Antifeminism Patriachists Outlook Towards Society

While many have lauded its revolutionary role in the reorganization of society along more equitable and efficient lines, feminism has had its own share of criticism, mostly from patriachists some of whom have been criticized for misogyny and who have now regrouped under the banner of antifeminism.

Antifeminist critiques perceived and documented misandry, alleged sex negativism or a negative attitude towards sex and sexuality, unwillingness to accept full responsibility of their stand with respect to combat roles and abolition of institutional protection of women, allegations of being apolitical, dismissive attitudes towards the transsexual and homosexual communities. Others decry feminism, for allegedly ignoring natural and biological differences between men and women and supposedly defying tradition and religious tenets as well as so-called family values.

It would be appropriate here to note that some later-day feminists, themselves, believe that equality between the genders is neither natural nor possible and aim for a more equitable rather than equal approach and distribution of roles and social benefits. They are the equity feminists and belong to the third wave. Other third wave feminists promote a sex-positive feminism that actively supports the development of active feminine sexuality and the female role in reproduction. Both these groups of feminists belong to the school of difference feminism. Nevertheless, antifeminism is skeptical of the distinctions between liberal, difference feminism and 1970s style radical feminism and strongly refutes their every claim of equality, parity or fairness.

Antifeminism believes that women are intrinsically inferior to men both in terms of physical size, strength and power as also intellectual capacity and emotional dependability owing to the effect of Darwins theory of sexual selection in human evolution. They uphold the medieval male model of society in which the male is the provider and protector and plays a greater role in public life and is formally the head of the family or the leader in society whereas women fill the subordinate role of domestic management and childcare.

Antifeminism holds that the current progress made by feminism in opening up professional responsibilities to women and the resultant rise in womens status has led to chaos within the family, divorce, and fall in social indices and a rise in crime. Antifeminists dislike the standards in so-called political correctitude promoted by the rise of feminism in society and blame feminists for eroding traditional masculine values, censoring rational, male voices and devaluing and criminalizing men.

Antifeminism followers believe that women have a place in society and it is unnatural for them to go everywhere and do everything that rape is a natural act and women must guard against it or blame themselves for their fate and that womens liberation will ultimately lead to over-sexualisation of society and unbridled matriarchy. Some of the ardent followers of this school of thought are Peter Zohrab and Steven Goldberg (The Inevitability of Patriarchy). Anti feminism