There has been a lot said in the last 6 months on this subject. At least that is what I think anyway but do factor in that I really didn’t give a toss about the subject for the previous 39.5 years primarily because it was never spoken about by men whom I hung with, with the exception of the “burning their bra’s” shit-stir that I heard every once in a while.
This is the way my mind see’s things currently.
In Australia there is the overall large majority of women, lets say 65% whom are happy to discuss some feminist issues with their friends at the local coffee shop/girlfriends place after they have dropped the kids off at school possibly but not with the males in their lives or other men generally.
Case in point…dinner the other night with one of the girly’s friends where I dropped the subject of feminism repeatedly over an hour and didn’t get a bite…not one comment on this massive subject!
Then there is possibly another 30% of women whom are sitting on the fence in regards to feminism and where it might be headed and possibly discuss the subject?
Then there is the agitators…the 5% like in my case Megane Murphy, Dr Caroline Norma, Dr Megan Tyler and many many others. These women put their opinions out there for everybody to see, but not everybody because you still have to search for it to find this information and even then nothing is guaranteed.
I am fortunate in that I found these women via links on Twitter and thought their opinions were interesting and thus now have a fairly solid feminist network that I follow and keep tabs on just to see what they are talking about on any given day.
Where do I stand on feminism. As I said, I am fairly new to the concept but I agree with a lot (65%) of what is being said.
I agree that wages should be exactly the same for a day worked. I agree that we need to get more women into business but that will come as young women are from what I read aceing young men in the classrooms of Australia as a rule.
I want to see women be able to walk the streets at night without fear of an attack from some crazed bloke. I want to see men educated better about their sexuality thus that they don’t resort to rape or sexual assault and ruin a woman’s confidence/life possibly.
I don’t agree with those women however who feel that getting rid of prostitution will cease and desist the problem of violence against women, because it wont. The only thing that is going to cancel out this is education and the long term modification of society and how it values women.
Similarly, the subject matter posed by quite a few fem-bots is that prostitution is degrading and should be shut down.
I went down this road for a while and got hammered on by a few sex workers that I follow on Twitter because they obviously enjoy their job and are happy doing it. I read their replies and modified my opinion and that is why I choose now to support the education of men as a long term solution.
You will always need the law in this regard too. Whilst education will cut away a lot of the problem children it wont cancel out the equation totally.
Similarly, pornography. Those who suggest that making porn unavailable will stop the sexualisation of girls or any other number of issues is talking out of their arse. Pornography is here to stay, has been for many years and will be for many years to come. Get used to it.
EDUCATION + TIME + DISCUSSION is the only way we are going to solve these problems.
Children need to know the guidelines. Taught by excellent teachers whom are passionate about sending as many kids out into the world as is humanly possible who have an understanding of sexuality and how it affects THEMSELVES and also OTHERS.
You could cover off so much stuff over a period of a few years…it is mind blowing to think of what could be tied into a sound and well organised curriculum.
In regards to men. We are changing. Everyday we take steps towards becoming better but it is going to take time and that is why even though I get angry at times in regards to certain fem-bot articles and their seemingly militant viewpoints I understand that this pressure is required if we are to continue to make change.
Having said this I will always crap on about sexual education. I see it as being just as important as Calculus, Chemistry and Languages.
This is where I want to see some of that feminist energy directed. This energy might help some of that 30% to get off their arses and start agitating just like the minority. The flow on effect might then reach all those mum’s who are pretty happy with their lot in life because that is how they were taught to behave by their mothers whom it could be argued were possibly subjugated a fair bit in how they lived their lives.
And in saying that, there is nothing wrong with that choice but if we are ever to genuinely reach a point of equality amongst the sexes some of these women have to join the fight and stand up to the long held view that being a loyal mother and husband is the only way to make it as a woman in this world.
All in all though, this post is a work in progress. I intend to update it every 6 months or so and thus don’t judge me. Comment yes, but don’t judge because it is only early days for me in my education about women and how they live in a largely patriarchal society.
Lets talk on this and refine our opinions and move forward together to a better world for men and women both.
AES
Peninsula Polyamory 