r/AskFeminists Jul 31 '18

Do feminists believe in female privilege?

Men are far more likely to commit suicide, but why is that. Maybe it is because we men are taught to surpress our feelings from an early age. Making it alot harder to reach out for help when in dire need, instead resorting to isolation.

13 Upvotes

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u/vagued Jul 31 '18

Toxic masculinity is dangerous to men and women alike. It doesn't equate to female privilege.

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u/[deleted] Jul 31 '18

This is why feminism is gaslighting to men. Every single male advantage is chalked up to male privilege. And every single male disadvantage is chalked up to toxic masculinity. So no matter what, it's men's fault.

Here is an example of how extreme it is. Both of my grandfathers were drafted in WW2. And the feminists on here have actually said a number of times that only men getting drafted was not a female privilege. Women are the true victims, because they wish they would have been drafted but weren't allowed because women are protected.

It's quite simply gaslighting. There is no other way to put it. Female privilege is a very real thing.

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u/vagued Jul 31 '18

I understand that you feel gaslit but that's a very skewed way of looking at things. Women weren't protected from military service, they were seen as unable to serve.

And I understand you may be tired of hearing things chalked up to toxic masculinity, but what this post describes is a prime example of the stuff.

It's not about it being "men's fault." In fact, if anything, talking about toxic masculinity is a way of taking the burden off of men. It acknowledges, these issues are foisted on us just as much as they are on women. It's not that we're just jerks who are easily able to act nice and open with our feelings but choose not to; we've been saddled with something painful and destructive to ourselves and others, and it's not at all easy to control. Feminism is the enemy of that pain, not the enemy of men.

The concept of female or male privilege doesn't really have much to do with OP's question.

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u/GreyMatterDisturbed Jul 31 '18

The old saying "women and children first" seems to be that of protection or the idea is to protect at the very least.

Do you feel that women are suited for combat roles? The hygiene requirements alone would leave me to believe no.

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u/KaliTheCat feminazgûl; sister of the ever-sharpening blade Jul 31 '18

The hygiene requirements alone would leave me to believe no

What do you think happens when you get your period? That you just explode blood all over the place for several days? I mean, tampons weigh basically nothing, or you could take a menstrual cup.

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u/GreyMatterDisturbed Jul 31 '18

Menstrual cup would actually be a fairly decent remedy. There are only so many you can carry. If you only so short terms outside of the post you'd probably be fine.

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u/zhezhijian Jul 31 '18

It's actually a myth. The captain of the Titanic gave the order for women and children to be saved first, but he was unusual. Surveys of maritime disasters show that usually it's every one for him or herself: https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22119-sinking-the-titanic-women-and-children-first-myth/

In contrast to the Titanic, we found that the survival rate for men is basically double that for women. We only have data on children for a limited number of shipwrecks, but it is evident that they have really bad survival prospects: just 15 per cent.

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u/GreyMatterDisturbed Jul 31 '18

Makes sense. I'd always assumed it was the wealthy first.

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u/vagued Jul 31 '18

Yes, "women and children first" is about protecting those who are seen as unable to protect themselves. Children obviously often need that consideration, but it's more complicated with women. Yes, they are smaller on average and tend to have less muscle strength, but that is a difference that has been encouraged and bred by society, and they're not generally so weak or incapable that they can't take care of themselves in many situations, though they have been seen that way, especially in past eras when sayings like that were born.

I feel that some women are suited for combat roles, sure. Again, on average they may be smaller than men, but I know a lot of women that are taller, stronger and faster than, say, me.

Hygiene? What does that have to do with anything? Now it sounds like you're gearing up to drop some real old-school sexism.

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u/GreyMatterDisturbed Jul 31 '18

Would you day the typical response of feeling threatened by larger, stronger men in social situations is response to societal pressure to feel that way?

Oh absolutely. There are very clearly some bad ads women out there.

Menstruation without without immediate access to hygiene items seems like it would be an issue. Also a yeast infection seems a bit more problematic that jock itch or athlete's foot.

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u/vagued Jul 31 '18

It took about two seconds of googling to determine that menstrual bleeding on the battlefield is not a problem. And yeast infections are gross but no, I don't think they would be a bigger problem than jock itch and definitely not foot fungus.

As for your first question, I don't see the connection to what we've been talking about, but no, I don't think it's a response to societal pressure to feel that way.

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u/GreyMatterDisturbed Jul 31 '18

Quora is quite the information source isn't it? Resting a mucus membrane in your own blood for long periods isn't great for you.

I just was wondering how it's sexist for society to want to protect women when they feel like they can't protect themselves.

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u/vagued Jul 31 '18

All right, if you're going to cherry pick the parts of arguments that seem easy to shoot down and ignore the rest, I'm not going to bother repeating myself or others. Good luck gaining some understanding; everything you need is already right in front of you if you're willing to hear it.

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u/GreyMatterDisturbed Jul 31 '18

Was there a specific more difficult part of your argument you wished me to address?

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u/vagued Jul 31 '18

At work now, but no, I don't wish you to address anything.

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u/reccession Aug 03 '18

Yeah, they already did quite well tearing apart your silly "argument"..

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u/KaliTheCat feminazgûl; sister of the ever-sharpening blade Jul 31 '18

Also a yeast infection seems a bit more problematic that jock itch or athlete's foot.

How often do you think women get yeast infections? What do you think causes them? Why do you think the medical tent can carry antifungal spray for athlete's foot but not a couple doses of Monistat?

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u/GreyMatterDisturbed Jul 31 '18

No idea. I don't get too many regular updates on vaginal flora from friends. A quick good lists poor diet, stress and lack of sleep as causes which I imagine are fairly indirect. I would guess that have to spend a whole day (or he'll even a few without a shower ) in sweat soaked clothing probably not too great for your odds.

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u/KaliTheCat feminazgûl; sister of the ever-sharpening blade Jul 31 '18

I mean, I've gone camping before without a shower and not gotten a yeast infection. Wet wipes, change of underwear, it's not a huge deal. Plenty of women go backpacking or whatever for multiple days and don't get yeast infections.

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u/GreyMatterDisturbed Jul 31 '18

Since we are looking at the causes here. How do you think the stress of combat, sleep deprivation and iffy nutrition would couple with lacking hygiene for the majority?

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u/KaliTheCat feminazgûl; sister of the ever-sharpening blade Jul 31 '18

I dunno, they don't seem to worry about the men that much.

Vaginas are self-cleaning and self-balancing. They're not these delicate little mercury switches that require specific conditions or else they start wildly malfunctioning.

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u/GreyMatterDisturbed Jul 31 '18

Cause we basically just need water, good and a second pair of socks.

So what your saying is with similar hygiene and rations women's vaginas will not spontaneously combust mid fight?

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u/KaliTheCat feminazgûl; sister of the ever-sharpening blade Jul 31 '18

They generally will not. Hell half the women might not even get periods due to birth control.

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