Let me first start by saying, I am about speak my mind on a very controversial topic. That is the reason I needed to come here. I do not wish to associate my name with a thought process that may seem incredibly Non-PC for a large group of people. Thus, if you are easily offended, I wanted to provide a bit of an ALERT to stop reading.
Recently in the past 5 years, I have been seeing more and more of these posts on Facebook, Media and news outlets, and friends / coworkers....about Rape, Victimization of women, the rights of women, oppression of women etc.
This deeply bothers me, and its such a strong topic of conversation I am always afraid of voicing my own opinions. It doesn't bother me because of the things in this world that actually do occur, it bothers me in the way people speak about them and how that portrays the other side in this conversation. Below, I will provide two of these thoughts. Please comment back as I really want to know how others see these issues.
1) In cases of assault, rape etc...sure no one can protect themselves from every situation....however when people start these giant campaigns about how women as an entire group are victimized, sexually harassed, humiliated, and powerless.....I don't see it. If someone wanted to assault me...I wouldn't expect it, and would probably be a victim too...but the kicker is...I am a man. What makes women any more different? They aren't as physically strong as men who assault them? Carry protection, address the situation of harassment head on. EQUAL rights....Equal opportunity to protect yourself...So if any argument says that its "different" for women....then that person is also admitting that the sexes are not equal, their abilities are not equal, and thus there really shouldn't be this whole campaign about women being able to do ANYTHING that men can do.
What really gets to me about the above is that....I keep seeing people writing poems, making documentaries, providing fake or skewed statistics, and essentially just "Talking" the issue out. What does this really do? It makes MEN the verbal and societal victims by placing the blame on them for your own inability to deal with the issue. Talking doesn't solve the issue. Do people really think the actual rapists give any care about what you want or say? They are going to do what they want regardless of the social pressure placed on them.
2) Secondly...oppression? Sure, in some countries, women are essentially on the same social level as a grain of salt. However, this isn't where conversations about this are taking place. These talks are taking place in the western world...in countries where historically speaking, women were taken care of, wined and dined, and respected. This in the past was done because women were viewed as "weak" and needing to be taken care of by the "man of the house". However, if we really want to go deep on this topic....if women want equal rights...then it needs to happen across the board. No wine and dine, no free drinks at a bar, equal leave from work for maternity and paternity, and no special rights in the courts with custody, potential domestic abuse. We can't have special bias towards a sex, and then say....I want equal rights.
When I was back in high school some 15 years ago...I would see these girls hit their boyfriend when upset, I would hear "i'll kick you in the balls if you do that"...and it was said and done without regard or thought. If a woman was in the middle of time square and off and punched her husband....people would be shocked but not much would really happen beyond that (I have seen this happen in the middle of a packed sports stadium...and people laughed at the man). However, if a man did the same thing to his wife...others would rush to her aid, the man would probably be attacked by others, and he would immediately be going to jail because he put his "strong hands" on his wife. IMO....assault is assault....but its not treated as such. There are so many little things like this that we have ingrained into our society and it's just accepted. This really pisses me off. If I am being attacked...why can't I fight back?
Sorry if this seemed like a misogynistic rant...But the reason I am coming here to talk is because I really needed to find a safe place to voice these thoughts....I also feel like a victim here. I am a victim of the "silencing" of society because my views are unpopular....but the funny thing is....its the people who are speaking out, the people who have all of the above things happen to them, their families, friends etc...and going public with what they feel. They are trying to change the world to better their own lives and I can respect that; but they do it without thinking about what happens to the other side...then men who are good: The men who do not rape, the men who have wives whom they love... The men who just want to be in this world, talk to someone random on the street be it man woman or child without feeling like they are the creep or danger.
Recently in the past 5 years, I have been seeing more and more of these posts on Facebook, Media and news outlets, and friends / coworkers....about Rape, Victimization of women, the rights of women, oppression of women etc.
This deeply bothers me, and its such a strong topic of conversation I am always afraid of voicing my own opinions. It doesn't bother me because of the things in this world that actually do occur, it bothers me in the way people speak about them and how that portrays the other side in this conversation. Below, I will provide two of these thoughts. Please comment back as I really want to know how others see these issues.
1) In cases of assault, rape etc...sure no one can protect themselves from every situation....however when people start these giant campaigns about how women as an entire group are victimized, sexually harassed, humiliated, and powerless.....I don't see it. If someone wanted to assault me...I wouldn't expect it, and would probably be a victim too...but the kicker is...I am a man. What makes women any more different? They aren't as physically strong as men who assault them? Carry protection, address the situation of harassment head on. EQUAL rights....Equal opportunity to protect yourself...So if any argument says that its "different" for women....then that person is also admitting that the sexes are not equal, their abilities are not equal, and thus there really shouldn't be this whole campaign about women being able to do ANYTHING that men can do.
What really gets to me about the above is that....I keep seeing people writing poems, making documentaries, providing fake or skewed statistics, and essentially just "Talking" the issue out. What does this really do? It makes MEN the verbal and societal victims by placing the blame on them for your own inability to deal with the issue. Talking doesn't solve the issue. Do people really think the actual rapists give any care about what you want or say? They are going to do what they want regardless of the social pressure placed on them.
2) Secondly...oppression? Sure, in some countries, women are essentially on the same social level as a grain of salt. However, this isn't where conversations about this are taking place. These talks are taking place in the western world...in countries where historically speaking, women were taken care of, wined and dined, and respected. This in the past was done because women were viewed as "weak" and needing to be taken care of by the "man of the house". However, if we really want to go deep on this topic....if women want equal rights...then it needs to happen across the board. No wine and dine, no free drinks at a bar, equal leave from work for maternity and paternity, and no special rights in the courts with custody, potential domestic abuse. We can't have special bias towards a sex, and then say....I want equal rights.
When I was back in high school some 15 years ago...I would see these girls hit their boyfriend when upset, I would hear "i'll kick you in the balls if you do that"...and it was said and done without regard or thought. If a woman was in the middle of time square and off and punched her husband....people would be shocked but not much would really happen beyond that (I have seen this happen in the middle of a packed sports stadium...and people laughed at the man). However, if a man did the same thing to his wife...others would rush to her aid, the man would probably be attacked by others, and he would immediately be going to jail because he put his "strong hands" on his wife. IMO....assault is assault....but its not treated as such. There are so many little things like this that we have ingrained into our society and it's just accepted. This really pisses me off. If I am being attacked...why can't I fight back?
Sorry if this seemed like a misogynistic rant...But the reason I am coming here to talk is because I really needed to find a safe place to voice these thoughts....I also feel like a victim here. I am a victim of the "silencing" of society because my views are unpopular....but the funny thing is....its the people who are speaking out, the people who have all of the above things happen to them, their families, friends etc...and going public with what they feel. They are trying to change the world to better their own lives and I can respect that; but they do it without thinking about what happens to the other side...then men who are good: The men who do not rape, the men who have wives whom they love... The men who just want to be in this world, talk to someone random on the street be it man woman or child without feeling like they are the creep or danger.