Women, do you feel threatened in today's society? Males Please Also Respond, I want all opinions?

I believe Feminism is still something that's in dire need throughout many countries in the world.

I'd agree it's not necessary in the countries where women already have equal rights.

I don't think women are 100% treated equally, there are still issues here that should improve, but I believe those aren't legal so it's a matter of people's minds changing and we can't exactly legislate that. If nothing changed at all, I'd still be extremely happy as a woman.

My hope is that the majority of focus will be on getting basic human rights to everyone worldwide. Men as well, there are plenty of issues for men, I just personally feel a stronger need for women. I freely admit I could very well be biased and have not read about or been told about more issues concerning men. Though I doubt they'd compare over all to be honest =o)

Threatened, I don't feel that my rights are going to be taken anyway, well not that often, except for the abortion issue; I do feel threatened with that right a lot actually. I don't feel that my right to vote will be taken away.

For the modern feminist movement, there really isn’t one specific movement, both me and a good friend of mine consider ourselves feminists however we have completely different opinions on what that means, what our goals are, and what our values are.

I’m not threatened by pornography, strippers or prostitutes; in fact I feel that sometimes these careers in themselves can be feminist. However the problem lays in the way society as whole sees women especially women in these careers. In these situations women should have power in their sexuality that they are using to benefit themselves finically. However that’s not how they are seen, stereotypically these women are seen as lose, or sulty etc, however the men that look at, buy the services of these women are seen as ‘normal’.

I’m 22, I would consider myself a stereotypical ‘average’ woman, I go out dancing and to the bars, I dress in dresses and tang-tops. There is a difference in the times that I choose to be sexual and am treated as such and the times that I am treated sexual when I don’t choose it and I’m treated that way because I’m a woman. Example: While I’m coaching, while I’m working, while I’m shopping or eating at a restaurant etc. Here comes into play the right to choose.

In the second wave feminist movement (the amazing women that started to equalize the work force and gave women the right to choose). Do you know that there is still a wage gap between men and women hired for the same job? Do you know that most women work in the home and in the work force and are expected too? Did you know that women were at one point considered property and still are in some parts of the world?

I agree with you in some cases there are women that are pushing for prominence over men, which just would continue the cycle the dominant society has created. However, in the ‘modern feminist movement’ the majority idea is not of prominence but to fix the disparities that still exist. Those in power see equally as them losing it.

i'm not threatened in society at all, although once two men did try to physically assault me [i was 15 at that time, now i'm 17], i'm over that, and i have a respect for men, and dont have some sort or, "i need to be better than every man" sort of thing going on

but there are many parts of the world where women are treated like animals, and hence there is a need for modern feminist movements, and even in western societies, on average women are paid less then men, i'm not saying that we should all stand up at once and denounce all men, but work progressively to work on these issues.

personally when i think of my future, i'm not threatened on the basis that i'm a woman, but more on the basis of how will i get a job with all these financial crisis, and just normal stuff, like being able to keep my costs going, and everything.

No, I don't feel threatened in today's society. Nor do I keep pushing for dominance over males and I don't particularly care one way or the other about pornography, so long as no-one is being abused.

Mark A - feeling 'threatened' is a state of mind. I am 5'0 but I do not generally feel threatened in my day to day life because I am aware that the risk of being physically attacked is very small. Plus I could just as easily be attacked if I were a 6'0 man, knives, gangs and drug addicts don't really care how big a single person is.

I am a man and i feel extremely threatened.

As a man I am barred from the role I most wished to fulfill, being a parent. While I could run the gauntlet and try to set up a family I know I would only ever be a visitor; even with a marriage contract the children belong to the mother and my interaction with them will always be subject to her whim.

The thing that was supposed to give my life meaning has been stripped of all its worth to the point that I have given up on ever being a father. The risks are too great, I'm not going to build a house on quicksand and hope for the best.

First - as far as the feminist movement - I'm hoping it moves beyond trying to be 'better' or 'equal' to men. We are not the same and thats ok. That is what the true point of feminism should be - enhancing what it means to be a woman and a man. Along that line, feminism shouldn't just be about women. We are half the population, but guess who the other half is!? Men! So our issues are their issues and vise versa. We need to learn to work, live, play, love, etc together - not in competition.

Second - just because we have rights doesn't mean feminism should disappear. Thats like saying just because blacks have rights, racism doesn't exist anymore. Of course it does! Sexism just happens to be way more integrated into our society and our thinking since men and women have always lived together and depend on each other for the continuation of race. There was no one historical moment to mark the start of sexism, where as you can look back in history to find the beginnings of racism (when the races meet, slavery starts, etc). That is the collision of two cultures and was an event - instead of man and woman also cohabiting.

Finally, about being "threatened". No, i don't feel my personal liberties are in danger. But yes, I do feel that I am held back in certain areas where sexism is still clear. I feel that women are unfairly expected to be sexual and that our sexuality is for the pleasure of others instead of ourselves. (((Have you ever been having sex and find yourself making some "sexy" face or a "sexy" noise or something and think - "what the hell am I doing? Thats not me! Thats me acting and trying to be sexy but not being me and trying to find pleasure in what I'm doing!" Women's sexuality through history has not been for us, its been to please men. But anyway...that could explode into a HUGE tangent..)))

I do not feel threatened, but I sure as hell do not feel "liberated".

The feminist fight isn't done yet - just changing. It needs to look at issues that patriarchy (aka our current system) causes for BOTH men and women so that we can live in a more inclusive, accepting, free, and in general, just a happier place.

Hello jade254. I believe "Society" or the media are responsible in - part for the perceived disparities between the sexes and try to improve them with "Feminism" or the prominence over men. Which, I feel, is mis-guided as women now feel they are "entitled" to so much from society [men?]. That clear bounderies are lost, that they try to take it from men. I agree that women are dealt with less favourably when it comes to pay and in some cases equal rights. At the end of the day women are responsible for nurturing/creating life via the womb. Men are the hunter gatherer if you want to be really crude. And think women have or are pushing far to much to try and emasculate men while completely ignoring this basic human biology.

I agree with: Rachael K, Kurishi [very important male perspective], Slay247.

I don't feel particularly 'threatened' in today's society just a bit unnerved about how men are frequently demonised and I am worried that it'll just get worse and worse. I worry that if I have a boy one day he will feel demonised simply for being a boy and that this will lead to self-loathing and other emotional difficulties.

EDIT - Jade, just ignore people when they try to put words in your mouth, it is a sign of someone who can't contribute anything intelligent and/or someone who is simply trying to start trouble.

It was quite obvious you were refering to some women not all as is evidenced in your question "I hear A LOT of women". Unfortunately, no matter how diplomatic you make your questions there'll always be one or two people who'll accuse you of making sweeping generalisations for the reasons I mentioned above.

I'm a man. I don't see any reason for women to feel threatened or even for women to feel any special need to have a feminist movement. In my lifetime (I'm in my late 20's) women have always had jobs just like men, have always been bosses and high-level people in business, have always had the right to vote, have always driven, have always had an equal partnership in their marriage, and have all of the same opportunities as men. So I agree with you- what exactly is it that feminists are fighting for?

Sure, there are a lot of rapes that we all hear about all the time. There are bad men out there that rape women. But that's not a reflection of society in general. Bad men rape women and MURDER other men all the time. Should I, as a man, feel a constant threat that another man will murder me? Not really. And neither should women feel a constant threat that they'll get raped. bad people exist in the world, they always have, and always will. No feminist movement is going to change the fact that the occasional bad man is going to rape a woman.

Sure, women get involved in pornography. but they CHOOSE to get involved with it. And look at it this way: only women have the option of making large amounts of money simply by showing their body. Men don't have this option. Women would never throw away their money to look at naked men. (Sure, male strip clubs and male porn exists, but it's not anywhere even remotely close to as common as female strip clubs and females in porn. It practically doesn't even count by comparison.)

Sure, women get used in advertising and the media to sell things by showing their bodies. Feminists view this as degrading. But again, these women CHOOSE to pose for the media. And they get paid tons of money simply for looking hot. And if women can get men to spend money simply by looking attractive in an advertisement, then that seems like a power that women have over men. Not a degrading weakness.

No I don't.

And there is no need for the modern feminist movement in the west.

The feminist movement is still needed in other parts of the world where women actually have no rights. Those are the women I choose to speak for.

I have rights. I have all the same rights as men. I refuse to take them for granted.

I am grateful to the women who fought for the rights I have today.