General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: If you think Feminism is not pro men, [View all]Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)I see no controversy here and people are clearly generating a controversy where there should be none. In any movement, there are going to be some members that can tolerate more of a particular culture than others.
Some Feminists have PTSD in regards to patriarchal culture and need to back away from it to center themselves or to even survive. So what? That's not anti men. And particularly not anti feminist ally men. They just can't deal with the current cultural climate. That's a personal choice based on a person's personal circumstances and past experiences. And when you have a lot of feminists falling into that category you form a group for self support. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Just because some women are distancing themselves from men that is not an attack on the concept of all men or any future redefinition of the concept of men. It just means the present and dominant cultural definition of a man is not helpful and in some cases damaging to the recovery and life quality of some women. When you don't know who is who or what is what from one scenario to another with some group, sometimes the most helpful tactic is to back away and isolate yourself until you can achieve some personal stability and control over your environment. That seems to be what those offshoots to Feminism are about.
As a man, I totally understand that some women - based on the current culture - just can't deal with me, even as a feminist ally. You just have to respect their boundaries without enveloping them in some negative narrative they don't deserve on top of everything else they have to deal with.
Constructing that negative narrative is what probably turns feminists into extremists like Solanas, btw. Drives 'em crazy.