Quick Comments on Feminism

Here are my answers to a survey about a man's view on feminism. Sorry about the lack of flow; it's a largely unedited list of responses to disparate questions.

I have several definitions of feminism, but the one I adopt is particular. My feminism is the consciousness and questioning of gender roles society enforces. Not all roles and rules are destructive, just as not all hierarchies are repressive, but unconsciously adhering to most of them is dangerous. In my brand of feminism, equal access to happiness is the priority, not exactly equal everything. I know this is vague, but I believe it's better than falling into the trap of literalism. My feminism is the exploration and promotion of the traditionally feminine aspects of humanity, e.g. the culture of care, humility, and compassion. Action should probably mainly be focused on educating the very young.

I'm not sure how studying the body is relevant. My guess is that it might reveal that there are more similarities between the sexes than once thought and also that there is a spectrum of differences among people that go against the clear-cut distinction between male and female. The black or white attitude is holding feminist consciousness back a lot. But I also feel that research into this area can be sketchy as our bodies and minds have been so conditioned by society that the line between socialization and genetics is blurry.

The unoppressed usually have a hard time understanding the things the oppressed go through. However, even the oppressed argue about the significant points of their experience, so I believe any one's input on feminism can be useful, male or female. After all, patriarchy threatens not only women but also men with its dangerous inclinations toward war.