Why is today's feminism so toxic and divisive?

Question

It feels like feminism has gone completely off the rails and just does so much more harm than good now, unlike in the past when the movement was actually respectable and seemed to have some semblance of direction, morality and ethics. Today, it seems the primary goal of feminism is to divide men and women and create as much animosity between them as possible.

What has happened to feminism to make it so toxic? Is it just the fact that all of its valid and achievable goals have already been attained, so all the normal and sane women have left the movement, leaving behind only the bitter and mentally unstable ones?

Or is it something else?

What are your thoughts?

AlienParasite · Accepted Answer

Feminism is an ideology. Like many other currents of thought it started like one but through time it has evolved in more than one.

If you ever see a protest, even if it's on video, you'll notice there are groups, and you could even get to see, on one side, prostitutes asking for legalization or regulation of their work as a way to protect women, and on another side, a group of women maybe burning pornography and saying all prostitution should be abolished as a way to protect women. This opposed ideas might happen with many other issues inside feminism, due to the variety of currents.

Right now, unlike many decades ago, the mainstream current of feminism is radical feminism. They hold certain believes and political ideas that are, for most people, too extreme. Besides are very aggressive against more libertarian currents or feminism, and aren't normally open to debate or to understand other points of view.

I would say most people aren't against feminism but are neither comfortable with radical feminism. Most of these people are usually libertarian feminists. But radical feminists have been very obnoxious about spreading the idea of libertarian feminism not actually beign feminism. So much that they have made many libertarian feminists deny they are feminists, because they believe feminism is only radical feminism.

So the problem is, that radical feminism has appropriated the word feminism and excluded the feminist currents they dislike.

DannyFanny · Accepted Answer

Equality of men and women isn't a thing anymore. I'm sure there are real feminists out there who fight for a good cause but the movement itself I think has been corrupted and drifted to another idiology, the hate of men and self victimization. Men and women are different in both body and mind.

BabyBirdy · Answer

This is why I don’t identify as a “feminist”. I don’t hate men and enjoy male company a lot. I see a lot of women taking it way too far like verbally attacking men that are chivalrous by screaming about being equal when clearly they’re physically able; it’s a kind gesture and considered respectful, not an insult. Also using it as a way to bully men and make them feel guilty.

When I think of feminism I think of women having the same opportunities as men in this modern era we’re living in like job opportunities and equal pay, etc. I would like to see equality for all races and genders.

And some of these women need to get real, if something disastrous or apocalyptic happened better believe they want a big, strong man by their side to offer protection and security. Period.

DiscomfortZone · Answer

Feminism is dead, feminazism brutally slaughtered it. There is no more ethics or ideology, it's a misandry hate cult. It starts around junior high when certain girls simply don't get enough attention from guys, because they're too fat, or too stupid, or too hideous or whatever. So in order to deflect their sense of identity-shattering humiliation they begin harbouring paranoid dellusions, claiming that every man alive wants to rape them. That's their only way of making themselves feel remotely desired. Think how easy it is. "It's not that hideous or a shit person that makes guys hit on all my friends but not me, it's because they want to rape me! I am such a poor little victim, so hit 'like' on my posts!". Nothing but self-victimizing, pathetic and worthless attention whores (and don't even get me started on these insects who need to invent a new gender for themselves just to feel special and fake a sense of meaning im their lives). There is no agenda, and definitely no belief in the value of equality. Every shit behaviour by women is justified as "empowering", it's revolting. Honestly, these creatures need to just put themselves (and the world) out of their misery. They are a blight and a cancer upon society (go ahead and report this comment you oxygen wasting weaklings, nobody wants to go near you, let alone rape you).

CupcakeKiller · Answer

Because people like to turn everything into a pissing contest and act like they're the trauma police. In actuality men and women each have unique issues and they should be addressed as such when they come up. It's okay to talk about social attitudes about women being subservient without bringing up male suicide rates. It's okay to talk about discrimination in the justice system toward men without bringing up rape statistics for women. I don't see why this is so difficult.

Ámayas_20 · Answer

Feminism isn't about equality in today's world and people need to stop pretending it is, this isn't to say nothing good has come out of even modern day feminism but anyone who actually supports equality needs to distance themselves from an outright sexist group.

Bananaman177 · Answer

All of their lies have been exposed. The Patriarchy isn't real, the wage gap isn't real, inequality isn't real, all the best double-standards favor women, not men.

Why is today's feminism so toxic and divisive?

All they have left is the irrational man-hate, they have nothing else to double down on.

scarlett774 · Answer

I think some people are confused on what feminism is, I’ve seen a lot of girls who put down men and say woman are better and do all kinds of things of that sort and say it’s feminism but it’s really not. REAL feminist just want to be equal to men and have the same rights as men and they also want woman to feel included. Feminism isn’t just about woman it’s about men too. I feel like there’s a lot of people that twist feminism into something it’s not

Mystic_Nova · Answer

Society changed. When it first happened, society before was very well mannered, had a reasonable amount of withdrawl and was a but more calmer. And I'm only saying a bit, because nobody is perfect in any generation.

Now people are way more triggered and cruse. And before there was real inequality, like women working, voting, etc.. now, it's all about what they seem as unfair, not so much unequal. Like beauty standards and such. It was more about being equal to men back then, now it's more about changing the way women ar viewed physically and such.

MarkRet · Answer

The feminists of the past were into women having equal pay, equal opportunities, etc. Now they actually get in your face and attack men and everything they stand for, kind of like this toxic bitch ->  How can somebody get so hateful?

Miristheiss · Answer

Because it is OVER.
Mission accomplished.
Women have equality in the west.
Game over.
Young twits from today still think they are fighting against some equality.
The fight is won... stand down or go fight for women in Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan.

Soteris · Answer

As an actual feminist I dont even know what you are talking about. People always complain that feminism has gone crazy but quite frankly aside from some nutjobs on social media who by very definition are not feminists I have never gotten an example.

mmat2020 · Answer

What the fuck?
Really you are so pissed by a handful of extremists you feel in danger in your manhood? You do realize that on the other side of the equation toxic masculinity ends up with women dying. Litteraly. And you don't see that much women projecting this on all males.
So yes some people call themselves feminist when really they are not. Dismissing the actual problem and the need in our societies for a strong feminism (which can never be too strong, it's just about equality) is just plain dangerous. Go fix your insecurities instead

Broken_doll · Answer

I'm still a feminist, I haven't left the movement. I think the movement got bastardized because the women who hate men have joined and instead of fighting for gender equality, they use tit for tat i. e. since men get this, women should get that... then we all run around in circles

It reminds me of skinheads. The original skinheads were just working class guys who listened to punk and reggae, then somehow racists joined the subculture and now everyone thinks all skinheads are Nazis.

Unknown_User7 · Answer

This new generation of feminist are turning into the men that they hate, without even realizing it. They wanna dictate how women should act/think which is why the majority of women no longer identify as feminists (as stated by the female users perfectly). Any woman who don't think like them, or follow their extreme views gets vilified and bullied, and you see this all the time here and in real life. One of the best examples is Laci Green.

Curabyron · Answer

Because their low lifes that expect the whole world to kiss their ass AKA feminazis

BrownBratzDoll · Answer

Im a feminist but i dont like feminist like that. Have a very heard like mentality, if u DARE have a different opinion then ure instantly disliked or blocked or put in the pile with the others. I dont agree with everything feminist touts

cheapshotbob · Answer

i stopped paying attention to those hitler wanna be's when they started throwing
dead baby pigs at men during a protest march a few years back. there beyond repair
and i doubt they will ever be stopped with nancy peloski in there corner.

Anpu23 · Answer

The feminism you are speeking about never really existed. It's always been quite toxic, but our understanding is clouded by time and propaganda. Even the early suffragettes were racists, classists and in many cases terrorists (blew up a train station, burned down a movie theater, etc.)

Anonymous · Answer

Exactly. The valid goals have been achieved, so now all of the normal women have left it to get on with their lives and it's been pretty much co-opted by Marxists and SJWs many of which are actually pretty downright hostile to women as they push the SJW LGBTQIAXYZ agenda. It's strange to watch.

joeblow123 · Answer

Feminism is not about equality but rather it is about female supremacy. It always has been that way:

Dchrls78104 · Answer

Unions are divided. Politicians are divided. Christians are divided. Muslims are divided. Black people are divided. White people are divided. Married couples are divided. Feminism is divided. What do all these divisions have in common? The fact that the people within them are the causes of the division.

Anonymous · Answer

because it dosent seem like it is a fight for 50 50 equality. it seems like it is a fight for woman to take everything from men. Not only that but society in general is more sensitive. things that are not even that bad are treated like they are offensive.

Pete671 · Answer

Perfectly said imho -
What has happened to feminism to make it so toxic? Is it just the fact that all of its valid and achievable goals have already been attained, so all the normal and sane women have left the movement, leaving behind only the bitter and mentally unstable ones?

Shuri · Answer

Probably because those being shown on mainstream media are maniacs.

I don't think feminism today is actually toxic. I think, that with other movements and ideas like BLM, Christianity/Conservatism, and LGTBQ, there are a handful of people associated with it that make the entire movement or group look bad. Media is all about portrayal, and they control what most everyone sees.

The truth is that if you think a woman's pay shouldn't be determined based on gender, women should be allowed to work, should be allowed to go to post secondary school, and have the same rights in the country as a man, then you're a feminist. If you are an egalitarian, then by default, you are also a feminist.

bamesjond0069 · Answer

Your assumption is flawed. Feminism has always been for whack jobs and been about getting something for nothing. Ever since the very beginning.

For example going to war when necessary was the price to pay for voting. Most women at the time did not want to vote because they did not want to go to war. But in swooped feminism to give women the vote without the responsibility that came with it.

Feminism was always bullshit and will always be bullshit.

Anonymous · Answer

It was always toxic and divisive. The difference is that the last two time it latched onto real civil rights movements. This time, it thought it was latching onto a new movement: social justice, but that is essentially the same toxic idea. In a weird incestuous way, feminism has gotten into bed with it's own toxic byproduct of a movement. Being every bit as toxic as each other left them little room to hide their true nature.

AnubisEthernal · Answer

I think it's completely logic, but is not valid to be like that, first because how would you feel if no one hears you? Second think that not all people Inside that social movement it's conscious of what is feminism and like other kind of movements could be taken or approached by people with other intentions, it's a real fascinating theme to discuss and very extensive, but this is my personal opinion.

AdithyaR · Answer

There's the difference between feminism and feminazism. Feminism is still pure, it's equality for both genders that doesn't hate anybody.
Feminazism or fake feminism is where they just use it as an excuse to show their misandry.

Anonymous · Answer

there's nothing wrong with equality... everybody should be treated equally and be proud of what they are however there's always those extremist that take equality movements and make them be superiority movements which in the gender case won't successfully affect anything being that females are seen and treated inferior
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God Bless

John_Doesnt · Answer

Because it's not. Men said the exact same thing 30 years ago. You're complaining about nothing, which is very feminine by the way, non-stop complaining about nothing is what women normally do.

Anonymous · Answer

Feminism was respectable in the past? No dude. It was always about a bunch of evil opportunists, manupulating others but in the 90s they gained enough followers that they didn't worry about reaviling the true nature of their movenent. That's what we're seeing today

Felicityoyo · Answer

I feel like this was more of an issue back in like 2014-2015. I haven't heard of any crazy feminism specific scandals for a while now.

Anonymous · Answer

Victim politics. Feminists, POC feminists, LGBTQ, POC LGBTQ, Muslims etc are all looking to gain as many victim points as possible as the higher your victim points the more power you have

Daniel3035 · Answer

I mean if we look at it like this feminism has existed long before so you have to ask what has changed and well intelligence has and awareness so I guess what I'm kinda saying is "feminists are getting more intelligent in stupidity" - 2020 Daniel3035

Aiko_E_Lara · Answer

It's all about greed. Because of their privileges, they want more and they just look for excuses to cherry pick.

TwoToTooTutu2 · Answer

Because they consume all politics that are even slightly lest wing and call it Feminism. Socalists and Communists don't necessarily like each other, but now for some reason they're all Feminists. "Oh you breath air? Must be a Feminist."

JoyGirl · Answer

Ahhh... you opened a very dangerous box. Good luck, my dude. (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)

Stevecs24 · Answer

I think these days more "isms" are more divisive than not TBH.

Ad_Quid_Orator · Answer

Quit projecting -_-

msc545 · Answer

Because women discovered that with the aid of the legal system, they can falsely accuse men of sex crimes and be believed, and they can divorce-rape men in court. It's a lot like handing a loaded weapon to a 10 year old.

Anonymous · Answer

An important point to remember: the extremists scream the loudest.

Most feminists fight for equality, but you hear more from the crazies because they voice their opinions louder. Not all republicans are white supremacists, not all feminists are toxic.

nunyabiznes · Answer

I think it’s to counter balance the resistance they get. They have to shoot for the moon to get an anthill.

Liam_Hayden · Answer

Because it isn't feminism. Feminism is Susan B. Anthony, equal rights under the law. This modern stuff is RadFem Lunacy.

Stan_Control_ · Answer

My thought is that it's thriving like Christianity. People all instantly believe what they first hear and it became something different than from what it originally was to the public.

genericname85 · Answer

i think in many cases, "how someone percieves the world to be" is "how they actually are"... i hope that answers the question.

BruceJender · Answer

Because it is being run by a vocal minority of radicals.  Is it any wonder that so few women identify as a feminist nowadays?

someguy81 · Answer

I might be over simplifying it but I always felt that the real problems are created by women who are overcompensating by asking for too much.

Anonymous · Answer

Simple... we let them get into positions of power and they used those positions to take over and then their true colors bleed through. The hate group it has always been.

Anonymous · Answer

I dont support any group of people who gathered under any gender label. You have to evaluate people only according to their thoughts and minds not genitals

ERR0R_ · Answer

Because women have all the same rights as men do these day but feminist still want to continue fighting

OddBeMe · Answer

The response to feminism is toxic. Ironically after trump was elected...

captain_voidwalker · Answer

Today's feminism is just female nature unmasked. This is how women have always been, and it's how they will always be

Anonymous · Answer

Wtf. That is third question/take about feminism. Is thst not spam?

faithie_Artist · Answer

I don’t know but I hope it fucking ends.

Anonymous · Answer

Why is your question so biased? Feminism is always going to divide because some people want to keep women chained down and not free or equal with men

Anonymous · Answer

That's your POV.  People see extremist views and believe those are feminist. Do some research about what it means to begin with and the current situation of women worldwide. Maybe, you'll understand.

alexander_the_gr8 · Answer

I think it's mostly on the internet cuz people want to feel important

Dargil · Answer

You have it right. Modern feminism is misandrist.

SaiyenBloodd · Answer

I’ve never met a femi nazi before. Another mythical creature out there

Anonymous · Answer

I know. Tell me about it. I got cursed out by a radical feminist last night

Anonymous · Answer

What you described sounded more like sexism than feminism

Why is today's feminism so toxic and divisive?

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