Male Domination of Philosphy

[psyah]

Re: Male Domination of Philosphy

@Jolie

If the notion that majority rules and numbers equal strength, then perhaps we are talking about domination. To expand this point further, it is indeed domination when women are habitually discouraged, dismissed and intimidated in the field of Philosophy by their male counterparts simply on the basis of their gender and all misconceived, negative stereotypical traits associated with it. That’s objectable.

Before asking this question, you first need to determine whether women are being ‘forced’ to join Philosophy or Programming. I don’t think I am discussing this nor I wish to have the discussion flow that way.

I’m baffled by this point of yours and I’m trying quite hard not to feel insulted, draw any unfavourble conclusion about your knowledge and wisdom. Are you really under the impression that situation today is no different from 100 years ago? I’m not certain if stating historical facts is a very philosophy friendly thing to do, but I can allude to hundred different laws to suggest how situation is inordinately different for not just women but working class in people general. You must come come out any illusion that perhaps there’s some kind of militant anti male campaigning is going on to push women into male dominated fields (or at least in philosophy) or they are being systematically brainwashed to go out and do something for sake of scoring a point against the opposite gender. The simple question that dominates most gender debates is to seek an explanation as to why despite having equal opportunities in theory, women in practice have failed to achieve equal footing in certain fields, and when this question gets analysed in detail, one of the most reoccurring explanation is the issue of institutionalised sexism and discrimination women face. Something that most people still don’t convinced by, as evident from this thread.

Besides, do you believe that Right to Vote, Equal Employment and access to Higher Education count as Human Rights?

To me the whole idea of oppression is subjective. One person’s definition of oppression is other person’s choice or simple lack of interest. However, it is oppression when it is forced upon despite individual’s protest. Other than that, I’d like to focus on no nonsense issue of abuse than indulging in ideological, personalised and almost paranoid debates about what should or should not be classified as oppression by categorising people, customs and cultures.

I for one is not talking about imposing any idea here, so the point is totally irrelevant to me. I’m not sure exactly sure what are you trying to convey by putting inverted commas on the word encourage, it certainly doesn’t require isolated emphasis. Encouragement means encouragement at the end of the day, I hope you are not confusing the word with force. When it comes to deciding the final outcome, the freedom to have a choice and the freedom to make the decision rests with individual. I was encouraged to take Philosophy in my A - Levels by my teachers, but I declined the offer and chose Psychology instead. I liked being encouraged, but I was glad that I had a choice.

Indeed. Just like not any lad can make a great critical thinker or student of Philosophy, not every or any women can have what it takes to becomes an illustrious Philosopher. The thread is discussing those women who have every ability and interest to join Philosophy but unfortunately get turned down because of their gender.

Finally! That’s very kind of you. Thank you very much. I really appreciate your generosity and you know what, you just pulled an Imran Khan there.

Peace Jolie

This is not a debate … This is philosophy … the statement “majority rules” does not mean “the majority - rules” - it means that modern democracies assert rule through majority vote … it has nothing to do with the phenomenon of gender representation in philosophy studies. Numbers equal strength - but this a philosophy class or department is not a war zone … so please place your phrases correctly.

Coming back to philosophy - veering away from debate …

If women are habitually discouraged from studying philosophy by males then you have your case … the fact is what have you done to eliminate other factors? And no … philosophically, why is gender imbalance even a question that must have its answer rooted in prejudice? It could just be a natural thing with nothing to do with men.

Jolie - you are coming on too strong and not listening to me … philosophy tries to ask difficult questions … so let’s do that … that is what I am doing … I’m not just accepting things - I need to find answers … You have seen that I am indeed comparing influencing through encouragement as a type of “telling people what to do” rather than ordering people it is done in other ways … What I meant by it being the same 100 years ago needs to be looked at in the way I meant it not the way you are taking it …

It still has not been adequately argued from a philosophical POV that gender representation equalisation is a necessary morally right thing to be doing. Yes, everyone should be given a vote, but if the vote unanimously lands in one direction - we don’t do the vote again because we don’t like the imbalance - we merely accept it.

You asked me if I believe in the right to vote … I believe that modern democracies are built on the universal right to vote principle - but I don’t think it is necessarily a great idea to have everyone vote - from a philosophical point of view that is … and one reason for that is opinions of masses can be influenced through media.

You asked if I believe in equal employment - if that means making gender, race and religion and sexual orientation equal the numbers of their opposites for some strange adherence to a criteria - I think it wrong. What I do think however is that all people should know who to go to for anything they need.

Access to higher education - I believe that should be in place

But do I believe in human rights? (As perceived by the UN) Why should I? I think there are universal laws that people want to adopt - I don’t think however that they are entirely universal either …

Unless you know something that I do not … Are women really being turned down for studying philosophy, purely because they are female?