John Mayer is being criticized after sharing his questionable views about feminism on his Instagram story.
The singer-songwriter held an Instagram Q&A session in which he answered questions directly from his fans, one of which that asked Mayer for his views on feminism. His answer disappointed many, to say the least.
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“My take is less about feminism and more about the issue of nomenclature, specifically how reductiveness of language can turn people off from noble and vital causes. If you asked people if they support ensuring equal rights for women in all aspects of their lives, they would very likely answer yes. Change that question to ‘are you a feminist’ and the answers instantly become more complicated. That’s because a single phrase is being co-opted than the actual ideal it attempts to present,” wrote Mayer.
He wrapped up his answer by stating: “I support equal rights for women in all areas. That’s only a few words more than ‘I’m a feminist’ and possibly more salient and unarguable.”
While his response missed what many fans were hoping to hear, it’s little surprise considering Mayer’s romantic past and the way in which he has treated women in general.
Mayer has certainly earned a reputation for himself based on his long list of exes, but what really opened the public’s eyes to his skewed views is a 2012 interview he had with Rolling Stone.
The interview dove deep into Mayer’s mind and thought process, and in doing so it revealed his opinion towards women and how he actually values them.
At one point during the interview, when asked about finding a girlfriend, Mayer answered, “Do you think it’s going to take meeting someone who I admire more than I admire myself? But isn’t it also about a beautiful vagina? Aren’t we talking about a matrix of a couple of different things here? Like, you need to have them be able to go toe-to-toe with you intellectually. But don’t they also have to have a vagina you could pitch a tent on and just camp out on for, like, a weekend? Doesn’t that have to be there, too? The Joshua Tree of vaginas?”
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Statements like this go hand in hand with Mayer’s lack of understanding for feminism and lack of respect for women in general.
Perhaps John Mayer should learn from other prominent men who align themselves closely with feminism.
Take John Legend, for example. The singer, inspired by his mother, stated, “All men should be feminists. If men care about women’s rights the world will be a better place. We are better off when women are empowered – it leads to a better society.”
John Mayer’s views on feminism are certainly not well-informed, based on his unwillingness to call himself a feminist. His misogynistic past certainly begs the question of whether or not he truly values and supports women. Many celebrities have found themselves more educated on feminism throughout the years, but it appears Mayer might not be in that number.
Featured Image by Ryan McGuire on Gratisography
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