feminsim and the sexual revolution

[reddevil]

there's been alot of debate about whether free love is good for women. on the one hand it allows them the freedom to choose their own partners and explore their own sexuality without shame. but on the other hand it could lead promiscuous men to take advantage of women and treat them as sex objects unworhty of respect.

[piet11111]

its a case of free will so it does not matter what others would consider to be good for women as they do not need permission from men.

and its not like men can not be taken advantage off so why do women need special protection ?

[Module]

Poor, vulnerable women! :(
More sexual freedom makes them far less likely to be treated as objects than the maintenance of restrictive social norms that women's bodies should remain pure for their husband, obviously.

[jake williams]

OP: I'm really not comfortable with the way you're framing the topic, so I'm just going to address the general topic.

The "Sexual Revolution" which occurred in large parts of Western society from the early 60s in different forms onward was a complex beast. It had a lot of origins and effects. Sexuality as it was currently manifested in that society at the time was an unspeakable abomination, a crime against people, pleasure, and bodies, and it was an absolutely necessary to challenge that - and liberate. But while huge gains were made and the necessary first steps of problematization and revolutionary sentiment were taken, and that's really good, they ultimately did a pretty piss-poor job of it. Sexuality still sucks.

There's also a complicated relationship between the SR and feminism. The concept of revolutionizing sexuality is a fundamental part of feminism almost by definition, but the consequences of what was done, and what's still happening, the gradual shift in sexual culture, it's a mixed bag of effects for people. In general it's progress for women, but not completely. There are ways in which modern feminism is a response to the negative consequences of the SR.

[atheist_anarchist]

I think that feminists along with Black/"minority" rights groups need to understand that, as i believe, that they get the same punishments problems that white males get like if some guy goes up to another guy and gets in a fight with him than its just stupid, if a girl goes up to a guy and challenges him to a fight he cant because its "morally wrong" and if a black guy calls a white guy a "cracka" there is no problem but if a white guy calls a black guy a "nigga" its a hate crime, that's just stupid. I think that everyone desserves equal rights but groups that go for mostly woman's rights or black rights they tend to try and get special privileges which is completely stupid.

[Mujer Libre]

I think that feminists along with Black/"minority" rights groups need to understand that, as i believe, that they get the same punishments problems that white males get like if some guy goes up to another guy and gets in a fight with him than its just stupid, if a girl goes up to a guy and challenges him to a fight he cant because its "morally wrong" and if a black guy calls a white guy a "cracka" there is no problem but if a white guy calls a black guy a "nigga" its a hate crime, that's just stupid. I think that everyone desserves equal rights but groups that go for mostly woman's rights or black rights they tend to try and get special privileges which is completely stupid.

I think that to say that anti-racist and feminist activists want "special treatment" sheer ignorance, and buying into conservative propaganda designed to play on the xenophobia and fear of straight, white men.

I mean, seriously, that's the kind of line you see on the worst 'current affairs' TV shows.

Also, this whole thread has quite a distressingly paternalistic tone, especially considering that the OP is a bloke. Why not ask whether free love is good for men, or for people in general? The concept of women as 'vulnerable' is terribly one-sided and completely deprives women of agency in terms of love and sex. We're not just sitting here waiting to be exploited by "promiscuous" (as though there's something automatically wrong with promiscuity) men.

[Herman]

but on the other hand it could lead promiscuous men to take advantage of women and treat them as sex objects unworhty of respect.

Now that I know more about sex and sexuality, I think i'm going to rape a woman or two!

[Mujer Libre]

Now that I know more about sex and sexuality, I think i'm going to rape a woman or two!
You make a good point.

Not only does the OP assume female vulnerability, it assumes that (a significant proportion of) men are sexual predators. That's hardly reasonable or productive.