In the week following the election of Donald Trump this image circulated around Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Here are reasons all of the points made about this picture are incorrect:
- I am not a victim.
Actually, statistically speaking, you are a victim. An online survey conducted by Stop Street Harassment reported 99% of the respondents had experienced some form of street harassment – including cat calling and obscene gestures. 91% of all people raped in the United States are women – 1 out of every 5 women will be sexually assaulted during their lifetime. This year alone, 15 million girls will be victims of child marriage – by 2050, the number of child marriages is expected to reach 1.2 billion.
- I am not oppressed by the so-called “patriarchy”.
- Google definitions define the word patriarchy as “a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it.” In other words, it’s literally impossible for you to not be oppressed by a patriarchy.
- I don’t feel the need to blow everything out of proportion.
- If we’re going to talk about things being “blown out of proportion”, why don’t we discuss the guy who threw hot coffee and repeatedly punched the stomach of a woman who didn’t thank him for opening the door for her? Or the Malaysian man who stabbed his wife to death after she didn’t want to have sex with him? I could go on…
- Turning every little thing into a gender issue is stupid.
- What does this even mean? In any case, there are a LOT of gender issues. Here’s a list by Gustavos Adolphus College of different gender issues students can write essays on for their gender studies class–and this doesn’t even cover every issue.
- Third-wave feminists haven’t really done anything to change the world.
- Third wave feminism first emerged in the 1900s, and since that time, women actually have made remarkable strides in the fight for women’s rights (feel free to gasp). Third-wave feminists have aided in the legalization of gay marriage, defending college students who have been raped, and aiding in the protection of sex workers. Even if you don’t agree with feminists on these issues, it is factually incorrect to say third-wave feminists have done “almost nothing”.
- I refuse to demonize men.
- Feminism is defined as “the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.” The key word there is EQUALITY. This point describes the word misandry, a word that means “dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against men (i.e., the male sex).”
- Sexual health is a right and a responsibility. If you are having sex, you should be fully aware of the responsibilities that come with it.
- This is a belief that feminists hold. Surprise! You have more in common with us than you think.
- Feminists shame women who don’t identify with feminism, which draws me further away from it.
- Are you serious? You’re going to tell us that you don’t believe in the equality of all sexes and we’re just supposed to sit there and take it? I’ll ask again: are you serious??????
- If I want to make a sandwich for my boyfriend, I’m not conforming to gender roles. I’m just being a thoughtful person
- First of all, I can’t believe you are trying to use an actual meme as a reason you aren’t a feminist. Secondly, when did feminists ever say you couldn’t make a sandwich for your boyfriend? Feminists have nothing against housewives–the whole point of the movement is to allow a woman to do whatever she chooses without discrimination based on her gender. No one has a problem with your apparent need to make men sandwiches–we just don’t like the inevitable sexism that comes along with the meme.
- So many feminists I’ve encounter judge white, straight, and conservative people. I thought feminism was about equality?
- You could turn this around and say the exact same thing about yourselves. I don’t know why you act like the most important voices in American politics today doesn’t judge and degrade women almost daily.
- Women are not weak, and it’s stupid feminism portrays them in that way.
- The whole point of the feminist movement is to prove that women are capable of the same things men are. Again, it seems you have more in common with us than you think!
- Feminism does not give me the right to shave my body hair. I give myself that right.
- Feminism aims to give you the right to do whatever you want with your body–including shaving or not shaving your legs. Another issue you seem to agree with us on!
- I am protected by the Constitution of my country, not by feminists.
- If you are fine without having the right to vote and for African American women to become slaves then, yes, you’re right–the Constitution does protect white women’s rights to things such as due process, jury trials, and freedom of religion. However, it was amendments to the Constitution, aided by the feminist movement, that granted women rights.
