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- Very Conservative
Sooo... I'm noticing (mostly in another thread of mine, but in other areas as well) that there seems to be a bit of confusion between people of different political persuasions regarding just what, exactly, "respect for women" actually is (hence why I have the term in quotes, rather than simply stating it). I have started this thread - at the risk of "kicking a hornet's nest" - in order to address that issue.
First, I am going to lay out my own thoughts on the matter - What "respect for women" is, what it is not, and where it becomes something of a gray area. Afterwards, people can feel free to either add their own definition, or critique my own.
Fair enough?
Okay! Let's begin.
What "Respect for Women" IS:
.. - Politeness and common courtesy
.........Self explanatory. Everyone is deserving of basic courtesy as a matter of course.
.. - Propriety / Avoidance of unnecessary vulgarity
........."Cat calling," extremely obvious and prolonged staring, unwanted touching, unnecessarily aggressive tactics in venues which are obviously inappropriate (work, for example), and etca, etca... There's just no reason for it. Honestly, this almost falls under "common courtesy" above. If you wouldn't treat anyone else a certain way, one should not behave in that manner towards a woman either.
.. - Appreciation of autonomy
.........Like anyone else, women, of course, have the right to do as they please. This also includes "taking no as an answer."
What "Respect for Women" IS NOT:
.. - Ideological allegiance with the Left
......... - Feminism, Pro-Choice, Hillary Clinton, etca, etca... Yeah, I'm sorry, but no. Too many people (generally, partisan Left Wingers pushing a 'War on Women' narrative) seem to think the Left and "Respect for Women" are synonymous, relegating anyone who disagrees to some "other" category. To the contrary, everything mentioned above is the product of a completely subjective political belief system, with aims that are only even necessarily "desirable" on a subjective basis as well. They have nothing to do with a person's inherent respect, or hatred for, "women" as a generalized whole.
.. - Putting women "on a pedestal"
.........To preface this, I will point out that there isn't necessarily anything wrong with giving women special consideration if a person wishes to do so. As a matter of courtesy, I will hold doors for women, pay on dates (assuming my budget allows it), offer them the choice of venue when we go out, not hit a girl even if she hits me, try to bring them to climax first in the bedroom, and etca, etca. I do those things because they are things that I want to do. However, I'm not going to claim that they are necessarily required to be "respectful to women" on a generalized basis (within reason, at least), because that's just not necessarily true.
Unfortunately, a lot of people (self-declared "feminist men" in particular) don't seem to understand this. That takes a couple of - genuinely obnoxious - "white knight" forms. i.e.
......... - Believing women are basically exempt from criticism or complaint
..................I'm sorry, but they're just not; either individually, or collectively. If they can rag on men. We can rag on them.
......... - Believing that any and every female decision must be respected and supported
..................Nope! If I can call a man an idiot, for behaving as an idiot, I can certainly do the same to a woman.
......... - Believing no male issue can have merit, because women are "oppressed"
..................Bull****. They are often separate issues, and it is possible for men to be disadvantaged in ways women are not.
.. - Acceptance of the "Rape Culture" mythos and everything it entails
..................Basically a subset of the above two, but prominent enough to be worth talking about in its own right. Believing that the supposed "rape epidemic" may, perhaps, be overstated, based upon questionable research, or just flat out trying to oversimplify an issue far more complicated than the political rhetoric suggests, does NOT automatically make one a "misogynist."
.. - Belief that women can do everything men can do, just as well
..................Biologically and scientifically speaking, they just can't. Sorry. :shrug:
First, I am going to lay out my own thoughts on the matter - What "respect for women" is, what it is not, and where it becomes something of a gray area. Afterwards, people can feel free to either add their own definition, or critique my own.
Fair enough?
Okay! Let's begin.
What "Respect for Women" IS:
.. - Politeness and common courtesy
.........Self explanatory. Everyone is deserving of basic courtesy as a matter of course.
.. - Propriety / Avoidance of unnecessary vulgarity
........."Cat calling," extremely obvious and prolonged staring, unwanted touching, unnecessarily aggressive tactics in venues which are obviously inappropriate (work, for example), and etca, etca... There's just no reason for it. Honestly, this almost falls under "common courtesy" above. If you wouldn't treat anyone else a certain way, one should not behave in that manner towards a woman either.
.. - Appreciation of autonomy
.........Like anyone else, women, of course, have the right to do as they please. This also includes "taking no as an answer."
What "Respect for Women" IS NOT:
.. - Ideological allegiance with the Left
......... - Feminism, Pro-Choice, Hillary Clinton, etca, etca... Yeah, I'm sorry, but no. Too many people (generally, partisan Left Wingers pushing a 'War on Women' narrative) seem to think the Left and "Respect for Women" are synonymous, relegating anyone who disagrees to some "other" category. To the contrary, everything mentioned above is the product of a completely subjective political belief system, with aims that are only even necessarily "desirable" on a subjective basis as well. They have nothing to do with a person's inherent respect, or hatred for, "women" as a generalized whole.
.. - Putting women "on a pedestal"
.........To preface this, I will point out that there isn't necessarily anything wrong with giving women special consideration if a person wishes to do so. As a matter of courtesy, I will hold doors for women, pay on dates (assuming my budget allows it), offer them the choice of venue when we go out, not hit a girl even if she hits me, try to bring them to climax first in the bedroom, and etca, etca. I do those things because they are things that I want to do. However, I'm not going to claim that they are necessarily required to be "respectful to women" on a generalized basis (within reason, at least), because that's just not necessarily true.
Unfortunately, a lot of people (self-declared "feminist men" in particular) don't seem to understand this. That takes a couple of - genuinely obnoxious - "white knight" forms. i.e.
......... - Believing women are basically exempt from criticism or complaint
..................I'm sorry, but they're just not; either individually, or collectively. If they can rag on men. We can rag on them.
......... - Believing that any and every female decision must be respected and supported
..................Nope! If I can call a man an idiot, for behaving as an idiot, I can certainly do the same to a woman.
......... - Believing no male issue can have merit, because women are "oppressed"
..................Bull****. They are often separate issues, and it is possible for men to be disadvantaged in ways women are not.
.. - Acceptance of the "Rape Culture" mythos and everything it entails
..................Basically a subset of the above two, but prominent enough to be worth talking about in its own right. Believing that the supposed "rape epidemic" may, perhaps, be overstated, based upon questionable research, or just flat out trying to oversimplify an issue far more complicated than the political rhetoric suggests, does NOT automatically make one a "misogynist."
.. - Belief that women can do everything men can do, just as well
..................Biologically and scientifically speaking, they just can't. Sorry. :shrug:
