I do not feel oppressed. I'm not a victim. I carry a concealed weapon because it's my personal right and it makes me feel more safe. I do not feel as if i've been dealt an unfair hand in life in comparison to men. I'm confident in the fact that I can do anything a man can do in the job field that I have chosen. I do not feel like i'm objectified by men. I take responsibility for my own actions and do not blame the opposite sex for my own mistakes and insecurities. I'm not power hungry. I'm not a target for violence and there is no war against me. I respect men. I refuse to demonize them and blame them for my problems. Men are not the enemy. I'm not a modern day feminist.
Five Reasons Why The United States Feminist Movement is Flawed
1. Feminism isn't about equality anymore.
fem·i·nism
-the advocacy of women's rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.
I also feel the need to add in that my post is strictly related to the Feminist Movement in the United States. My heart hurts for women who live in countries that do not see it acceptable for them to vote or work outside the home. I feel sympathy for women who are beaten, stripped of their personal freedom, have acid thrown in their faces, and simply aren't as free as we are here. Women in the United States have it made, and have no right to complain.
2. Feminism focuses on competing with men, rather than completing them.
Women were not created to have power battles with men. Men and women aren't equal. We were made this way on purpose. We are made for different things and different roles. Men and women were made FOR each other and to complement each other. Feminists: if you want "job equality," go to my dad's shipyard, put on long pants, a long shirt, steel toe boots, and welding gear. I want you to work an entire day without complaining about the heat or how bad your feet or back or boobs hurt. I want you to do just as much as any man can do out there, and if you can match his production, then you can get your equal pay. Let's see how long you last. You complain about men getting hired for certain jobs over women? Here is your perfect opportunity. Your welding job awaits you, and I can't wait to watch you thoroughly embarrass yourself. If you think you could weld, that's awesome. Congrats. But wait, you don't want to have the same job as this welder. No, you'd rather be above him and dictate his every move as CEO, because you're a power hungry, self righteous bitch. This isn't equality. If you can perform the exact same roles as a man in a particular job field, then you can get your equal pay and job opportunities. Until then, don't infantilize yourself and say you're being discriminated against.
3. They degrade women who choose to stay home, raise children, or play the "housewife" role.
Men are stronger than women in terms of muscle mass and strength. Nature designed men and women for different roles. If we were living in the wild, for example, men would be the hunters; the providers; the "breadwinners." Women would be given the role of looking after the home and raising children, which, as most of you moms know, is a full time job in itself that is often undermined. Through a feminist's eyes, women who choose to stay at home are viewed as being victims of oppression. They believe women should be out campaigning for office while their kids are.... where? With their dad who is at home playing Mr. Mom? Most women are naturally repulsed by feminine men, so why are feminists trying to strip their masculinity? If feminists are all about "womanhood," why do they badmouth the things that feel natural to most women? Maybe some of us don't feel it necessary to walk around dominating every man into our submission. I'm not saying that women can't go to work while their husbands stay home with the children. Go for it. All i'm saying is to let them choose their lifestyle as a woman and leave them alone. I can't speak for anyone else, but i'll gladly do the dishes, laundry, cooking, and baby raising if you'll cut the grass, go to work, do the heavy lifting, put things together and hang things on the wall (because my idea of a screwdriver and a hammer is a butter knife and something heavy), and kill the spiders.
Also, random thought, but I saw a picture of feminists out protesting Robin Thicke's "blurred lines" song. Posters said things like "F*** you Robin Thicke!" "There are no blurred lines!" It's just a song that offended you, yet, you've found a way to play the victim again. This isn't oppression. It's a song. I'm offended by song lyrics all the time, but you won't see me on a street corner protesting Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, or Miley Cyrus. Turn the station and don't listen to it. It's that simple.
4. They believe that the freedom of being able to have an abortion is "empowering."
If feminism is all about empowering women, why are they not focused on all of the amazing things surrounding childbirth? Look at the pain that women go through during pregnancy and childbirth. There is a strong belief that women withstand pain much better than men, and this is a huge example of that. Why do they not embrace pregnancy and labor and the amount of pain they must overcome to bring this new being into the world? Procreation is beautiful. The fact that I can carry a child for nine months, go through labor, and provide nutrition for it as an infant using my own body parts.. THAT is empowering. I don't need to have a baby scraped out of my uterus to feel empowered. Oh, and if you want "equality" with males, allow them to have an equal say in whether or not you abort the child that equally belongs to both of you.
5. They blame men for things that are actually their own responsibility.
Feminists are all about playing the victim. They believe that if a woman is drunk, she cannot "properly" consent to sex, and can claim she was raped afterwards (even if SHE initiated the sex). They also say that men objectify women (aka, see them as a piece of meat), but that a woman should be able to dress however she desires without being stared down or lusted after by men. If a woman is dressed slutty, she's going to be portrayed that way by men. That's just how a man's brain is wired. Telling them to stop objectifying a woman dressed in a skimpy skirt and low cut top is like telling a woman to stop PMSing. It won't happen because it's natural. Dress in a way that shows you respect yourself and your body, and this won't happen.
Feminists also say that a woman should be able to explore her sexuality and sleep with whoever she wants, whenever she wants, without being judged. Alright, fine. But don't complain when those men start "objectifying you" again because they know you sleep around. Feminists are good at being inconsistent. They treat the drunk woman as a helpless victim, but treat the drunk man as if he should "know better." Males are not invincible from the effects of alcohol. Feminists love to repeat that "one in four women are raped" during her lifetime. The actual statistic is that "one in four women claims sexual assault," which can mean anything a woman wants it to mean. It can be anything from rape, to kissing, touching, or even comments. But of course, feminists only select the most shocking aspect of the statistic and dramatize it as usual to get their way. I'm not downplaying rape. I'm simply pointing out the fact that feminist views and influences are based on manipulated statistics. Getting drunk at a party and having sex with a stranger is irresponsibility, not rape.
My parents have been married for almost 30 years, and in that time period, my dad has never stopped courting my mother. They are not weak. In fact, they are both two equally strong individuals. Their marriage has been successful not because my mother feels oppressed or forced to be the "stay at home mom," but because they fill in each other's missing pieces. They don't have to compete with each other. My mother doesn't want to take over my father's business and be the CEO of Rodriguez Ship Buiding. My family has a healthy balance. I was raised by a father who loved me, protected me, and showed me what true masculinity was. I was raised to be strong woman without feeling the need to compete with the opposite sex. Over my 22 years of life, i've learned to work for what I want. I do not feel entitled or demand special treatment in the workforce because I was born with a certain body part between my legs. I know that I am beneficial to this world and the man I decide to marry. Men and women were made to work together, not against each other.
So, United States feminists, defend your ideas. The truth is, you can't. Anytime someone questions your theory, your response is that they "just don't understand feminism." Feminism is just your personal opinions and preferences dressed up and made to look like some huge movement. Feminism won us our rights a long time ago. We have equal rights. What are you still fighting for? Just because you have a certain body part does not make you superior.
Women are so much stronger than you give us credit for. I don't need some feminist telling me how I should dress, act, shave, think, vote, educate myself, and work. I can speak for myself. Despite your beliefs, i'm not helpless. I'm not fragile. I'm a woman, and i'm not jealous of, bitter toward, or trying to overpower men. I know this post will be a hard one to swallow for some people, but the world is a land mine of opposing beliefs. Get used to it. It's time that someone stood up for the men. Females: sit down and be ladies so that males can rise up and be gentlemen. It's a little difficult to treat you like a lady when you're simultaneously trying to overpower them. Men, I know that you are not the enemy. I was raised to love you and respect you as long as you do the same for me.
XOXO,
Hope Rodriguez
