the sun is on my side

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In which I get tired of being erased by feminist spaces

technotation:

Kinda wish people would remember that there do exist men who do, in fact, know what it’s like to be treated as a woman in daily life, and thus know and understand the effects of sexism.

Because trans* men exist too, guys. This isn’t meant as a “WHAT ABOUT THE MENZ”, it’s that I tend to be dismissed on the basis of my IDing as male, regardless of whether or not I am perceived in my daily life as male (I’m not. Like, ever, because it’s not feasible for me to transition at this time and place in my life).

Cis men, yeah, they won’t understand it on the same level.

But it’d be really fab if people would remember that there are men who get to deal with this, too, and by lumping everything under “men can’t X because they don’t/haven’t (X), (X), and (X)”.

Seriously.

I’m a man, guys, and I get dismissed, devalued, judged, and harassed because regardless of how I ID, I am perceived as female in my day to day life.

Kindly stop erasing me, ‘kay?

(And don’t write it off as “well it’s obvious that they mean cis men” because when you say “men”, you mean me. Don’t give me that cissexist bullshit— if you have to clarify afterwards that you mean ‘cis men’ when you just say ‘men’, yeah, fuck that noise.)

I know that, as a man, at least the “sexist” axis of feminism is not about me, but please, remember that I exist, at least.

(Source: plaguemd)

Hey Feminists(TW: Trolling a Troll, mention of rape culture)

thefremen:

mrlinux:

If you really cared about equality, you would call yourself humanists.

Problem?

Yes because humanists is a term that already exists which applies to an existing and different philosophy. Obviously, I can’t expect anti-feminists/masculists/pro-rape advocates to understand this because if they bothered to google anything or actually pay attention in 9th grade social studies they would know things that refute the so-called “points” they make with trolling statements, but there it is. 

Humanism exists and it doesn’t mean what you think it means.

“Yes because humanists is a term that already exists which applies to an existing and different philosophy”

THANK YOU

ugh

What is Muslim Feminism?

mehreenkasana:

I often receive questions like this regarding my choice to be a Muslim feminist. I keep the queries pending until I find an elucidative explanation behind my decision while looking for equally unbiased, clinical descriptions of Muslim Feminism (sometimes Euro-centric feminists tend to shun Muslim feminism by misunderstanding its definition and agenda; which is highly problematic).

I found Rachel Woodlock’s analysis on the Islamic gender movement highly apt and enlightening but also very crisp and easily understandable for first-time readers. I decided to share it with my followers and leave it in the open for those who’ve inquired on various occasions.

Happy learning.

Who is a Muslim Feminist?

A Muslim feminist is one who adopts a worldview in which Islam can be contextualized and reinterpreted in order to promote concepts of equity and equality between men and women; and for whom freedom of choice plays an important part in expression of faith.

A fine distinction is thus drawn between the Qur’an and the concepts of sunnah and shari’a—which are considered by Muslims to be divinely inspired and suitable for all times, cultures and contexts—and the human fallible interpretation of these sources which can be revisited and revised as society needs. In the words of one writer, the morality of the Qur’an always superscedes the morality of its interpreters.

To delve a little further into this topic, Muslim feminists argue that Islam was born into a misogynystic and patriarchal society of the pre-Islamic jahiliyyah. Because the Qur’an is situated firmly within a historical context, it naturally recognised and addressed this patriarchal society. Thus there is in the Qur’an a hierarchical double layer which as interpreters we must take into consideration when applying the text to our lives and our societies.

Firstly, the Qur’an has an underlying ethical worldview which firmly promotes equality and egalitarianism for all human beings. This is the most fundamental layer of human interaction. Thus, the Qur’an says in translation to all men and women: “verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the one who is most righteous”. (Al-Hujurát, 49:13)

Secondarily, the Qur’an recognises the pre-existing problems in society and lays down time-bound and contextual measures to address these problems, and to allow human beings to move towards the underlying ethical worldview. Thus the Qur’an recognises the problem of slavery and provides methods for its abolition. Muslims feminists would argue, likewise, the Qur’an recognises patriarchy but provides methods for its eventual abolition. Thus, verses which appear to situate women within patriarchal structures, are temporary contextual measures, rather than being universally prescriptive.

[…]

Islamist feminists often hold the view that Islam promotes a patriarchal structure of family and society, but which isn’t inherently oppressive to women. The Muslim man is the head of the household, but he should not be a tyrant in his own home. A woman’s rightful nature, according to Islamists, requires that her role is primarily that of home-maker and care-giver to children. Paid work is a secondary option which must not conflict with her primary role.

Islamism is found in the revival movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Jama’at-i Islami and Islamist feminists include Zaynab al-Ghazali.

What is Secular Feminism in the Islamic World?

Secular feminism refers to feminist movements in the Muslim world which have drawn their inspiration from Western models which view religion as part of the ‘problem’. That is, Islam is part and parcel of the oppression that women experience in the Muslim world, and so secular feminists will situate their calls for reform outside the religious paradigm. They are not interested so much in reforming Islam, but in promoting a secularised version of sociatal governance which allows for equality of men and women.

Historically, secular feminists in the Muslim world were largely drawn from the upper-middle class and include figures such as Huda Sha’wari who founded the Intellectual Association of Egyptian Women in 1914 and who, after a visit to Rome, famously removed her face-veil after stepping off the boat in Cairo.

While secular feminists have had some success in parts of the Muslim world, however because religion, for better or for worse, plays such an important role for the vast majority of Muslim peoples, it is secular feminists inability to work within the religious paradigm that hinders its progress.

While studying Muslim feminism and secular feminism in the Islamic world, one must be rational enough to understand that relativity plays in the entire movement. For one Muslim feminist, religion is highly important for their life to function properly; for another Muslim feminist, religion institutionalized into societal and political pillars obstructs their liberty. Both should refrain from defining and imposing emancipation for/on the other.

I agree wholeheartedly with what Jessica Yee said: “We are not equal when initatives to support gender equality have reverted yet again to “saving” people and making decisions for them, rather than supporting their right to self-determination, whether it’s engaging in sex work or wearing a niqab.” Source: Introduction Feminism For Real: Deconstructing the Academic Industrial Complex of Feminism.

For more, read about the three main approaches towards Islam under traditionalism, modernism and Islamism here.

(TW: Misogynist slur)The main propagator of the double-standards women endure are OTHER. WOMEN.

thefremen:

totheluckless:

And yet, a lot of you blame men for it, and then turn around and tell us we’re too stupid to think. Well, if we’re too stupid to think, then you must be pretty damn unintelligent to be stuck in a self depreciating cycle due to us, now don’t you?

Rejoice, because it’s not men. It’s your own inner voices that lack self-value. Because guys like girls. We’re simple creatures in that regard. Sure, we each have our preferences, but I can literally guarantee that there are at least 5 guys I know that want to fuck you. No matter what you look like.

As long as you’re clean, fun, and interesting, some guy somewhere wants to be with you. Sometimes even if you’re not clean.

However, if you’re not even okay with yourself, guys are going to take that as a sign that there’s something wrong with you and avoid you.

All that being said, [DO NOT BECOME THAT SASSY LOUD UGLY BITCH]. Don’t become proud of your flaws, they’re called flaws for a reason. If you have things you feel are flaws, work on them. Don’t point fingers, that wastes time that you could be using to improve yourself.

Clearly, women are the enforcers of double standards in culture, they do more of it even though men have a stranglehold on congress, the senate, the courts, all forms of media and public discourse and for the most part women can only enter that discourse when they adopt the same misogyny as the men. 

Pretty fucking funny considering you, dude, chose to use a misogynist slur, and what the fuck do you consider “flaws”? I’m guessing refusing to conform to heteronormative patriarchal beauty standards? 

and I love how OP assumes that all women are just deperate for/even interested in male approval/desire.  

(Source: lockless)

The “Feminist” Tag

thefremen:

damnitdisney:

I’m seeing a lot of:

cultural appropriation

ableism

cissexism

trans erasure

slut shaming

and

white privilege.

People, check yourself. I understand if you’re just discovering feminism and there’s some sects out there that excludes certain communities so I guess there could be some confusion but that’s exactly what feminism is NOT.

We are trying to be as inclusive as possible, respect and equality.

Reblogging for the purpose of tagging this.

 reblogging for truth and exposure