Feminism is the "political, cultural, and economic movements aimed at establishing greater rights, legal protection for women, and/or women's liberation." While this sounds so simple and to the point, the concept of feminism is incredibly complex and very misunderstood.
As this picture illustrates, many men do not understand feminism in the slightest. Some people like to give the word "feminism" a very negative connotation and attempt to associate feminism with radical "crazy" women, bra-burning and threatening the order of society. Many men, and also women, buy into this perception of what feminism really is. It is simply the goal of attaining true equality between men and women.
While I was perusing the internet earlier, amongst the many hateful, anti-feminist movements I stumbled across a website titled "Meninist: Men Supporting The Women's Movement." Listed below is the platform of the Meninists:
MENINIST
"Equality for All"
Meninist is a global organization of men that believe in and support the feminist principles of women's political, social and economic equality. The following represents the platform we believe in (but the need for equal rights for women should be self-evident in this day and age). This page hopes to convey that a growing movement of men recognize and support the women's movement, for the benefit of women, men and all of humanity.
1) We are opposed to all forms of misogynist behavior and sexist attitudes; we respect all women.
2) We believe in a woman's reproductive freedom and right to control her own body.
3) We oppose all forms of violence against women, including rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence, as well as all negative stereotypes and violence against women in film, television and advertising.
4) We understand the need for men to participate in the women's movement and help end 2000 years of men's patriarchy. We pledge to support women in every possible way we can, including sharing responsibilities around the house and in parenting.
5) We believe that women should be paid in parity to men for the same work done and women should be given the same opportunities in the work environment. We oppose the so-called "glass ceiling" (the oppression of women's ability to advance at the workplace). We oppose the "Old Boy's Network":
We welcome all "meninist men" of like-minded feelings to submit their letters of support.
I was greatly surprised and elated upon finding this organization. The Meninist group are men that whole-heartly support equality for women. They recognize the societal conditions that have shaped the differences between men and women and choose to oppose those conditions that allow them to rise above women and to demean women as less than them. They strive to promote the awareness that men in our society are often unknowingly taught to support the system that benefits men. Men everyday claim to believe that women are their equal, but they don't live it. They treat women as inferior, often without even realizing it.
This organization gives us hope that all men will eventually be able to realize the need for equality of women and men. Men often believe that they can not support women's movements because it is a strike against their masculinity. However, with more and more examples of men joining and supporting feminist movements, and creating their own meninist movements, perhaps the number of men supporting feminism will continue to grow.
