Anonymous what can men do to support radical feminism?

Good question! Also, I urge other radical feminists to add to this via reblogging so we can create a comprehensive list!

Step 1. Sit down, shut up, and listen. This is important. For many men they don’t really know very much about feminism at all, much less radical feminism. Radical feminism challenges a lot of the things that men hold dear to them, and it is important that when learning about radical feminism men make a genuine attempt at understanding why radical feminists are so keen on abolishing all of the fun ways that men love to commodify and objectify our bodies. If your first urge is to shout over us and call us prudent witches when we assert that porn is inherently violent and misogynist, then you need to repeat step 1 until this urge ceases to exist. You must understand that you are part of the problem. You are the problem. Through no amount of dedication to supporting radical feminism will you absolve yourself of “being the problem.” Your male privilege will not go away because you support radical feminism. It won’t go away period. But it particularly won’t go away just because you support radical feminism.

Step 2: After you have listened, listen some more. Seek out radical feminist blogs, books, resources, etc. Read all you possibly can. Understand radical feminist theory. Understand why radical feminists fight for what we do. Understand the difference between liberation and equality. Understand that your job is to educate other men on these things, and you must be as well-informed as possible. You are carrying a torch that women have lit for you. Pay it the utmost respect.

Step 3. Understand that radical feminism doesn’t involve you. You are not a radical feminist. You are not a “male ally.” You are a man doing literally the bare minimum, i.e.: advocating for the group you hold privilege over. Do not speak over us. Do not speak for us. When discussing radical feminism with other men, amplify our voices. Repeat what we have said, and what you have learned for us. Direct them to radical feminist resources. Remember this: if you feel like you have a good thing to say about radical feminism, remember that a woman herself has already said it, and she has probably said it better. Do not expect a gold star, credit, acknowledgment etc. Again, you are doing the bare minimum. We do not have the time, desire nor energy to commend our oppressors (you) for advocating for us.

Step 4. Ask first. For example: Ask if it is okay for you to follow a radical feminist’s blog/twitter/etc. Ask if it is okay for you to reblog her posts. Do not assume that you are welcome in radical feminist spaces. Many radical feminists are female separatists. Remember that you are not entitled to our spaces, and that more often than not we may not want you in them at all.

Step 5. This is the most important step. The biggest thing you can do to support radical feminism (in my opinion) is to talk to your fellow men. Do not waste your time talking to liberal feminist women about why they are silly liberals. As misguided as they are, the last thing they need is a man telling them how to “do feminism right.” Your job is to educate men on the ways that they are harming women. You need to spread awareness about how you and people like you (men) actively oppress women. You need to convince them to stop engaging in misogynist behaviors. Direct them to radical feminist literature. Please, for the love of god, use your voice to speak out against pornography. Comment on your shitty misogynist Facebook friend’s status so a woman doesn’t have to waste her time doing so. Speak up about misogyny when you see it. Speak up about misogyny when you don’t.





Like I said above, I really hope other radfems will add to this list. I don’t give a ton of thought to this subject, as I really don’t spend a whole lot of time thinking about men in conjunction with radical feminist activism but I do think it is a valid question!





-r4df3m