The folly of faux feminism
Posted by David M. Russell on October 22, 2013 in Education, Political comment, Social comment, Values |
Naivety is a common attribute of young people and is only to be expected as they struggle to understand ever more of life’s complexities. Yet, while naivety is excusable, foolishness is harder to accommodate and idiocy is just downright frightening.
Take, for example, the United Kingdom’s latest musical gift to the world, girl band, Little Mix. Girl band, by the way, is not my appellation, it is theirs.
On a promotional trip to Australia, they revel in their anthemic girl power hits but reel at any suggestion they are feminists.
One of these young tragics put it this way: “I wouldn’t say we are feminists: we don’t hate our men.”
Another said: “We love our men.” A pleasant sentiment, to be sure, but disconcertingly shallow.
The coup de grace came with: “We’re just very passionate about girls sticking together and the sisterhood of things. Girls go through a lot more than men – such as periods – and it’s better to stick together instead of bitching and hating. We’re a stronger force.”
I cannot but wonder if such lines were penned by a cynical male manager, carefully crafting an image to resonate with a socio- and demographically-targetted audience.
What is deeply disturbing is the notion, apparently ingrained, that feminism equates with hatred of men.
As someone who feels far more like a decent human being because he was made aware of intrinsic misogynist attitudes distilled through the very dark ages of gender inequality, I am truly saddened that so many of the battles of feminism appear to have been fought in vain.
If women do not wish to again be subjected (more than they still are) to the sullying stigma of sexism, the price of freedom must be eternal vigilance. Many of today’s young women appear sadly ignorant of the gains that have been achieved by non-strident feminism – and how fragile they are.
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The folly of faux feminism
Posted by David M. Russell on October 22, 2013 in Education, Political comment, Social comment, Values | Leave a comment
Naivety is a common attribute of young people and is only to be expected as they struggle to understand ever more of life’s complexities. Yet, while naivety is excusable, foolishness is harder to accommodate and idiocy is just downright frightening.
Take, for example, the United Kingdom’s latest musical gift to the world, girl band, Little Mix. Girl band, by the way, is not my appellation, it is theirs.
On a promotional trip to Australia, they revel in their anthemic girl power hits but reel at any suggestion they are feminists.
One of these young tragics put it this way: “I wouldn’t say we are feminists: we don’t hate our men.”
Another said: “We love our men.” A pleasant sentiment, to be sure, but disconcertingly shallow.
The coup de grace came with: “We’re just very passionate about girls sticking together and the sisterhood of things. Girls go through a lot more than men – such as periods – and it’s better to stick together instead of bitching and hating. We’re a stronger force.”
I cannot but wonder if such lines were penned by a cynical male manager, carefully crafting an image to resonate with a socio- and demographically-targetted audience.
What is deeply disturbing is the notion, apparently ingrained, that feminism equates with hatred of men.
As someone who feels far more like a decent human being because he was made aware of intrinsic misogynist attitudes distilled through the very dark ages of gender inequality, I am truly saddened that so many of the battles of feminism appear to have been fought in vain.
If women do not wish to again be subjected (more than they still are) to the sullying stigma of sexism, the price of freedom must be eternal vigilance. Many of today’s young women appear sadly ignorant of the gains that have been achieved by non-strident feminism – and how fragile they are.
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