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Before you read the title of this article and close your laptop, I am part of a feminist advocacy group at United World College. During my several years as a part of this group, I have (ironically) slowly begun to harbour contrasting thoughts in regards to 'feminism'.
Why is this? I have several points of discussion, but I will only focus on a very small subset of issues because addressing all would lead to an extremely long debate. My main point is the inherent, subtly flawed ideologies that feminism has created within society.
One such ideology is that ‘We should promote women entering STEM fields’, however, this in itself has its own problems. Essentially, it perpetuates the idea that if you enter a STEM field you are somehow ‘more equal’ than or ‘standing up’ for other females, and that somehow women in humanities are ‘giving up’ in the race for STEM.
However, clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson’s has found that countries with the greatest gender equality have had less women in STEM and that they also report a higher life satisfaction. In that case, is our imposition wrong?
Let us change the case a bit. Let’s say that the claim has changed to ‘Women have equal opportunity in STEM fields’. I agree with this statement, but then let us think about the converse statements: ‘We should promote men entering the humanities’, or, to rephrase it, ‘Men should have equal opportunity in the humanities.’ Is there a difference? Some may argue that the conversation on women is stronger because ‘STEM is such an important field’, but what happened to pursuing your dreams? I have several male acquaintances who secretly loved the arts, but forced themselves to go through studying STEM subjects for the sake of expectations (and then eventually quit their STEM job, or performed half-hearted work while pursuing their true passion on the side). Is this not a flawed ideology too?
With this comes my point: It is not regarding only women that this issue exists. By polarising certain themes to only women, it (a) creates in-group discrimination by placing labels on what is defined as ‘more equal’, (b) somehow implies that everything a male does is ‘more correct’, and (c) demotivates males from truly understanding the nature of the issue and possibly getting involved.
Building upon my points listed above, another form of this so-called labelling generated within feminist groups is the idea of ‘working’ being some form of ultimate equality. My mom, and several other moms I know, chose to dedicate their lives raising their children. Does this make them any ‘lesser than’? Clearly, the feminist ideology appears to claim so. Essentially, this again extends my previously-established arguments regarding the definition of ‘equal’ and the issues that feminism creates.
Now, a subset of you will see this as an attack on feminism; this is not the case. Women’s rights groups, just like children’s rights, is a case on its own. Women clearly do face certain issues that men don’t. What I am pointing out, however, is the philosophy that feminism has created: like some sort of race to ‘matching up to’ men, and the kinds of discrimination it creates, as well as how it renders the entire movement ineffective.
With this I propose two solutions: It’s time to redefine feminism. Yet, this is difficult: is it too late?
Create a new term focusing on equal opportunities for all the sexes.
I don’t know what this term will be, but at least it will maintain the idea of equal opportunities for all. At least males won’t feel stigmatised by ‘feminists’. At least, we can bring everyone into the picture for a happier and healthier gender balance.
Read the response here.