oh! youre a feminist? how cute!
 

has the feminist movement set back the plight for male / female equality?

No. The feminist movement opened the doors for entire generations of women.

It depends on whom you are talking about, which feminist, IMO.
If they treat men as the "them" in an Us & Them philosophy, yes, it is harmful.

Feminism =/= Equality.
Feminists think women are BETTER THAN men.

I don't think all feminist do.

So, you are a feminist, Ibram, judging by your posts in where is sex?

Perhaps. But those strong minded feminists were going up against a strong male chauvinistic attitude back during the heyday of feminism a couple decades ago. Men and women are far more equal today as a result.

As a woman, I am supposed to be a "feminist." I am not. It's one thing for women and men to be given equal pay for equal work ... they should be and the reasons are so obvious as to not require discussion. There are, however, biologically based differences in terms of physical strength, brain functioning, problem solving methodology, and so forth. It has apparently become heresey to point these sorts of things out, as evidenced by the public flaying of the president of Harvard a year or so ago.

Yup. Men and women are different.

Ditto what Wolf said. I'm a woman...but I completely understand that there are some things that men can do that I can't...whether it's because they are physically stronger or that's just the way they were made...there are things that women can do that men can't, like having babies, etc...we'll never be equal. I don't know much about the feminist movement and all that, mostly because I don't care enough to know... my world is still the same.

I'm not sure it opened any doors as much as it opened some eyes. I don't know any men went scrambling around opening locked doors over a Helen Reddy song. But I do know some men that stopped opening doors after that song.

The feminist movement has been integral to many small victories for women across the world. Just keep in mind that until Greer (a woman whom I hold in fairly deep disdain) started burning bras etc, women had far fewer rights. I don't necessarily condone some of her actions or opinions, however, because I believe it takes the point of view from extremes in any discussion to enable us to find a middle ground, her actions and those of her cronies has helped women across the world.

Obviously the fight for women's rights began long before Greer's time. Probably the most important movement was when women lobbied successfully to be allowed a vote and therefore participation in the political process, and some sense of self determination over the course of their lives in conjunction with the country in which they live.

Do I consider myself a feminist? Nope. I like having gentlemen open doors for me and all those other nice things. I enjoy being a wife to my husband and taking care of the house and kids etc. At the same time though, I enjoy a large degree of autonomy within the household and in my country. As a woman, I believe this is because of the ardent feminists who have paved the way for a better future and greater rights for women world wide.

I don't think this is a detrimental thing for male and female equality. Women and men will always have roles that the majority of people find acceptable. The point of the womens movement is to cater for those of us, both male and female, who want to have the right to do things outside the normal sphere. Sure this causes discomfort for some neanderthals (both male and female) but in my very personal opinion, that's their own problem.

...like stand on the bed and pee out the window (like me pappy always said)

I actually had to be retrained to allow a man to do that. It was difficult.

I have now been retrained to accept graciously having someone pay for meals and movie tickets. It doesn't suck. There is a lot to be said for an old fashioned sort of gentleman.

I have probably told this story here before. I was with some friends for a movie night. We were watching MST3K, and as usual, coming up with better lines than Tom, Crow, and Joel. I think it was War of the Colossal Beast ... whichever movie they spoofed, it was the one with the short about three women going to college to study one of the three acceptable fields for women ... home economics (the other two, of course, being teaching and nursing). A young woman (in her early 20s) was watching it. She found the short beyond absurd, and was insisting that it must have been made up. It was a head-ripping experience for her to find out that it was real.

We've come a long way, baby.

Being an "I can do it myself" kind of person, I must concede that men are better at lifting heavy objects.

I think a man opening the door is just polite, and it's impolite to act as if it's a woman's right and not thank him. No different than how I make sure doors don't slam in the face of people who are behind me or other similar situations.

Modern chivalry is a good thing. Men should open doors and kill the bugs.