As a young woman, I understand and appreciate what feminists of the past have done for me and all other women. I appreciate my rights to vote, own property, go to college, choose any major and work any job. However, the feminism of our generation ("third-wave" feminism) is not the feminism of Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Blackwell; it's not even the feminism of our grandmothers or mothers. That being said, here are seven reasons I choose not to identify with the modern, western feminist movement:
1. Feminists don't actually care about all women.
You heard me.
Feminists constantly attack and degrade other women, especially conservative women. Non-feminist females are called "stupid," told "I hope you get raped, then you'll see why you need feminism," or accused of "letting your daddy (or husband or boyfriend or another male in your life) think for you." Once a female stops buying into groupthink, feminists cease to care about her rights and attempt to silence her. Don't believe me? Post "I'm not a feminist" on Twitter or Tumblr, and look at the backlash. Or look at the way conservative female politicians (Carly Fiorina, Sarah Palin, etc.) have been treated by the media because left-wing media does not believe that women are capable of thinking outside the mainstream, liberal ideology.
(Personally, being called "idiot" by liberal feminists makes me want to be one even less, but maybe that is just me).
Feminists also have a tendency to ignore women who are not white Americans. See below.
2. Feminists Spread Misinformation
Feminists love throwing out buzzwords such as "wage gap," "patriarchy," and "rape culture." However, none of these actually exist in the U.S.
Employers are forbidden by law to pay women less than men to do the same work. The claim, "a woman makes 77 cents to a man's dollar," is based on the fact that women tend to choose lower-paying jobs such as teaching and nursing or choose to go home and raise children (The Wall Street Journal). It's simple: if a woman wants to be paid the same as a man, she must choose a higher paying job. Feminists cannot major in early childhood education, gender studies or home economics and expect the same financial success as a male engineer, lawyer or doctor.
A patriarchy, or male-dominated society, would not allow women to vote, own property, be legal citizens, receive equal pay or run for political office. Women have had the right to vote in the U.S for 95 years, the right to own property for over 100 years, the right to citizenship for 93 years, and the right to equal pay for 52 years (Law Library of Congress) (Jo Freeman). Jeannette Rankin became the first woman to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives 99 years ago (International Women's Democracy Center). Young adult feminists in the United States have never experienced true patriarchy.
"Rape culture" implies a society that accepts and encourages rape. However, male-on-female rape is considered by our legal system one of the most serious crimes, second only to murder. No parent encourages his or her son to rape, and contrary to popular belief, men are being taught not to commit it. Furthermore, sexual assault has decreased by almost 50 percent in the past 20 years (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network). Most importantly, the term "rape culture" actually gives rapists a pass, for it implies that their actions are the fault of society and not themselves.
3. Feminists ignore real problems worldwide
While American feminists lie about wage gaps and fight to stop "man-spreading", women in Lesotho, Sweden, St. Vincent and the Granadines, New Zealand and Belgium (the countries with the most rape) are being raped by the thousands (International Business Times). Women in Saudi Arabia could not register to vote until this year, and they still cannot drive, nor can they go to school or travel without a man's supervision. Women in Iran have suffered acid attacks for "immodesty", and gender segregation still exists (The Economist). Actually, no country governed by Sharia Law gives women social, political or economic equality. However, American, liberal feminists tend to ignore these issues, crying "Islamophobia" or "racism". A former Muslim woman who has advocated for feminism in Islamic countries was not allowed to speak at Brandeis University last year because her views were considered offensive, though she is fighting for women's rights (HuffPo). It is ironic that American women want feminism everywhere except in places it is actually needed.
4. Feminists do not, in fact, care about men.
Feminists claim to be fighting for equality for men and women, but in all honesty, most of them are fighting for women's superiority. Many feminists do not openly admit their misandry (though some do), but they will insult men, laugh at them, tweet things like "lol male tears", and throw hissy fits when someone does the same to them. They will be the first to call men "f***boys" or "dicks", then cry about being called "bitch" or "slut." They celebrate women who do stereotypical "manly things", but men who do "manly things" are perpetrating "toxic masculinity." The hypocrisy is strong.
Feminists also tend to ignore the fact that 1 in 6 males are rape victims (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network). And though domestic violence is considered by our society to be a woman's problem, 1 in 4 men are physically abused by their partners (National Coalition for Domestic Violence).
Many feminists, however, do not care about male victims. Colleges, including the University of North Georgia, provide information and assistance about female assault, but very few talk about male sexual assault. Most male rape victims do not seek help because they know that feminist-run abuse organizations will ignore them or treat their circumstances like a joke.
Our society tends to see men as the "bad guys". I have already mentioned one of the problems with the "teach men not to rape" narrative. The other problems are that that statement assumes men are rapists by default and incapable of being decent. It also erases female perpetrators. And as previously mentioned, domestic violence is seen as a woman's problem; no one ever talks about abusive female partners because our society sees women as inherently innocent.
5. Feminists weaken women
Feminists of the past sought to empower women. They sought to make women strong and independent. Not so in the 21st century. Feminists tell women that they are victims, and as previously mentioned, we are really not. Feminists tell women to be afraid of the big, scary men, and women who say "but I'm not afraid of men" are ridiculed. Crying "sexism" at every turn and being offended by the word "bitch" is not strength; it's victimization.
Feminists like to assert their dominance by bullying men, as stated above. But bullying is not empowering; it's cowardly. Tweeting "#killallmen" or even "lol male tears" is not sassy; it's cruel. It takes more strength to show kindness to everyone.
Feminism also encourages financial dependence. Feminists demand free birth control, free mammograms, free hygiene products, free bras. They claim to be "independent women" yet want the government or their employers to give them free things. They demonize stay-at-home moms for being dependent on their husbands, but dependence on the men in the government is a-okay, in their minds. Entitlement is not strong; it is juvenile.
6. Feminism is used to justify murder
Feminists claim to care about human rights. They lie. They do not care about unborn children (of either gender). They fought for the right to murder their children; now they fight for an organization who not only murders children on the taxpayer's dime, but makes profit off these children's mutilated bodies.
Abortion is not about "rights". It violates the most basic human right of all, life. (A fetus is very much a living human being by the way. Here's a study from Princeton for your reading pleasure.) It is not about "women's health" when women are getting abortions solely for convenience or for financial reasons. It is not about "the right to my own body" when a fetus is a separate body.
If feminists want "equal rights," why are they ignoring the rights of so many babies?
7. Feminists can't take responsibility for their actions
The feminists who see this post are screeching, "But THAT'S NOT ALL FEMINISTS!" Or "Those feminists are FAKE FEMINISTS!" Even when presented with facts, feminists refuse to see the problems within their movement. They point to what feminists did 100 or 50 years ago, seeing "look what feminism has done", but they do not see how modern feminism has deviated from the original movement. They say, "not all feminists are so extreme" or "not all feminists ignore men's issues or women in other countries", but they do not see that enough are. The majority of third-wave feminists fit the descriptions previously mentioned. Feminists need to think long and hard about their beliefs and actions, and start taking responsibility for the problems within their community.
