In a U.K poll over two thirds of women declared their support for gender equality, but only nine percent identified as a feminist. The younger age bracket of women (18 to 24 year olds), contained the highest number of self-identified feminists, and yet, also the highest number of women that opposed feminism. Even the term feminist evoked a negative reaction from over a quarter of the respondents. It was as though feminism had a desirable product but a severe PR problem.
The self pity of feminists
I have long stated my indifference to third wave feminism, but I have never opposed it. Now, though, I do. Feminism to me has become like a cup full of poison. The poison looks like water and the cup has a label on it saying it is water, but when you drink it, you suffer. In its 21st century model, feminism has shown itself to work against gender equality and the safety of women. It is a dangerous movement that needs to be opposed.
My indifference towards feminism began when I met my first third wave feminist six years ago. She was weak, and relied on excuses for why life was not working out the way she desired. Too many of her complaints stemmed from character failings, rather than external sexist obstacles. Despite living in the same society as me, she described it in terms that I could not relate to. It was one where vague, external forces were keeping women down solely because they were women. It perplexed me. I wanted to know where these forces were and why I seemed to escape their wrath. Eventually, I concluded that I needed to know more about feminism, preferably from the perspective of someone who was successful, experienced and knowledgeable on the topic.
Feminist pariahs
Lucky for me, there were a lot of women who fitted that profile. At that time, I had just come back from the Netherlands, and was drawn towards a black feminist who had an incredible story of fighting against sexism. Starting off as a poor, genitally mutilated girl in Somalia, she escaped the desires of her male relatives, and rose to become a parliamentarian in the Netherlands. Her autobiographical books showed me what feminism was actually all about. It wasn’t about complaining or wallowing in self-pity. It was about women taking charge of the trajectory of their own lives. Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s strength and determination in the face of incredible sexist abuse was impressive beyond belief.
Oddly enough though, Ayaan’s attacks against non-western male structures was not meet with applause, but with condemnation. Her western feminist counterparts treated her like a pariah. She was banned from speaking at certain Universities, and honours were taken away from her, all because she attacked the wrong patriarchy. I learnt quickly that feminism was not about criticising sexism wherever you found it, but only about criticising sexism if it was found in the West. Despite the abundance of evidence that showed the spread and extreme severity of female oppression in other cultures, western feminists refused to criticise and humiliate those cultures. Instead they bowed down to the god of cultural tolerance and remained silent. Western feminists also adopted this approach in regards to non-Christian religions. Attacking the Catholic Church for its stance against contraception was a great way to show off your feminist credentials, but attacking the far more sexist dogmas of non-Christian religions was so bad it was even considered symptomatic of having a phobia.
Women as a voting block
It was roundabout this time that the democrat primaries started, and Bernie and Hillary were running around collecting supporters. There were endless calls from the Hillary campaign to vote for her simply because she has a vagina. Even media outlets touted this idea as somehow brave and smart. And yet, women were not buying it. They rejected Hillary, and embraced Bernie. The Hillary campaign needed to act quick. So, they brought out successful politician and feminist Madelaine Albright. And just like Katie Couric and Taylor Swift before her, Madelaine Albright made the same tired statement: “Women who don’t support other women deserve a special place in hell”. Feminism was starting to look a lot more like sexism, where character is considered far less important than gender. As if feminists were competing over who can be more sexist, Gloria Steinem managed to even top Madelaine Albright’s remarks. On a late-night show Steinem declared that young women were only supporting Bernie to meet boys. It was now crystal clear that women were nothing more than votes to feminists. And if they didn’t vote per the established feminist view, they were targets for ridicule and abuse.
Racist feminists welcome
I became more and more interested in this sinister and disappointing face of feminism. But I felt that I was beginning to focus too much on famous feminists, rather than the normal workings of feminism. Specifically, I wanted to see what a simple everyday feminist event was like. I found a YouTube clip of one, which was very illuminating. In the foyer of the event centre, there were two things that stood out for me. The first was a pile of booklets dedicated to the life and work of activist, feminist, and extreme racist Margaret Sanger. Apparently, you can still be embraced by feminists even if you are genocidal and racist, so long as you are also fond of dismembering unborn babies. The second thing that was noteworthy was an obscene picture of Jesus Christ menstruating. I had no idea what this had to do with gender equality, let alone why Jesus was targeted. I mean, there are, and have been, lots of misogynistic religious figures, but Jesus was not one of them. All it seemed to do was try and be edgy, without a care for how Christian women might view it.
The superficiality of womanhood
After watching this video clip I was rather sickened by the whole display of feminism and did not want anything more to do with it. That was, until Caitlyn Jenner won Glamour magazine’s woman of the year award. Ms. Jenner has spent her whole life as a privileged, successful man. But six months of hormone therapy and one vanity fair cover later, she was now considered the best womankind had to offer. It was ridiculous, she hadn’t even been a woman for a year. Even feminist Germaine Greer, who has spent the past ten years criticising women’s attire, condemned the move. Naturally Greer was quickly condemned and cast out into the darkness. The priorities of feminists were clear. You can be bitchy towards women, but if you ever question the ‘T’ in ‘LGBT’ you are just the worst. The year after this event (this year), Glamour magazine didn’t even award woman of the year to someone who identified as female. They went straight for someone who was 100% dude, Bono from U2. I am still trying to figure out how that one works.
The hatred of men
If feminists were for gender equality, I began to wonder how they felt about moves that would make life for men better. After all, feminism should be about improving the lives of men too. In my city of Brisbane, a male only gym had opened. It was meant to act as a place where men could work out and seek male support. I thought it was a terrific idea. Men’s mental health does not get nearly as much attention or assistance as women’s. This could help rectify that imbalance. And yet, on the extremely feminist radio program, hack, it was endlessly criticised and condemned. Brisbane has so many female only gyms, why couldn’t men have one? Would that be so bad? Apparently, it would.
My feelings towards feminism was now one of deep disdain. However, it only turned into full blown loathing this weekend when feminist and Hillary Clinton endorser, Lena Dunham, tweeted her desire for all white men to go extinct. Just let that line sink in. Dunham was genocidal, sexist and racist in under 140 characters. Personally, I am very fond of white men. My husband is one and so are all my brothers. But the bigger reason why I like white men, is they tend to have western values, which are substantially more beneficial for women than what is found in any other culture. The thought of all white men dying out and being replaced by Arabs or Africans is downright terrifying. Without white men, white woman would be extremely vulnerable.
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Feminism is abhorrent
During my journey to this point, I was reminded along the way that feminism is not a monolithic block. It is a movement with different sub groups. Unfortunately, the sub group that controls the agenda and receives all the accolades, is also the sub group that spouts nonsense and hatred. It enjoys destroying women who hold dissenting views and has become nothing more than a politicised vehicle where bigotry, sexism and racism thrive. But I think the real damage of feminism is that it makes women weak. It turns them into victims. Just like the woman I met six years ago, feminism wants women to view every obstacle and bad thing as a sign that you are a victim and need to be sheltered. So like the majority of women in that UK poll, I still believe in gender equality, but don’t you dare call me a feminist.