Edit: Rereading again, I think you've actually misunderstood me. As I said below, I'm not talking about people who have actually experienced hardships, such as those who are generations older than me; I'm not so ignorant as you may think. I actually don't believe my opinion and way of thinking is very narrow at all, since I'm trying to look at all sides and not just one. I also don't think it's very right for you to judge my age just by what you believe I've said, just as I don't judge your age either; after all, it can be a little insulting. If you're thinking I'm young and ignorant, you may be surprised. I'm not like the majority nowadays at all.
All personal notes aside, I've never ever had a problem with people who have been through the ringer, experienced the real deal, and have survived it and lived on to try and make a change. As I've said below, who I have a problem with is people who either never experienced hardships ( or even if they have ) and use those things to get what they want. Money. Attention. Favoritism. On the contrary to what you've suggested, the majority of those that irritate me are younger than me, or are around the same age.
I never ever said that problems women face are nonexistant. Just because I said that men suffer the same in most aspects, doesn't mean that I implied that women don't. You don't have to be on either side to see it. I'm on both sides. And I consider myself very lucky to be able to think in such an open way in order to do so. Sure, women face hurdles. They have hard times. But everyone else does too. Nobody should exploit it. THAT is what I mean. /Edit.
I know I'm not part of the generation who've seen the hardships that past generations have ( I'm 21 at the moment ) and I never said that there weren't any now, nor am I against feminism at all. I agree that the media portrays things in such a way that makes things unfair, but the media isn't so much the subject that irks me when some of the things I see bring all of this up ( since I don't deny the fact that the media paints women in such a way ). It's the whole "I am a woman so I am better than any man" attitude that I've seen most feminists adapt nowadays. I respect and agree with feminists who are fair and aren't supporting a cause for personal gain, but when I see huge rants recently... it's all been ignoring the hardships that others suffer as well.
I'm upset that the media also supports their version of "feminism" in such a disgusting way, that it puts males to shame if they're victimized, but females are considered strong and amazing if they've been hurt the same.
Again, I would like to say, I tried to stress that I do not think all feminists are so blind. That would be ignorant. I'm basing this rant on the wave of "popular opinions" that seem to spring up recently on this subject. And it strikes a nerve in me because it's like anymore, most of the people who support this, do it for personal gain. Like, the way they act, the things they ask for, the stuff they "support" all seem to be for one common purpose: Men are shit, and all women should be treated as queens just because they are women.
At the same time, I'm no stranger to discrimination in many places. Women do have a hard time in certain jobs. Walmart is a huge example when it comes to that ( my mother used to work there in the early 90s. I highly doubt too much has changed since then either, judging by the lawsuit that happened a couple years ago. )
I think I may have neglected some things in my rant, though; feminism in general is not what ticks me off. My point was the people. For example, a woman who thinks the cause is great because that means she can do whatever she wants to her guy friends without any consequence because she is a woman; she thinks that life would be served to her on a silver platter if she threatens with sexism. It's those people, who come in tsunamis nowadays, who seem to've taken over the cause and twisted it into a selfish, angry thing, instead of a righteous, good cause.
Or the women who play the "oh woe is me" act for sympathy, even though nothing happened to them. For example, I see so many "I am a woman, so the world hates me", or "Can you have a child and walk in high heels?" or "I could be raped if I go outside at all" <<< all of this, when these people have never been hated, they live comfortably in nice houses with no worries, they haven't had a kid, never suffered like others have... yet they call themselves feminists just because they guilt trip males into worshiping them, but turn around and belittle males and abuse them.. It's those people who I have a problem with.
I have the same opinion as you do as far as respecting and equality ( though I wouldn't agree so much if it has to do with jobs and money anymore, since most people can't help but have nothing no matter how hard they try anymore. Me and most of my family being some of them. OTL ) and I think that should be looked at more than "woman and man". I don't think it's fair to anyone to be looked at for what parts they have, instead of what qualities they possess and who they are as a person.
Again, I would like to say, I never meant for it to come off like I was saying the hurdles don't exist at all ( I'd hoped I'd made that clear since I mentioned it a few times xD; ), my rant was about those who take advantage of it for their own selfish wants.
As far as the equality you talk about, with working hard enough for it; I think that needs more of a government work-out, since right now, everyone isn't being given a fair chance. But that's an entirely different rant on an entirely different subject ( economy xD ).
Edit: I forgot to add some more specifics.
When people take something that isn't sexist at all, yet take offense from it and blow it out of proportion just for attention or personal gain, is also something I see often of when it comes to nowadays' version of feminism. Like, for example, if a man in a line at a restaurant gets his order just fine, but the woman after him gets the wrong order by mistake, and she starts claiming that the restaurant is sexist because they gave her the wrong order while the man had the right order; something like this really grinds my gears. Or if someone bullies a female, and a woman who didn't know any of those involved decides to say it was sexism ( when guys get threatened and bullied just the same. )
Media does what's "hot" according to their "statistics". What "sells" is what's "popular", and of course, what sells is controversy. Personally, I think the media is disgusting. I normally can't even stand watching the news anymore with all their "kardashians" or however the hell you spell it, getting more weight than the WAR and things that are actually important. I cannot agree more with the fact that the media is shamefully unfair and does influence the minds of everyone who watches. In fact, whenever I see the media's version of "plus sized", I want to flip a train. Adele is my idea of beautiful, and I agree there really needs to be more like her in fame and fortune instead of piddlyass little prissy snots like Paris Hilton and all the other "whatsherface"s.
But at the same time, I don't think we should turn a blind eye to the other side of the coin either; whether your male or female, suffering is suffering. Nobody should have more "importance" than another. If a male is hurt the same way that a woman is hurt, the woman should not have priority over him; it should be the same.