Does anyone else not believe in feminism?

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I've always seen feminism as being about promoting women in the workplace and politics and legal rights. I agree with that kind of feminism, women don't all need to be moms and only moms, I like the idea of a career woman.

I think radical feminism is those people who believe women are inherently oppressed and victimized by men in Western society. Certain cultures such as India actually do seem anti-woman, but then again there are other cultures that are anti-men, such as our own culture in many ways.

Sadly enough I do. Maybe not you specifically, but lots of anti-feminists bring up stuff like that as proof that women actually have more and better rights than men.

Quiverfull people live by that you know.

I´ve seen some of that too, how uncaring businesswomen with sharp elbows are idealized as role models because they challenge the men on their own turf. And that women who choose to stay home with their children are accused of being weak and traitors to the cause because they set a bad example for other women.
Just so you dont get me wrong, I don´t believe this is representative for feminists in general, rather it´s an exception. But nonetheless it´s disturbing. And hypocritical; if women should have the right to decide their life themselves that should include the right to be a housewife.

Here is my take on feminism.

It began because of the way women were limited in choices and options, and because of how women were treated in society. I still remember want ads in the paper with heading for men and women. I wasn't old enough to work then, but I remember seeing them. I remember it being a shock when a teacher got pregnant and then came back to work after she had her baby.

The fact that we have choices and options and equality now is a very good thing. There are two things that I don't like about some forms of feminism though.

1) The fact that many feminists do not see all choices as valid. I chose to stay home and be a housewife. It was a decision that my husband and I made when we had our first baby. I enjoy doing this, and I don't feel that it's invalid or that I am less of a woman than women who work. I certainly believe that this choice isn't for everyone, but neither is working outside the home. If I choose to stay home and take care of the house and kids, then the housework and cooking etc become my responsibility. The same as if whatever job I did outside the home was my responsibility. It's not because I'm a woman that cooking supper or mopping the house is my responsibility, it's because I'm the one who chose to stay home and do these things. The person who stays home has the responsibility for the bulk of the housework. If I worked at a job from home, then my responsibilites would be less. I get really ticked when I am told "But you don't HAVE to be just a housewife anymore! You could be ANYTHING you want!" I guess I could be anything I want except a housewife, huh?

2) The fact that some physical standards for jobs are lowered for women. This doesn't happen everywhere, but some fire departments and police departments lower their physical standards for women. Men may have to be able to do some physical things, but women only have to do them to a lesser extent. All standards should be the same. There are many women who can meet those standards. If a job requires physical ability for either the worker's or the public's safety, then anyone who does that job should be held to the same standards. This does not discriminate against women because we are women, anymore than not allowing a person with extremely poor vision to be a surgeon. Yes, most men have more upper body strength than most men. If a job requires good upper body strength, then more men will be hired to do that job than women. The job shouldn't be toned down so that they can have a nondiscriminitory hiring practice. If they discriminate against women who can meet the same standards as men, then take them to court. Don't change the standards of the job.

Other than those two things, I have no problem with feminism. Sure, there are some radical feminists who hate men and want superiority, or some kind of retribution for the way women have been treated in the past, but by and large, they are in the minority.

I've never met any feminists that had a problem with other women choosing to be housewives.

I've met a couple who thought it was demeaning for a woman to stay home and cook, even if they happen to want to be a housewife.

It's not the majority, however. Just a slightly unbalanced fringe.

If a couple can afford to have one spouse stay home with the kids, more power to them.