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Andrew Gubb · 12-12-2011, 05:09 PM

I've been thinking about feminism recently.

I know I used to disagree in one way or another with feminism. While I'd agree with some of the basic precepts, I'd reject feminism as too negative, or too whatever. This all originated in my PUA days.

It seemed a good idea at the time: some PUAs labelled feminism as the main thing which kept people from having success with women, as it reduced men's masculinity, and it was easy and comfortable to get mad at a conspiracy theory rather than working on myself. Later I rejected a lot of the more dumb ideas but held onto the resistance to feminism as a whole.

Now, I'm coming to realise, I mean really realise and not resist the idea, that yes, women were and are oppressed, and yes, something like feminism is a logical answer to that.

The denial of the idea that women were ever oppressed feels creepily similar to holocaust denial and I'm ashamed I was ever involved in it. Just goes to show how easy it is to believe something just because someone says it in an authoritative voice.

I feel tentatively happy about identifying - to some extent - as a feminist, now. In the same way as I'd identify as a vegan, just to make a statement about what I believe in and what sort of lifestyle I intend to lead.

While I think identifying with stuff too much has its drawbacks, I think there could be a healthy level of it. Also I feel like I "identified" with the anti-feminism belief before. Whether or not it's good to have identifications like this, at the very least I'm identifying with something less twisted. It feels good to me, a good gut feeling.

The limitations I want to put on identifying as a feminist lie at about the same place where I want to limit my identity as a vegan. That is where I get angry or resistent at the world or try to force it to change. The only way to heal the world is to stay open and loving towards the world, loving and giving unconditionally. If I fight a war, I will create a continuation of war.

I found it disturbing to look into myself and identify this sexist energy, this sense of lack of respect towards women. I find it disturbing to see it so commonly in other people. Just casual comments from friends or whatever. For now, feminism is my tonic for that.

Anyone have any good resources for feminist thought?

12-12-2011, 05:09 PM	#24 (permalink)
Andrew Gubb Family Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Nationality: British Soul: Otherworldly Current Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 5,960	I've been thinking about feminism recently. I know I used to disagree in one way or another with feminism. While I'd agree with some of the basic precepts, I'd reject feminism as too negative, or too whatever. This all originated in my PUA days. It seemed a good idea at the time: some PUAs labelled feminism as the main thing which kept people from having success with women, as it reduced men's masculinity, and it was easy and comfortable to get mad at a conspiracy theory rather than working on myself. Later I rejected a lot of the more dumb ideas but held onto the resistance to feminism as a whole. Now, I'm coming to realise, I mean really realise and not resist the idea, that yes, women were and are oppressed, and yes, something like feminism is a logical answer to that. The denial of the idea that women were ever oppressed feels creepily similar to holocaust denial and I'm ashamed I was ever involved in it. Just goes to show how easy it is to believe something just because someone says it in an authoritative voice. I feel tentatively happy about identifying - to some extent - as a feminist, now. In the same way as I'd identify as a vegan, just to make a statement about what I believe in and what sort of lifestyle I intend to lead. While I think identifying with stuff too much has its drawbacks, I think there could be a healthy level of it. Also I feel like I "identified" with the anti-feminism belief before. Whether or not it's good to have identifications like this, at the very least I'm identifying with something less twisted. It feels good to me, a good gut feeling. The limitations I want to put on identifying as a feminist lie at about the same place where I want to limit my identity as a vegan. That is where I get angry or resistent at the world or try to force it to change. The only way to heal the world is to stay open and loving towards the world, loving and giving unconditionally. If I fight a war, I will create a continuation of war. I found it disturbing to look into myself and identify this sexist energy, this sense of lack of respect towards women. I find it disturbing to see it so commonly in other people. Just casual comments from friends or whatever. For now, feminism is my tonic for that. Anyone have any good resources for feminist thought? Last edited by Andrew Gubb; 12-12-2011 at 05:29 PM.