As we step into 2017, there’s a plethora of pressing issues to confront, but one stands out above the rest: Meninists. Not familiar with the term? Buckle up, because this is real.
“Meninism” is described by Wikipedia as “a semi-satirical gender equality and men’s rights movement.” It emerged in the early 2000s as a way for men to engage with feminism, criticize sexism, and advocate for women’s rights. However, thanks to the wild west of social media, it has morphed into something else entirely. Time magazine notes that meninists now generally fall into two categories: those who feel victimized by feminism and those who mock them for not truly grasping what feminism is all about.
The Victim Mentality
Let’s focus on the first group: the ones claiming to be victims of feminism. Can someone please grab the world’s tiniest violin? Because seriously.
The notion that meninism is “semi-satirical” is amusing; it’s hard to believe that anyone who genuinely feels threatened by women’s quest for equality would recognize satire, even if it hit them in the face. Often, individuals hide behind “I was just joking!” as a way to excuse their behavior, but meninism has no valid justification. I thought I’d seen it all when some people cried “All lives matter!” as if they were the ones facing systemic oppression, but here we are—faced with a group of insecure individuals who feel that women’s rights somehow infringe on their own.
Understanding Feminism
Let’s take a moment to unpack what these meninists are ridiculing. They seem to have a fundamental misunderstanding of feminism. If you oppose feminism, you’re either woefully misinformed or simply lacking in basic human decency. Feminism is not an attack on masculinity; it’s a movement striving for equal treatment for all genders. It’s about ensuring that women receive the same pay, rights, autonomy, and opportunities as men. It’s not a zero-sum game. Are there some misguided feminists? Sure, but that doesn’t negate the movement’s overall goals. (And let’s be honest, the meninist crowd is mostly misguided.)
Meninism represents a desperate attempt by a dwindling group to cling to outdated privileges and resist the positive changes sweeping society. These folks seem to believe that progress equates to a loss of power, which could not be further from the truth. Anti-equality sentiments often stem from a sense of superiority or fear of losing something that was never theirs to begin with. But feminism isn’t about taking away; it’s about lifting everyone up.
Men’s Rights Activists
Now, let’s give a nod to men’s rights activists. They often get lumped in with meninists, and while they’re not exactly the same, they share a similar, albeit more aggressive, brand of misguided outrage. They claim to advocate for men’s social and legal equality, but much of their rhetoric reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what equality entails. They often attack anyone who supports feminist ideals, misconstrue issues like circumcision, and leap to defend men accused of sexual misconduct. Ironically, these so-called champions of manhood seem to be quite afraid of women.
Raising the Next Generation
I’m raising two boys who will have every opportunity to thrive, thanks to their gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. They will face the least amount of bias in a world that is constantly evolving. I refuse to teach them to defend their privileges at the expense of those less fortunate. Instead, I’ll instill in them the importance of using their advantages to support others and help create a more equitable world. Being a feminist doesn’t mean belittling men; it means advocating for fairness for all, regardless of how challenging that might be for some.
Conclusion
In summary, meninism is a reactionary movement that misunderstands the core principles of feminism. It reflects an insecurity and refusal to accept that change is necessary for a fairer society. Real progress benefits everyone, not just one group over another.
For more insights on this topic, you can explore resources on fertility and home insemination at Science Daily.