Scarlett O'Hara

I'm wondering, whether or not you lovely people believe that feminism is still needed? Some might say that men and women generally are equal in regards to work and opportunities.

The other debate I'd like to propose is, what really defines a feminist? Can it be defined?

I believe that it's not about burning bras and hating men. It's about women becoming empowered and empowering their own to be what they want to be. Yes women can do anything these days, but it doesn't mean it's easier. We are expected to run households, look after children, manage finances, have a career and a husband. No wonder they can't cope. No wonder rates of depression are so high. With all the benefits of equal rights has come a LOT of responsibility.

Were women really destined to be carers and child bearers? Is it really in the Earth's best interests to produce any more children? I don't believe it is. I think tighter controls should be enforced and more focus be on feeding the people that already exist who live in dire situations. I may be rambling but I really think people put down feminism without realising what it has done for women in the past and what it could still do presently to improve women's welfare.

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someonecompletelyrandom

This is going to end in a ban. I can just feel it.

Sorry, carry on.

Dr_Rez

Personally I get a little ticked when women complain about a right they may not have (nothing in particular) yet they still dont have the "right" to get drafted. Now I realize men are typically physically more capable but its not like every job in the military is ripping through dessert sands wielding an m16 and field gear.

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Scarlett O'Hara

What, me being banned? If people can listen to each other and not make things personal there should be none of that.

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Scarlett O'Hara

It's not like all women are tiny and dainty who cannot lift a weapon. So yeah, they should definitely be able to get drafted.

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Dr_Rez

I did not mean they are, hence I said typically not always. For instance the average weight of a male is more so than a female.

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*Best chance of losing virginity is in prison crew*
*Always Checks Credentials Crew*
*nba > nfl crew*
*Shave one of my legs to pretend its a girl in my bed crew*

Scarlett O'Hara

Yip I'm sure it is. But if a women of substantial weight and fitness could handle it then they should go for it. Like anything, you need to be sure of what you're getting yourself into.

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GuitarBizarre

There are inequalities that still exist, and likely more for women than men, but by and large equality has been achieved in most civilised societies. What still has to be achieved is the more backwards misogynist societies catching up in that regard, and in places like japan, a cultural shift away from misogyny is taking a long time to really take hold. The younger generation are starting to get it, but among the more violent youth and the old timers, its still a prevalent social attitude that women should be a certain way and act accordingly.

Bear in mind we want to avoid positive discrimination but we should also take into account that for a large number of things women are simply different. An example would be politics. There are less women in politics, but that by and large seems to be because women don't WANT to be in politics. Canada has a scheme whereby women are given cash incentives in the forms of higher salaries and benefits, if they choose to work in fields where women are currently 'underrepresented', but these cash incentives in my mind are a terrible idea, because they work on the assumption that all things should have a 50/50 gender split, which will result in women being coerced by cash incentives, into careers and jobs that they're not interested in and not suited for. (And, according to a canadian friend of mine, already has)

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MoonlitSunshine

^ I'm with this. I think there are jobs and careers suited to certain mindsets, physical builds, mental makeups. In general, some of these jobs are better done by women, and others better done by men, and I'm not talking about housecleaning and caring for one and everything else for the other, before anyone calls me up on that. Women (in general) have a greater sense of empathy, and social ability: I don't know about you, but I'm at best OK at birthdays, ages and names, but my sister can remember the names of all 27 of our cousins, the ages of most of them and the birthdays of most of those, despite the fact that we only see 11 of them on anything approaching a regular basis. Those sort of abilities are well suited to HR type situations, or charity groups, as just two of many examples that could be given.

Now, there are however always exceptions: women who are good at "male" ways of life, and vice versa, which is why I think that jobs shouldn't be gender specific, but that people going into them should be aware that in areas that are very much dominated by one gender, they will be an exception to the rule, because they are exceptional people. Trying to force people that don't fit the bill properly into a job just to equal out the gender balance is just plain silly. There are areas that will be equal, because they aren't gender or mentality specific, but especially things like serving in the army, most positions in the army will be male orientated, because protecting the tribe has always been one of the primary jobs of the male population.

I realise i'm rambling a little here, but am I making sense?

In essence, I don't believe that balance should be forced for the benefit of a gender balance, as then people who are not right for the job will end up doing it in the place of someone better suited, but neither should jobs be gender orientated: The criteria for any job should be based on mental and physical makeups, depending on what is needed, not gender, regardless of how often the two coincide.

I realise I also haven't really approached my views on Feminism at all in this post really, remind me to do that at some stage :P

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someonecompletelyrandom

No not you specifically. People on here just take this feminism stuff really personal and just hoping it won't turn ugly.