Arguments for Anti-Feminism - Essay Example

ARGUMENTS FOR ANTI-FEMINISM Continuous debates are being undertaken on the issues concerning the welfare of women in society. There is a circulating belief that women are not given the proper opportunities and men reap all the best things in society. Consequently, myriad organizations are being formed to fight against the oppression of women. These organizations are putting in practice the philosophy of feminism. But the point of contention lies on the matter of women being underprivileged. Are women deprived of rights in society as pointed out in lieu of the feminist view or are women appropriately designated with responsibilities fit for their nature compared to the status of men? Feminism is a concept motivated by the quest for social justice of individuals who believe that women are disadvantaged in society. It is both an intellectual commitment and a political movement that seeks equality for women and the end of sexism in all forms. The feminist view is grounded on the belief that women are deprived of certain rights and oppressed by comparison with men, and that their oppression is in some way illegitimate or unjustified (James, 2000). Injustices to women are referred to as the imposition of weak roles to women from roles at home and at work to the bigger part of societal functions (Crow, 2000). The feminist claim that women are denied rights and respect is not valid. Subordination of women in the context of a family is nothing but a role which could be fulfilled as a role in the family (Okin, 1989). Housekeeping functions are allocated to women because a family is a relationship built from the cooperation of the partners. Male partners should handle the financial burden since they are more productive and their biological structure provides for the competitive work advantage. With the role of income generation left to the responsibility of men, housekeeping in general should just be naturally assigned to women. In addition, it could easily be argued that men should be given the responsibility to have better compensation because of their role in the labor market (Bergmann, 2002). Men deserve to get the top spot in the market of jobs and be remunerated better relative to women due to their abilities. It is the goal of feminism as well to eliminate the culture in which women become the object of men’s lust and desire but then again, the issue goes back to the biological structure of women. Feminist philosophy argues that women should be given the same rights at home as men. Definitely, the role of women as housekeepers is considered as the deprivation of the rights of women to have parity with men in the house circle. As feminists often cite, women deserve better than being kept inside homes taking care of the needs of men and looking after the necessities of children in the family. Feminists are surely being illogical in thinking that it is a huge mistake to keep women at home leaving the task of earning to the male partner. By defining the relationships between men and women in terms of power and competition instead of reciprocity and cooperation, feminists are tearing apart the most basic and fragile contract in human society, the family unit from which all other social institutions draw their strength. It is the biological nature of women to be mothers and bear babies. Because of this reason, it becomes imperative for women to take care of the children in the family. The connection of mothers to the children in the family is being built since conception. Between parents, it is the mother who understands better the needs of children because the connection is formed through the time spent together from pregnancy to birth. Are women not proud of their role to keep a family in order and look after the welfare of the children and the male partner who provides for the financial needs? Besides, in the labor market, men have more economic value and in terms of labor economics it is just proper to leave the financial burden to men. Labor resources are maximized better when it is the male who works as opposed to letting women handle the burden of supplying income to the family. In the job market, men commands better compensation. Consider the field of blue collar jobs. Men are born stronger and therefore could do physical jobs such as cleaning, driving and other services such as jobs done by cops and soldiers better. By the sheer bulk of muscles and headstrong mentality, men could perform jobs more efficiently. Therefore, women should not demand equal compensation opportunities for different performances. In this matter alone, it could be surmised that working should better be left to men. It is but fair for women to allow them to have work leaves when the moment comes that their task to bear human progeny requires time off from work in cases of working women though women in the workforce is not justified. The case brings a general difference in gender equality on employability and pay. In the case of white collar jobs, it is reasonable to think that an executive officer cannot leave for few months and come back to be the very same executive. Pregnancy seriously put women out of favor in comparison to men who jostle for such a position. In line with this, it could be surmised that unequal compensation in workforces with respect to gender is based on performance and economics as opposed to the issue of frail sex (Pride, 1985). Unfortunately for women, in the perspectives discussed as reasons for anti-feminism, they are weaker physically and have the babying burden. But biological structure of women is part of them and nothing can be done with it. To provide remedy of the situation is the unlikely way in which wombs will be removed. In the said way, women do not even have to take care of the nurturing duties. Still due to the biological nature of women, a man relates lust and desire with the female partner. Sexual drive is stimulated by passionate and romantic love. The chemistry established by the partners leads to sexual desires and acts. Since women complements the needs of men, it is but natural that men desire and lust for them. Only when the sexual cells are removed from the physiological structure of human will gender equality exist in terms of sexual relationships. Humans could eventually live asexual and without sexism after the alteration of bodily functions. Feminism does not run out of illogical connotations. Even the issue of female abortion rights is attributed to gender inequality not taking into consideration that men loses parental rights as well in the case of intentional discontinuity of pregnancy. Because of natural factors surrounding the nature of human living such as economics and physiological functions and makeup, the conservative view of status quo in which patriarchal institutions dominate could be concluded as the reasonable, logical and systematic approach towards a meaningful societal operation. References: Bergmann, B. (2002). The Economic Emergence of Women 2nd ed. New York: Palgrave, St. Martins Press. Crow, B. (2000). Radical Feminism: A Documentary Reader. New York: New York University Press. James, S. (2000). The Cambridge Companion to Feminism in Philosophy. Feminism in Philosophy of Mind: The Question of Personal Identity. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Longino, H. (1990). Science as Social Knowledge. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Okin, S. (1989). Justice, Gender, and the Family. New York: Basic Books. Pride, P. (1985). The Way Home: Beyond Feminism. Back to Reality. Read More