Why can 'practical feminism' not be a sub-board? Or thread?

[ArsenicSoup]

I've been doing some marathon catch-up reading and I know there is a line of argument that theory and practice are indivisible etc but it seems to me that such a section would answer a different demand.

I'm sure there is loads of stuff that has been said that I haven't read though.

Can some of you just answer that point for me? Thanks

[ArsenicSoup]

I'm sure I must be missing something because the answer I was expecting to find somewhere just wasn't there.

[PuffinsAreFicticious]

There's a board called feminist activism. I that the kind of thing you meant?

[ArsenicSoup]

Not exactly.

Something bridging the gap between that, the theory, the 'I've just realised I'm feminist, where do I start?' appeals on the main boards (where to send them?).

A 'start where you are now' type thing. Small steps in your own life rather than activism. Practical day-to-day feminism.

People keep saying they are intimidated. FWR stalwarts seem a bit peeved. I'm just looking for a solution.

[PetulaGordino]

there is this thread running, is this the sort of thing you meant?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/2219820-Little-or-big-feministy-things-you-can-do-to-help?msgid=50501355

i can see where you're coming from, but think it's very difficult to separate these things because the everyday, the theory, and the more organised activism all feed off each other. which is possibly why the feminist activism and theory boards are so quiet in comparison to the FWR chat board. you can see on that thread ^^ that even there some theory and ideology stuff trickled in, as people's personal beliefs inform their actions and suggestions

the other thing i noticed from the criticism threads is that lots of people said that they don't come to the FWR boards but they post in a feminist way throughout the site, so maybe it's already being done and there's no need to formalise it?

but i would be interested to hear whether anyone who is wary or nervous of posting here would welcome the idea

[FrauHelga]

I think stickies with some of the terminology would be a good start.

Practical feminism - not sure I understand exactly what that would achieve as a board though?

[PetulaGordino]

yes the sticky idea is (still) a good one i think

[PetulaGordino]

i can see though why MNHQ might be a little bit wary of the sticky idea. because while there are terms and acronyms that everyone can agree on, some are disputed in terms of their validity and meaning and they would need to be very careful on how this was handled

[FrauHelga]

PS it's not the big words that intimidate me - I can look them up and learn. It's the attitudes of some posters. Not all, and I have stuck around in FWR in the last week or so since I started posting in there, but the attitude of some is very cliquey and exclusionary and not pleasant to newbies. Especially if the newbies don't fit a party line.

But I'm not sure we really need another navel gazing thread like that, given that there are already two on the go.

[ArsenicSoup]

2) where should the people who've just decided they want to know / do more go?

No I'm not asking that (yet). I'm just asking what i'm asking, in exploratory spirit.

Someone mentioned consciousness-raising on the big 'why don't' thread. There's almost a need for that, I think. First year undergrads do not just wander in with the research students. It's like that, really.

[ArsenicSoup]

Yes Petula like that but more 'groupy' a nursery for fledging feminists and the timid

Have you seen how often people ask on the main boards for links and information? Where to go, what to read?

[ArsenicSoup]

Practical feminism - not sure I understand exactly what that would achieve as a board though?

My mind keeps wandering to 3 different groups I've known in different capacities- DV survivors, SAHPs and Carers of disabled DC.

And I keep thinking about threads I've seen (not just on FWR) where certain feminist tropes have caused issues for women in those groups. And then I keep trying to picture them in FWR.

(I'm just thinking out loud here)

I was trying to find the thread that got really nasty when a woman who turned out to be a DV victim was blithely told something or the other about about men and women and 50/50 childcare.

These are the things going around my head.

[ArsenicSoup]

Yes Buffy a lot. I send them off on MN now

[ArsenicSoup]

It crops up on threads about things like victim blaming, media etc. At least twice a week someone is relating a damscene moment.

But what I now think as that what mainly goes on on FWR is just too 'heavy' for many and that you need a shallow end or learners pool or over here. It's a different target readership if you like but of course you'd get crossover.

[ArsenicSoup]

It doesn't need to be different Buffy, it's fabulous. I'm settling on my shallow end metaphor I think

[ArsenicSoup]

Yes exactly. An extra transitional place. Don't change what you've got.

[FrauHelga]

Ok - throwing a thought out there - what about an "Introduce yourself" thread? Or board?

We had that on a forum I modded and it was useful because newbies could introduce themselves, we had links and stickies at the top, and regulars could take a look and see who was new.

[PetulaGordino]

yes helga that works well in chat etc doesn't it - like a feminist friendship bench

[LemonDrizzleTwunt]

As someone who has been a feminist all my life (I just didn't know it was called that) and would love to get into a bit of decent research with a reading list etc, and some practical ideas for changes to everyday life, I'd welcome a thread with all of these resources right there. Would MN not stick it in classics if everyone nominated it enough?

[ArsenicSoup]

Keep it issue based? And not didactic.