Poll: Are you a feminist?

[Epona]

Women are not very happy today going by the number of women on anti-depressants. I think it would be an interesting conversation to explore the reason why.

In all seriousness, though, unless women are more depressed on average than men I don't think you can tie that to any particular gender issue.

I thought this was common knowledge but:

The study also found that women are two and a half times more likely to take antidepressant medication as males, while 23 percent of women ages 40 to 59 take antidepressants, more than in any other age or sex group.

http://psychcentral.com/news/2011/10/25/antidepressant-use-up-400-percent-in-us/30677.html

Don't like that link? Here's another:

Women are about twice as likely as men to develop major depression. They also have higher rates of seasonal affective disorder, depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder, and dysthymia (chronic depression).

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mental_Health_Letter/2011/May/women-and-depression

Now, that we've established that. Why do you suppose that women are so unhappy today?

Just because I'm too lazy to check this out myself: how are these numbers in historical context? Is there any correlation between gender issues and depression?

Because if there's no historical context for those numbers, any correlation here is pure speculation. Those number could just as well be a result of, say, the biological differences between men and women, or simply better research and knowledge about the subject of depression, as well as there being less stigma on the subject of depression.

It isn't speculation that women take anti-depressants two and half times more than men. I don't have the historical figures either but that's no reason to dismiss the above.

The amount of anti-depressants they take isn't speculation, no. But why the amounts are so high is pure speculation without context.

The amount they take compared to men IS the context.

I'll rephrase my question, why do you suppose women are more depressed than men in 2012?

Holy shit, I just realized that the article I linked earlier specifically says that anti-depressant use is up 400% since 1988 (which is 24 years ago). So there you go, usage is up by 400%.

 

[Evilpigeon]

"I shouldn't have to specify that I'm not a racist, because there shouldn't be racism, so instead I identify as a racist."

What the fuck?

Binary thinking at its best.

IF YOU DONT WANT TO BE ONE OF US YOU MUST BE ONE OF THEM!

Seriously?

 

[RafaelNegrus]

By western standards I'm not a feminist. The whole notion of the patriarchy doesn't sit well with me, and without believing that then you're not really in the club so to speak. (I don't like how incredibly vague it is, also it feels like it treats men as a group as a singular actor, which is obviously not true just as women as a whole aren't a singular actor.)

I'm all for equal rights, but feminism is about so much more than that now, very much cultural issues pertaining to how women are presented etc. And as long as this is talked about in generalities than I'm rather on the bench.

Also, little bit off topic but some people brought it up; I've done some research on the wage gap, and controlling for education, career, and experience, the main cause of the wage gap is that men negotiate their salary more aggressively than women do, ad so they get paid subsequently more.

 

[Naeras]

The amount they take compared to men IS the context.

I'll rephrase my question, why do you suppose women are more depressed than men in 2012?

Wait, I thought we were discussing whether or not women were more depressed now than before? Because this is an entirely different question. Ah, well.
I don't really have any idea where the differences in depressions stem from. If I were to guess I'd say biological differences, although I'm not familiar with the differences in male and female brain chemistry yet, so I can't say for sure.

 

[Epona]

The amount they take compared to men IS the context.

I'll rephrase my question, why do you suppose women are more depressed than men in 2012?

Wait, I thought we were discussing whether or not women were more depressed now than before? Because this is an entirely different question. Ah, well.
I don't really have any idea where the differences in depressions stem from. If I were to guess I'd say biological differences, although I'm not familiar with the differences in male and female brain chemistry yet, so I can't say for sure.

I added to that post after you quoted it:

Holy shit, I just realized that the article I linked earlier specifically says that anti-depressant use is up 400% since 1988 (which is 24 years ago). So there you go, usage is up by 400%.

 

[inquisiti0n]

Are you a feminist?

Feminism
noun
[mass noun]
the advocacy of women?s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/feminism?q=feminism

Definition of feminist
noun
a person who supports feminism.

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/feminist

If yes, then have you done anything active to advocate the equality of women's rights?

Incidentally, I am not asking why/why not you are/are not a feminist; that topic has been overdone already.

I could care less about the dictionary's definition of feminism. If you look up communism in the dictionary, it's not gonna tell you that it's impractical in real life, is it? That must mean it isn't, right?

Oxford dictionary cannot control the way feminists & feminist organizations behave in real life, nor can Oxford guarantee that every self-proclaimed feminist lives up to the ideals of its definition of feminism, so no, I'm not a feminist.


How's the abolition of alimony coming along?

Perhaps it's because one in four women will be raped in their lifetime.

The fact that people still believe this nonsense shows how careless and irresponsible the current state of feminism is. Who cares about the actual statistics, along as the message is anti-rape, amirite?

 

[Epona]

I don't subscribe to the notion because the fact is we will never be equal. Women will never be accepted into every section of society, workplace and warfare just like men will never be allowed to be primarily a stay at home parent or secretary or the like. Men and Women all have their inherent advantages and disadvantages. To me truly equal, we would need to be monosexual. Human nature disallows equality from ever existing.

Men and women can be equal under the law. That means that

- raping a man should be as serious a crime as raping a woman
- that beating a man should be just as serious as beating a woman
- that women should have to register for Selective Service too and be drafted in equal numbers should it become necessary to recall the draft
- that men and women should be treated equally by the family courts (criminal courts as well)
- that female child molestors should be treated the same as male child molesters by the courts (female teachers anyone)
- so many more examples but you get the idea

 

[Durgiun]

I do not identify as a feminist. Mainly because there are so many branches of it and in my mind feminism is really just a bunch of up-tight prudes trying to kill everyone's fun. And I don't mean ''stopping men from pinching women's asses'', I mean ''trying to stop me from watching porn''. I could go on a diatribe that would rival a George R. R. Martin novel in length, but I will show mercy (and wisdom) and spare you all from that potential flame war.

So you have nothing to say regarding the stoning to death of women in some countries or the mutilation of women's genitals in some other countries then?

Where in the hell did this come from?

haven't you heard?

If you're not a feminist, you're a misogynist holocaust denying KKK clansmen who is indoctrinated by the extreme right and the patriarchy.

And yes, that's almost verbatim what I've been called in this thread by a few colourful individuals.

Oh right, I was under the massive psychotic delusion that we're free of that line of thought on the Escapist. My mistake.

 

[Moth_Monk]

Reading through a lot of these posts it seems that quite a few people are confusing the distinction between a feminist and an egalitarian. To my mind a feminist by very definition has an egalitarian view but they are actively going out (e.g. campaigning) in support of women. I always thought of feminism being something you have to actively involve yourself in, not just passively hold a view.

 

[Moth_Monk]

In addition many people seem to think that all feminists are anti-porn/anti-sex e.t.c but that is not the case. There are actually different branches of feminism that disagree. Those that support being sexually liberal are called "sex positive feminists."

 

[Epona]

Reading through a lot of these posts it seems that quite a few people are confusing the distinction between a feminist and an egalitarian. To my mind a feminist by very definition has an egalitarian view but they are actively going out (e.g. campaigning) in support of women. I always thought of feminism being something you have to actively involve yourself in, not just passively hold a view.

If they had an egalitarian view, why would they only actively campaign for womens rights? Don't actions speak louder than words?

In addition many people seem to think that all feminists are anti-porn/anti-sex e.t.c but that is not the case. There are actually different branches of feminism that disagree. Those that support being sexually liberal are called "sex positive feminists."

Sex positive feminists? Are you making this up as you go?

Feminists can't decide if porn is sexual liberation or objectification. Most of us don't care what feminists think of porn though.

 

[Moth_Monk]

I do not identify as a feminist. Mainly because there are so many branches of it and in my mind feminism is really just a bunch of up-tight prudes trying to kill everyone's fun. And I don't mean ''stopping men from pinching women's asses'', I mean ''trying to stop me from watching porn''. I could go on a diatribe that would rival a George R. R. Martin novel in length, but I will show mercy (and wisdom) and spare you all from that potential flame war.

So you have nothing to say regarding the stoning to death of women in some countries or the mutilation of women's genitals in some other countries then?

Where in the hell did this come from?

haven't you heard?

If you're not a feminist, you're a misogynist holocaust denying KKK clansmen who is indoctrinated by the extreme right and the patriarchy.

And yes, that's almost verbatim what I've been called in this thread by a few colourful individuals.

Oh right, I was under the massive psychotic delusion that we're free of that line of thought on the Escapist. My mistake.

I apologise. I did not say that you supported the horrible mistreatment of women, I was merely trying to point out your generalisation of all feminists ("up tight prudes") by drawing attention to the fact that most feminists are concerned with more serious issues than pornography.
You see the generalisation that you seemed to be suggesting made it seem like you misunderstood the real feminist agenda.

 

[Moth_Monk]

Reading through a lot of these posts it seems that quite a few people are confusing the distinction between a feminist and an egalitarian. To my mind a feminist by very definition has an egalitarian view but they are actively going out (e.g. campaigning) in support of women. I always thought of feminism being something you have to actively involve yourself in, not just passively hold a view.

If they had an egalitarian view, why would they only actively campaign for womens rights? Don't actions speak louder than words?

Because as it stands we should be more concerned about women overall since they are, in general, losing out more than men. Once that's sorted we can turn our attention more fully to men.

 

[Moth_Monk]

Sex positive feminists? Are you making this up as you go?

Feminists can't decide if porn is sexual liberation or objectification. Most of us don't care what feminists think of porn though.

There's a f****** wiki article on it if you don't believe me. It was a big divide in opinion amongst feminists during second wave feminism.

To clarify: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex-positive_feminism

Further: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_Sex_Wars

 

[thebobmaster_v1legacy]

Yes, I am a feminist. Being a young male with no workplace, it's rather hard for me to do anything actively to promote equality, but it is something I believe in and wish for.

 

[Epona]

Reading through a lot of these posts it seems that quite a few people are confusing the distinction between a feminist and an egalitarian. To my mind a feminist by very definition has an egalitarian view but they are actively going out (e.g. campaigning) in support of women. I always thought of feminism being something you have to actively involve yourself in, not just passively hold a view.

If they had an egalitarian view, why would they only actively campaign for womens rights? Don't actions speak louder than words?

Because as it stands we should be more concerned about women overall since they are, in general, losing out more than men. Once that's sorted we can turn our attention more fully to men.

BS!

It has been listed many times in this thread how men are getting the short end of the stick but you won't even acknowledge any of it

You talk about genital mutilation but you don't care that thousands of newborn boys are genitally mutilated daily in the US and other western nations.

We have been more concerned about women overall since the beginning of time, it's why men go off to fight the wars, men are disposable. It's why men work in all the dangerous jobs, men are disposable.

Look around you both men and women have always put women first. It's always been women and children first, men last.

 

[Moth_Monk]

Reading through a lot of these posts it seems that quite a few people are confusing the distinction between a feminist and an egalitarian. To my mind a feminist by very definition has an egalitarian view but they are actively going out (e.g. campaigning) in support of women. I always thought of feminism being something you have to actively involve yourself in, not just passively hold a view.

If they had an egalitarian view, why would they only actively campaign for womens rights? Don't actions speak louder than words?

Because as it stands we should be more concerned about women overall since they are, in general, losing out more than men. Once that's sorted we can turn our attention more fully to men.

BS!

It has been listed many times in this thread how men are getting the short end of the stick but you won't even acknowledge any of it

You talk about genital mutilation but you don't care that thousands of newborn boys are genitally mutilated daily in the US and other western nations.

We have been more concerned about women overall since the beginning of time, it's why men go off to fight the wars, men are disposable. It's why men work in all the dangerous jobs, men are disposable.

Look around you both men and women have always put women first. It's always been women and children first, men last.

After considering the evidence, I respectfully disagree with you.

 

[German Borbon]

i think feminist is a misnoma, feminsm implies woman being superior than man, and that is as wrong as machism. i think the correct term is equalism

 

[Epona]

Reading through a lot of these posts it seems that quite a few people are confusing the distinction between a feminist and an egalitarian. To my mind a feminist by very definition has an egalitarian view but they are actively going out (e.g. campaigning) in support of women. I always thought of feminism being something you have to actively involve yourself in, not just passively hold a view.

If they had an egalitarian view, why would they only actively campaign for womens rights? Don't actions speak louder than words?

Because as it stands we should be more concerned about women overall since they are, in general, losing out more than men. Once that's sorted we can turn our attention more fully to men.

BS!

It has been listed many times in this thread how men are getting the short end of the stick but you won't even acknowledge any of it

You talk about genital mutilation but you don't care that thousands of newborn boys are genitally mutilated daily in the US and other western nations.

We have been more concerned about women overall since the beginning of time, it's why men go off to fight the wars, men are disposable. It's why men work in all the dangerous jobs, men are disposable.

Look around you both men and women have always put women first. It's always been women and children first, men last.

After considering the evidence, I respectfully disagree with you.

On what grounds?

 

[DevilWithaHalo]

Sex positive feminists? Are you making this up as you go?

It's an accurate statement. A few months ago someone called me sex positive and I was confused by the statement; since then it's been a growing phrase I've seen utilized in quite a few walks of life. My guess is that it's rooted in the feminist ideal of sexual liberation.

At first I thought it was merely an attempt to positively spin the concepts behind being "easy" or a "slut" toward women who openly embrace their sexuality. While that might have been the attempt, that fact it was applied to me (someone who possesses a penis), seems to indicate it has become a gender neutral term, indicating that a mans appetite for sexual pleasure isn't as perserve as once thought.

I really have to say, in the span of a few months, that's a huge step in the right direction and not something I would have readily expected from feminism. Women treating me as sexual positive over a dude that just thinks with his dick? Well fuck me sideways, they just might get a little more support from me if things continue like this.