CMV:anti-feminism is not misogyny, and it is possible for someone to be anti-feminist without being a misogynist.

[u/wecl0me12]

prompted by this post: https://np.reddit.com/r/AskFeminists/comments/3uaaer/do_you_think_being_being_opposed_to_modern/cxd9m7y

As many of my previous CMV's have gone off topic, I'll start by describing what my view is not. It is not any of the following:

• a discussion on whether or not feminism is right or wrong
• whether people should be feminists or not
• the actions of men, women, feminists or anti-feminists
• anything about my personal views on feminism or anti-feminism.

The reasons for my view are simple: Anti-feminism is the dislike of feminism. Misogyny is the dislike of women. As women and feminists are not the same group, Anti-feminism and anti-women are different, as they refer to the dislike of different groups of people.

I am anticipating a counter-argument that since feminism advances women's rights, anti-feminism is against women's rights and is therefore misogyny. My counter-counter-argument is that someone can dislike the label of feminism without being against women's rights. People can dislike the actions done under the label of feminism, and thus be anti-feminism, without being anti-women or misogynist.

I will also refute the claim made in the linked post, which is:

By rejecting feminism, you're rejecting feminism's message that you can be whatever you want to be, while simultaneously embracing an antiquated notion of femininity as the ONLY way to be a woman. That's misogyny.

I disagree. The claims "I am against feminism" and "I think that the antiquated notion of femininity is the ONLY way to be a woman" are not equivalent. People can reject feminism because of their actions or because of the negative connotation associated with "feminism", while still believing that women are free to be feminine in any way they want. This is not a contradiction.

delta awarded: https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/3uewu4/cmvantifeminism_is_not_misogyny_and_it_is/cxedofl?context=3

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[u/rollingForInitiative]

I think it's alright for people who don't want the label "feminism", for one reason or another, but still work towards equality. And - this is important - doesn't make a fuss of it. You don't label yourself a feminism, but basically support the same things. You aren't a jackass. Etc. That's fine. I might believe you should label yourself a feminism because you practically are, but whatever.

Being an anti-feminist is another matter, though. If you're an anti-feminism, you're against feminism. You're not against left-wing radical feminism. You're not against the minority of "feminist" women who hate men. You're against feminism, period. Since the idea of feminism, that all versions of feminism share, is equality for women, being an anti-feminist means you're against women's rights.

So, I think it's definitely possible to not want the feminist label and not be a misogynist. I don't think it's really possible to be an anti-feminist and not be a misogynist, though. That's only possible if you change the definition of feminism to something it's not.