I took a break from dating for a span of 2 years to focus on my career, my life, and other things important to me, and generally stayed away from political matters despite living in a very progressive area of America.

Two years ago, I don't remember ever having a conversation about women's rights, feminism, the pay gap, or anything to do with how women have it "harder" than men with any of the women I was dating. But now, as I'm reconnecting with female "friends" and going on dates with women more and more, I keep hearing them bring up women's issues. Did something change? What happened? Is it because I'm now in my mid/late 20s? Is it because it's primarily online dating?

As for my opinions on this, I find it wildly inappropriate to bring up politics on dates, and even more so, to bring up politics that is centered around telling someone how privileged a group that they were born into is and how they comparably have it far easier. I would never tell a woman how much easier they have it in regard to homelessness, prison rates, prison sentencing, suicides, child support, alimony, domestic abuse support, dating, sex, etc. because that's not only rude but also unproductive to the goal of dating. I want to focus on areas that I can control and act as a good person, rather than complain to others about things that are not wholly in my control. Yet, almost complete strangers have no qualms with bringing up issues to me in regards to my gender.

I'm worried because something I never noticed before is now so pervasive in my experience of the dating market. A few years ago, I never noticed any of the women I was dating to ever bring up gender issues, and, now, a whole lot of them bring it up either subliminally or directly. How can I expect all these individuals that believe that women have it so much harder to ever contribute as equally to my growth and development in a relationship as I will to theirs?

Frankly, the more and more I hear from women about the "hardships" women exclusively face, the more and more biased I become against those viewpoints, especially given that any conversation regarding the validity of certain viewpoints usually ends in emotional tantrums. Right now, I know this is bad, but when I hear someone talk about women having more problems in certain areas, I feel like I'm listening to a spoiled kid complaining how a "make-a-wish" kid they know gets to see their favorite celebrity.

I definitely realize I'm hitting a point where I'm totally unreceptive and apathetic towards any feminist/women's issue. Is there any place where I can have a genuine, non-emotional conversation with women on their issues? I'd like to be more open than I am currently, but a lot of the points I hear are either false or steeped in emotional backdrop. As I see it, more and more great women are buying into these ideas, and I don't want to shut myself off completely, as I still believe that partners help bring out the best in each other, man or woman.