Discussion: Why do people underplay feminism?

Diarrhoea

I'll admit it, I underplayed it until yesterday when I rewatched this speech.

This is genuinely such a powerful speech, the perfect mix of anger, dignity and facts. I needed a transcript of it for an English assessment, and I was genuinely shook by it. If you don't want to watch the video, it describes how ex-Australian PM Julia Gillard refused to be lectured about misogyny by the current PM Tony Abbott Tony Abbott, who tried to use it for his own political gain. This was deemed 'playing the gender card' by her critics, although anyone could see it was a woman who had been victimised standing up to her bullies.

Julia was subjected to unprecedented amounts of hatred - a menu based around her at the Liberal party dinner had her 'small breasts, big thighs and red box' on the menu. When her father died, jokes were made that 'he had died of shame' at his daughter's policies, which Tony Abbott had reiterated in his address shortly before this speech, and which are directly addressed by Julia. The opposition campaigned for Australia to 'ditch the witch' and called her 'a man's bitch'. This is just the tip of the iceburg. Despite her many great achievements, she was remembered as one of the 'most incompetent, untrustworthy' PM's. Anyone could see, this is purely due to her gender that this was deemed acceptable.

And yet people say 'it isn't an issue'. That 'they are equal'. Why? Discuss, and remain respectful please.

Kingfisher

because those that benefit from the situation benefit from turning a blind eye

Tropez

Its the same thing with other issues. When people don't feel like the oppressed group, it doesn't exist.

In fact, there was a study that showed that white people don't believe racism exists. There's even people out there oblivious to ageism, mostly young people. Others just choose to remain ignorant.

RomanNavy

Omg yas my fave politician speech ever she DRAGGED

Diarrhoea

Quote:

Originally posted by RomanNavy

Omg yas my fave politician speech ever she DRAGGED

Right? It was great in content, themes and presentation. She made it up on the spot with nothing but a set of notes. She's so underrated, the Liberals really did a number on her legacy.

Kyle.

because most people don't even understand what feminism is. they just think its a ton of women wanting to overpower men

Chucko

Quote:

Originally posted by Tropez

In fact, there was a study that showed that white people don't believe racism exists.

What was sample size 1 person? Who did the study? I could cherry pick people and conduct a study and claim all white people believe in the Easter Bunny. Every person I know, including myself, knows racism exists.

Goosey

Women in civilized countries have the same rights as men, maybe more so, just look at any child custody hearing, it's 2015 now. So they made some jokes about her thighs. They also made jokes about President Bush's ears.

she has the vote, the has the right to enter politics, she has the same rights as men... what am I missing here?

Sasha.

Because women sorta get paid the same as men sometimes (and with sorta I mean 80% of their pay) so we're totes equal and feminists are just evil!

Kim Kardashian

Because on the surface, it appears that women are equal (at least in most developed countries).

Most people don't know the facts about women's pay & fail to see how they're treated by society.

Qbuilderz

Quote:

Originally posted by Sasha.

Because women sorta get paid the same as men sometimes (and with sorta I mean 80% of their pay) so we're totes equal and feminists are just evil!

I am tired of seeing this statistic; it is biased and nobody ever seems to take note of that.

Yes, there are discrepancies between the amount men make vs. women, and that needs to be changed for certain. However, the percentage is NOT as high as that figure makes you believe, as it doesn't exclude the variable that women, on average, enter lower paying fields (nursing, teaching, and arts.)

To recap -- women make less, but MOST OF IT stems from the average career paths women gravitate to. To put it into perspective, if women really made 23 cents less on each dollar, then why would corporations even bother hiring men? The real difference is smaller (but don't be fooled, it is definitely still there.)

Edit: to clarify, I know it looks like I am the quintessential person this thread is looking for, because by definition my post is underplaying feminism. I want to make it clear that is not my intention, but rather trying to expound upon that figure a little bit. It is a strong and compelling statistic, and it just irritates me that the power behind it comes from numbers that really shouldn't be there. It isn't me hating on the feminist movement, its me hating on statistics.

Moving to the OP; because people on the internet say they want feminism, when they are really looking for female dominance. It's the general "ALL WOMEN ARE EQUAL // YOU CAN'T HIT ME I'M A GIRL" double standard. (Side note; don't hit people in general. Your sex shouldn't determine this.) I think it is mostly a case of the few, obnoxious, and loud, giving a great push a bad rap.

Pixel

Some feminists are annoying and turn people away from wanting to support it.