Feminist Philosophy Forum
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Feminist Philosophy Forum
Feminism is a huge and significant movement with significant underlying intellectual arguments around how one half of the human race treats the other half...and there are implications for EVERY branch of philosophy.
Please can we see this?
(Has no woman suggested this?! let alone me as a man!)
- Creekside Muse
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
I'm a newcomer to Online Philosophy Club, and so regretfully reply to this post almost a year after its debut. Perhaps my reply will go the way of socks in the laundry (as it seems this post has), but I persist because I would love to explore feminist philosophy beyond my limited exposure to some of its concepts during graduate study at Cal State L.A.
My work there focused on a flaw in Rawls' ideal/non-ideal theory distinction that excludes minorities and marginalized groups from the original contract. This focus naturally includes (a) the subjugation of women through social hierarchies and gender presuppositions that favor men and (b) the exclusion of the private sphere--the structure of the family, especially where its premises revert from contract to patriarchy--from the original contract. It was through my exposure to the strong feminist faction in the CSULA Department of Philosophy that I became interested in the subject--but only after I was already submerged in the details of my own thesis in political philosophy, which resulted in my missing out on a lot of that really interesting and broadly applicable conversation.
Feminist philosophy strongly overlaps with other philosophies; thus, a forum devoted to feminist theory would open not only an engaging conversation between feminists, but also between feminists and those who are interested in political, ethical, and legal philosophies. While feminist concepts could be subsumed into other forums, that perspective is probably often overlooked (isn't that the whole point?); whereas, a separate forum would likely spur interest in the point of view that exists at the intersection between feminist philosophy and political, ethical, and legal philosophy and inject our mutual interests and explorations with a unique perspective.
Just weighing in...
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
- Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."
I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
I disagree with you that feminism can be compared to 'significant movements' in general on an equal basis.
Feminism (or some branches of it) seeks to directly address perceived -but very serious and well substantiated-inequalities as experienced by billions of people worldwide. Maybe I'm completely wrong, but I cannot see that other 'significant movements' carry quite so much...significance!
Secondly, as Creekside Muse pointed out, feminist threads will precisely NOT be addressed to a fair degree in the forums in general, precisely because of the dominance -sometimes extremely subtle- of male perspectives in academia.
'Isn't that the whole point?' to quote Creekside Muse above.
- Creekside Muse
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
I understand your position about multiple forums and defer to your experience running the board--I will try to interject into other discussions what little I know about feminist perspectives on their subjects.
The larger concern, however, is that, while the insights of feminist philosophy tend to offer important information about moral and social philosophies such as law, ethics, and politics, there is little understanding of its theoretical framework and, as a result, even less application of its valuable contributions. A broader understanding of feminist philosophy in its own right, which is best obtained from within feminist philosophical discussion--rather than an interjection of the feminist perspective into other philosophies--will better highlight overlooked problems, introduce solid insights, and, most importantly, enable those interested in law, politics, and ethics to put feminist philosophy to better use as a tool for exploring otherwise intractable problems in their areas of interest. Thus, a better understanding of feminist philosophy and more widespread application of its contributions, in my opinion, are the primary reasons for introducing a separate forum from which its insights can radiate outward.
Because I would like to have a conversation about feminist philosophy, I have tried to respond to two messages left for me by MalkuthSamanera1, but cannot seem to do so. Am I too new to the board to have earned that privilege, or just too inexperienced to figure out how to do it?
MalkuthSamanera1:
Rather than an email discussion between the two of us, perhaps a continuance of this thread would be more productive in expanding the conversation to include other perspectives--especially because I still have a lot to learn and would like to hear other views. One of the things I'm trying to understand is the idea that gender is a socially constructed concept. I'd like to explore the ways in which gender is culturally constructed and how those constructs interfere with a fuller understanding of human rights, justice, and morality.
Disclaimer: My busy schedule will likely reduce the speed at which you would like our discussions to proceed--please forgive me. --April
- Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
Again, the issue I have is the way the navigation works now is that there is different categories for branches of philosophy (e.g. politics, metaphysics) not for philosophies (e.g. anarchism, communism, idealism, realism, objectivism, etc.), with the main idea of the site being that anyone representing any given philosophy (or more accurately representing their own philosophy whether it can be clearly categorized as matching a commonly known philosophy such as feminism or objectivism or philosophical realism or physicalism) can argue those beliefs in topics others post as they come up or by creating their own new topics.
I'm still open to hearing your further ideas on the matter, getting more feedback and opinions, and considering the issue more myself.
For now, might I suggest simply starting topics about the feminist issues or arguing feminist points that you wish to discuss.
"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."
I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
I agree with Creekside Muse's assessment of need for seperate feminist forum and again reassert that feminism should be given more weight than most 'isms'.
I too would like to explore intersection of social construction of gender, and feminism.
I too am very busy so whenever is fine.
There is a Thai Boxing ladyboy who has to work extra hard to beat her male opponents who don't want to be beaten by a woman. She has to fight men because even post-op. Thai law does not recognise her as a woman -but forgive me Scott this is the kind of content suitable for a PM.
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
- Creekside Muse
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
Respectfully, April
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
A better term and definition - Gender Equality: the advocacy of rights equal to both sexes relative to all forms of interaction.
The term "feminism" is an inherently divisive term. It seeks to place greater emphasis on the feminine. It places unequal bias toward one "side" of a concept that seeks equality. If it is gender equality that is the main focus, then why not a "Gender Concepts" forum instead of a "Feminism" forum?
Why not open a dialogue equally between both sexes under the banner of a term that does not create a segregation and does not seek to place "one above the other" in terms of the focus or the subject?
I am all for gender "equality" (clear definition required), but to attempt to do so under a heading so divisive would seem counterproductive to me.
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
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Re: Feminist Philosophy Forum
I'm not quite sure why you are asking this question. I think that women do have some "advantages" given them by virtue of their generally viewed "weaker" status. Although I think that those "advantages" are of a double-standard type of regard, I wouldn't necessarily classify them technically as specific advantages, as in the type of advantage considered by the feminist mindset.Creekside Muse wrote:...what are some unfair advantages that women in our society enjoy that tip the scales in their favor and what kinds of changes would be likely to even things out?
There is no social recoil to uplifting those seen as generally "weak", "minority", "underprivileged", "disadvantaged" or otherwise not viewed as the "controlling segment" of society. However, when considering equality, we would be required to remove all of these labels and there would be required equal consideration for all people. I don't think that society is ready for such concepts.
What is the "advantage" to labeling the forum "Feminist" as opposed to "Gender Concepts"? Is it not biased enough toward the feminist mindset? What type of "equality" is to be gained from the specificity of the feminist terminology? Do you think that feminist perspectives can only be achieved within a forum that possesses such a label?
Do you think there should also be an "LGBT" forum as well? How about a forum specifically for pedophiles? What purpose would that serve?
Anyone can voice an opinion or perspective, whether it be a feminist or gay opinion or perspective, in any of the other forums without the need of a specialized forum that caters to a specific subset of members. Why would those people need their "own room", so to speak?
We could fractionalize these concepts into a thousand different categories if we were to be fair and in the name of "equality", but when you get down to the very heart of what that "equality" stands for then these separations and labels should evaporate.
Equality sees no boundaries or differences, at least the type of boundaries or differences (labels) being highlighted by the feminist or LGBT movements.
In short, instituting a specific forum for the purposes of furthering an agenda is not what the focus of the agenda seeks!
>>>
That is not relevant to the discussion on this site as that is not the case here in these forums. All perspectives are welcome and if someone of a feminist or LGBT mindset wants to voice an opinion or perspective relative to that mindset then they may do so freely. What is stopping them?MalkuthSamanera1 wrote:...proportional lack of women and female perspectives in positions and decisions of political, social and economic influence, globally...
Why does it require a specific forum in order for a feminist view to be heard? The truth is that it doesn't. If nobody is voicing a feminist perspective then that is of their own will and responsibility.
I dont think so. It's inherently divisive in that it singles out one particular group of people and places them in a separate class from everyone else. You're either a feminist or you're not. It conjures a "you're either with us or against us" type of mentality. This can be witnessed in the topics considering the LGBT community where any criticism is viewed and reviled as "homophobic hate-speech". Similarly, if one is critical of the feminist perspective, in any regard, one will most likely be unfairly labelled a "mysogynist" or "chauvinist".MalkuthSamanera1 wrote:Perhaps the term 'feminism' is only divisive for people who do not understand it?
Why provide a specific place for such potential intolerance to take up permanent residence?
And those extreme branches would find their way to that safe haven and establish a "closed society", in my opinion. Imagine a forum specifically for pedophiles and their perspectives. What is the difference? (and before your head explodes - no, I am not equating feminists to pedophiles)MalkuthSamanera1 wrote:Of course there are extreme branches, but for me the main thrust of feminism liberates both men and women.
The name clearly seeks to promote a specific agenda for a specific subset of society. That's the reality of it. You're getting hung up on the label instead of the function of the idea.MalkuthSamanera1 wrote:The name is simply appropriate to a clearly observable power imbalance in global society.
Do you think that feminists are being specifically denied the opportunity to voice their opinions and perspectives simply because there is no "feminist" forum?
Why not a "Gender Concepts" forum as opposed to "Feminist" forum? I think we all know that the key function of the "feminist" label is to further a specific agenda through the application of reverse discrimination.
That is my opinion. Again, I am not against the concept of "equality", I am resistive to the subversive activist ploys utilized to get to that point.
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