Misogynism

What societal constructs cause men's problems? The only one I've seen is the idea that men must be strong and masculine. And that is the same thing feminists are already working against. Is there a different societal construct that hurts men?

When I talk about socialization, I'm not talking about things parents even do on purpose. Things like teaching your girls to be quiet and polite in all cases while teaching boys how to fight. Teaching girls how to avoid rape, but not also teaching boys not to rape. Saying "boys will be boys" when they do something wrong, but not using the same excuse for girls who misbehave. Buying your girls dolls and your boys trucks. Trying to talk boys into going into high paying fields even if they express an interest for teaching, social work, day care, etc. but not pushing girls toward math and science even if they have some talent and maybe some interest. Assuming that your boy will be a doctor but your girl will be a nurse. Assuming that boys like camo prints on their clothes while girls like floral prints. These are all small things that aren't much one by one, but they all add up to teaching boys to be aggressive and ambitious while teaching girls to be meek and submissive.

Even if you say that you're not talking about what our parents do on purpose it is still not true. It is not that our parents are bringing us up to be who we are but at least in my case what the parents notice the children are interested in. I was not brought up like a normal female with dolls and i was not taught how to be quiet and polite. actually i hardly know any girls who are quite and polite besides myself. So to even state that is wrong and is not a general fact. But i believe tat the societal constructs that have been formed for men and woman were formed by past generations. A man is suppose to be a gentleman and a woman is suppose to act like a lady. a man is though of as the person who has the control in the house, and the wife should be taking care of a lot of stuff around the house. These are but a few of the stereo-types that are still out there in the world.

I do like to think that Societal constructs shouldn't make a person who they are, and should only be a guideline that you can waver from if thought of that way they shouldn't cause problems for either sex because then they can do what they want and it is their choice. But Humans have taken these societal constructs and made them the rule of how people should act.

steamboat28 wrote: In this case, the education system, all religion, 90% of science, and 130% of all media programming are oppressive, and should immediately cease.

Another discussion for another time and place, my friend.

Abhaya Budhil wrote: What societal constructs cause men's problems? The only one I've seen is the idea that men must be strong and masculine. And that is the same thing feminists are already working against. Is there a different societal construct that hurts men?

We could discuss gender disparity in clothing styles, grooming; expectations of social homogeneity in regards to emotional issues, hobbies, belief structures; workplace sexism and sexual harassment; sexual assault in both legal and societal responses...

seriously. where would you like to start, because this is about {--} far from turning into one of my stereotypical soapbox rants, and those things will last for weeks.

Men's clothing tends to be constructed better and more functional for the same price. Men aren't expected to use as many grooming products and there is more of a range of acceptable grooming practices for professional wear. As far as emotions and hobbies, this is a result of the idea that men must be strong and masculine (which I addressed in the piece you quoted me on, and which feminists seek to break down).

I'm not sure what you mean by the rest of that post. Women tend to face sexism and sexual harassment more. They are also often blamed when they are sexually assaulted and are taught ways not to be assaulted, but we spend very little time focusing on teaching anyone about what counts as consent.

I don't think women are exposed to more sexism or harassment....they're simply more likely to call attention to it...if a man is sexually discriminated against or sexually harassed he's more likely to shrug it off and move on to avoid having his man card revoked...we're raised not to whine and complain about certain things because it's "unmanly"...I've been harassed by women plenty of times...I simply move on...

And most often if a man does call attention to it its because he finds the woman committing it unattractive...

Abhaya Budhil wrote: Men's clothing tends to be constructed better and more functional for the same price. Men aren't expected to use as many grooming products and there is more of a range of acceptable grooming practices for professional wear. As far as emotions and hobbies, this is a result of the idea that men must be strong and masculine (which I addressed in the piece you quoted me on, and which feminists seek to break down).

I'm not sure what you mean by the rest of that post. Women tend to face sexism and sexual harassment more. They are also often blamed when they are sexually assaulted and are taught ways not to be assaulted, but we spend very little time focusing on teaching anyone about what counts as consent.

My first thought is... what are you talking about... men's clothing are not constructed better than womans. Men and woman if you think about them having the basic things are all the same with grooming. it is a womans choice to have more things like makeup and such. and hobbies and emotions are again based on the person itself. before hand yo uwere stating reasonable things but now you are just pulling things out of thin air without much facts.

I don't like when women glob on the war paint...it makes me think they're hiding something...natural beauty is true beauty, no woman needs maybeline or any other corporation telling them what's beautiful and what isn't... most men dig chicks with interesting scars btw...

Men's clothing is definitely constructed better. It is sturdier and more functional.

You can say it's a woman's choice to use makeup, but that isn't completely true. Some women can choose not to wear makeup and still be successful, but most are pushed to wear makeup even when they don't want to, are expected to put on makeup for jobs and job interviews, are required to completely shave their legs and armpits or face ridicule, often have to paint their nails to be socially acceptable, are pushed to learn to accessorize with jewelry, etc.

As far as hobbies and interests, what someone actually likes depends on the person. What they have to act like they like is determined by social rules. Men are expected to like sports, cars, drinking, tools, etc. Women are expected to like dresses, flowers, arts and crafts, cooking, etc. Women can usually do "male things" without too much ridicule, even if it isn't encouraged. Men usually face ridicule and even violence for doing "female things." This is because masculinity is desirable and femininity isn't.

Women are exposed to more sexism right from the start. Women are less likely to get hired in the first place, or even called in for job interviews. They are also harassed for what they are wearing. Either it is deemed to be too revealing, and they are opening themselves up for criticism, or it is deemed to be too prudish, and they should feel lucky someone is paying attention to them. They are also pushed not to report harassment. When men don't report harassment because they have to be "manly" what would you call that? A product of a society that believes men have to be strong? That is exactly what I have already said, and it is what feminism fights against (as I have also said).

The problem with any form of discrimination and the resultant activist group fighting against it is that the group often seeks to over compensate for societal sins of the past by creating rules that force unfair practices in the opposite direction...

A company doesn't hire enough minorities....let's make a law forcing them to hire unqualified people to meet a quota based on gender or skin color...basically fighting discrimination with reversed discrimination....that's not true equality nor implied equality...