I think that’s the key, “not actively discriminated against”. Statistics can and often are distorted into a sensational headline that doesn’t take into account individual preference. I am one person, I don’t want to be lumped in with every man on the planet, I don’t have damn all in common with most of them

I’m sure the publicly funded National Men’s Council of Ireland will be delighted with the news. As soon as they start existing

hi great to see it mentioned, what about covering it in November- it slips by every November with little or no coverage or support.

I disagree, having a day for either gender is stupid. There’s so little commonality between 3,500,000,000 people that it just means nothing

I mean, are we going to start celebrating men’s achievements? “Woo! The jet engine! That was us! And penicillin! And the iPod! We’re on fire baby!!! Take that, all other genders!”

I’d rather just scrap collectivism altogether and treat people as individuals. But it’d put all those gender studies graduates out of work

Yeah Chuck, din’t forget that computer programming was us :)

No you are not. But that is because we are self-hating victims of oppression by the patriarchy. Or whatever jargonised nonsense is in force this week.

Dated? tell that to women in places like Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan and parts of Africa where arranged marriages, genital mutilation, honour killings etc take place.

Women own 1% of property globally. 1%

Even in Ireland, where things are quite good, we have a way to go in terms of access to quality childcare and equality of opportunity. We have a long way to go still.

Joanne – That would have a little more force if the western feminist movement ever bothered talking about arranged marriages, genital mutilation and honour killings (aka murder). Instead it goes around looking for stuff to be offended by. Who’s more likely to improve life for women? A woman who gets herself elected President? Or one who prattles on about gender quotas in politics?

“tell that to women in places like Saudi Arabia”

Western feminists are more interested in first world problems.

I actually don’t agree with gender quotas, I think they run against the concept of equality which is at the heart of feminism. However the feminist movement is hugely important still, it may seem outmoded to you but you only have to look at the groundswell of support for rape victims in India, lone female drivers in Saudia Arabia, the recent One Billion Rising movement to see that western feminists do support equality for women internationally and this is International Women’s Day, not Irish Women’s Day.

Just for the day thats in it, I won’t give you my initial response (‘Ugh’).

Instead, Stephen, could you just explain why you find the idea of feminism (defined as a ‘collection of movements and ideologies aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights for women’) as objectionable. What is wrong with the idea of women getting paid the same, having the same job opportunities, having physical autonomy and having equal representation on the political stage?

I’m not being sarcastic here. Please explain, point by point, why feminists are ‘bet down’, what you think feminism actually means and why you do not like it.

Go ahead.

If women want to be equal why have a day celebrating them

Im all for equal rights , but because of how extreme and idealogical the feminist movement has become , at this stage calling yourself a feminist because you support equal rights is akin to calling yourself a communist because you believe in helping the poor ,

The feminist movement in its new form has taken in the banner of defending against racism and lgbt discrimination to give it a broader scope, more radical elements have invented terms like “mansplaining” “social justice” and shifted the scales from a movement trying to aquire equal rights, into a left wing movement to demoralise and strip power from the white straight males in society. While on the outside feminist groups say they accept men, there is still an undercurrent of man hating within the movement which is obvious from all the “only men can rape” etc… Style advertising

Women don’t get paid the same because it costs more to keep women employed, more sick days than men, maternity leave (and all the costs that incurs such as advertising, recruiting and hiring temporary workers), paying extra PRSI for the whole lot etc etc.

Stephen is spot on modern feminists pick and choose what causes they want to support. I always think the classic example of this is the treatment of Sarah Palin in the 2008 US Presidential Election. There was a woman running for VP of the United States but because she wasn’t a liberal left wing woman she was slammed by the media and feminist groups, what was worse was the silence from feminist groups about all the attacks.

Sarah, your definition isn’t objectionable, it’s the reality that’s objectionable

Seriously…… Wow Id take offence to that statement if I didn’t think you were just out for a reaction. Love to know where you got that information from????

Stephen, I’m a feminist. And I get decide what that word means for me, not you.

In that case Eoin, it means nothing

@Stephen – Radical feminists “invented” the term social justice..? I hate to break it to you, but the term and modern concept of ‘social justice’ was coined in 1840, based on the teachings of that well know radical and man-hating Saint, Thomas Aquinas.

http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=341

Carl she was as dumb as a box of rocks thats why nobody liked her.

Eoin everyone is entitled to their own definition, mine is based on what I have seen and heard from people who label themselves feminists , an I have drawn a logical conclusion of what feminism means to these people. Under the basis of that, I am not a feminist and I am confused as to why any man would consider himself one either

@Somethingodd: The entire point of this article is that there is ALSO a day celebrating men.

@Sean: Firstly, I would be interested to know where you got your numbers for sick days. Are we talking public ir private sector? Secondly, as for time taken on maternity leave I think there should be parity between maternal and paternal leave. Both parents have played a role in conceiving this child, why should both not have the same opportunities to care for the child. Also, this would mean that both parents are equally employable and no-one can complain of lacking the same chances in the work place.

@Stephen: Your second comment is a bit more reasoned than your first, which basically implies that feminists are ugly man haters but is still pretty broad. Quite a reaction of someone who claims to believe in equality between the genders. While there are various interest groups that fall under the heading of feminism, their interpretation of what this means can vary wildly. This is very obvious in the States where you have so-called anti-abortion feminists, right wing feminists, marxist feminists blah blah blah. But the situation is similar with any large movement. Look at the disparity between the groups involved in the Civil Rights movement. Did this mean that the central idea was wrong. No. Similarly, while there are always going to be groups with their own agenda, this does not mean that the central idea of equality between the sexes should get bogged down by all this crap. Feminism is not a dirty word, it isn’t man hating and it is very necessary. Pushing for protection of women from domestic violence does not mean that male victims are not also acknowledged. Demanding an improvement in working practices is not trying to foist unqualified candidates or do men out of a job. Calling for an increase in the number of girls entering education in the developing world is not an attack on the boys. It’s telling that almost every major advance in womens rights in this country has come about due to external pressure (often the EU). If things were working, if women were equal in the societies of the developed and developing world, there would be no need for these initiatives. I have never read an article on this site discussing funding for a breast cancer or cystic fibrosis, only to have somebody in the comments section demand to know why no mention has been made of heart disease or Alzheimer’s. It such a dose. Can’t we just get on with it now? ……and whats wrong with defending LGBT?

You get to decide what words mean for you???!!

Yes Alan.

Or did you think Stephen’s definition was take from the Oxford English Dictionary?

I believe in equality of opportunity for men and women. That’s hardly radical, but it is feminist.

Well we had another feminist on this site during the week saying that equality of opportunity was useless and equality of result is all that matters. Which is it?

How about celebrating the fact that you can vote, have access to contraception and divorce, don’t need to stop working when you are married, and generally that things are a hell of a lot better for women in Ireland than they were 100 or even 20 years ago?!

So the same things as men? That’s why I don’t understand the hype

We don’t anymore. I paid €100 more for car insurance this year thanks to the EU’s so-called equality judgment. That’s despite being older, more experienced, having more years claims-free and having a lower risk profile.
Many male friends of mine are still paying astronomical premiums. It’s just that I’ve joined in the realms of “equally extorted”. Once again, that particular ruling from the EU was myopic and poorly-executed (and that’s being generous). Let’s just re-name it the “Make our buddies in the insurance industry even more money” bill.

Steak and blowjob day! Best day of the year!

International women’s day is demeaning to women. We not some mysterious exotic sub species. We half of the worlds population

Don’t speak for me – I don’t find it demeaning

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