args

Feminism: Positive or Negative

Hello, hello! Let's make this a great debate. Introduction Some debate issues before I make my arguments. Since this is an "A or B" debate, Burden of Proof is shared between us. Meaning, I must make a reasonable case to believe Feminism is positive, and CON must make a reasonable case to believe Feminism is negative. First and foremost, a definition. "Feminism" is "The advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes". Since my opponent has offered no explication of the terms "positive" and "negative", I will do so. To say that "X is positive" is to say that X benefits society such that if X were not in effect/existence/practice, there would be some maxim that is not achieved. To say that "X is negative" is to say that X is a detriment to society such that if X were not in effect/existence/practice, there would be some maxim that is achieved. I find the maxim "All people, regardless of gender, race, age, sexuality, should be held equal under law" to be quite appropriate, given the topic of discussion. Of course, this can be challenged and discussed. To achieve the Maxim "Feminism" has a long standing tradition. The practices and beliefs that feminism embodies ideologically first became prominent in the 18th century. This was around the time that the system of coverture was in place. Coverture is the legal principle whereby, upon marriage, a women's legal identity is subsumed into that of her husband and she can no longer control the use of her property, nor can she sue or be sued herself, nor execute contracts. Essentially, a woman was unable to be independent of her husband. Regardless of one's beliefs regarding the subject (some suggest this was misogyny; others suggest it was a fair trade), the fact remains that a woman did not have those rights which men were afforded. It is here that advocacy comes into play. "Advocacy" is "Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy" [3]. Since coverture was a legal principle, it could only be changed if it is changed in the law. Someone, at some point, had to support women's rights, otherwise coverture would still be in affect. By acting to change the law, this person X has shown support for women's rights, towards the goal of the sexes being equal, thus this person has advocated for women's rights. This person, by definition above, then, would be a feminist. Conclusion So, then, feminism allows for men and women to be equal under the law. Thus, the requirements for feminism to be "positive" have been fulfilled, per the maxim described above. Again, the maxim can be challenged, just as my explications can. However, if they are not challenged, and CON cannot show feminism to lead to a failure to attain the maxim, I have fulfilled my burden of proof. I do look forward to rebuttals. [1] http://www.oxforddictionaries.com... [2] http://womenshistory.about.com... [3] http://www.oxforddictionaries.com...