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Why I Am a Male Feminist
Henry Louis Gates' "The Root" ^ | 16 March | Hurt

Posted on 03/21/2011 6:50:52 AM PDT by flowerplough

The word turns off a lot of men -- and women. But here's why black men should be embracing the "f" word.

"... Like most guys, I had bought into the stereotype that all feminists were white, lesbian, unattractive male bashers who hated all men. But after reading the work of these black feminists, I realized that this was far from the truth. After digging into their work, I came to really respect the intelligence, courage and honesty of these women.

Feminists did not hate men. In fact, they loved men. But just as my father had silenced my mother during their arguments to avoid hearing her gripes, men silenced feminists by belittling them in order to dodge hearing the truth about who we are.

I learned that feminists offered an important critique about a male-dominated society that routinely, and globally, treated women like second-class citizens. They spoke the truth, and even though I was a man, their truth spoke to me. Through feminism, I developed a language that helped me better articulate things that I had experienced growing up as a male.

Feminist writings about patriarchy, racism, capitalism and structural sexism resonated with me because I had witnessed firsthand the kind of male dominance they challenged. I saw it as a child in my home and perpetuated it as an adult. Their analysis of male culture and male behavior helped me put my father's patriarchy into a much larger social context, and also helped me understand myself better.

I decided that I loved feminists and embraced feminism. Not only does feminism give woman a voice, but it also clears the way for men to free themselves from the stranglehold of traditional masculinity. When we hurt the women in our lives, we hurt ourselves, and we hurt our community, too."

(Excerpt) Read more at theroot.com ...


TOPICS: Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: mrskippy; racism
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To: flowerplough
Like most guys, I had bought into the stereotype that all feminists were white, lesbian, unattractive male bashers who hated all men.

And then he discovered that a few of them aren't white.

21 posted on 03/21/2011 8:29:53 AM PDT by Our man in washington
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To: flowerplough; All
Why is the word FEMINIST always a bad word? To me and according to the dictionary, it has nothing to do with hating men. Why do some people feel they need to connect those two together? To make it seem like a bad thing??
It means equal rights for women. A GOOD THING!!!!
22 posted on 03/21/2011 8:54:21 AM PDT by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
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To: Fawn
It means equal rights for women.

Which of the first 9 Amendments to the Constitution don't apply to women?

Thanks in advance.

23 posted on 03/21/2011 8:57:10 AM PDT by Lurker (The avalanche has begun. The pebbles no longer have a vote.)
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To: Fawn
To make it seem like a bad thing?? It means equal rights for women. A GOOD THING!!!!

is this rhetorical? many words and phrases do not mean, in this day and age, what they meant originally... when we use the word feminist or feminism today we know what those words now stand for...

24 posted on 03/21/2011 9:04:41 AM PDT by latina4dubya ( self-proclaimed tequila snob)
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To: latina4dubya
when we use the word feminist or feminism today we know what those words now stand for...

Which is what?

25 posted on 03/21/2011 9:08:55 AM PDT by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
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To: Fawn

Yeah, sure. You women want equal rights. Until it suits you to be treated like a child. Then you want to be treated like a child. Feminists pass laws that treat men like responsible adults and women like irresponsible children, thus creating an uneven playing field tipped in favor of women. That’s the fruit of feminism. That is one of the reasons why feminism is evil.


26 posted on 03/21/2011 9:09:05 AM PDT by MichiganConservative (Letting Obama supporters vote is like giving a loaded gun to a child with severe mental retardation.)
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To: MichiganConservative

Not sure I can follow that dribble....but got an example woman hater?


27 posted on 03/21/2011 9:14:45 AM PDT by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
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To: Lurker
Which of the first 9 Amendments to the Constitution don't apply to women?

Why the need for this 'feminist' article? Did women always get the same pay for the same work and have the right to vote?

28 posted on 03/21/2011 9:18:27 AM PDT by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
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To: Fawn

Ha HA HA. Woman hater? I knew I would get that one sometime on this thread. What’s next? Will you refuse to have sex with me?

Have you looked into domestic violence laws recently? The man is assumed to be the aggressor and arrested in a lot of places.

Basically, all you have to do is tell a woman something she doesn’t agree with and you’re a woman-hater or a misogynist.

Gonna call me racist or homophobic next?


29 posted on 03/21/2011 9:18:41 AM PDT by MichiganConservative (Letting Obama supporters vote is like giving a loaded gun to a child with severe mental retardation.)
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To: flowerplough

I’m pro-feminist because my wife sez so...


30 posted on 03/21/2011 9:21:32 AM PDT by Little Ray (The Gods of the Copybook Heading, with terror and slaughter return!)
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To: flowerplough
And now it's time for . . .


31 posted on 03/21/2011 9:23:19 AM PDT by Hoodat (Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. - (Rom 8:37))
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To: Fawn
id women always get the same pay for the same work and have the right to vote?

Thanks for the unintentional example of why universal suffrage is a bad idea.

32 posted on 03/21/2011 9:25:59 AM PDT by MichiganConservative (Letting Obama supporters vote is like giving a loaded gun to a child with severe mental retardation.)
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To: MichiganConservative

Why don’t you quit making gutter remarks (re: sex with you) and give me an example —as was all I asked for.


33 posted on 03/21/2011 9:27:47 AM PDT by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
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To: Fawn

I did. Do you have a reading comprehension problem?


34 posted on 03/21/2011 9:29:21 AM PDT by MichiganConservative (Letting Obama supporters vote is like giving a loaded gun to a child with severe mental retardation.)
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To: Fawn

In practice, feminist means “equal rights for women” like communist means “doesn’t hog the good toys and shares his cookies at snacktime”.

And if we’re using the dictionary, Fawn, let’s start early in the book. Abortion. What do you feminists say abortion means?


35 posted on 03/21/2011 9:30:21 AM PDT by flowerplough (Thomas Sowell: Those who look only at Obama's deeds tend to become Obama's critics.)
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To: MichiganConservative

The man is the aggressor? That’s it? You think it’s an even charge huh?


36 posted on 03/21/2011 9:34:44 AM PDT by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
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To: Hoodat

I liked the time on that show when they were passing around a petition to women to “end women’s suffrage,” and all the bimbos who were signing it.


37 posted on 03/21/2011 9:37:27 AM PDT by big black dog
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To: Fawn

What are you spouting off about? I think your rationalization hamster must be impairing you somehow.


38 posted on 03/21/2011 9:40:55 AM PDT by MichiganConservative (Letting Obama supporters vote is like giving a loaded gun to a child with severe mental retardation.)
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To: flowerplough

This is what I’m talking about. In your world, or practice, it might mean that. But, why limit and add the word ‘feminist’ to the same sentence regarding the abortion issue? Some men also feel that way about abortion. By linking those two words together, you are steering away from the simple dictionary explanation of ‘feminist’. Maybe add the word ‘radical’ to feminist?


39 posted on 03/21/2011 9:42:04 AM PDT by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
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To: flowerplough

He got his mind right and now his purse matches his shoes.


40 posted on 03/21/2011 9:44:42 AM PDT by Blogatron (Brought to you by The American Frog Council; 'Frog - The other green meat')
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