I'd just add that it's a shame that it's called "feminISM" - any "-ism" implies ideology and dogma. I'd rather call it "being respectful of everyone and their individuality" but that doesn't market very well, does it? Nowadays we end up in a situation where often men can't be considered victims of sexism, sort of like white people can't be victims of racism. It's bullshit, but bullshit makes the flowers grow...
Feminism comes with a lot of baggage due to the bad seeds in the group ruining it for the ones who just want simple equality and respect. Misandrists in feminist clothing, women who think it's fine when men are sexualized (or just outright don't think men can be sexualized) but hate it when women are, and those who act like women who enjoy wearing revealing outfits are cheapening themselves immediately come to mind.
The first two are hypocrites, the third is simply ironic that they want to stifle a womans right to express herself as she chooses.
yep, those sort of girls are doing themselves and their fellow women a disservice by discrediting a relevant philosophy in the eyes of the public.
I'll gladly admit that many of our current societal problems stem from a certain imbalance between men and women. And I don't only mean stuff like "there's not enough female CEOs and heads of state" but our very culture (collective operating system) is heavily biased towards values traditionally considered to be male. This goes back hundreds of years and I'd pin down patriarchal, monotheistic religions as the main culprit. Just look how afraid those people are of everything female. From catholic priests refusing anyone without a dick being their peer to muslims which cover their "possessions" in burkas so their neighbor won't covet them.
That being said, reversing the polarity and going to the other extreme won't solve shit. Do white people need to become slaves in order to atone for what they've done to black people?
There's no money in being respectful. Markets need problems they can solve with products. Fashion, makeup, and entertainment create and feed into the feedback loop. Without money, there would be no markets for such tactics.
One of the many reasons why our current cultural and economic model SUCKS. In this case there are no incentives to create permanent solutions. Creating problems and maintaining them is so much more profitable.