As a white cis woman, I know that I don't have the lived experience required to speak on behalf of anyone other than myself and, at a stretch, other white cis women. I could never imagine being anything more than an ally and supporting people with different lived experiences.
I recently attended a discussion evening during study abroad at the University of Edinburgh. The evening was run by the Marxist Society and the Feminist Society on the topic of Feminism and Women's Liberation. At this event some incredible women spoke and we had discussions about issues I hadn't even thought of. Namely, can men be feminists?
Can someone who has no lived experience of being a woman, be a feminist? When men say they are feminists, does that simply mean they are announcing their allyship, or are they taking seats at the table that should be reserved solely for people with lived experience?
In an article titled 'Beware These 10 Types of Feminist Men' at The Body is Not An Apology, Melissa A. Fabello and Aaminah Khan open with the line 'Never is a man so potentially dangerous to a female person as when he claims to be a feminist.' Elsewhere, Stuart McGurk at GQ magazine suggests that 'the crimes of "Mr Nice Guy" can be more insidious' than 'the damage done by Weinstein and co'. He explains that the Mr Nice Guy types proclaim their feminism when women are around but this surface level image hides their true feelings, thoughts and behaviours that are contradictory to the front they advertise.
So when men, specifically white cis men, proclaim they are a feminist, are they speaking on behalf of women? Shouldn't everyone be a feminist, or does being a feminist require lived experience? Either way, why should we be proud of men for being feminists?
Of course everyone should support women and be actively working towards equity and equality for all. But perhaps we need to find an alternative term for male feminists, so they don't feel they have the right and the opportunity to speak for women.
The International Women's Development Agency describes feminism as equal rights and opportunities for all genders, and they see this being achieved through respecting a diverse range of women's experiences, identities, strengths and knowledge, and striving to empower all women. They suggest it is simply about levelling the playing field so girls and boys, women and men can have the same