A Voice for Men’s ongoing campaign to convince the world that “Men’s Human Rights Activists” are a bunch of petty, malicious, sexually insecure douchenozzles continues apace.
I mean, that must be what they’re really up to, right? Because no one who actually had any real interest in human rights of any kind would produce “memes” like the one above and all the rest below, delivered to your eyes straight from AVFM’s Fcebook page.
At their best, AVFM’s memes are merely baffling …
… or ridiculous.
AVFM also loves appropriating the images of famous people, and pretending that these people are somehow on their side. But their choices of imaginary celebrity endorsers can be a bit, well, ironic. A couple of days ago in one of my posts on the iconography of the “Cultural Marxism” conspiracy theorists, I posted a neo-Nazi meme showing a crudely photoshopped picture of Star Trek’s Kirk and Spock endorsing Adolph Hitler — a rather odd conceit, given that William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy are both Jewish, and that the original Star Trek series promoted tolerance and a very 60s-liberal sort of multiculturalism.
Well, here’s AVFM’s attempt to make Spock an MRA:
Dudes, hate to break it to you, but Nimoy is actually a … feminist. Really. In the 60s he demanded that Star Trek’s producers pay actress Nichele Nichols the same as her male counterparts on the show. And as a photographer today, Nimoy acknowleges that he is heavily influenced by feminism, partiularly the writings of Jewish feminist Letty Cottin Pogrebin, one of the founders of Ms. magazine.
So that’s not really his “listening to feminism face” at all.
An astonishing number of AVFM’s memes are so sexualized that they are more or less soft-core porn. Even their anti-male-rape memes, ostensibly attempts to raise consciousness about the rape of men by women, feature seductive, scantily clad women, undermining whatever message they are supposed to be getting across.
But the most, er, revealing memes are the ones that hint at deep sexual insecurities on the part of the meme makers and those who “like” them on Facebook. (The images that follow are mildly NSFW.)
This meme, for example, actually features the dreaded vagina dentata:
[slightly risque meme removed]
And this one attempts to shame male feminists by suggesting they enjoy being penetrated, an act that’s really only “shameful” if you have some rather fucked-up notions of what is and what isn’t appropriate male sexuality. And a certain degress of hatred and fear of female sexual agency.
[slightly risque meme removed]
AVFM meme-maker John Galt also continues to be weirdly obsessed by me.
And then there’s this lovely meme, intended as a joke at the expense of a feminist activist who’s been on AVFM’s enemies list ever since she told some AVFM dudes to shut up at a demonstration several years ago. (I’ve crossed out her face, because no one really deserves to be made into an AVFM meme.)
[slightly risque meme removed]
The joke is obviously supposed to be at her expense, suggesting that she is so unattractive that she makes penises wilt. But you don’t have to be Sigmund Freud to realize that this isn’t the real story here. This is a woman demonized by AVFM and other antifeminists because once, several years ago, she shouted down some dudes. It’s not her appearance that frightens their penises; it’s the fact that she wouldn’t put up with their bullshit.
Guys, you’re not fooling anyone, except yourselves.
Re Yorkshire and steampunk–I’d never thought of Alan’s points before, but I can see where he’s coming from. In addition, although not the canonical ‘cradle of railways’ (that’s just north of us in Durham and Northumbria), York is a big railway town (among other things) and has the worlds largest railway museum–and a lot of it is operated from time to time. [This comment brought to you by the Yorkshire tourist board :).]
Oh wait I lie–Sacramento’s is technically the world’s largest; York’s is the world’s most visited (not surprising, given that it’s a few steps from a busy train station–and free).
“that’s just north of us in Durham and Northumbria”
When you go really hardcore Yorkshire you’ll start using phrases like “the pre 1974 border” (and you thought Israeli politics could get heated) and start claiming Northumbria and Durham as Yorkshire (which they are; see also eastern parts of ‘Lancashire’).
From some ranty blog on the subject:
“The county dates back as a unified geographical unit back to 626 following the annexation of Dunoting, Elmet and Meicen to the core lands of Ebrauc and Deywr in the Nation of Deira, (itself formed a century earlier from an even older nation of the same name). Incorporated into the Kingdom of Northumbria alongside the Nation of Bernicia, Deira maintained its identity throughout, and following the end of Northumbria and the establishment of England on the 12th July 927, continued right until 1974 when the the butchers in London ripped the historical county of Yorkshire apart; abolishing the traditional and authentic Ridings (Old English ‘Thriving’, 1/3), replacing them with artificial counties and districts defined by bureaucrats in London with no concern for over thirteen centuries of history and culture.”
LOL so far all I’ve seen from the replies to my ideas are strawmen, belittling ad hominem attacks, and immature name calling. I’d never call myself a feminist OR an MRA. I believe that “isms” cloud the dialogue and only serve to divide people into categories even further.
You want examples of systematic oppression of men? The circumcision issue is a strong starter. Female genital mutilation is illegal in America, (as it of course SHOULD be) but male circumcision is still standard operating medical procedure. Parents aren’t asked for CONSENT to chop off the foreskin, but are able to WAIVE a medical procedure. Remove yourself from the cultural context for even a millisecond and think about that logically.
Also, not to mention the fact that many women seem to view the penis in it’s intact, uncut form as “gross” “dirty” or “weird looking.” American women are often socialized to believe that mutilated cockmeat is the most visually appealing lol. What the actual fuck?
So, even if you believe that this standard is due to patriarchy theory, you can’t honestly tell me that “male privilege” theory is still “intact” when you think about the fact that a mutilated dick is considered the norm.
Funny how circumcision is perpetuated by…. men.
Also, props for comparing what’s routinely performed on girls in the third world to cosmetic infant circumcision, which, thought unjust, is incomparable as far as physical harm or trauma go. The only point of crossover is non-consensual genital cutting. You’ve just diminished the profound damage and suffering women by comparing having one’s genitals sawed off with blunt knives and sewn shit to unnecessary minor surgery perform under anaesthesia in sterile conditions by a surgeon.
BTW, in my pursuit for equality I’ve never felt the need to refer to the genitals of someone who has had the misfortune of experiencing cutting as “mutilated X meat”. I just show them compassion. Good job re: equality, chucking men who have been circumcised under the bus.
STRAWMAN!!! I never compared FGM to circumcision. Where are you reading that? FGM is ILLEGAL in America, but circumcision is not. I said that despite the fact that circumcision is arguably a patriarchal thing, it STILL only affects men so how can you STILL say that the idea of “male privilege” makes any sense whatsoever in this context? Use your brain.
I’m not surprised our troll did not acknowledge the link I posted showing actual concrete proof that feminists don’t demonize men.
He also doesn’t know what an ad hominem is. Shocking!
“the link I posted showing actual concrete proof that feminists don’t demonize men”
Very short summary in my reply to Bina above ^^^^^^
Research your own fuckin’ movement why dontcha? It’s rife with baggage and has a TON to answer for. It’s not all rainbows and sprinkles.
I feel that ‘man-hating’ is an honorable and viable political act, that the oppressed have a right to class-hatred against the class that is oppressing them. Robin Morgan, Ms. Magazine Editor
The nuclear family must be destroyed… Whatever its ultimate meaning, the break-up of families now is an objectively revolutionary process. Linda Gordon
I want to see a man beaten to a bloody pulp with a high-heel shoved in his mouth, like an apple in the mouth of a pig. Andrea Dworkin
Since marriage constitutes slavery for women, it is clear that the women’s movement must concentrate on attacking this institution. Freedom for women cannot be won without the abolition of marriage. Sheila Cronin, the leader of the feminist organization NOW
Marriage as an institution developed from rape as a practice. Andrea Dworkin
The institution of sexual intercourse is anti-feminist. Ti-Grace Atkinson
Rape is nothing more or less than a conscious process of intimidation by which all men keep all women in a state of fear. Susan Brownmiller, Against Our Will p.6
When a woman reaches ****** with a man she is only collaborating with the patriarchal system, eroticizing her own oppression. Sheila Jeffrys
Politically, I call it rape whenever a woman has sex and feels violated. Catherine MacKinnon
The more famous and powerful I get the more power I have to hurt men. Sharon Stone
Ninety-five percent of women’s experiences are about being a victim. Or about being an underdog, or having to survive… women didn’t go to Vietnam and blow things up. They are not Rambo. Jodie Foster, quoted in The New York Times Magazine
The proportion of men must be reduced to and maintained at approximately 10% of the human race. Sally Miller Gearhart, in The Future – If There Is One – Is Female
And if the professional rapist is to be separated from the average dominant heterosexual (male), it may be mainly a quantitative difference. Susan Griffin, Rape: The All-American Crime
If life is to survive on this planet, there must be a decontamination of the Earth. I think this will be accompanied by an evolutionary process that will result in a drastic reduction of the population of males. Mary Daly
If anyone is prosecuted for filing a false report, then victims of real attacks will be less likely to report them. David Angier
Men who are unjustly accused of rape can sometimes gain from the experience. Catherine Comins
As long as some men use physical force to subjugate females, all men need not. The knowledge that some men do suffices to threaten all women. He can beat or kill the woman he claims to love; he can rape women…he can sexually molest his daughters… THE VAST MAJORITY OF MEN IN THE WORLD DO ONE OR MORE OF THE ABOVE. Marilyn French
I believe that women have a capacity for understanding and compassion which man structurally does not have, does not have it because he cannot have it. He’s just incapable of it. Barbara Jordan, former Congresswoman
Probably the only place where a man can feel really secure is in a maximum security prison, except for the imminent threat of release. Germaine Greer
Man-hating is everywhere, but everywhere it is twisted and transformed, disguised, tranquilized, and qualified. It coexists, never peacefully, with the love, desire, respect, and need women also feel for men. Always man-hating is shadowed by its milder, more diplomatic and doubtful twin, ambivalence. Judith Levine
Women have their faults / men have only two: / everything they say / everything they do. Popular Feminist Graffiti
We are taught, encouraged, moulded by and lulled into accepting a range of false notions about the family. As a source of some of our most profound experiences, it continues to be such an integral part of our emotional lives that it appears beyond criticism. Yet hiding from the truth of family life leaves women and children vulnerable. Canadian Panel on Violence Against Women
I do want to be able to explain to a 9-year-old boy in terms he will understand why I think it’s OK for girls to wear shirts that revel in their superiority over boys. Treena Shapiro
Oops. meant reply to Ellesar (under the one to Bina)
Y’know, dude, if you’re angry or upset about being circumcised – totally understandable! – there is surgery available to reverse it and I’m sure there’d be dozens of support groups around the net. Taking it out on us won’t help you.
Booooooooooring! I demand better trolls!
Is there anything more unoriginal than an MRA troll that pretends to be neutral?
Troll boy,
Engage with what people say to you or fuck off. Don’t bother copy pasting unsourced quotes.
How am I a troll when I’m giving you exact quotes of bigotry and insanity from your own movement? I haven’t attacked anyone on here personally or called any names. The feminist movement: Winning hearts and minds lol! All anyone has done on here is misrepresent me as an MRA or whatever the fuck. You can’t TELL someone what THEIR ideology is. An ideology is something you actively take on yourself.
Also, you want me to respond to the clickbait “Top 23” lists you posted. YES! The feminist movement HAS accomplished a lot for gender relations in North America IN THE PAST! I specified that the “modern day” “western” feminist movement in the past 15 or so years has done nothing concrete to continue that. This is demonstrable if you look at frauds such as Anita Sarkeesian, Rebecca Watson, or Jessica Valenti. The list goes on. It largely focuses on trite, trivial first world whitegirl probs. Ban Bossy? Manspreading? Viral “catcall” videos that consist of dudes saying “hi” discrediting that dude who discovered the comet because he wore a shirt with cartoon women on it?
And yes, the fems DON’T demonize men, that is if they COMPLETELY prostrate themselves to the feminist movement, patriarchy theory, male privilege theory, and behave like castrated, asexual imps with no dissenting, nuanced opinions whatsoever.
Everything good happened IN THE PAST! Tea was sweeter, sky was bluer and rocking chairs ROCKED! Not like these modern ones you prolly need to plug into a USB port to get any movement at all. And there were never pebbles in shoes. These damn modern pebbles.
How does criticising an innappropriate shirt discredit landing something on a comet?
You can respect the accomplishment while still being critical of behaviour that sends an exclusionary message to women within his field.
/clicks mental “ignore” button on troll since thiamine doesn’t have one/
Moving on.
We do have that.
“Sure, the Civil Rights movement did some good things, but a group of black people was mean to me once! And the old lady on the bus gives me a really angry stare every time I get on! Reverse racism! Reverse racism! What are you going to do about that???”
You may want to have that list go on a bit if you you want people here to actually believe you have some idea you know what you’re talking about. You name three of the current betes noire of ragey internet MRA message board activists rather than significant figures from the last 15 years.
Well your list is certainly trite since it’s completely comprised of Internet chatter points that are mostly less than a year old.
https://www.wehuntedthemammoth.com/2013/11/03/a-quick-factchecking-of-yet-another-list-of-misandrist-quotes-reveals-the-same-old-mra-sloppiness-and-dishonesty/
Hush now, troll-linger. Take your gotcha’s elsewhere.
duerstisms, for someone who isn’t an MRA, you sure love to regurgitate their talking points.
Remember, you started by accusing the commenters on this thread of fighting misogyny with misandry. When asked for examples, you copied and pasted a long list of quotes from people who don’t post here, one that has been used by MRAs for years to “discredit” feminism. It’s an utter non sequitur. If you think people on this blog are oppressing men, prove it.
duerstisms – I don’t really feel that you deserve the attention, but let’s clear up something about male circumcision as it relates to feminism. Basically it doesn’t, I do not know stats, but I think it is likely that feminist mothers are far less likely to get their sons circumcised.
You are also being culturally specific. In Europe it is much less common, esp for non religious reasons. Personally I believe it is a violation of a childs’ rights, whether done for religious reasons or not, but this does not make it is feminist issue, or one that feminists, or women generally should feel particularly strongly about.
If you feel angry about your circumcision take it to the people that made that decision for you.
Hm, it seems the conversation has changed direction since I last checked in! But anyway, I’d be surprised if even the toughest Yorkshire folk wanted to tangle with the Prince Bishops of Durham. We did have an Archbishop of York who was an actual pirate, though, so that’s kind of awesome.