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Why I Won’t Include Disclaimers on My Feminist Essays
I shouldn’t have to make room for men — the world should be making room for women
Something happens to me every time I write an article about feminism. When I get to the end, I feel compelled to write a disclaimer. Yes, every single time.
The disclaimer is always a little different, but basically, it boils down to the same theme: #notallmen.
If I write about sexual assault, I know people — even women — will criticize me for not fully addressing the ways in which men have been the victims of sexual violence. Some will call out the absence of that part of the story as a deliberate act of misandry.
If I write about the orgasm gap, I know there will be pushback from readers who assume (despite my copious use of exclusionary qualifiers) I’m talking about all men — and worse, blaming men for this phenomenon. People will criticize me for not telling men’s side of the story, or sharing the sexual inequities they experience.
When I write about women, I’m not trying to exclude men. I’m not trying to blame them for the power imbalances in our world. I know they have problems, too. I know living in a white supremacist patriarchy takes from everyone — even those at the top of the food chain.
