I'm a man, and I have some questions.

ggerian here, I'm 19 and in uni. I'm originally from Turkey and have been living in Ireland for around two years now. I've been mostly absent from this chamber, reading a little now and then, because I was just feeling like I didn't have much to offer, being a man and all that.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>I'm not from a very progressive country, and I have never had a lot of luck meeting women who were feminists, who were progressive, or who were just not bigoted in general. I was raised in a pretty conservative family and was very uneducated on matters of gender until only recently, when I started getting to know people in Ireland. I've learned so much from the people I've met here, but this also means that I have a lot of questions, being a former conservative and all that.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>What I've been wondering for a while now is this: I know that I, as a man, have been complicit in the patriarchy my entire life. I know that I have benefited from it, and that I was ignorant of women's struggles because I had the luxury of being so. I know that women have been discriminated against and oppressed for centuries, and I know that I have contributed to this.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>But the question I have is this: What can I do to make up for it? How can I be of use to women's liberation? How can I help feminist women in their struggle for equality? Should I just ignore my own privilege and educate myself without complaining about how hard it is? Is there a way for me to use my privilege to help feminist causes? Am I even welcome here? I mean, I know I am technically allowed to join this sub and post, but am I actually welcome? Or are women here just tolerating my presence because they feel like they have to be polite to all people, regardless of gender?<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>I'm sorry if this post is long winded, I just wanted to ask to get a better understanding of where I stand and what I should do. Feel free to be as harsh as you want with me in the comments, I've already said that I understand that I've been complicit in the patriarchy, so I have no reason to take offense.<br><br>&#x200B;<br><br>TLDR: I'm a man, and I have some questions about feminism.