Why Feminism is for men too – Men Talk Feminism

Feminism is relevant to men because people are people and if there are groups that start off with a disadvantage just for being what they are, then everyone should do everything they can to help and change that.

Feminism benefits men because empowered women on a level playing-field can be great role models and have a lot that men can learn from.

I've always embraced feminism. The women around me when I as growing up always spoke their minds and made sure, one way or another, they weren't left behind or pushed aside. To me, it's mind-blowing that there are men out there that deny and reject feminism. As I tend to look at people as exactly that, people, and not stick them in gender-based categories, I'm lost for words that we even have to talk about this.´In my world, this inequality based on gender wouldn't exist. Yes, it might sound idealistic, but I cannot comprehend how people would treat someone differently, because of their gender (or colour or height or accent or whatever!).

We as men have a privellege not to see the harms of our actions within a patriarchal society, we get to choose if we engage or not. Feminism is many things, but for men, it can be a tool to learning. By understanding our own experiences and how we move in the world - how these movements impact the women around us, including those we know and love; we begin to see that the casual misogynistic behaviour, the power imbalances and the toxicity of much of the masculinities we see and experience, they affect us too. Patriarchy, often does not benefit the majority of men, but rather causes serious harm that usually gets played further out into the world through physical and emotional violence, against different genders adn within male communities. We are not hapless victims though, we have the ability to stand against it, and that is where feminism comes in, to teach and educate.

Feminism, and the grass roots work of many millions of women, holds a mirror to the systems that we live in and under and constantly seeks to challenge the personal and social harms that are caused, statistically, mostly by men. The benefit of feminism for men, is that it opens up pathways for us to do our own transformative work and take accountability for the harm that we have undoubtedly caused. Feminism can free us of the shackles of violent patriarchal masculinity, not only fostering a hopefully safer world for women, but allowing us to experience and share our emotions, thoughts and feelings fully as the complex beings we are. So many men I speak to are repressed, unhappy and afraid but cannot understand why. Feminism for me helps to show that there is a world beyond the macho bullshit that we are violently thrust into. Feminism offers freedom and equality for all genders.

In my heart yes. In my head, no. I have argued many stupid points in my life, including "not all men" and "why am I hated for just being born a man? I'm a nice guy." Unpicking my former self has been an experience. I have had to challenge my defensiveness and understand my place in the world through my many privelleges. It has taken me years to understand intersectional feminism, and I have argued against it, but I knew i had to challenge my thinking and learn further, and I'm very glad I have. It has been a difficult journey and by no means am I a perfect man nor a perfect feminist. The process is continual, learning does not stop. None of this would have been possible without the help of a very dear friend who always challenged me but also listened to my shit and helped unpack it. I am eternally grateful for her words, kindness and support. I hope to do the same for the men around me.

Because women are fifty percent of the population and are our mother's, daughters, sisters, nieces, aunts, partners, lovers and friends. If we care at all about any of the women in our lives then how can we not care about feminism? Besides, living within a Patriarchal society causes harm to all of us, and feminism offers the path not only to the liberation of women, but of men.

Feminism helps us to educate and inform ourselves and realise the way in which society conditions us to think, feel and behave in a wide range of ways that are limiting and harmful for us and for the people around us. Feminism has the potential to liberate all of us from the unhelpful narratives about who we are and how we are meant to / allowed to be in the world.

It is much easier to tell yourself that you are a feminist than it is to really take account of the ways in which you have caused harm to others through the unconscious internalisation of patriarchy and its values. I feel like I am still coming to terms with the ways in which I have unintentionally caused harm in my own life. Setting up a mens group where we support each other to do this work has played a fundamentally important role in this journey.

Empowering women to ensure equity and preventing abuse is everyone's responsibility!

Do we really want a world where women have no voice and have no presence? I think not! Women bring their sensitivity and unique points of view to every situation and I value this.

Yes I think so. My mother was a feminist and bright me up as one.

Feminism for me is equity for all. The predominant privilege lies with men, so I think it’s important for men to know we don’t have lived experience as a woman/trans person/or person for colour and to listen and learn and unpack years long taught misogyny and prejudice and be a better man

It improves your mental health. Gives you strength through vulnerability and dispels all the negative myths around feminism by being willing to learn

No, I was previously an abusive misogynist, who lost the relationship with the mother of my children because of this. It took me years of therapy, self reflection and eventually accountability to change. It has been a liberating experience for me and I feel much healthier for it, and now use my platforms to hopefully recruit more men to the cause and to question challenging patriarchal narratives they have learned over years