There are extremists in every group. I need not remind anyone of the (minority of) feminists who joke about castration, say that all heterosexual sex is rape, or proclaim that all men are rapists. These people exist, but most “feminists” are not so radical. There are those who believe women are the superior gender, but they are not the norm: most feminists just want a world without “patriarchy”-that is, one without constricting gender roles: one with not only legal but social equality. The movement has made much progress in the West, but it has yet to make much progress in the East-so it will continue.
Anyway, there are extremists in feminism. However it seems the Men’s Rights Movement consists primarily of extremists. Perhaps it’s because the movement is most popular on the internet, but at every website I’ve been to (MGTOW, AVFM, Reddit’s “Red Pill”) it’s had the same general talking points:
*Women are spoiled children who regularly give “demands” to men, treating men as though they are disposable.
*The vast, vast majority of women will hurt you.
*They don’t necessarily hurt you on purpose; they are cruel and capricious by nature.
*Women have two goals in life: to “trap” a man for herself and for her children. But if you have these children, women will take them away from you. She’ll also take over half your stuff in divorce.
*Women are attracted to jerks: it’s evolution. They sleep with the “rapists” they proclaim all men to be, because they’re the guys who gets their attention. Nice, respectable guys are then used solely for their money and resources.
*The only reasonable thing for men in this day and age to do, then, is refuse to be in a relationship with these spoiled Western brats. Do things for yourself, not for others. (Alright, there’s a good part!)
How’d I do? Get them all?
Now I don’t doubt there are women like this. But are they the majority of women? Of course not. We see the same thing happen in extreme feminist communities: they will claim all men are selfish, pigs, rapists-to-be: but how many actually are? Very few. The same applies here.
MRAs champion a lot of important issues, such as alimony laws, the number of homeless and imprisoned men, and the abuse of men. However in order to gain supporters, they manipulate unconfident “nice guys” with these fears: women will never like you. Women will use you and leave you. You mean nothing to them.
Yes, some feminists base their arguments on fear: most don’t. I hope as the MRA movement becomes more popular*, it will stop relying on fear tactics to get its points across. It doesn’t need to. The issues have enough weight on their own.
*I also hope it gets a name change. Something like “Men’s Issues Movement” sounds much better, as men have been the most likely of people to have legal “rights” in almost all cases (ignoring the “right” to custody and ignoring the “right” to opt out of parenthood, which men don’t (yet!) have). “Men’s Rights” sounds a bit laughable, really, as the group has had more than most for years (not that they have *all*–just more than most).
Addendum: I’m aware I’m generalizing here. I’m sure there are many MRAs that actually want equality, and actually push their causes forward. Unfortunately I don’t personally know of any. So if someone could direct me to a positive site, community, or group, I’d appreciate it very much.
