Denuseri - funny how the men are avoiding this thread like a plague huh?
Well just to give men some equal opportunity on this topic I'll throw in my two cents worth.

Denuseri - To say that we are in effect the same is preposterous. Especially when the reality however is that we are in fact different in a great number of ways. The theory is in effect parenthitically impossible by definition.
Of course we are not the same denu, we only have to look between our legs to know that. But equal in this context means equal rights and opportunities. I am sure you would agree with that concept. If not then let's start by taking the vote away from women.

Orchidsoul - The term 'feminist' lends itself to actively pursuing freedoms of women.
Yes spot on - and rights and opportunities etc.


It seems to me that the problem in this whole thread is what one understands by the term feminist. It was originally intended as orchidsoul said, but largely due to the media focusing on the activities of the more militant elements within the movement the word has come to be popularly associated with extremism. We can find dozens of similar examples where a word has been hijacked by the media and come to imply something else eg. Islamic Fundamentalism.

I don't think there is anybody who disagrees with equal rights for women. Problems come in how this is best achieved while still being fair to men and other interested parties eg employers.

As regards women throughout history well history covers a pretty big area. Again I don't think there is any doubt over historical facts that in some societies women have been severely disadvatanged whilst in others have enjoyed relatively more rights and freedoms.

The primordial argument against giving woman the vote is that that vote would not represent physical force - Sir Almroth Edward Wright