Often, it seems that the statement "I believe in equal rights for women, but I'm not a feminist" gets derided, but if you can't be a male feminist, it seems a perfectly cromulent thing to say
Eh, I'ma disagree with that--it seems to frame feminism in a bad light. I think if you were being strict about it, in the no-male-feminists sense, he'd say "I'm a feminist ally" or "I support feminism/the feminist movement" or whatever. Much as I would say "I'm a trans* ally" but certainly not "I believe in the right to transition, but I'm not pro-trans-rights!" (rather than "I support but I'm not trans" which would be the equivalent to "I believe in equal rights, but I'm not a woman")
it seems to frame feminism in a bad light
I don't understand how. Can you explain?
Is this definition of feminism as simple as "woman who believes in equal rights for women"?
Because, honestly? I don't want to be a part of "feminism" if it doesn't include men. So I would therefore believe in equal rights for women, but not identify myself as a feminist under that definition. Bad light, enh. It's the light the definers want.
Usually people who proclaim that they are not feminists are doing it because they want to distance themselves from connotations with the movement.
Usually people who proclaim that they are not feminists are doing it because they want to distance themselves from connotations with the movement.
Yes, but if you restrictively define feminism, it becomes a perfectly valid statement, which is my point. There then becomes a connotation worth distancing yourself from.
Sure, but that's an uncommon definition, and not what most people would understand you to be saying.
I feel pretty strongly that men can definitely be feminists. I know there are some who would disagree, but I've never felt that mine is a minority view.
but that's an uncommon definition, and not what most people would understand you to be saying
But it's specifically what I'm talking about right now--I asked about the intersection of the people who place such restrictions on the definition and the people who deride that statement. I didn't pull it out with no context.
Luther to be made a movie? [link]
But it's specifically what I'm talking about right now--I asked about the intersection of the people who place such restrictions on the definition and the people who deride that statement. I didn't pull it out with no context.
I read meara's "it seems to frame feminism in a bad light" as based on common understanding of the term and common use of the phrase. That's what I was responding to.
I asked about the intersection of the people who place such restrictions on the definition and the people who deride that statement
Right. And in that case, if you say "Men cannot be feminists because they are not women", the appropriate thing to do/say as a (helpful/ally/supportive) man would be "I am not a woman, but I support feminism" (or vice versa, "I support feminism even though I'm a man" or whatever), NOT "I'm not a feminist"--is that because you don't like feminism or because you don't feel you're allowed to call yourself one?
