I could be considered ''feminist'' by default.
I was brought up treated differently because of being born female, I was reminded of this daily, it was even physically said to me, considering myself
lesser was expected of me and when I stepped out of that I was soon reminded, in all too hurtful to recall ways.
Thankfully, I am headstrong and always have been, I have always fought against the demeaning of me for being female, and as such I will do for any
demeaning of any female just for being female, same for the general female population. I see this as being ethical and having my moral compass
pointing in the right direction. I hold the same moral standards generally, so if I seen a man being bullied just for being a man I would be against
it, same for any sort of bullying.
I refuse allowing my childhood pain any hold on my life or emotions so I won't dwell on it but my ''feminism'' is a survival tool and ingrained in my
DNA, it is naturally a part of me.
Now for the definism of my ''feminism'', I would say it is just natural equality, I don't go around protesting or dressing like a man, I am
heterosexual and value the strengths of men as I value the strengths of women, both have areas in which we are more suited to, if a man holds a door
open for me I would be just as grateful as if a woman had.
So while you might be miffed at some woman stropping at you, you might like to refrain from collectively referring to her actions as typically
''feminist'', just as you would rather your action of holding a door open wasn't seen as typically ''patriarchal''.
Maybe she was having a bad day, maybe she had been abused by men all her life, you don't know her point of view. Just as the small interaction of her
words to you hurt you and you are griping about it online, feeling victimised, she might have endured much worse from a society that has made life for
women a whole different ball game to that of men in many ways. So whilst a kind gesture should be seen as such, perhaps there were perceived
interactions, however subliminal or miniscule, eye contact etc that she objected to that caused the reaction.
So, whilst you might not be guilty of ''patriarchy'', society is bent that way, and all men should be able to see how this affects women.
Furthermore, accusing ''feminists'' as wanting a ''matriarchy'' is just plain old playing the victim and a straw man argument. ''Feminism'' is about
EQUALITY.
edit on 20-4-2014 by theabsolutetruth because: (no reason given)