Why Feminism is for men too – Men Talk Feminism

When I first embraced feminism, it was part of my identity as a liberal. I was anti-sexist, anti-racist, anti-many things. Feminism was more personal, as my favourite people were women (mother, lover, friends, colleagues) and I could see their reduced life chances due to sexism. I came to see it as much more. The liberation of women from their gendered roles and the liberation of men from theirs was the same fight. I was suffering from my poor fit with the male stereotype and other men were suffering too. How many were truly happy with the macho model and felt comfortable in that role. I suspect a small minority. For the majority, therefore, feminism is of critical relevance. For as well as the feelgood factor of striving to ease the suffering of mothers, sisters, girlfriends, wives and daughters they can pave the way to the end of their own suffering too.

They will get to inhabit a better place to be a man. A big part of tearing down the walls constraining women is to recognise the value of many of the characteristics seen as typically feminine in both sexes. These “feminine” qualities are dismissed as unimportant and unworthy of status in women and treated as weaknesses in men that must be driven out in order to achieve acceptance and success. The male stereotype can end up as a collection of absences of good qualities which make up a nice person. We are left with strength, resolve, honour and the protection of the weak – good qualities for sure, but not enough to make up a rounded human being and not exclusively male. My hope for the future generations is the freedom to be themselves, with more flexible models for what being human entails. The more we embrace feminism as our fight too, the more likely that is to happen.

I grew up in a house where casual sexism was a factor of everyday life. My time at school did little to counter these narratives. I did not internalise these views, and certainly knew that I was not keen on the prescribed view of manhood, but I did not know any different so would never have challenged it. Things changed when I went to university and got exposed to a very different set of views. My girlfriend was a feminist and explained to me that things didn’t have to be this way. I wanted to believe her. It still proved a challenge to change my behaviour, motivated by a desire to fit in, but I managed to find my way. I withdrew from the sexist banter and made sure I treated women with the respect they deserved. I would gently call out friends and colleagues for their sexist behaviour. Now I no longer fear the rejection of other men and freely express my feminist views.

I will quote Gloria Steinem. "A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men."

I will quote Gloria Steinem "We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters."

Ever since I can remember I have believed in inclusion for everyone. Feminism is not women against men, it's women and men working for the greater good.

Feminism isn't a word nor a movement for women to feel better. Feminism is a mouvement to make our society a better place to live for future generation, in the hope that one day we can all be equally respected and treated as human. Thus it's not only a mouvement for women but definitely a mouvement for everyone, men included. Although previous generation have had their way of thinking and behaving, it is important that current and future generation of men understand what was wrong and what can improved to treat women equally and improve the female condition nowadays. It is the duty of women to explain what's wrong and it is the duty of men to accept to listen and teach future generation, alongside women. Life and the future cannot exist without understanding and help of / from both gender.

By empowering women and pushing them to succeed on various aspect of life (first of all with their wellbeing), we allow for a happier society. Also, by breaking "morale codes" that were implemented we can only improve men well being as well. More than even we now have proof that a society lead exclusively by men isn't a well balance and happy society. Countries like Iceland & Norway were part of the first ones allowing women to have high ranks position, the outcome of it is a better quality of life and more stable economy. If countries can benefit from more social right and equality, it's easy to imagine how other aspect of life (and men's life) can be improved too :)

I've never understood inequality. Although I have always understood why older generation think and behave in a way that is unhealthy, I have never been able to embrace their way of thinking. I have always been hurt when I realised that we need "feminism" or to fight against racism. But the truth is that for a long time we have built our society on those models and it's the duty of the current and younger generation to dismantle those miss conceptions and moral abuses of human being. By simply targeting a society made upon equality of gender and race, we are starting to make a change. The underline is that, in order to focus our mind towards the right way, we have to learn and be ready to listen to what is wrong from the people being wronged.

Greater equality is a win for everybody in society and the chance for all people to realise their potential regardless of their gender, or any other irrelevant reason. As men we can use our privileged position to try and change things for the better, creating a meritocracy that frees people from traditional roles and allows us all to thrive.

A more equal society should benefit everybody in a multitude of ways. In freeing people from the restrictions of traditional roles and expectations it hopefully allows everybody the opportunity to be as they most wish to be. We tend to be most fulfilled and productive when we’re enjoying what we do and a happy and thriving society is clearly good for all. I also think that there is much about the traditional male role in society that’s harmful to men as evidenced by the appalling suicide rate, level of mental health issues, level of violence, and prison numbers. The world is changing at an incredibly rapid pace and traditional gender roles are increasingly less relevant. If feminism can help men realise that recognising and embracing those traits and characteristics previously seems as “female” then that has to be healthy.

As a young man I’m fairly sure that I failed to understand the need for feminism or indeed what it really was. In all truth I’m still not sure what “feminism” really means as there are various definitions but it seems very clear that we desperately need greater equality of all kinds in our society and I believe we must all take responsibility for that and do what we can.

Because Feminism gave us a different perspective and view of the world and since females constituted more than half of the human population their views should take the lead on shaping the future..

By exposing the inequality and unfairness of certain social norms, cultures, architecture and design and many other aspects of everyday life that had been created by men and for men only.. Feminism brings attention to these issues loud and clear and men should be aware that we are just recently emancipated ourselves from dictatorships, monarchies, slavery, human rights abuses and oppression and the feminist fight should remind us all that there is still a long road ahead..

I have always embraced feminism even if there was not a defined movement in mexico in my youth.. I was raised by my mother and have always benefited from the female intellect, opinions and views..