Untitled

modern ouroboros - none of the symbolic importance, all the neverending cycle that blinds you in the most caricatural way

because as much as they accuse radical feminist of "bio/gender essentialism" or treating men as perpetual and "inherent" perpetrators, and women as perpetual and "inherent" victims, they are just as quick to fully equate the elusive Inherent Man Essence / Identity with a position of perfect comfort with his hierarchical privilege and our violently misogynist culture. so, radfems are nasty reactionaries because they supposedly think men and women are inflexible monoliths & men are Born Evil; but if a male happens to experience this rare unique angst of being forcefully socialized by proud woman-haters into an aspiring woman-hater, or is interested in feminism and capable of an astute observation or insightful thought about it, he must not be a man deep down! because we all know "man identity" = "patriarchal masculinity", right?

the way this validates the existence of patriarchal oppression of women is incredibly rhetorically dangerous, because they Are kind of implying that misogynistic views are Natural to the Inherent Man, rather than enticing due to personal benefit. and i would Want to say that their personal disinvestment from the cult of masculinity could ultimately provide a counterforce to patriarchal domination of men over women, but that's not even it, because here they are cashing in their disinvestment to gain access to female community, solidarity, physicality, resources, discussions, spaces

it's like. i would like to think they are wrong & men can experience instinctive discomfort with commonplace misogyny & want to push against it for the benefit of women around them. i actually find it quite insulting when they imply men who are uncomfortable with the system of violent monstrous oppression are Profoundly Cosmically Special. but as it stands, it truly just seems that men are either using their Masculinity Points to advance within the male hierarchy, or their Sensitivity Points to buy their way into female acceptance / attention / praise, and at worst their objectified concept of "womanhood" itself. they are majorly uninterested in anything that doesn't benefit them in one way or another. we can't expect them to just be passionate allies - we have to validate their Inherent Feminine Identity, otherwise what do they stand to gain?

we’re really somehow supposed to believe that “sex work”, pornography, 30-step make up routines, hook up culture, bdsm, patriarchal religion, shaving every inch of our body, cosmetic procedures and surgery, looking like we haven’t aged a day above 18, etc. is all supposed to be “empowering” for us? be for fucking real.

can you imagine how ridiculous it’d be if i said that men should spend 3 figures each month on beauty “maintenance”, should be slapped and choked during sex, should have to cover their hair and bodies for “modesty”, aren’t allowed to look older than a high schooler….

yet these same standards are enforced onto every woman and girl. interesting.