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WinnipegFan · 09-25-2014, 07:50 AM

I am fairly new around the CP as far as posts go, but I read the forum daily. I was never a poster or a fan of the thread that we are discussing. However, the discussion of feminism is one I engage in on a daily basis. It is a core aspect of the lessons I teach and the choices I make in the literature my students are exposed to.

I find it encouraging that Emma Watson gave a speech that began to include the understanding that feminism is not a woman's movement. It has been redefined as such by men that are scared. Scared because we are being forced to look at our definition of masculinity reflectively and honestly. We are battling the exact stereotypes that define the term as we attempt to revisit its definition. We need to have open conversation about it, we need to share how the definition affects us, but we are constantly reinforced with ideals that say "men" don't do that. Try reading a wonderful essay titled A Time for Men to Pull Together, it speaks to the lack of leadership in the redefinition of masculinity and the consequences of this on our children.

The feminist movement in my mind is not about women or men as genders, it is about humanity. It is about giving the qualities we stereotype as "feminine" equal ground as those we stereotype as "masculine." Men need to embrace and find balance with their "feminine" aspects of themselves as much as women began to wrestle with defining themselves by "masculine" qualities as people fought for gender equality. In my opinion we need to work towards redefining these stereotypical aspects as human qualities unrelated to gender, otherwise we will continually see it as "battle of the sexes" and our children will be constantly caught in the cross fire as they search to find identities for themselves. It won't be easy, or fast but the change is happening and it is not limited to generational change. We simply need to find the willingness to engage in the discussion, and we need leaders to make it a priority.

That is my two cents, and I am more than happy to hear responses but I won't bother with bating comments.

09-25-2014, 07:50 AM	#447
WinnipegFan Scoring Winger Join Date: Nov 2010 Exp:	I am fairly new around the CP as far as posts go, but I read the forum daily. I was never a poster or a fan of the thread that we are discussing. However, the discussion of feminism is one I engage in on a daily basis. It is a core aspect of the lessons I teach and the choices I make in the literature my students are exposed to. I find it encouraging that Emma Watson gave a speech that began to include the understanding that feminism is not a woman's movement. It has been redefined as such by men that are scared. Scared because we are being forced to look at our definition of masculinity reflectively and honestly. We are battling the exact stereotypes that define the term as we attempt to revisit its definition. We need to have open conversation about it, we need to share how the definition affects us, but we are constantly reinforced with ideals that say "men" don't do that. Try reading a wonderful essay titled A Time for Men to Pull Together, it speaks to the lack of leadership in the redefinition of masculinity and the consequences of this on our children. The feminist movement in my mind is not about women or men as genders, it is about humanity. It is about giving the qualities we stereotype as "feminine" equal ground as those we stereotype as "masculine." Men need to embrace and find balance with their "feminine" aspects of themselves as much as women began to wrestle with defining themselves by "masculine" qualities as people fought for gender equality. In my opinion we need to work towards redefining these stereotypical aspects as human qualities unrelated to gender, otherwise we will continually see it as "battle of the sexes" and our children will be constantly caught in the cross fire as they search to find identities for themselves. It won't be easy, or fast but the change is happening and it is not limited to generational change. We simply need to find the willingness to engage in the discussion, and we need leaders to make it a priority. That is my two cents, and I am more than happy to hear responses but I won't bother with bating comments.