Are men the reason for all of society's problems?
Disclaimer:
- A while back when I said I was indulging in classical feminist theory, someone (can't remember the username) warned me that like Exar Kun or Count Dooku, two individuals who thought they could master the dark-side of the force without being drawn into its grasp in order to use their opponent's weapon against them, I would fall victim to these powerful feminist theories. Well, unfortunately it seems to have happened.
I will be making a separate thread as to why I genuinely believe that women are the key to humanity's future, and what makes them superior to men in modern day society. Some of what is said here will overlap with that, but just focus on the question that is the thread's name for now.
Also, please assume that masculinity as used here refers to increased testosterone levels. Obviously not all men are problematic, but I think it's safe to say that those who were either exposed to more testosterone in the womb or who have more of it in their system as adults are problematic.
I'm going to include some passages from Public Man, Private Woman which are quite thought provoking:
“An early statement of radical feminist politics, that of Ti-Grace Atkinson, begins by declaring that al men qua men are ontologically “insecure and frustrated”, beings who must (they have no choice about it) alleviate their frustration through the oppression of others. Atkinson call the process whereby men devour and dominate women “metaphysical cannibalism.” She posits a night-marish scenario in which men invade and take over women, creating a “sex-class” system. Atkinson then explains all of human history, including every society in the present, with reference to the features of the two sex-classes, male and female. All known societies, past and present, were or are nothing but the “ultimate outgrowth” of the nature of the male sex-class. Society “conforms” to male nature."
TL;DR: Men are insecure/frustrated beings who feel oppressing women (who don't have these issues) and other less masculine males is the only way to feel relieve themselves of these feelings. All societies in history were built off this notion.
"Men, the author continues, sustain their lives “at the expense of other better life forms. Until he gives up his existence, either voluntarily or by force, there will be no relief from suffering nor any moral progress on this planet.”
Optional passage; not relevant to thread
"The second fear expressed in Rousseau’s grant of familial authority to the father is a fear of the sexual and psychological resources of women, their reproductive capacities, their seductiveness, their vulnerability, and their openness to human intimacy.. Rousseau believed that women already possessed power on so many levels vis a vis men and children, simply by virtue of their being what they were, that they neither “needed” nor could be trusted with power of a public, political sort. Women were volatile and must be reined in, forced to be content to wield their power “privately.” That a man of Rousseau’s sensitivity could fail to experience empathic identification when women were denied the dignity that attendant upon public participation and speech; that he could place women in circumstances in which they had no rights but only revocable privileges; that he could force them into patterns of repetitious emptiness, indicates both the limits of his capacities to transcend his own age and his deep and abiding fear of women. Nevertheless any serious contemporary feminist thinker must take up the challenge Rousseau has laid down to explore, in terms adequate to the complexities involved, the inner relationship between familial and political authority.
TL;DR
Rousseau feared the power women would hold if they were granted both head familial and public roles.
What do you make of this one? I'm not too sure.
Anyway, is masculinity the root of most of society's problems?
Do you agree that men by nature feel the need to oppress other individuals; or at the very least express their agression?
Are the masculine qualities of emotional suppression, "toughness", stoicism, aggression, overconfidence, competitiveness, low agreeableness, etc antiquated in the 21st century?
Likewise are the feminine qualities of compassion, empathy, high agreeableness, sociability, etc more conducive to a safe and securer society?
Thinking back to historical events, it seems that almost every conflict was caused due to a manifestation of masculine traits:
Misunderstanding due to hindered communication skills; low agreeableness, ego-stroking, the pursuit of power, overwhelming need for control, etc.
Please leave your thoughts.