My name is Barbara O’Brien and I am a political blogger. Just had a question about your blog and couldn’t find an email—please get back to me as soon as you can (barbaraobrien(at)maacenter.org)

Thanks,
Barbara

I think you’ll find that there are a lot of feminists out there who embrace the idea of personal responsibility. We just don’t get the sound bites because responsibility doesn’t hold the same kind of shock value as blanket statements and generalizations. We’re the quiet neighbors who clean up after ourselves.

As for the issue of doing harm — there’s a lot of people out there who call themselves feminists. I don’t agree with all of them, or even most of them. It’s an ideology, which means that it’s human-made and prone to factions and schisms. They may have the goal of equality, but they may not be going about it in a productive manner. Hell, many even differ on what they think equality is–those are the ones I want to buy a dictionary for. Just like there are people out there who call themselves Christians (and I use this example because I’m a Christian and can actually speak to that background) but spew some of the most hateful stuff I’ve been unfortunate enough to hear. I can’t control what they do or what they call themselves. All I can do is be responsible my own words and actions.

I choose to call myself a feminist because I believe that women and men should enjoy the same equality and that’s how I raise my kids. I don’t believe that anyone’s sex makes them some sort of special little snowflake entitled to any particular privilege — we’re more than the sum of our body parts.

whoa, whoa, whoa, you’re not supposed to do THAT!!! But since you bothered can you please get out there and advise the other feminist to try the same? Because WE MEN ARE COMING regardless of what they think of us, regardless of what feminist say. They done enough harm to men/children and nuclear families and shut-down people from talking about it. Only thing they’re doing is creating seething anger. They’re bashing us constantly, ignoring men and boys plight and kidnapping our children to boot. And then, of all the nerve, bragging about the wreckage. This Marxism will NOT stand any longer. Enough is enough and I used to be down with feminist. Never again, their venomous philosophies and changes to family law have destroyed MY nuclear black families and there will be consequences met for that.

And Dang it, Marry that man.

My website, my air. Don’t like it? Don’t breathe it. I’m sure the air is way better over there in Brooklyn anyway.

“Look what your brilliant Hate movement did to our families. Be responsible for your mess.
We’re here now, be at ease.”

So this is what inarticulate rage looks like when it’s separated from reality. Impressive. You may be my first commenter, you may be a memorable one, but until you can dial down the crazed rant from oh… say… ELEVEN, you’re not a welcome one. Buh bye.

ummmmm, no. You understood it.

“You seem to be handling the bashing, demonizing and harassing pretty well already and I’m not going to take that job away from an obvious expert.”

Since feminist have forced our hand, you get what you invested in.
And please stop with the elitist air of snobbery, braniac.

Look what your brilliant Hate movement did to our families. Be responsible for your mess.
We’re here now, be at ease.

Really, I honestly thought that Ken was your point — you’re the one that included him in the quote. If it was the part about fighting inequality, privilege and unfair social pressures… well, I’m just going to have to disagree.

If you want to talk about removing men from their children, that’s one thing. I’m not a fan of taking kids away from their parents (either one) UNLESS there is a very good and clear reason to do it like abuse. As far as bashing, demonizing and harassing men, count me out of that. Not a fan of bashing men (being a fan of men myself), demonizing is what people do when they don’t have a solid argument to offer and only operate from a platform of fear, and harassing men seems to be a waste of productive time. You seem to be handling the bashing, demonizing and harassing pretty well already and I’m not going to take that job away from an obvious expert.

Let me know when you have a real argument, with real evidence and something close to decent grammar and sentence structure. ‘Til then, try and educate yourself and form a reasoned opinion. I’ll warn you now: you may have to engage in critical thinking and that may hurt a little.

“In fact, if you look at the amount of feminist-themed websites and weblogs out there, you’ll see that there’s quite a few people out there that aren’t rejecting it at all. Of course, that’s if you think any of us count.”

Yep, also been keeping track with their dwindling no#s, unpopularity, and raised level of rancor from women and men towards them as well. Oh we’re counting alright.

“It’s about standing up, speaking out when you see something wrong, being accountable for your actions and holding others accountable for theirs”

Um yeah, and since you’ve decided to demonize, harass, bash, remove men from our children while claiming a “patriarchy”, during the above process you have produced your own antidote. Since you saw nothing wrong with victimizing us via your Hate Movement, you’ve produced more people who feel nothing to reflexively victimize you and call it equality.

It’s a great development and way hipper than the feminist have had to offer. Fun times ahead.

Second, let me clarify something for you — something I thought was obvious: fighting inequality, privilege and social pressures won’t improve life for Ken because Ken isn’t real. He’s a doll. He’s as real as “authentic” tinned unicorn meat with added sparkles and rainbows.

I think that saying “everyone” is rejecting feminism is an interesting statement. I don’t think “everyone” is. In fact, if you look at the amount of feminist-themed websites and weblogs out there, you’ll see that there’s quite a few people out there that aren’t rejecting it at all. Of course, that’s if you think any of us count.

” I have this funny feeling that fighting inequality, privilege and social pressures improves life for everyone. Except maybe Ken.”

You nailed why everyone IS rejecting feminism hard. For one, missing the obvious.