So, full disclaimer I realize this is a very touchy subject. Our national social climate is a mixture of intractability, anger, frustration, and a general sense that things are shitty. At the forefront of this negativity are all the terrible things we are finding out about popular figures and their treatment of women. Collectively, we all had some sense that these things were happening now, or were at least happened in the past. Being confronted with them now, in an unrelenting succession of scandals and confessions is sobering and depressing, but nevertheless a victory. Specifically, I consider it a victory for modern feminism.
To be clear, Feminism is a philosophical and cultural movement which I still consider to be Intersectional Feminism, a movement insisting that all people have rights, including a right to equal treatment irrespective of race, religion, class, sex, etc. I happen to find Feminism in modernity to be necessary and valuable, if you’re curious about my personal opinion on the subject. That is why it causes me such consternation to see this movement which I hold as a force of good become increasingly disconnected from the reality which it faces, and consequently become socially maligned and ineffective.
I have been thinking about this for some time, and the final Straw For the Much Beleaguered Camel’s Back was actually a Facebook meme (ugh that feels dirty). In it1, various military servicewomen from other countries posing stoically in formation. When we get to America, we see a group of women half-naked ranting in the street. They appear to be what I can only describe as totally losing their shit. Setting aside potential issues with disrespect for our military women out there, anti-feminist marginalization, or feelings about military service itself, the image strikes me as something that resonates with an idea I think has some value. What is the real message of modern American2 feminism today? Truthfully, I can’t really tell you anymore, because it is fractured and under attack, which results in a lack of substance.
False Feminism
There is a kind of Feminism now that, as far as I can tell, is a two-prong movement that is at one point an attempt at showmanship, one-upmanship, and at another a radicalized idealism. Under the guise of seeking awareness, people perform ridiculous, but more importantly alienating and unproductive activities, and then make accusatory statements when they are criticized for their work. What benefit to the cause of feminism did this action have? Did it “increase awareness,” and what does that mean?
At face value, increasing awareness is something good. People can’t alter their behavior if they aren’t aware of what they are doing. However, “increasing awareness” strikes me as a cop out, a way to act indignant in response to a real indignity, but without doing anything. I (perhaps too much) like to call this Lena Dunham Feminism (LDF) 3 At the end of the day, you can hand wash the real feminist issues away by claiming to have done your part, when in reality all you have done is made a bunch of people confused, or worse, polarized against your cause. When people tweet hashtags, what does it actually do? Hashtags are another way to experience a false inclusiveness. Spreading awareness and hashtags are 2018’s version of the Livestrong bracelet. But at least the bracelet ostensibly went along with a donation to a purportedly good cause. Sending shade at people and twitter solidarity is not, unto itself, a movement for social good. But it is a way to feel good.
This the first half of the bifurcation of the movement that is false feminism. The ideas that apathy in the expression of totally safe and empty thoughts into the void, and that being the 2018 version of a grammar nazi in a hugbox, are absolutely intractable. LDF passively disparages and excludes the people feminism is trying to reach, both as potential members of the movement and targets of debate, with a total lack of engagement along with empty judgment and inane arguments. LDF is all about appearance and passivity. The Lena Dunham feminist is best exemplified by it’s titular member, Lena Dunham. As a true LDFer, Lena makes a huge issue about Odell Beckam Jr. doing….nothing in an interview she released between herself with Amy Schumer:
It was so amazing because it was like he looked at me and he determined I was not the shape of a woman by his standards. He was like, “That’s a marshmallow. That’s a child. That’s a dog.” It wasn’t mean — he just seemed confused.
The vibe was very much like, “Do I want to fuck it? Is it wearing a … yep, it’s wearing a tuxedo. I’m going to go back to my cell phone.” It was like we were forced to be together, and he literally was scrolling Instagram rather than have to look at a woman in a bow tie. I was like, “This should be called the Metropolitan Museum of Getting Rejected by Athletes.”
Lena Dunham saw someone sitting next to her, observed that person do precisely nothing other than not directly socialize with her, and turned her own thoughts into a public issue of Social Justice that indicts ODB as anti-feminist. At no point did she actually attempt to engage with him on any level. She just complained about it on Twitter. Classic.
Now Twitter and social media are powerful tools, and of course I am not insinuating that not a single person out there is using them in productive ways to both advance the movement and bring productive action and inclusion into the world. I have seen lots of localized and regional use of Twitter for Good. For instance, I think the #MeToo movement, even if it isn’t used perfectly , is by and a large a positive product of social media. All I ask is that we do not fall for the allure of absent participation! #maketweetsmatter
Radical Feminism
As I attempt to explain the second half of the schism, it occurs to me that because I am a man offering my thoughts on Feminism I will anger these people, and that’s a great introduction to the problem they pose. Critique should not be limited by sex or gender, though certainly my understanding of the issue is. I have no qualms about admitting I will never understand what it is like being a woman, especially a woman within the social conflict we are experiencing. But that isn’t a detraction from my attempting to thoughtfully discuss those issues, it is a boon to the cause of Feminism. Good or bad, our perspectives are all unique, and a blending of perspective strengthens a movement; it doesn’t detract from it. A valuable system of thought welcomes all input, even if it doesn’t then accept that input as true or useful. This kind of exclusionary thinking is how I want to introduce what I call Radical Modern Feminism.
In distinction from Lena Dunham Feminism, Radical Modern Feminism is actively harmful when compared to the passive harm caused by the former. I honestly can’t recall how many times I have had to defend feminism because of the brash and thoughtless behavior of these people claiming to feminists. These radicals have wounded the very principles of Feminism which, presumably, they seek to uphold. Radical Modern Feminism is a movement contrary to Modern Feminism. Feminism has always been centered on the principle of equality4. Not equality in the egalitarian5 sense, but equality in a legal and social sense. Being viewed in the eyes of another as a person first, being entitled to the same respect, dignity, rights, and compensation as anyone else. All people stand to benefit from a truly Feminist position. This is not what the modern radical feminist believes. The radical seeks nothing more than hate and fascism. The radical is an inverted reflection of the very force, so powerful now (as I have written before), that seeks to undermine our democracy and culture of independence and free thought.
Ironically, the modern radical feminist supports the patriarchal standards which they seek to aggressively turn down. Their primary force is one of alienation and otherness, as well as a certain unpalatable righteousness that immediately turns off genuinely thoughtful people and the masses alike. In my own life I know intelligent people who rail against feminism, and when it comes to modern radical feminism, I can’t blame them. It’s a misunderstanding to be sure, but radical feminism has caused rational and normal men and women to inadvertently return to a position that considers feminism laughable or even dangerous.
The functional expression of fascism in modern feminism is tripartite: it is the hyper-critical focus on dogmatic adherence to their own belief structure, an exclusionary or even hateful stance towards non-believers, and a total lack of specific direction caused by a lack of realistic long-term focus. Sound familiar? These are all factors in fascists movements throughout history, perhaps even groups we would consider terroristic 6.
The malicious focus on dogma is most dramatically seen in the vicious infighting between the radical modern feminist and other women. To a certain extent, I understand that as a man I have a lot of complicated ties to a systematic patriarchal oppression that did occur and to some extent still occurs. I try to conduct myself in a way that does not enforce those sorts of norms, but I at least understand an initial hesitance in some non-academic feminists, even if I don’t agree with it. But modern radical feminists are devouring their own supporters – all it takes is a glance at social media to see them criticizing women for insufficiently feminist views like their stances on abortion, romance, activism, etc.
For instance, the idea of colonization, which is the idea that women who don’t abide by the principles of radical feminism must be brainwashed or, as this blog puts it, are infected with cancer. As another example, there many articles like this one about how ignorance of racial issues condemns feminists to the same exclusionary arguments used against feminism itself. Or this Facebook post, which sums up some of the exclusionary aspects of radical feminism:
In my own life I know lesbian women who feel a lack of acceptance and identification in a community that is supposed to be helping them find an equal share in the world. Empty dogmatism serves no one and suppresses free thought. Excluding your base is just insipid.
All this, for what exactly? I couldn’t say. Taken to its ends, a world remade in the image of radical modern feminism is untenable. As with nearly any fascist institution, it is not possible to see anything other than avowed vagaries instead of a concrete, purposeful direction. The world will be…better if everyone bows to the expectations of a very small minority of believers? When has that ever worked? Exclusionary, tribalist tactics will unify no one, exacerbate the problem, and potentially cause real conflict that could set the cause of feminism back for decades.
The alternative? Take real action, but within the context of the social principles we hold dear. Exposing people who commit sexual assault is good. Openly communicating, being brave and honest enough to relate to others real experiences of inequality is good. Demonstrations that actually DO something, that make a real statement and indict our public officials when they fail us, not just some thoughtless performance piece are good. Rational discourse, both academic and informal is cool and good. These are actions that all people can perform and follow if they care to put the real work in, instead of descending into alienation and self-gratification.
Notes
- Of course, as these things go I can’t even find it anymore to provide a visual
- I make this distinction more because I have experienced American feminist actions, not because I have any clue whatsoever how feminism is approached internationally
- mad props to my homegirl Tina for turning me on to this phrase
- False/radical feminism also seem to deny this sort of equality by presenting negative or ignorant views on other social aspects considered within the scope of feminism like races, cultures, etc. I have chosen not to comment on it here because a) it would make this far too long and b) I don’t feel like I am knowledgeable enough on the subject to elaborate on it
- Egalitarianism is the notion that all people should be treated completely equal in every sense of the word. I have probably complained about this numerous times, but I believe that subjectivity and merit have a real place in our world. Our natural talents are real and should not be suppressed
- Not to say the modern radical feminist is a domestic terrorist. Ultimately their activity is nothing like the radical social action that is needed to actually institute lasting change. This shares much in common with the general American fascist impulse, which is too dulled and obsolescent to affect real change beyond the superficially cultural. See doofy ineffectual women in the image above- it’s just being lazy.