[Sali]

I have been thinking about this because of the feminism thread. Now I need to preface by saying that I don't actually know much about the masculinist movement or if that is even the right term for it since this site seems to think "Masculinism" isn't a word. Does this group ever achieve anything worth while? I would consider myself both a feminist and a masculinist in the purest sense of the words, in that I think advancing both men and women's rights is a fantastic thing, but I'd like to hear others opinions about the movement and it's impact.

[Nowhere Man]

I'll post the exact same thing I posted in the feminism thread (only this time with masculinism :D):

I don't think masculinism is inherently good or bad. It can be used in either way, just like any 'ism', religion, ideology, or philosophy. Take Christianity for example. Some Christians use their beliefs to do good in the world; to be charitable and lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Others will use it to further their agenda of manipulation and control. Likewise, some masculinists will use their ideology to try and bring about equality, stability, and harmony in the world, allowing everyone to be who they want to be without stigma, whereas others will use it to demonize women and attempt to start a pointless gender war. It all depends on the individual. I'm personally not a masculinist, as I don't like to identify myself with any sort of 'ism', but I also believe it's wrong to say that someone is automatically good/bad just because they choose to identify with a certain group.

[Stephen]

Wouldn't it be the same thing as feminism: fighting for equality between men and women?

[Persephone]

Wouldn't it be the same thing as feminism: fighting for equality between men and women?

One would hope so, but as with feminists who hate men, a lot of self-proclaimed "masculinists" are women-haters who would have us revert to the 1950s and impose traditional gender role on women. In fact, every "mens rights activist" I've met have been so.

[Cetanu]

If we are talking about having equality among genders:
It's stupid to call either movement 'feminism' or 'masculism'. A better name would be "Gender equality" or "Equalism", "Equality"... something that makes sense and is not, in language, pointing towards one side of things instead of both.

If we are talking about masculism as in males being 'males' and not feminine or 'wussy' (depending on your perspective):
The gender roles that currently exist in society seem to have been inherited from thousands of years ago. I think they are redundant. A female can wield a high powered rifle equally as well if not better than a male half of the time. The need for brute strength, being masculine, males leading and initiating - it's all ancient. It should be a part of education in history.

[Paradox1987]

The problem with any academic/social movement like feminism or individual rights etc. is that everyone will have their own opinion on what it means. The people who take up one extreme end will lampoon the other extreme end (and vice-versa). I think Mill said it better than I can:

Again, in practical matters, the burthen of proof is supposed to be with those who are against liberty; who contend for any restriction or prohibition; either any limitation of the general freedom of human action, or any disqualification or disparity of privilege affecting one person or kind of persons, as compared with others. The a priori presumption is in favour of freedom an impartiality. It is held that there should be no restraint not required by the general good, and that the law should be no respecter of persons, but should treat all like, save where dissimilarity of treatment is required by positive reasons, either of justice or policy. But none of these rules of evidence will the benefit be allowed to those who maintain the opinion I profess. It is useless for me to say that those who maintain the doctrine that men have a right to command and women are under an obligation to obey, or that men are fit for government and women unfit, are or the affirmative side of the question, and that they are bound to show positive evidence for the assertions, or submit to their rejection. It is equally unavailing for me to say that those who deny to women any freedom or privilege rightly allowed to men, having the double presumption against them that they are opposing freedom and recommending partiality, must be held to the strictest proof of their case, and unless their success be such as to exclude all doubt, the judgment ought to go against them. These would be thought good pleas in any common case; but they will not be thought so in this instance.

-JS Mill "The Subjection of Women".

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

Man, people talk about the 1950s like it was some evil woman-hating era, I can't stand that.

[Mutatio NOmenis]

I have been thinking about this because of the feminism thread. Now I need to preface by saying that I don't actually know much about the masculinist movement or if that is even the right term for it since this site seems to think "Masculinism" isn't a word. Does this group ever achieve anything worth while? I would consider myself both a feminist and a masculinist in the purest sense of the words, in that I think advancing both men and women's rights is a fantastic thing, but I'd like to hear others opinions about the movement and it's impact.

Comrade, you made me do this.

You're asking for a

This is going to turn into a flame war at some point. Don't say I didn't warn you.

[Mutatio NOmenis]

I have been thinking about this because of the feminism thread. Now I need to preface by saying that I don't actually know much about the masculinist movement or if that is even the right term for it since this site seems to think "Masculinism" isn't a word. Does this group ever achieve anything worth while? I would consider myself both a feminist and a masculinist in the purest sense of the words, in that I think advancing both men and women's rights is a fantastic thing, but I'd like to hear others opinions about the movement and it's impact.

Comrade, you made me do this.

You're asking for a



You opened your mouth and inserted your foot.

[Mendi the ISFJ]

please define "Masculinism"