True Feminism

  • Thread starter Thread starter dessert
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
In other words, ‘biology is destiny.’

That is the conservative/traditional Catholic position (at least when it comes to gender roles and birth control).
 
Today’s culture seems to largely believe that the differences between the sexes are limited to meaningless plumbing differences…
No one denies the biological and morphological differences between males and females. And your summary of “differences” limited to “meaningless plumbing differences” in today’s culture is also an exaggeration of the position of most feminists. Feminists argue that women (and men) should be free to pursue their interests and livelihoods and behaviors in mostly the same arenas as men, with the same freedom as men, with the same legitimate results as men, in a level playingfield with men, where the biological differences between men and women have an effect not from prejudice or static cultural perceptions of the genders, but rather only as a result of clear empirical difference in performance.

Feminism is a pursuit of equal freedom to become who/what one actually is, and to realize one’s full potential free from genderized cultural inhibitions.
 
No one denies the biological and morphological differences between males and females. And your summary of “differences” limited to “meaningless plumbing differences” in today’s culture is also an exaggeration of the position of most feminists. Feminists argue that women (and men) should be free to pursue their interests and livelihoods and behaviors in mostly the same arenas as men, with the same freedom as men, with the same legitimate results as men, in a level playingfield with men, where the biological differences between men and women have an effect not from prejudice or static cultural perceptions of the genders, but rather only as a result of clear empirical difference in performance.

Feminism is a pursuit of equal freedom to become who/what one actually is, and to realize one’s full potential free from genderized cultural inhibitions.
Sad. Seriously. Social stability is based on community, not radical individualism or the anarchist lifestyle. “difference in performance”? I think that applies well to cars, not people.

Peace,
Ed
 
Sad. Seriously. Social stability is based on community, not radical individualism or the anarchist lifestyle. “difference in performance”? I think that applies well to cars, not people.

Peace,
Ed
I can’t say what larkin31 meant, but I didn’t understand it as something about treating people as equivalent to inanimate objects. I took it to mean that if a particular woman (or man) excels at some task, like she was made to do the task, then let her do the task. Don’t tell her that she must do something else, something for which she has no aptitude. Nor ought you tell someone that they must have an aptitude for A simply because they are a B.

For example, I drove us home in the car today in the snow and ice. Why? Because I am several times less likely to crash that car than my spouse. It doesn’t matter which of us is the man or woman. I figured larkin31 meant something like this when talking about performance.
 
Have they said that your a closeted rapist just because your a man, or because of things you’ve said?
As I remember, I spoke out against abortion. Ergo, closeted rapist.
In other words, ‘biology is destiny.’
Nope. Purpose — not destiny — is more than biology, but purpose cannot ignore biology without replacing it with false biology, creating a false purpose.

There are not over a hundred people in the United States who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions, however, who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church, which is of course quite a different thing.
Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen​
Err? Feminists require what?
You said “controlling fertility” is a central feminist claim. How else do you control fertility?
In other words, ‘biology is destiny.’

Or not.
You know I didn’t write that.

Purpose — not destiny — is more than biology, but purpose cannot ignore biology. Replace it with a false biology, you create a false purpose.
 
Feminism is a pursuit of equal freedom to become who/what one actually is, and to realize one’s full potential free from genderized cultural inhibitions.
So its formation is reactionary? In response to “genderized cultural inhibitions”?

I think this is where the problem arises. Anytime a person or group “rebels” so to speak, from what is established, their actions are in essence, still tied to that from which they rebel.

And when this occurs, the actions or behaviors they adopt are often simply “opposite” from what they perceive as rebelling from.

So rather than something developing which is wholly unique and perhaps truer to their nature, they take on characteristics which are just as oppressive, just as binding as before, but now presented as “new.”

I feel that “feminism” - although undoubtedly arising from the heart and in a good place…that is, the motivation for it was good and even needed…developed in such as way so as to create difficulties for women as much as before. It’s as if, in some sort of knee-jerk reactionary way, they threw out the baby with the bath water.

The thing is…not ALL of how things were for women was bad. In fact I am sure there were many nice things that women had which we couldn’t even imagine today - because they have been lost. Of course you can’t miss what you never had - so arguing this with most people of our generation won’t see the rationale behind this…they can’t imagine it, so they feel no loss.

And this is not to say feminists or feminism is bad or were bad in and of themselves…that’s just silly. But rather, I feel anyway, that things perhaps started for good reason, but morphed into something else. How or exactly why that happened I don’t know…but I do feel many things were lost. Of course good strides were made too. Perhaps if we can understand what was lost, and how to regain it, we’d make some headway. And equally, understand what was gained, and how to retain it, we’d make some more headway?
 
On a lighter note: Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the modern feminist surge come right after the inherently sexist notion of “free love?” Not talking Susan B. Anthony, of course, but Gloria Steinem, et. al.
 
So its formation is reactionary? In response to “genderized cultural inhibitions”?

I think this is where the problem arises. Anytime a person or group “rebels” so to speak, from what is established, their actions are in essence, still tied to that from which they rebel.

And when this occurs, the actions or behaviors they adopt are often simply “opposite” from what they perceive as rebelling from.

So rather than something developing which is wholly unique and perhaps truer to their nature, they take on characteristics which are just as oppressive, just as binding as before, but now presented as “new.”

I feel that “feminism” - although undoubtedly arising from the heart and in a good place…that is, the motivation for it was good and even needed…developed in such as way so as to create difficulties for women as much as before. It’s as if, in some sort of knee-jerk reactionary way, they threw out the baby with the bath water.

The thing is…not ALL of how things were for women was bad. In fact I am sure there were many nice things that women had which we couldn’t even imagine today - because they have been lost. Of course you can’t miss what you never had - so arguing this with most people of our generation won’t see the rationale behind this…they can’t imagine it, so they feel no loss.

And this is not to say feminists or feminism is bad or were bad in and of themselves…that’s just silly. But rather, I feel anyway, that things perhaps started for good reason, but morphed into something else. How or exactly why that happened I don’t know…but I do feel many things were lost. Of course good strides were made too. Perhaps if we can understand what was lost, and how to regain it, we’d make some headway. And equally, understand what was gained, and how to retain it, we’d make some more headway?
Mostly, I think anti-feminsts tend to try to sell old anti-feminst propaganda in redesigned packages.
 
On a lighter note: Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the modern feminist surge come right after the inherently sexist notion of “free love?” Not talking Susan B. Anthony, of course, but Gloria Steinem, et. al.
Indeed, many of the early 2nd Wave radicals entered the Women’s Movement as a consequence of learning that ‘modern, radical/revolutionary men’ were much the same as ‘old, reactionary men’ - both thought of women as accessories.
 
I can’t say what larkin31 meant, but I didn’t understand it as something about treating people as equivalent to inanimate objects. I took it to mean that if a particular woman (or man) excels at some task, like she was made to do the task, then let her do the task. Don’t tell her that she must do something else, something for which she has no aptitude. Nor ought you tell someone that they must have an aptitude for A simply because they are a B.

For example, I drove us home in the car today in the snow and ice. Why? Because I am several times less likely to crash that car than my spouse. It doesn’t matter which of us is the man or woman. I figured larkin31 meant something like this when talking about performance.
Yes, thank you. You have summarized my point well. And I think it was clear to begin with. Ed sees the world very differently. And he sees our writings very differently.
 
So its formation is reactionary? In response to “genderized cultural inhibitions”?

I think this is where the problem arises. Anytime a person or group “rebels” so to speak, from what is established, their actions are in essence, still tied to that from which they rebel.

And when this occurs, the actions or behaviors they adopt are often simply “opposite” from what they perceive as rebelling from.

So rather than something developing which is wholly unique and perhaps truer to their nature, they take on characteristics which are just as oppressive, just as binding as before, but now presented as “new.”

I feel that “feminism” - although undoubtedly arising from the heart and in a good place…that is, the motivation for it was good and even needed…developed in such as way so as to create difficulties for women as much as before. It’s as if, in some sort of knee-jerk reactionary way, they threw out the baby with the bath water.

The thing is…not ALL of how things were for women was bad. In fact I am sure there were many nice things that women had which we couldn’t even imagine today - because they have been lost. Of course you can’t miss what you never had - so arguing this with most people of our generation won’t see the rationale behind this…they can’t imagine it, so they feel no loss.

And this is not to say feminists or feminism is bad or were bad in and of themselves…that’s just silly. But rather, I feel anyway, that things perhaps started for good reason, but morphed into something else. How or exactly why that happened I don’t know…but I do feel many things were lost. Of course good strides were made too. Perhaps if we can understand what was lost, and how to regain it, we’d make some headway. And equally, understand what was gained, and how to retain it, we’d make some more headway?
Yes, human groups are imperfect, and not all cultural causes follow the best tracks. This is true of religious groups as well.
 
Sad. Seriously. Social stability is based on community, not radical individualism or the anarchist lifestyle. “difference in performance”? I think that applies well to cars, not people.

Peace,
Ed
So you believe conformity is more important than fairness or justice then?
 
I just had a thought! And forgive me if this has been stated already earlier (perhaps it was)…

But it seems that there is this idea that exists, or a philosophy of sorts, that blames “feminism” as sort of the “downfall” of modern society.

Well, I was just thinking…that feminism evolved because of pre-existing problems within society…

So, can you blame feminism, when it was responding to already present social injustices?

No.

Because if everything had been ideal in the first place, there would have been no need for feminism to arise!

Now, that’s not to say feminism was perfect or doesn’t have any flaws…no, that’s not what I’m saying at all.

However, to blame feminism for all the “ills” of society is rather short-sighted…for if you looked further back in time, you could blame society as it existed before feminism as the problem.

So you see, it’s just a matter of perspective. At which point along the time-line of history, do you begin to assess blame? Some people only look back 40 years…some begin at 60 years ago…some are going back 200 or so!

There have and always will be change…and some things change for the better…and some for the worse. And sometimes what one views as better, is worse for someone else. One thing is certain, the last 100 years have seen immense changes among social structures…but I would argue that’s not due to feminism, but rather the industrial revolution and the advent of technology. But I won’t derail this thread any further. 🙂
 
I just had a thought! And forgive me if this has been stated already earlier (perhaps it was)…

But it seems that there is this idea that exists, or a philosophy of sorts, that blames “feminism” as sort of the “downfall” of modern society.

Well, I was just thinking…that feminism evolved because of pre-existing problems within society…

So, can you blame feminism, when it was responding to already present social injustices?

No.

Because if everything had been ideal in the first place, there would have been no need for feminism to arise!

Now, that’s not to say feminism was perfect or doesn’t have any flaws…no, that’s not what I’m saying at all.

However, to blame feminism for all the “ills” of society is rather short-sighted…for if you looked further back in time, you could blame society as it existed before feminism as the problem.

So you see, it’s just a matter of perspective. At which point along the time-line of history, do you begin to assess blame? Some people only look back 40 years…some begin at 60 years ago…some are going back 200 or so!

There have and always will be change…and some things change for the better…and some for the worse. And sometimes what one views as better, is worse for someone else. One thing is certain, the last 100 years have seen immense changes among social structures…but I would argue that’s not due to feminism, but rather the industrial revolution and the advent of technology. But I won’t derail this thread any further. 🙂
no derail at all here

strong points
 
I can’t say what larkin31 meant, but I didn’t understand it as something about treating people as equivalent to inanimate objects. I took it to mean that if a particular woman (or man) excels at some task, like she was made to do the task, then let her do the task. Don’t tell her that she must do something else, something for which she has no aptitude. Nor ought you tell someone that they must have an aptitude for A simply because they are a B.

For example, I drove us home in the car today in the snow and ice. Why? Because I am several times less likely to crash that car than my spouse. It doesn’t matter which of us is the man or woman. I figured larkin31 meant something like this when talking about performance.
Thank you for your comments. I am unfamiliar with the need to present such accusatory remarks as larkin31. Clearly, he thinks an unidentified somebody is just waiting to tell a woman, any woman, that all she’s fit to do or all she should do is choice A as opposed to whatever she thinks she’s good at or has an aptitude for.

The problem occurs when men and women are neutered by the current fad of gender neutrality. It’s obviously OK to question unknown societal pressures as working against women, but it’s not OK to question the premise that man or woman, there’s no real differences.

The current trend is to erase all differences. This is incompatible with history and everyday experience. In my personal experience, my mother and all the mothers in my neighborhood were stay at home moms. They were there to help raise their children as opposed to unidentified individuals at a day care center or the TV. My mother also did basic carpentry, mixed cement and painted the house. She did not require any outside guidance and she certainly was not restricted by a nonexistent handbook that asserted, among other things, that she should kowtow to her husband, spend her free time watching soap operas and just being bored. My mother had no time for boredom and things worked out well for her children.

Peace,
Ed
 
On a lighter note: Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the modern feminist surge come right after the inherently sexist notion of “free love?” Not talking Susan B. Anthony, of course, but Gloria Steinem, et. al.
Yes, Ms. Steinem was cofounder of Ms. Magazine which was launched as a monthly in 1972. It was, in essence, Playboy for women. One issue featured a bare butt Burt Reynolds. Crass and tasteless. Ms. Steinem was not fond of men, though she married one later in life. “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.”

So-called Women’s Liberation had nothing liberating about it. Aside from burning some bras in public (a symbol of women’s oppression - supposedly, ladies’ undergarments were designed by men), it was a Marxist Revolution substituting men and The Patriarchy for a Monarchy. It’s goal was to create a non-relationship between men and women based on power. The Hippies yelled Free Love first.

Since the goal was to create a literal and psychological divide between men and women, colleges soon offered Women’s Studies and Women’s Literature, in my view, to deny even a species connection between the sexes.

Here is the National Organization for Women today:

now.org/

I should point out to Catholics reading this that NOW is and was anti-family. Instead of bettering the relationship between the sexes, it championed things like abortion.

We should all be aware that just like the relationships between countries, the same applies to individuals. We should learn to live together instead of rejecting each other. We should learn to understand each other instead of listening to those who are for suspicion and mistrust. Community is necessary for individuals. Trust, true caring and commitment will bring us together.

Peace,
Ed
 
Thank you for your comments. I am unfamiliar with the need to present such accusatory remarks as larkin31. Clearly, he thinks an unidentified somebody is just waiting to tell a woman, any woman, that all she’s fit to do or all she should do is choice A as opposed to whatever she thinks she’s good at or has an aptitude for.

The problem occurs when men and women are neutered by the current fad of gender neutrality. It’s obviously OK to question unknown societal pressures as working against women, but it’s not OK to question the premise that man or woman, there’s no real differences.

The current trend is to erase all differences. This is incompatible with history and everyday experience. In my personal experience, my mother and all the mothers in my neighborhood were stay at home moms. They were there to help raise their children as opposed to unidentified individuals at a day care center or the TV. My mother also did basic carpentry, mixed cement and painted the house. She did not require any outside guidance and she certainly was not restricted by a nonexistent handbook that asserted, among other things, that she should kowtow to her husband, spend her free time watching soap operas and just being bored. My mother had no time for boredom and things worked out well for her children.

Peace,
Ed
We tend to interpret new (name removed by moderator)ut and new acquaintances in a manner consonant with our previous experience. Thus, aggression or friendliness can be more a response to something that a previous person said or did, and not only what the new acquaintance said.

I see no reason to pretend there are no differences observable between two groups of people, such as a group of men and a group of women. I’m not sure of the extent to which I use information about differences between groups, though, in my life. I would like to use it to the extent that it is useful and good, I imagine. I can’t imagine going through life and not immediately noticing if a person is male/female, young/old, rich/in need, etc. I see no way to fulfill my obligations otherwise. What if the good Samaritan had never even noticed the guy in the ditch?

Your mother sounds like my grandmother in several ways. 🙂

What positive use do you have in mind for the information concerning differences between men and women? I’m guessing political policies? Or, is it more that you wish individual people to stop ignoring truth, and individual acceptance of truth is the positive you seek, without any anticipated social policy change?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top