Four historic waves define feminism in America. The first wave of feminists, beginning in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, fought for the right to vote across the United States. The second wave generally spans from the 1960s to the 1990s and centers on sexuality and reproductive rights. In the mid-1990s, third-wave feminism celebrated ambiguity and solidarity among all genders. This resulted in the rejection of the word “feminists” under the belief that it was limiting and exclusionary.
As the fourth wave of feminism is still occurring, it returns to the realm of public discourse. The issues at the center of the earlier waves of the movement are back at the forefront of the fight: sexual abuse, rape, violence against women, unequal pay, representation in politics and business, and many more. The fourth wave parallels the rise of social media platforms during the early 21st century, broadening public awareness and public scrutiny. Yet, while the fourth wave continues to emerge, harmful men’s rights campaigns persist.
The solidarity between all genders that feminism encourages is steadily decreasing. The contemporary men’s rights movement of today is rooted in the “men’s liberation” movement of the 1970s. The movement initially embraced female liberation and the critiques of stereotypical gender roles; however, in the late 1980s and 1990s, the movement shifted from the critique of the “traditional male role” into a celebration of all things masculine and a near infatuation with the traditional masculine role itself.” The issue was no longer the oppressive gender roles of our society but women – or more accurately, women’s equality, empowerment, and feminism itself. This shift was the catalyst for today’s male supremacy groups, the urge to redefine manhood and masculinity into a weapon.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, men’s rights activists (MRAs) are male supremacists who fight against a “feminist conspiracy to oppress men.” MRAs believe we live in a “gynocentric society that favors women to the detriment of men.” The main demographic these male supremacists target is young boys and men. Through social media, particularly online videos, MRAs have taken hold of male youth across the world.
In the digital age, the growing sentiment of men’s rights is articulated through podcasts. These podcast hosts, idolized by prepubescent listeners, provide the truth to the three primary concerns all men have: females, finances, and fitness. The Fresh and Fit podcast, with thumbnails describing “feminist rage quits” and “storm-outs,” features essential guest speakers such as Andrew Tate (who is under investigation in three countries for rape and human trafficking) and Braden Peters (better known as Clavicar, a U.S.-based Kick streamer who injected his underage girlfriend with cosmetic peptides during a live stream). The primary face of Fresh and Fit is Myron Gaines (whose real name is Amrou Fudl), a Sudanese-American who previously served as a special agent in the Department of Homeland Security before transitioning to a public career as a fitness influencer, real estate agent, and business owner.
Amrou Fudl is just another example of countless self-deprecating men who have nothing better to contribute to society than a YouTube channel about what women actually want. Male supremacists, under the guise of “self-help” and “male guidance,” nitpick and tear down women to uplift their own insecurities. Before being arrested by Romanian authorities, Andrew Tate advised young men, stating, “Women should clean up. Not only should women clean up, women should clean up unprompted.” Tate once advised that rape victims should “bear some responsibility” for their attacks. “I’m not a rapist, but I like the idea of just being able to do what I want.”
“I think [there is] further separation, misunderstanding, and lack of empathy between the two genders,” according to DeAnna Duffy, a psychology teacher at Evanston Township. “When there is a lack of understanding of the other perspective, it leads to an even greater divide, and with everything women have to deal with in our current political climate, empathy and understanding from men is more important than ever.”
“They [podcast hosts] may have these ideas and mindsets, but they also know what is going to get clicks and public attention,” Duffy added. “For the boys who are watching, I think it allows them to victimize themselves in a time when they feel defensive about being the villains. But ultimately, life is not the suffering Olympics; it is okay for multiple people to struggle. What is important is recognizing that struggle in others and how hard it must be.”
Feminism is not an attack on masculinity or men. Advocating for a better society where all genders have political, economic, personal, and social equality is not an attack on masculinity or men. While there are certain important issues that men face, that is not a justification for the suppression and violence against women. Women should not and do not have to answer for the issues that men face. Being systematically romantically and sexually rejected by women is not a justification for violence, hatred, or androcentrism. Male supremacists and “activists” need to take a backseat and unpack their own issues before targeting nearly half the world for an ego boost. Solidarity between all genders is more important than ever in this day and age, and MRAs threaten this vital piece in our society with their ridiculous rhetoric.
