Young Writers Society

Ahhhh the subject of feminism. This for me is a hard topic to discuss because there are different opinions from different people that I have heard. But, I shall give it the way my still exploring mind sees it.

I see it as something that is necessary, but if put in the wrong hands, it could turn into something disastrous. Women are not weak, they are not to be seen as weak or unable. Women can fight on a battlefield, they can teach in a classroom, they can defend in a court of law and do so many other things that a man can do. But yet men still see it as a privilege to demean women and condemn them to becoming lower than them. Her majesty, the queen of England is a female of course and she is an amazing queen and does an outstanding job from what I know- which is a limited amount of information but still. But at the same time, women do not need to try and outdo men and try and show their dominance, life isn't always a competition and if we see it that way all the time as a race between genders it will only become unhealthy.
Yes, I do believe we should stand up for what is right, but let's not take it too far. Someone I read about once said, " Women were not taken from the man's head to control him, or from his foot to be under him, but from his rib to be equal to him and stand along side him." I am paraphrasing so please forgive me if I have that utterly wrong. But that is correct. We are not animals, we are not angels either. But we are humans just as men are and all humans deserve and should demand respect. One last thing. Instead of trying to show men that we can do what they can, how about we show them things we can do that they cannot? We can carry a live soul within us and then birth it after nine months, enduring pain that is horrifying. Women are creatures of beauty that deserve respect, not condemnation whenever they are confident within themselves. Women are soldiers that deserve equality, not dominance. Oh gracious... I hope this made sense.

Allow me to assure you, if I sound like I am discriminating feminists or men, I apologize. It was not meant that way whatsoever:)

Hey,I felt like you wrote my thought out! This is exactly what I think... I hate the hypocrisy.... I thought I was the only one with this opinion, but hey I found you !

Hi ishitadutt!
I know that I am very late to the reviewing game, but this piece I have a lot to comment on, so I thought I would give it a go! I really like how you respectfully put your thoughts on here and I think you used a lot of good tact. I respectfully disagree with your claim, but I can totally see where you are coming from. Some women do think they sould dominate men, I agree, but I don't think that is how the whole of society thinks. I completely agree with your men and women should be equal claim, and as a proud feminist myself, I can say that. You mentioned at the very beginning of your peice that you wanted to hear the other side of the story, so I really reccomend that you go check this out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkjW9PZBRfk

This is Emma Watson's UN speech about a campaign effort she supports called HeForShe. I think she uses her words beautifully, and I strongly recommend checking it out! She addresses men and womens issues about gender stereotypes and gender equality and it talks about the things you mentioned in your writing. Once again, I really enjoyed your work and I respect, and understand your thoughts. I hope this was helpfull! I hope to read more of your work!

I think feminism is a subject that arouses arguments. People have different opinions. Someone might say this and someone might say something contrary to the other person's opinions. The first person won't like it. And there you have it: heated arguments.
I myself am not a supporter of feminism but I am not a sexist. I believe that we should all live in peace and not discriminate any man or woman. Summary: Men and women are human beings. They're both great, they have their vices and weaknesses, but they have amazing qualities. There. Let's leave it at that.

Goodbye. Happy Review Day!

"Feminism, when invented, simply meant equality for women in the society. However, right now we are in a phase in human history where women are slowly pushing men down to capture their place on top of the ladder."

Feminism was never simple. That's why there's whole academic fields on the subject. You can boil it down to your definition, but it's not useful in a discussion like this. As for the second half, I... don't see what you see. There are a lot of areas where women are still disadvantaged. There's not going to be any wild power shift any time soon. Men aren't in danger of being where women were in history- but hopefully they won't be in the place of privilege that they have been forever. That means they'll lose some of their perks. It's just how it works- when advantages are born of the disadvantages of others, they should be set right- and eliminated.


"For instance, ladies yell out at male passengers sitting on a ladies’ seat. We all think this is the right way. But do we actually pay head to what these small acts actually portray? That women are weak. That they cannot stand on their feet for long. That they need men to vacate seats for them. Is this what we should call feminism?"

Hahahaha, no. This is not what we should call feminism. If anyone's calling conforming to old gender stereotypes feminist, then they need to read a little further into it. What you're doing here- possibly by accident- is equating feminism with a behaviour that....doesn't embody it. By telling your reader that this is what feminism does (when it is actually the opposite!) you're equating what women- and people- do, with an unrelated movement.

Expecting men to get up for women on the bus for no other reason than gender difference is not feminist. I would hope you (and everyone) would know this.

"I am not against feminism. I am a woman and proud to be so. But I am definitely against this new found facet of feminism that promotes nothing but weakness in women."

What do you define as weakness?

"Also, ladies like it when their boyfriend/husband takes them out for shopping and pays restaurant bills for them. That is courteous and gentlemanly, for sure. But once in a while, we can pay bills for them, too. If equality it is, then equality it shall be!"

You're not arguing against feminism here. Feminism is about choice. What's right for each couple is just fine. If a man always pays for one reason or another, as long as both people involved are comfortable with it, and it is not expected or pressured, then that's fine. Same with the opposite. You won't find feminists on boxes demanding "PAY FOR OUR MEALS", I assure you.

"We disgrace men for taking advantage of their convenient authoritative position in the society and at the same time we ourselves prefer “convenience”. How will anybody take us seriously if we are so hypocritical? We just keep changing the definition of equality according to our whims and fancies."

Also I laugh when I see the false equivalence. Putting aside what feminism is for a second- this is the kind of language that has been used to placate the people in a weaker position for ages. "I mean, sure, men have more money and power and respect, but women get a few free meals and some seats now and then, as well as all those doors... doesn't it all work out in the end?"

No. It doesn't. That's the problem. Women taking their conveniences when they can, while not "equal", is a completely different playing field from the long standing "conveniences" men have taken for centuries. This dire PLAGUE of women SITTING ON BUSES (the horror) is much smaller fish than say, you know, career opportunities, bodily agency, and rape culture. When we have as many opportunities as a woman to be a CEO, when it's as easy to go get your tubes tied as it is a vasectomy, and when women are no longer catcalled, slutshamed, and objectified, I think then we can start wringing our hands about doors being held open.

Honestly, I think you should really go read up some more about feminism! It's a fascinating subject. I've been reading for years upon years and still don't even get it all. Gender roles are particularly fascinating, and a much discussed area.

But please. There's no conspiracy to start enslaving men. That's the kind of horror story they use to slander us.

"You’re not superior to men, nor are they superior to you." Not equal, but together can create equilibrium.

Men and women are two different genders that excel in different areas in life. Men are superior to women in areas that women are weak in and it is the other way around too. Just in case you're not religious I shall not bring religion into this, but let's take science into account. A males body is biologically more fit in labor which is why he is more superior in doing lifting work, it's that simple. Women have their own areas of expertise that men cannot match. Begging for equality will not help on your quest, what I suggest is to take a moment and analyze how life has always been built around the equilibrium of gender. This is the one of two statements that I can agree with in this piece, the rest of the piece is either completely obvious such as:

"..women are slowly pushing men down to capture their place on top of the ladder."

The definition you stated at the start about feminism is only understood by rare people in the community, others have been blindly following feminism because it's been portrayed nowadays as 'the right thing to do'.

"We just keep changing the definition of equality according to our whims and fancies. Men have already done this to death, pretending to be superior. We don’t need to repeat it."

The first part of this is the second statement that I agree on, although when I read towards the end I realized how hard explaining my point can be when the author herself is directly bashing men in her own 'equality' thread.

"I love being a woman and respect myself. But I am not weak."

The stress in 'I am not weak' is amusing because my automated response to that is: You are weak in areas and strong in others. I know this might seem blunt and rude but it's true, most women are both weaker and smaller physically then men but that doesn't mean you're not stronger than them mentally or emotionally.

All in all, you (females in general) must accept yourself as a women and know both your strengths and weaknesses. Getting past the denial that men are better at things that you cannot match will help you accept the fact that it's the same way around too.

-Pickle

Feminism. Feminism. Feminism.
In my opnion, this is one of the biggest issues we have at the moment. Everything has a different view point. I am a feminist, and I can't stand when people refer to it as woman overthrowing the world. I know thats not what you meant. I want equality. Catcalling, I'm only 14 and deal with it every day, I only feel safe walking any time of the day with my friends, guy friends included. But, some say it what we want. No, I dont want to be called "princess" by a sixty year old while walking the street, it is dead terrifiying. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't heard of a guy who has been catcalled, not frequently at least.. My uncle didn't even know what it was. I think there should be more done when a girl is being catcalled.

Education, not where I live, but in third world countries, girls can't go to school because of relegion, and because they should just stay home, cook and clean. They are forced to marry at as early as eleven, even earlier. 200 nigerian girls were kidnapped and here hasn't ben a news article about them in too long.

Most girls get sexualized, in not all, but too many eyes, girls are objects to use. For whatever reason, boys don't get that, not as much as girls. So, how do you fix that? The sexualization of woman. Because, that's what it comes down to isn't it. Lover boys, catcalling, raping, all of it, is based on the fundamental part, that woman are sexualized.

I am a feminist. I am a woman. I am not giving up woman's right, untill we are equal, men and woman.

I had written a long review on a piece written by willachilles concerning this matter. It explains my opinions. There you will see what I think about feminism and stuff like that. Feel free to read it. I hope I had explained everything about my thoughts on feminism. But, please read it.

--fantasydragon01.

Hello!

I am also a feminist; however, I have a very different view of this problem.

I agree that feminism, at it's core, means equality between men and women. Not men over women. Not women over men. However, I also think the meaning of feminism has shifted a lot and it means lots of different things to lots of different people. This site and this site and probably many more explain the differences in the major feminist theories we have today.

Feminism, when invented, simply meant equality for women in the society.

However, right now we are in a phase in human history where women are slowly pushing men down to capture their place on top of the ladder.

As equal sexes, men and women are supposed to climb the ladder together, and not by pulling the other one down to mud.

We have been living in a terrible male-dominated world for ages.

After much of exasperating efforts, women are finally making a paradigm shift.

I am not against feminism. I am a woman and proud to be so. But I am definitely against this new found facet of feminism that promotes nothing but weakness in women.

For instance, ladies yell out at male passengers sitting on a ladies’ seat. We all think this is the right way. But do we actually pay head to what these small acts actually portray? That women are weak. That they cannot stand on their feet for long. That they need men to vacate seats for them. Is this what we should call feminism? The other day I was talking to a friend about this. Her response was very casual (and I’m sure almost-universal also) - “See I prefer convenience. When I travel in metro and I see a guy sitting on a ladies’ seat, I ask him to get up. If we’re getting an advantage, why waste it?”

Also, ladies like it when their boyfriend/husband takes them out for shopping and pays restaurant bills for them. That is courteous and gentlemanly, for sure. But once in a while, we can pay bills for them, too. If equality it is, then equality it shall be!

We disgrace men for taking advantage of their convenient authoritative position in the society and at the same time we ourselves prefer “convenience”. How will anybody take us seriously if we are so hypocritical? We just keep changing the definition of equality according to our whims and fancies.

not hesitant to plant a slap on the face of any dumb retard.

I don’t demand respect simply for being a woman. All I demand is equality, unfiltered and for all.

Well, I don't support feminism as I don't believe men and women are equal.

My reasoning for that would be that, men and women can't accomplish the same amount of work, they have different talents in different areas, ect..., I don't consider myself equal to my male friends, nor do I consider myself equal to my female friends. I truly don't believe that it matters what gender you are, when it comes to being equal. It depends on the person and what they are and what they are willing to accomplish. BUT I do agree with the fact that women are pushing men down, and in the process, women are degrading themselves.

Hope this helps slightly.

This was an amazing piece.

I loved this piece so much. It flowed so well. It also hit me hard. I don't want to live in the world where this is a thing. And I'm sure you don't either.

So I wrote a response to it. I was going to post it here, but then just thought I would post it as a separate thing. In it I cover quite a few examples of feminism (which really brought my anger levels up), why feminism is wrong, and quite a few other things.

If any other YWS'ers stumble across this post, you are free to check out my response as well. Here is the link: https://www.youngwriterssociety.com/work.php?id=122040

I hope you guys enjoy!

-willachilles