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1/
I would like to start a very difficult topic, because I think it is important.
It's about gender non-conforming males.
I would like to start a very difficult topic, because I think it is important.
It's about gender non-conforming males.
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It's clear that it's not radical feminism's task to deal with male issues. But I think in the broader GC movement, which includes males, it's an issue which should be discussed.
It's clear that it's not radical feminism's task to deal with male issues. But I think in the broader GC movement, which includes males, it's an issue which should be discussed.
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In radical feminism there are currently two major approaches.
One of them states that males are free to adopt elements of femininity. So gender non-conforming behaviour can include being a feminine male.
In radical feminism there are currently two major approaches.
One of them states that males are free to adopt elements of femininity. So gender non-conforming behaviour can include being a feminine male.
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The second approach states, that because femininity is an oppression tool, used to oppress women, it should be dropped altogether. Feminine behaviour is not something that should be encouraged.
The second approach states, that because femininity is an oppression tool, used to oppress women, it should be dropped altogether. Feminine behaviour is not something that should be encouraged.
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It means feminine males are criticised for promoting gender stereotypes.
It means feminine males are criticised for promoting gender stereotypes.
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It might appear that gender non-conforming males are put in a catch 22 situation, where adopting femininity puts them under criticism from one side of the GC movement, and keeping masculine behaviours put them under criticism from another side of the GC movement.
It might appear that gender non-conforming males are put in a catch 22 situation, where adopting femininity puts them under criticism from one side of the GC movement, and keeping masculine behaviours put them under criticism from another side of the GC movement.
7/
In my opinion, there is some space for a middle position. The more harmful elements of femininity should be criticised, but gender non-conforming males should not be criticised for adopting less (or non) harmful elements of femininity.
In my opinion, there is some space for a middle position. The more harmful elements of femininity should be criticised, but gender non-conforming males should not be criticised for adopting less (or non) harmful elements of femininity.
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The problem is that people do not agree which elements of femininity are harmful and which are not (or not very much).
The problem is that people do not agree which elements of femininity are harmful and which are not (or not very much).
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Of course we shouldn't also lose the third option, which is adopting behaviours that are neither masculine nor feminine.
Of course we shouldn't also lose the third option, which is adopting behaviours that are neither masculine nor feminine.
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But it's all very difficult for gender non-conforming males, as there is no clear position in the GC movement about which elements are masculine/feminine/neutral and which elements of femininity are harmful and which less so, or non-harmful.
But it's all very difficult for gender non-conforming males, as there is no clear position in the GC movement about which elements are masculine/feminine/neutral and which elements of femininity are harmful and which less so, or non-harmful.
