Eleanor Roosevelt High School's Student-Run Newspaper

The Raider Review

Eleanor Roosevelt High School's Student-Run Newspaper

The Raider Review

Eleanor Roosevelt High School's Student-Run Newspaper

The Raider Review

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Meninism vs. Feminism: It’s easy to mock our struggle when privilege is waiting at your feet

Nothing angers me more than one’s indifference to ignorance.

Recently on Twitter  two hashtags have gained popularity, #meninists and #yesallmen. They’ve not only become popular, but controversial as well. More specifically though, they have revealed the despicable and disgusting reality of some of those in our generation’s ignorance.

I don’t recall a time where I’ve felt so enraged yet so helpless. So even if my opinion is seldom heard, what I have to say must be said. When you don’t speak up or  speak out you become a part of the problem, a contributor to the oppression.

So if you consider yourself a “meninist” by Twitter’s definition, I challenge you to finish this editorial because I’m about to set some things straight. If you are a Twitter “meninist”, you obviously need some things to be put into perspective anyway.

So this all has started as mocking and taunting of feminism and feminists.

First of all, can I just say that you guys are using the term incorrectly?  The term meninist was created in relation to feminism, but not in the way Twitter users have inappropriately redefined it to be. It was created for feminism, by feminists. A meninist by definition is a male who “believe[s] in and support[s] the feminist principles of women’s political, social, and economic equality.”

All of you frivolous “meninists”, who have no purpose other than receiving a few laughs or retweets, truly have some nerve.

Meninism could be effective. Some of the issues that have been brought up are serious and rational. Many of these issues include male gender roles and double standards. But some of you guys have managed to make this “movement” some sick kind of joke. It is not comical. It is not clever. It is not commendable.

It is disgusting.

Can we talk about the “#YesAllMen” hashtag?

Do you all even know what you’re ridiculing? Do you even know what “#YesAllWomen” is about?

It is about women fighting back.

Assault. Lower pay. Disrespect. Catcalling. Objectification, and so on and so forth.

It discussed the ridiculousness of how routine it has become to tell a friend “text me when you get home so that I know you’re safe.” How ridiculous it is that women do all they can to avoid walking home alone at night, because every stranger you see may be a potential rapist. And how ridiculous it is that we advise people not to drink and drive, but for women we add a little extra “don’t drink alone, you may be assaulted.” I could go on forever about the challenges granted to someone at birth for just being born a female.  #YesAllWomen was about giving women a voice against injustice, a voice that has so long been silenced.

While #YesAllMen is about being angry because you’re girlfriend didn’t make you a sandwich or because you’re not tall enough to meet a female’s preferences.

So when it all comes down to is #YesAllMen is about the trivial, half the things “meninists” are complaining about have to do with preferences rather than rights. #YesAllWomen is about the controversial.

I can’t seem to grasp why people despise and degrade feminism so much, when all it promotes is equality. How can people be so foolish and careless as to undermine women when doing so is disrespecting your mothers, sisters, aunts, and even daughters. How dare you?

‘It’s just a joke.’ That’s all I’ve been hearing. But how could you think of something so serious to be funny?

Is it uncool to  support and respect women? If roles were switched half of the people mocking us feminists wouldn’t last a day in our shoes.

It’s easy to mock our oppression when you are the oppressor. It’s easy to joke of our suppression where you aren’t the one being suppressed.It’s easy to mock our struggle when privilege is waiting at your feet.

View Comments (11)
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Comments (11)

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  • A

    adviserMar 2, 2016 at 11:12 am

    Good afternoon,

    I’m closing this comment threat, as this student has graduated and is no longer at the paper to reply.

    I also want to remind everyone that we have a policy at this paper that allows me, as the adviser, to refuse approval of comments that are inappropriate or threatening to our student journalists.

    Please also be advised that the school takes threats to its students very seriously. We appreciate all opinions and respect that you have them, but we are also obligated to take action against any threats to our students.

    Thank you,

    Audrey Ruoff

    Reply
  • A

    AndyJul 30, 2015 at 2:53 pm

    I respect your opinion Tina but I personally feel that equal treatment between men and women is not possible. We are just different, for example I was Army Infantry and the only reason I wouldn’t want a women in combat next to me is because she has to be able to carry my 200 lb butt if I’m injured in combat. I now own a construction company and again I have no issues with a woman working next to me as long as she can carry the same building materials as a man. Change Femenisim to Equalism and you might get more support from men.

    Reply
  • A

    Aaron SobbyJul 25, 2015 at 12:58 am

    Yes I call myself a meninist because I do believe in equal rights, but when women are victimizing themselves constantly, and making feminism into their quest to prove that they are better than the man, it really makes me question the movement, equal rights are important but honestly most of the movement has moved to superiority. And that’s not right no mater what sex.

    Reply
  • F

    FeministApr 27, 2015 at 11:47 am

    I agree with much of your article, Tiana. Have someone proofread your work before you post it and your message will stand even stronger! Love your thoughts.

    Reply
  • J

    JakesMar 27, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    You speak of a ‘gender pay gap’ (which has been debunked), what about the 60% gender tax gap? Women pay 60% less tax, so when is feminism going to correct this inequality, seeing as they want to be equal to men

    Reply
  • J

    JeffreyDec 11, 2014 at 10:40 am

    Its not really equality when women want us to treat them above men. Sometimes women just need hit a little more

    Reply
    • T

      Tionna JohnsonDec 15, 2014 at 1:14 pm

      This article says nothing about women wanting men to treat women as superiors, so I’m not sure why you said that .

      I’m also not sure – what does “need hit a little more” mean exactly?

      Reply
    • A

      AshleyMay 20, 2015 at 10:41 am

      Women dont want to be the superior gender nor are they degrading men. In fact the definition of feminism in the dictionary is “the belief that men and women should have equal rights and opportunities.” True feminism promotes equality for both sexes. Those who tweak the rules and objectives of feminism and use them advantages are not true feminists.

      Reply
    • M

      MarisaJul 11, 2015 at 7:18 pm

      i believe the movement you’re talking about is misandry, not feminism. feminism is about equality. misandry is about female superiority and misogyny is about male superiority.

      Reply
  • D

    daniel banksNov 21, 2014 at 7:06 pm

    I bet your favorite book is 50 shades of grey.

    Reply
    • T

      Tionna JohnsonDec 15, 2014 at 1:12 pm

      And how did you come to that conclusion?

      Reply
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Meninism vs. Feminism: It’s easy to mock our struggle when privilege is waiting at your feet