[Barry the Sprout]

I think you're missing the point somewhat Timber - its not so much about equality but about liberation. If you lived in a society where there were arbitrary distinctions between people but even those at the top of the pile were being pretty poorly done by then you wouldn't simply want an equal share in their misery. You'd want liberation from that particular system of doing things. Most feminist stuff I've read comes from this direction - women don't want to just share in the crap men have to go through. They want political liberation, which means a person shouldn't be punished for wanting to have kids, and shouldn't be forced to work all the hours of the day to make a mark in their chosen career.

Those are problems that face both men and women to a degree, and most feminists note this and argue as such. But of course these problems affect women much more than men at the moment, hence why a distinct struggle for women's liberation is required. You attack a straw man if you think all anyone is after is complete equality.