valued - the “right” of the woman is #1. Divorce - because women don’t have to put up with that “jerk” of a husband (and father to her children) but who cares - she DESERVES to be happy and she can support herself. Also, who do men cheat with? More often it’s co-workers who look much better than their tired wives who’ve been home taking care of the kids all day. Sexual freedom for women - the “right” to have sex without the trappings of marriage - except look how that backfired because now even women who WANT to get married have difficulty finding a husband because sex is available without the comitment. Rather than being cherished, women are allow themselves to be used - all in the name of “freedom.”

Women in combat - women Pastors - ick. Why must we do what men do? We are different! I believe that God created us, each for our own special roles & purposes and when feminists pushed their way in - we all lost out.

Ouch. I can feel it already. I think I’m going to get it for this…

 

[JCPhoenix]

slinky1882:

True or false feminism??? Curious which you are referring to. Thanks and God Bless.

Define both and talk about them both!

 

[Lorarose]

---

At the risk of being totally pounced on, let me say that this is MY opinion.

I think feminism is responsible for many of the ills in our society:

Children being left to fend for themselves because Mom is off making her “mark” in the world. No longer is it enough to be a good wife & mother. Artificial Birth control because women can’t go make their “mark” if their saddled with a bunch of kids. Abortion - because motherhood is no longer valued - the “right” of the woman is #1. Divorce - because women don’t have to put up with that “jerk” of a husband (and father to her children) but who cares - she DESERVES to be happy and she can support herself. Also, who do men cheat with? More often it’s co-workers who look much better than their tired wives who’ve been home taking care of the kids all day. Sexual freedom for women - the “right” to have sex without the trappings of marriage - except look how that backfired because now even women who WANT to get married have difficulty finding a husband because sex is available without the comitment. Rather than being cherished, women are allow themselves to be used - all in the name of “freedom.”

Women in combat - women Pastors - ick. Why must we do what men do? We are different! I believe that God created us, each for our own special roles & purposes and when feminists pushed their way in - we all lost out.

Ouch. I can feel it already. I think I’m going to get it for this…

HOOOWEEE!
You feel better now?
I’m with you Carol…but let’s not forget the guys who COULD value marriage and family over salary, status, new cars, time with the boys, and having a trophy wife.
Is there such a thing as “malism”?
You know…when guys don’t want to be saddled with the burden of family and responsiblity?

There is a place for feminism - and that’s when a woman butts heads with a jerky male chauvinist.

 

[Jennifer123]

I think there are different kinds of feminism, we shouldn’t demonize “feminism” per say.

I take offense to “radical feminism” which basically denies the notion of gender and indeed has led to many of society’s ills. Radical feminism is the ultimate lie which has completely ravaged women and our world. I haven’t read it but would like to read UnGodly Rage:
aquinasandmore.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/store.ItemDetails/SKU/70/category/234/

Anyone here read it?

I try to fully embrace the “feminism” led by the Ark of the New Covenenant, the Queen of Heaven, our Blessed Mother. Only by embracing our femininity and living our lives according to the Church’s teaching of human dignity will we heal ourselves and our society!!!

 

[JimG]

carol marie:

• except look how that backfired because now even women who WANT to get married have difficulty finding a husband because sex is available without the comitment. Rather than being cherished, women are allow themselves to be used - all in the name of “freedom.”

Yes, the sexual revolution primarily freed men from responsibility, and put the onus on women to deal with the results. It was Gloria Steinem’s gift to men.

 

[JimG]

Lorarose:

You know…when guys don’t want to be saddled with the burden of family and responsiblity?

It was precisely THIS problem that “feminism” solved for men!

 

[Jennifer123]

JimG:

Yes, the sexual revolution primarily freed men from responsibility, and put the onus on women to deal with the results. It was Gloria Steinem’s gift to men.

Funny! But the joke’s unfortunately on us women.

I agree - but wouldn’t you say the sexual revolution in conjunction with the “pill”? Didn’t the “pill” and the general acceptance of contraception lead us to the acceptance of most other things like abortion, pornography, divorce, that damages women and families? I guess I’m thinking of Humanae Vitae (sp?) and the vision of pope Paul VI???

 

[Lorarose]

It was precisely THIS problem that “feminism” solved for men!

So why do the ladies get all the blame?

 

[dwc]

Feminism has no set, defined meaning. At its broadest, it simply means that women are equal to men – no more, but no less. Women are entitled to equal job and educational opportunities to develop themselves and their own, unique God given talents and should not receive less pay for equal work. That’s about all you’ll find agreement on, I imagine. People who refer to themselves as feminists often are pro-abortion and NOW, supposedly, has added gay rights to its platform – but not everyone who considers herself a feminist adopts the NOW agenda.

Many pro-life women consider themselves to be feminists. I consider myself a feminist – I’m not the same as a man and I wouldn’t want to be, but I’m very comfortable going toe to toe with men at work. I love my husband dearly, but he is not my master, he is my partner. I’m pro-life, a mom of three, but I also have a career and feel very strongly that my daughters will have the same opportunities I had. I think the feminazi term is deliberately pejorative and uncharitable.

The sexual revolution may have given rise to some of feminism’s lowest points, but I don’t think the concept of feminism by itself should be threatening or offensive.

 

[Lorarose]

Here’s a good feminist site.

feministsforlife.org

 

[jimmy]

Lorarose:

HOOOWEEE!
You feel better now?
I’m with you Carol…but let’s not forget the guys who COULD value marriage and family over salary, status, new cars, time with the boys, and having a trophy wife.
Is there such a thing as “malism”?
You know…when guys don’t want to be saddled with the burden of family and responsiblity?

There is a place for feminism - and that’s when a woman butts heads with a jerky male chauvinist.

I would say there is no such thing as malism. I would just say that that is the way most men are and have always been. Radical feminism is a new thing, that is why there is a title for it. Men have always been the way they are.

I think that feminism is good if kept in perspective. Radical feminism that demands that women do everything a man does, speaking particularly about being preists, is rediculous and it seems like these women just want to be men. Women who are willing to fight for their rights should by all means, fight for their rights. But demanding abortion because it is there body is radical feminism and it should be denied. False feminism is destroying women, and consequently it destroys men because women somewhat kept men in check in the past. If women would maintain there morals, many more men would.

 

[jimmy]

Sexual freedom for women - the “right” to have sex without the trappings of marriage - except look how that backfired because now even women who WANT to get married have difficulty finding a husband because sex is available without the comitment. Rather than being cherished, women are allow themselves to be used - all in the name of “freedom.”

That is basically what my point is. Women became “freer” sexually which threw out any reason for men to commit. The saying, “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free” fits pretty well.

 

[jimmy]

Lorarose:

So why do the ladies get all the blame?

Women are not the only ones to blame. Men are to blame too, but the feminist movement made it easier for men to be pigs.

 

[Lorarose]

I agree there is a properly ordered feminism.
I don’t think “feminism” should automatically be connected to abortion - as the link I provided shows, the earliest feminists were very pro-life and responsible for making abortion illegal in the first place (how’s that for ironic?)

I DON’T think it is the job of women to keep men in line - to “civilize” them.
I have seen this argued elsewhere, and I reject it.

We are all responsible for our own decisions - we should not lay this responsiblity on others.
Men are quite capable of being excellent christians and excellent husbands/fathers without having to be civilized by a woman.
He is capable of seeking this on his own initiative.

So when men get angry at feminists for trying to be just like men…aren’t they insulting themselves?
If they are angry the feminists are not placing their spouse and children first - just like men- what does that say about the men?

 

[usqueadmortem]

Well, if you want some legitimate feminism, Alice von Hildbrand’s *The Priviledge of Being a Woman *is extraordinary. But legitimate feminism is unfortunately a very hard thing to come by. In fact almost the entire movement has proved to be entirely bogus. Abortion, contraception…the “woman’s right over her body” theory have become synonymous with feminism. And it is all a bunch of chattel.

 

[JimG]

Lorarose:

So why do the ladies get all the blame?

There seems to be a bit of inequality built in, but it’s unavoidable. When one is discussing sexual morality (or the lack thereof) you often hear a comment such as “well, it takes two to tango.”

But the fact is, sexual morality depends on women saying “No.” Because when women don’t say No, things go downhill. And when a critical mass of women begin saying “yes,” it makes it very hard for the others to say No. That’s what happened in the sexual revolution of the 60’s and 70’s.

And the widespread acceptance of contraception (as well as the availability of abortion), place an undue burden on women’s ability to say No.

This was all predicted by “Humanae Vitae.”

 

[dwc]

If they are angry the feminists are not placing their spouse and children first - just like men- what does that say about the men?/QUOTE]

Good point, lorarose. I think feminism in some ways demands more out of men. Because I work (half time) out of the home, my husband has to assume some responsibilities for our home and children that his father and my dad never did. On my worknights dh picks the kids up from school, makes dinner, does the homework. This carries over into the nights when we’re both home – we do all of these things together. My husband is a much more involved, hands on dad because of this. If I didn’t work, he’d probably be very happy to let me assume all of these traditional roles.

 

[Lorarose]

But the fact is, sexual morality depends on women saying “No.” Because when women don’t say No, things go downhill. And when a critical mass of women begin saying “yes,” it makes it very hard for the others to say No. That’s what happened in the sexual revolution of the 60’s and 70’s.

But that’s the point dear.
Men pass the responsibility off onto the woman.
Adam did it in the garden, and guys are still doing it.

It’s like saying…men have been dirty rotten scoundrels for eons - but now that the women want to be dirty rotten scoundrels, men are going to point the finger at the women for the downfall of civilization…
HUH???