So, to start with: one estimate I saw lately said that about 20% of American women identify as feminists. Is that accurate? I have no idea. 1 in 5 feels plausible to me - remembering that there are some women who think feminism is too hateful or obsessed, and others who just don't care all that much.

Now, around the same time, I saw a complaint in one of the threads here about how politicians pander to women to get their votes.

And for quite a long time, I've gotten emails for petitions on various subjects, including some that urge companies or politicians to adopt typically liberal or feminist positions: pass more gun laws, help women and children, fire people who don't agree with feminism. Often times, reading them, I thought there needed to be a petition taking a different position on the issue, so I could sign that one instead.

But if feminists are only 20% of the female population, how can they have such disproportional power? Well, one reason is that even non-feminist women tend to side with feminists, rather than against them. But another reason is that the people and companies being targeted have no reason to refuse feminists. No one else has their back. No one is going to elect or reelect someone who looks out for men because they look out for men. No one is going to write that company and say "you know, I don't think that thing that the feminists are upset about is a big deal and I for one will happily keep buying your product or service."

Maybe we should be speaking out more. Maybe we should be presenting politicians with "do what we want or lose our vote" demands. Maybe we should be starting counterpetitions to tell targets of feminist ire that whatever they're doing is actually fine and not to bow to the pressure. And maybe we should be doing more to call out misandry in the media, demand fair treatment, and present alternate explanations for social phenomena to the ones that feminism offers.

Some guys might think that this is just being easily offended and embracing victimhood. I think it's being assertive. Stoic silence and bitching into a corner of the internet where no one's listening isn't doing men any favors, and for all the times we've noted that feminists work together to win victories, we've sure as shit done a poor job of adapting the strategies that hand them success after success.

Thoughts?

(edits for clarity)