If education is the answer what do we teach?

Empathy. EMPATHY.

Men need to learn empathy to be able to begin to understand how pervasive and cruel misogyny really is. If a boy is taught empathy and follows a path in life where he steps outside himself and absorbs the emotions and circumstances of another then maybe he will be able to understand that treating women with equality is the honest aim of feminism. It must be understood via empathy that the notion that women should be treated the same as men is not the same as equality. This may very well be the root of why feminism is such a difficult concept to teach to those who have hardened their hearts and minds to the ideals of feminism. Or to those who live in a society where the concept of equality has never been broached and feminism isn't in the local lexicon.

Another method, if empathy can't apply, is to use reason and logic. But a woman is not a puzzle or a problem or an equation. To dismiss empathy for simple, cold reason may get the point across but the student is missing a valuable component of the lesson. Logically it's possible to accept that women who are educated and healthy are more valuable to society. But it's equally as valuable to society to have people who can engage in complex emotions and develop good relationships with others.

My journey through really understanding feminism and it's significance is in it's infancy. There are major concepts I want to wrestle with and explore. This is the beginning.


Inspired by: http://m.dooce.com/2011/07/19/all-my-sisters