(I wrote this as a post to "Are you a Feminist?", a thread that I can not find. I spent too much time to discard.) Yes, yes, yes! If yes is my favorite word, then it three times in succession might be my favorite combination. I think that I became enchanted by the idea of Feminism when I first saw girls discarding their bras. I approved entirely and without reservation. My Mom got her first job after being married, when I was in mid-adolescence. In my mid-twenties, I read Tom Robbins novels and could plead guilty to possessing an moderate Madonna Complex, if I understand the concept: Usually discussions of this complex revolves around the dichotomy of how some men can view women as two distinct and separate personas, that of saint and sinner, or of mother and whore. My version was, saint or whore. This characterization and its title were not known then to me. After playing house with a few women--shacking up, as is the term Dr. Laura used--something flipped (I know the cause but its beyond the scope of this forum) and I began to find a productive value in the company of men, one context being Mens groups of one kind or another. NONE of these groups were based in New Age concepts or any Pop anything and not from being incarcerated, for the record--and I remained heterosexual, to complete the record. Now Im back to finding--when and wherever possible--productive value in the company of women--[Euphemistic Content Rating: 9.25]--without the unwholesome reverence. <*cough*> Unwarranted or inappropriate reverence for most things may not be dangerous. It can be for men when the objects are women. There may be tens of thousands of writings on it and all kinds of mayhem on every scale throughout human history cause by it. I spent nearly a decade in what must be considered a Feminists stronghold--it being considered a Lesbian haven at that time and must be still. I worked a retail job and they were a common customer. I once addressed a person walking away from me, Sir, will you please...; the customer turned and it was no sir. I never ever used sir, maam, Miss, Mr., lady or gentleman again in that job. The Feminists who are prejudiced reflexively against males need to examine their condition and they are to be judged by their willingness to confront their biases. You will recognize the general applicability of the preceding sentence in many contexts.
I think it's true enough that feminism has morphed into something that's actually demeaning to women. It demands ever more concessions to be HANDED OVER, but never asks (even for a second) what they've done to become worthy of the things they want. It's not how things work, and it's why the Feminist movement has degraded women. In most of the real world if you want a reward, you earn it. If you want to move up in the company, you study harder than anybody else vying for the same position, you don't sit around and then cry sexism because the guy studied and you didn't. Or was working when the woman took time off. it's not rocket science to get the things you want, but you have to prioritize the things you actually want. if you make home life a priority, you don't get to cry when the guy who made the corporate ladder a priority gets promoted and you didn't. That ISN'T SEXISM, the reverse would be, as you insist that a woman be held to a LOWER STANDARD than the man, and demand equal pay for unequal work (because the man worked harder than the woman).
