Perhaps you’ve seen the hashtag that has been trending on twitter thanks to Clementine Ford and her #QuestionsForMen campaign, which was born out of an earnest question she’d asked of fellow writers on twitter:
Question to the male writers/speakers etc out there. Is it common for you to be called an ‘attention seeker’? Or do just women get that?
— Clementine Ford (@clementine_ford) February 3, 2015
As the discussion evolved, everybody began to realize that the term “attention seeker” was a gendered one, more typically experienced by women than men. Clementine wondered what other double standards she could uncover, and thus the hashtag #QuestionsForMen was born.
When we started the BLUNTmoms version of the campaign on twitter (using the same hashtag, thank you Clementine), the hashtag was criticized for being an unfair generalization. Granted, we didn’t invent it, but to us it seems the point of using the word “men” in the hashtag is not to point a crotchety finger in the face of the entire male gender, but rather to highlight the absurdity of these questions when posed to men. The same supposedly innocuous question when asked of a woman feels inappropriate and confrontational when posed to a man. Hence the hashtag. So would everyone please just simmer down.
Regardless of how one feels about the chosen hashtag, the fact remains: Subtle sexism is everywhere. Blatant sexism is everywhere. Check out these tweets to see what we mean:
#questionsformen Ever been out with a bro and been approached by a woman and asked ‘What are you guys doing here alone?’ – @SarahAnnGilbert — BLUNTmoms (@BLUNTmoms) February 5, 2015
#QuestionsForMen Have you ever been berated and belittled for pointing out sexism and double standards? @BLUNTmoms — Kassandra King (@snob603) February 6, 2015
Which Spanx work best under a suit? And how do you enhance your “assets” in workout gear? #QuestionsForMen @BLUNTmoms — Jessica (@RappaDappa) February 6, 2015
How does it feel to quit your job because your salary doesn’t cover childcare but your wife’s does? #questionsformen @BLUNTmoms — Swallow, My Sunshine (@growthesunshine) February 5, 2015
#questionsformen Has a contractor ever told you they need to speak with your wife before they agree to be hired by you? @BLUNTmoms — Kathy Radigan (@KathyRadigan) February 5, 2015
#QuestionsForMen Has anyone ever told you not to worry “your pretty little head” over it? @BLUNTmoms — Hilde M. Vonk (@JufVonk) February 5, 2015
#QuestionsForMen Has a hardware store employee ever asked you “what can I do for you, little gentleman”? @BLUNTmoms — Hilde M. Vonk (@JufVonk) February 5, 2015
#QuestionsForMen Are you ever asked if you’re on your period when you stand up for yourself or disagree with something/someone? @BLUNTmoms — smashley ashley (@iamsmashwee) February 5, 2015
#QuestionsForMen Have you ever gotten self-conscious when women ogle your chest while you talk to them? @BLUNTmoms — Alison Huff (@crumbsdown) February 5, 2015
#QuestionsForMen Do you plan on returning to work after your baby is born? @BLUNTmoms — Ponies and Martinis (@PonyMartini) February 5, 2015
#QuestionsForMen how many of your deeply held convictions have been attributed to hormones? @BLUNTmoms — allie (@alliespins) February 5, 2015
I often wonder what is going on in their pretty little heads, don’t you? (See, doesn’t that sound horrible?) Yet men say this to women all the time. It isn’t an issue of humour or culture; it is an issue of sexism and privilege.
8 Comments
Do non-feminists experience sexism in the numbers feminists do? I mean the numbers must be correct. Anecdotal evidence says so .
Nobody said this was a scientific study, dude. Don’t get your panties in such a twist.
Because scientific evidence is always required to validate men’s experiences.
Maybe non-feminists are not feminists because they’re so culturally programmed to accept this kind of behavior as “normal” they just don’t even realize how wrong it is.
I’m not a “feminist” in the sense that I believe in equality. That simple. I don’t believe that the Marines should lower their physical requirements standards to allow more women in to the corps. I don’t believe women should make more than men. I don’t believe women are somehow entitled to better treatment than men. I believe that women and men should ALL be afforded the SAME treatment and considerations. That gender should have nothing to do with things like who stays home to raise the children, or who makes more money.
Maybe you should try reading through these, and seriously just take a moment and imagine someone saying these things to YOU. See what you think of it then.
Having a worldview that doesn’t recognize sexism doesn’t mean it’s not present. I fail to recognize people at the grocery store all the time, but they still exist.
What the fuck is wrong with people?! ‘Non-feminist’ vs. ‘feminist’?? What is a ‘non-feminist’? To boil the term down a bit, how about be we look at it like this: Feminism means EQUALITY. This hashtag brought out more ignorance than I could have ever imagined. If you fail to recognize that the simplified definition of feminism is EQUALITY–then educate yourself. There is no battle–this isn’t a debatable ‘does it exist’ topic.
Thank. YOU.
Feminism means quite a bit more than just EQUALITY. Feminism is an ideology with its very own beliefs, theories, assumptions and conclusions. A non feminist is someone that might believe in women’s rights (everyone) but doesn’t agree with the ideology’s theories and assertions regarding gender and the role society has had on it.