My female English teacher says that if you're not a feminist, you're a sexist.

Wisemanner · 2018-04-25T07:09:26+00:00

Nope. You're an egalitarian. And you can quote me.

iainmf · 2018-04-25T08:51:21+00:00

You could accept her definition and start all of you disagreements with "As a feminist..."

EG: As a feminist, I don't believe that the government should intervene to equalise the wage gap. That's just treating women as incapable of earning the same as men.

fengpi · 2018-04-25T07:46:45+00:00

In a similar vein... if you're not a Christian, you're going to hell.

This teacher sounds like an asshat.

MT-X_307 · 2018-04-25T07:45:22+00:00

Maybe get a voice recording or better yet a video of these things and report it to the head office, generally teachers aren’t supposed to talk about anything political or religious, just ask them not to say it was you, and also add that you fear your grades because of her. Good luck:)

Alphonetic · 2018-04-25T09:29:08+00:00

She shouldn’t be allowed to bring her politics into the classroom. Even still, there’s no way she would be allowed to discriminate against you. Maybe you can talk to some other faculty about feeling uncomfortable about how she addresses you or file a complaint of some kind? If it was me, I’d probably bluntly call her a liar and tell her she should teach at an all girls school if she’s going to have that misandrist attitude.

mikesteane · 2018-04-25T07:18:01+00:00

I am a sexist. Men and women are different. It's a fact. Anyone who is not a sexist is not a realist.

Neverenough_time · 2018-04-25T12:33:55+00:00

For what it's worth, I had an African American teacher that openly talked about "white people" hating blacks. I submitted an opinonated paper on sterotypes, why they exist and the social purpose that have. I took the stance that sterotypes have thier roll in society and that sterotypes exist for a reason.

I recieved an A for that paper, but when she handed it to me I thought she might bore into my sole. It helpped that I applied my own experences with discrimination and sterotyping to the topic.

Spend a lot of time writing a well rounded essay on a feminsit topic and take a stance she wont like. Have someone with great english skills proof read this and help you to refine your arguements. Hell send it to me and I might be able to help. But if she blatntly disagrees with you and gives you a poor grade for your stance and not your writing ability, take the paper to the principal and fight your grade.

This will expose her, and she will continue to do this with every class if no one does anything. She will scare people like you into hinding your opinions and supressing your thought. Dont let this happen, it will only validate her further.

HiredMind · 2018-04-25T07:19:41+00:00

I'm curious what grade this is in, and what country?

She deserves to be fired in my opinion. If you want to potentially make that happen, and send a message to other teachers: get video/audio of her, and post it anonymously after you're out of her class. The reason I say after, is because if you're identified, and the principal supports her, you could indeed pay a price in terms of grades. Don't sacrifice your grades for this small victory.

Dead_Art · 2018-04-25T13:50:10+00:00

You should go with the line of logic that she is not feminist enough. You can always go so far left you come out on the right

EricAllonde · 2018-04-25T08:04:26+00:00

First, can you film some of her classroom misandry? You may have grounds for complaint about it and that sort of evidence will be invaluable.

Second, you can always go after feminists in their weak spots: facts & logic.

And now to her statement of feminism. Her definition is "a feminist is someone who doesn't think women should be treated like a door mat" then subsequently states while looking me in the eyes "so pretty much anyone who isn't a feminist is a sexist".

You can, if you wish, point out that she's indulging in a logical fallacy:

"An X is a Y. Therefore anything NOT X is a Z."

No, that doesn't follow. It doesn't account for all the options. E.g.

"A bird is an animal. Therefore anything that's NOT a bird is a rock."

Explain horses: they are not birds, but are animals. The argument is wrong because birds are just one type of animal.

In the same way, feminists are just one type of person who agrees with treating women as equals. Many non-feminists do the same.

[OK, I know that feminists only say they want equality and their actions betray the fact that they actually want special benefits, privileges and all sorts of preferential treatment. But that's a discussion for another day.]

svenskbitch · 2018-04-25T10:27:44+00:00

Wow. Seriously? Pushing back against (the alarmism around) manspreading makes you a Trump supporter???

Trump has nothing to do with men's rights. He is opposing feminism only as part of an overall instinct to "stick it to the left" whenever he can. Or have you heard him speak out about male victims of sexual and domestic assault? Shared custody?

Say you are against the manspreading hysteria and its ilk because you are against traditional gender roles, that obliges men to be chivalrous to women, that assumes women are more sensitive and vulnerable and worthy of protection (and, by logical extension, able to lead a country or a F500 company), and that enjoins you to take responsibility for the egregious acts of a few only because of your gender.

And if you do, please, please, let us know what she says.

2018-04-25T15:14:27+00:00

She's a bully.

dinnerwithfunions · 2018-04-25T16:21:07+00:00

You’ve just explained the crisis occurring in academia to a T.

Incompetent quack profs pushing their political agenda on to students while dismissing constructive classroom discussion. These profs also redefine words and ideas to suit their own narrative (as in your profs interpretation on the meaning of feminism).

Just try to remember these loser adjunct profs are nothing more than glorified adult babysitters. Do the work, get your grade, and move on.

Try to think of it the same way as working for a boss that’s an idiot. You’re just there to get paid and it’s only temporary.

arby2171 · 2018-04-25T08:27:25+00:00

Tell your parents

TracyMorganFreeman · 2018-04-25T13:24:19+00:00

a feminist is someone who doesn't think women should be treated like a door mat

A feminists being X does not mean all those who are not X are sexists.

This a combination of the false dichotomy fallacy and denying the antecedent fallacy.

By her same logic I could say if you're not a Jane, you're for violence.

Feminism is a system of ideas regarding power, oppression, and privilege. It isn't the only perspective, and doesn't have a monopoly on the philosophy.

SpareAnimalParts · 2018-04-25T14:45:26+00:00

Whatever you do, film it. It probably isn't worth your grade, but if it comes down to your word against hers, you'll need some backup when contesting a bad grade.

TheRavenousRabbit · 2018-04-25T16:11:05+00:00

Quote her Carol Hanisch, who was extremely important to the feminist movement in the 70's and coined the phrase "The personal is political."

"Men’s liberationists always bring up “confronting their own feelings about men” by which they mean homosexuality. Male homosexuality is an extension of the reactionary club (meaning both group and weapon). The growth of gay liberation carries contempt for women to the ultimate: total segregation. The desire of men to “explore their homosexuality” really means encouraging the possibility of homosexuality as a reaction against feminist demands. This is the reason the movement for “gay rights” received much more support only after women’s liberation became a mass movement."

If that is what feminists call equality, then I'm happy to be a sexist. And don't let her squirm her way out by saying "That is just one feminist" as Carol Hanisch is one of the foundations of modern feminism.

bklee83 · 2018-04-25T16:57:56+00:00

Record her speaking to any of the males in the class at every single opportunity.

pitstatic · 2018-04-25T17:21:10+00:00

Report her bullying.

chambertlo · 2018-04-25T09:45:21+00:00

Then I am sexist and proud fucking of it. No one is going to make me feel bad about not giving a shit about women's issues when men suffer far more than they ever will.

Lethn · 2018-04-25T11:55:59+00:00

This extremely common, rather than actually listen to any of the arguments people like your teacher would much rather dump you in a category or label you in order to try and smear your reputation. I would have half a mind to report her to be honest. If she's using her English class simply to spread feminist propaganda and her political opinion then she's not doing her job, I bet lots of the students are fed up with her too if this is a common thing.

Whether or not you're annoyed enough to pursue this however is up to you, but you're in charge of your education. I have a very personal hatred of unprofessional teachers like this because literally the only reason they're there is to collect their paychecks and wait for their pensions, they're not there to do their jobs. To top it off, she's basically using the fact that she's got the whole class hostage to pick on the male students there, another big black mark in my book, no better than Clementine Ford when the college she was invited to tried to make her students listen to her stupid lecture.

Anyway, again, this is up to you now and whether you choose to fight her over it, the same thing happens to me when I argue with Americans about politics which is very funny. The moment I suggest that private gun ownership might not actually be such a bad thing or Trump isn't as bad as they make them out to be they lose their shit and try to declare me as some sort of Republican Trump supporter which is very funny but it just shows you how desperate they are these days.

Mind you, I don't necessarily blame them, I'm so anti-communist it's pretty easy to mistake me for an American even by American standards. I think people are right to be ticked off about this as well as you, but go through proper channels first. Talk to the principal about it and if not the principal then whoever is in charge of the school itself, then you'll have every right to post up footage online and make a fuss.

RacelessSexlessName · 2018-04-25T13:45:58+00:00

Don't be afraid of pushing back whether you think people won't listen or not. They rely on men not fighting back against their sexism in order to enact it to the degree they do. You should fight them to the same extreme they fight against men, imagine if your class was a STEM class.

sakura_drop · 2018-04-25T17:47:53+00:00

I wonder how she feels about women who don't identify as feminists - or outright vilify them? People like Erin Pizzey, a pioneer of women's rights and helping victims of domestic violence, and Edwina Currie, a former female MP, for example?

So glad I never had teachers like this when I was in high school.

Darksaber-00 · 2018-04-25T17:57:52+00:00

I've been a guy in classes/groups with mostly girls and a female teacher and have also been talked down to, it sucks. The girls can slack off all they want but if we say 1 word out of turn we get "called out" (which by the way is the most pretentious, holier-than-thou thing I have ever encountered in my life) Feminists will often say you're a "sexist" if you don't label yourself a feminist, but it's a shaming tactic to try to get you to join their side, so don't fall for it. And really, about the manspreading thing, she need to grow up. It's a ploy to get men to feel like we don't deserve to be in the world with women because we "take up space" (which..women take up space, too..Humans take up space. Fucking ACORNS take up space. I've seen women on the subway take up 3 seats with their purses and bags and stuff, they have no room to talk about "taking up space") Anyway, good luck!

tenchineuro · 2018-04-25T19:28:16+00:00

> My female English teacher says that if you're not a feminist, you're a sexist.

Well, if you call yourself a feminist, it's almost certain that you are sexist (there are still a few women who persist in calling themselves feminists even though the rest of feminism claims that they are anti-feminist).

If you are not a feminist you may or may not be sexist.

Part of the problem though, is that what is considered sexist is a moving target, kinda like the meaning of the word 'gender'.

iongantas · 2018-04-25T19:44:54+00:00

First, she is wrong. In fact, if you are a feminist, you're probably a sexist.

Second, she is obviously sexist, and you should probably report her through some official channel.

Good4Men · 2018-04-25T20:35:14+00:00

The female counterpart of a male chauvinist pig, is a female chauvinist sow.

augustfell · 2018-04-26T13:32:42+00:00

Just define "MRA" as "someone who doesn't think men should be treated like a door mat." And that anyone who isn't an MRA is a sexist.

ThePigmanAgain · 2018-04-25T11:20:54+00:00

She's a sexist piece of shit. Film her, upload it all over the internet, get her fired.

mikesteane · 2018-04-25T08:01:35+00:00

Ask questions. Is your definition universally accepted? Is it even generally accepted? (If yes, then can you find it in any dictionary anywhere, if no, why are you imposing an idiosyncratic definition in a general English class? Why are you bringing your politics into this class? Would you not consider that to be a professional fault? Have you considered that your introduction of your personal politics to this class might create an uncomfortable environment for people who don't share your POV?

GYN-k4H-Q3z-75B · 2018-04-25T10:34:07+00:00

Not to be hysterical but she sounds like a crazy cunt. At your age I also had a crazy feminist English teacher (she actually went to Berkeley). This attitude seems to be rather common nowadays. Not much you can do.

available_splinter · 2018-04-25T11:27:46+00:00

Sounds to me like you are in America. Which means that you have certain protections when it comes to gender equality in school. I would be recording (written) any interaction you have which is against policy.

SeeYouOn16 · 2018-04-25T12:33:14+00:00

Be careful with this one. English grades are completely subjective to the teacher unlike a lot of other subjects. I'd just keep my mouth shut and get a passing grade and move on. I learned that lesson the hard way my freshman year English 101.

Good4Men · 2018-04-25T13:00:53+00:00

If you're not a men's rights activist, you most definitely are a sexist.

Feminism, not so much. In what ways are women in western democracies discriminated against? None.

Mr_MRAnarchist · 2018-04-25T13:21:48+00:00

Get in front of the school board, and tell her to stick to the facts of teaching, and that you're not going to fall for her brainwashing.

-manatease · 2018-04-25T13:26:18+00:00

Wow, so open mockery of young men is a thing in arts education in the UK. Are you paying for this?

Good4Men · 2018-04-25T13:28:24+00:00

Manspreading?

Don't kids have their own desks in class?

2018-04-25T13:29:15+00:00

Record others on their phones, record what she says and then challenge the dean and her grading.

M8753 · 2018-04-25T13:38:40+00:00

Will anything bad happen if you just talk back? If not, if classes are already unpleasant, just have some fun. Say something if you disagree with her. Or play dumb and JAQ.

Pillowed321 · 2018-04-25T14:32:20+00:00

File a Title IX complaint especially if she's talking about "manspreading."

Blutarg · 2018-04-25T14:50:10+00:00

Her definition is "a feminist is someone who doesn't think women should be treated like a door mat"

Sounds like someone doesn't know how dictionaries work. Even if that definition is true, that doesn't mean that everyone who doesn't think women should be treated like a doormat is a feminist.

Suppose a dictionary defines "dog" as "a small mammal commonly kept as a pet." That doesn't mean all small mammals commonly kept as pets are dogs--what about cats, hamsters, ferrets? And it doesn't mean that if you aren't a dog then you aren't a small mammal commonly kept as a pet.

In short, your teacher is an ignorant fool.

Nude-eh · 2018-04-25T15:16:39+00:00

I would quit the class if you still can. She is going to try to flunk you and it will hurt your GPA. She already has her sights on you, so you cannot win. Get out if you can.

FreedomThinker20 · 2018-04-25T15:39:21+00:00

Show her this video of how many male feminists actually turn out to be the perpetuators of harassment and even rape. Sargon of Akkad Male Feminists

JohnDivney · 2018-04-25T15:48:52+00:00

Well, OP, my college undgrad coursework was so fraught by experiences like these that I committed to going into education myself in order to help future students not have this experience, and by being inspired by teachers who were not.

Now, years later, I'm on the cusp of seeing my 10-year teaching career come to an end because this mentality is so vicious, combined with the fact that all faculty are now being asked to "re-apply" for their jobs (and will have to every 3 years) or be eliminated. This program has been in affect for 3 years now (so far) and each time I haven't even made it out of the first round of the application process. And it's because of my resistance to forced adherence to "diversity" initiatives.

OzNimbus · 2018-04-25T16:25:28+00:00

Where is the school located? Sounds like you've got a human rights complaint.

McFeely_Smackup · 2018-04-25T17:16:18+00:00

The way she talks to me and the other two boys is very different to the rest of the class and once called us out for manspreading.

you should ask her to please not stare at your crotch.

2018-04-25T17:19:41+00:00

I guess I'm sexist against my own then...

BasketCase559 · 2018-04-25T17:22:44+00:00

"Think as you like, but behave like others."

You have two options. Either act out the above quote or talk to her about it, try to explain your point of view, and see where it gets you. Both have their risks, it's up you which path you take.

Keep in mind that not every feminist is a misandrist. Some just genuinely feel discriminated against and want equal rights. She can believe what she wants, but if she is actively discriminating against you because of your sex, then you should probably do something about it. Document everything and bring it to someone who can do something about it.

jfcyric · 2018-04-25T17:35:31+00:00

Go to the dean and complain about her sexist views and how she treat you and you peers differently. If nothing is done and you are in the states, gather proof, confront her publicly and sue the shit out of the school and her.

Waterwings559 · 2018-04-25T17:49:00+00:00

I hate to always use this analogy but it always manages to highlight to idiocy of shit like this...

Imagine you were 3 black people in a majority white classroom, and you noticed she was letting all the white students chill on their phones but called out only the black students for being out of line, graded only the black students more harshly and only asked the black students more questions about their work, while the white students were praised for lesser quality work.

Imagine how ridiculous that would be if someone did that.

But apparently it’s okay even though gender is just as arbitrary of a category as race when it comes to teaching.

Ninjetik · 2018-04-25T19:02:09+00:00

I just want to wish you luck, and suggest you don't do anything that would be legally questionable in your pursuit of equity. I have a friend who went through a situation like this, but with an entire educational institution (every class). It almost ruined his life, just sitting there taking the abuse and being reminded what useless garbage men are from so many female teachers. But honestly, had he raised his voice about it more than he did and not taken the abuse, he would have been kicked out of school, honestly, a lot of his classmates would have even enforced it.

So, do what you want and what you think is best for you, and I do honestly wish you luck, but I have to caution... sometimes when you go kicking beehives all you get is bees.

But I'd hate to tell you to suffer through what you're dealing with, I know it can be hell.

2018-04-25T19:10:14+00:00

This is literally harassment and discrimination.

Report her anonymously. Report sexism against males. And report sex based harassment. Title IX in universities exist. Seriously do it when classes are over and you got your grade. You have nothing to lose.

Record her if you can.

thrway_1000 · 2018-04-25T19:22:09+00:00

If you're in the US file a Title IX complaint about making a hostile environment based on your gender.

https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html

alclarkey · 2018-04-25T20:11:34+00:00

Tell her "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to squish my testicles together to satisfy some arbitrary moral grandstanding protocol"

Dembara · 2018-04-25T20:14:12+00:00

US Public school? If yes, file a Title IX complaint.

This site has some good information on the process: http://www.titleixforall.com/

2018-04-25T20:56:17+00:00

Only Sith deal in absolutes!

Lupinfujiko · 2018-04-25T21:58:08+00:00

That sounds very much like my experience in school.

Most teachers are women, and most identify as "progressive" meaning they support feminism.

And really, that's fine. What I find especially galling, is the preferential treatment that girls get in class because of this.

It has been demonstrated unequivocally that girls get better grades in school than boys. Why is that?

Being feminist shouldn't mean singling out and targeting boys in your class. Your only "sin" was being born male.

This concept of "toxic masculinity" is both offensive and, ironically, extremely sexist.

And the polarization will continue.

There isn't much help out there for you. Chances are the adminstration agrees with her. As you mentioned, most of your class is female - they aren't going to rush to your aid. And probably if you told your parents they would think that you are having disciplinary issues instead of actually telling the truth.

So really, who do you turn to?

You become disillusioned with school. Who wouldn't? You're literally damned right from the first second of stepping foot in class.

That's what happened to me and that pisses me off. That's what is happening to millions of boys in North America right now.

It is a crisis.

Just know you aren't alone.

Rethgil · 2018-04-25T22:27:55+00:00

Are you in America? Britain? Elsewhere?

2018-04-25T23:48:15+00:00

Tell her she's a dumb cunt

Juan_Golt · 2018-04-26T00:24:12+00:00

Christians believe in the ten commandments. Therefore if you aren't a Christian you must be a liar/thief/murderer etc...

FuriousStylesMGTOW · 2018-04-26T06:31:22+00:00

What did you say to her about her manspreading comment?

ilikerelish · 2018-04-26T19:07:55+00:00

If this were me in high school I think would try and record or have the other two guys act as witnesses on my behalf of the behavior, then approach the principle, or even the superintendent directly. If that didn't remedy it, then go to parents. the school leaders when I was going through actually respected that you came to them and had your ducks in a row.

2018-04-27T02:49:27+00:00

Man spreading: if women's reproductive organs hung off their pelvis they would spread their legs too lol!! Instead they spread their designer bags everywhere, I believe.

You should start harassing her boss and have your parents back it up. Whining seems the tool for change in this decadent society.

Meyright · 2018-04-25T09:37:44+00:00

Do you want to do something about this, or do you want to rant? Both is absolutely fine, but if you ask for help you should clarify this.
In which country/state do you live?

2018-04-26T00:40:46+00:00

Tell her that no matter how much she hates men her dad still wont love her.

Then drop the class.

jpin86 · 2018-04-25T09:05:01+00:00

It sounds like she must have struggled with inequality and sexism from men in her life, and now she is unfairly taking it out on you. You do not deserve that.

I think maybe you could confront her about it. Maybe point out that you do respect women and believe in equality, but that it doesn’t seem like she is treating you equally. Maybe give some examples and asks if she really believes what she did was fair.

Personally, I am a feminist, and I do generally believe if people aren’t feminist, they are sexist. But it’s just a word, so some people might call it egalitarian, and that’s okay. At some point soon hopefully, feminism will not be the right term because the gender-based injustice men and women face will be equal in magnitude and women will have gained equal social, political, and financial power and status in society. Unlike most men in this subreddit, I don’t think we are there yet. However, I think that’s where things are headed. From there, it won’t make sense to have feminism and just egalitarianism will make more sense.

Title	My female English teacher says that if you're not a feminist, you're a sexist.
Author	arby2171
Upvotes	323
Comments	159
Date	April 25, 2018 7:00 AM UTC (8 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/MensRights
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/8erm9e/my_female_english_teacher_says_that_if_youre_not/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/MensRights/my-female-english-teacher-says-that-if-youre-not-a.902280 https://theredarchive.com/post/902280

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