tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070786324546788238.post4278411099162362981..comments2023-12-29T02:56:22.978-08:00Comments on Angry Peasants: "Not All Men"Petehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15798062397517960171noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070786324546788238.post-30841333759072329132014-06-06T11:49:21.657-07:002014-06-06T11:49:21.657-07:00I appreciate the well thought out comment Harry. ...I appreciate the well thought out comment Harry. I've had the same discussion with friends who have used the term "mansplaining" in years past. To me terms like that are divisive and do not attract people to the cause of equal rights. <br /><br />Thank you for taking the time to respond, I appreciate the addition of your thoughts on the subject. Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15798062397517960171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070786324546788238.post-63722143676142384682014-06-03T12:36:59.196-07:002014-06-03T12:36:59.196-07:00Edit: "defense of sexism" rather than &q...Edit: "defense of sexism" rather than "defense against sexism" near the beginning of my previous comment.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01878912903212412348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8070786324546788238.post-437035167440660712014-06-03T12:30:24.439-07:002014-06-03T12:30:24.439-07:00Pete, thanks for this - these were my thoughts exa...Pete, thanks for this - these were my thoughts exactly when I first heard of the 'not all men' meme. I really don't see why a simple qualifier or disclaimer is being demonized as "derailing" a discussion. In academic discourse, caveats and qualifiers are *regular* aspects of any argument. I do ultimately agree with the idea that such a qualifier doesn't advance the conversation, but the fact that a huge campaign of mockery has emerged in response to it is disturbing. People are now claiming that it is a "every dude's" defense against sexism - I agree with your finding completely: it's not usually a defense, just a disclaimer. Sexism is very much alive and real with some men, but using language that suggests that all are biologically prone to perpetrate sexism rather than it being a cultural phenomenon is counterproductive. This is an unfortunate, greater phenomenon of today, however. For example, I first heard of the term 'mansplaining' in the last year, and had a minor argument with the person who used it. To paraphrase, and perhaps add my internal dialogue to the actual conversation, they said that it means explaining something in a condescending, excessively detailed manner. Do I do that, I asked? No, they said, not all men do this, it's just something that many do. But a woman can also be guilty of mansplaining, they said. Oh, I said, so not all men do this? And even some women? Why is it called mansplaining? Why don't we call it blacksplaining? I mean, if some black people do it, but not all of them, and also some people of other races? Oh, because that's obviously racist? I asked rhetorically. Apparently it's not good enough in this world to be someone who is not doing anything wrong and is not at all supportive of the 'system' that is purportedly in place. For example, one can say that all Nazis were bad because, by nature of their being Nazis, it means they joined a group with similar interests. Their political support of the regime made them implicit in the infamous crimes that are still well-known today. There is no similar association of men, however; to be a male one is simply born, there is no agency in the matter. I personally do not, by nature of association, support male hierarchies - in fact I struggle to defy them. But, since I was born this way, I am now demonized by some as an enemy. As you say, this feeling of being demonized has caused many men to feel like their backs are against the wall, and many are becoming enemies of feminism. This will not happen with me - I only hope that a campaign to temper inflammatory feminist arguments will soon emerge as well.<br />It is very unfortunate that the more stubborn, radical feminists of today are alienating their allies (many of whom, like myself, also call themselves feminists); the people who really need to be addressed are the ones who would absolutely come nowhere near feminist discussions.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01878912903212412348noreply@blogger.com