Defining the Mens Rights Movement 

Sources: Reproductive Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know?  ~ Rickie Solinger 

Unlike it's perpendicular movement (feminism) the mens rights movement has not yet received the honor of a Merriam Webster Definition. However in a very similar fashion to the feminist movement, the mens rights movement seems to be made up by two separate factions: Those who are concerned with fighting for mens rights, and those who are primarily just opposed to feminism. In the same way that some feminists label themselves as such, yet fail to understand the current use for feminism – many people who call themselves "MRAs" are labeling themselves as such, without actually fighting for mens issues. Rather, this faction is only concerned with battling against feminism. This is talked about in Rickie Solinger's book, "Reproductive Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know?" Where he states that the rise of feminism in the 60's and 70's is what created a backlash movement "made up of men who believed that feminism harmed mens interests and status in society". 

Sadly, this idea still holds true among a chunk of "MRAs" or "Anti-Feminists" today. Many people who are opposed to the idea of feminism fail to realize that there are areas in society where men are seriously lacking; and in which we are being discriminated against, and unfairly treated. Many people are simply tired of hearing about feminism – or disagree with the ideas it is pushing in the modern day. Not only is this a shame, as mens issues continue to be overlooked, but it also sheds a bad light on the MRA movement, when people call themselves "MRAs" but are only concerned with providing backlash against feminism.  

It is easy to see that each movement needs to be concerned with the labels that it's members are using to define themselves. Modern feminism is not necessarily a fight for womens rights, but rather it is a fight for women to have equal opportunity to men, and to avoid prejudice in society. Similarly, the mens rights movement is not supposed to be a backlash against feminism, it's intent is to help solve legitimate social and legal issues that men in particular have to deal with. While both movements are concerned with a noble cause, each has a separate faction of members which identify themselves as members of the movement(s) yet fail to understand the actual core concepts that each is fighting for. Whatever the label, no movement is entirely untainted by ignorant individuals.