Reasons I can't be a feminist; according to others. . .

[WellnowImFucked]

Because I like and am good at baking.

Because I wear lipstick.

Because I'm straight.

Because OH carries my work bag for me.

And currently number one on my list, 'you can't be a feminist, you always wear such nice shoes'


I'm laugh if it wasn't so fucking sad

[CatKisser]

Who says these ridiculous things?!

[ballsballsballs]

What a pile of crap.

[PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom]

Who on earth is saying that?

[lemisscared]

Because i am a sahm and dd is at school

[gaggiagirl]

Because I wear short skirts.

[PetulaGordino]

who says this stuff?

[ballsballsballs]

They're all wrong diddly wrong wrong.

[NormaStanleyFletcher]

www.google.co.uk/search?q=smasher+of+the+patriarchy&client=ms-hms-vf-gb&channel=landingpage&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=AuloVKCKEc3laO_JgcAC&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAg&biw=360&bih=615#facrc=_&imgrc=yKP3o5lt8p1V8M%253A%3BmPdxirz9GTtNuM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia-cache-ec0.pinimg.com%252F736x%252F0b%252Fd2%252F8f%252F0bd28f00eff9a6a52eab6c558d2f02f7.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.pinterest.com%252Fpin%252F481744491363595606%252F%3B455%3B500

[weaselwords]

My colleague said she couldn't be a feminist, because her daughter goes to synchronized swimming lessons. I said you don't have to get it right all of the time and she could be a feminist if she wanted to be, so she was happy with that.

[Zazzles007]

Allow me Norman.

I have seen these 'women against feminism' type websites, such as womenagainstfeminism.tumblr.com/. I am hoping they will figure it out in due course, but then again...

[MrsWembley]

Is this what people have told you or what you think yourself?

[zerotolerancezone]

"No I don't think women should be paid the same as men if that means men have to earn less."

Guess who's the breadwinner in that house!

[omletta]

Because I wear make up....apparently.

[Zazzles007]

Oh and just one I saw on this site:

"I don't need feminism because I like makeup and enjoy being pretty."

[Zazzles007]

MrsWembly its what others have said.

[MrsWembley]

Oh, well that's ok then. I was worried the OP had a bit of a downer on herself.

I mean, obviously it's not ok that people think this way, but when MNers start to believe these things then we're all fucked.

[TooMuchCantBreathe]

Zero, that has happened in our work place. The women campaigned for equal wages so the men had their wages reduced in line. Now, yes they have equal pay but all were left feeling that they were valued so little the company couldn't possibly countenance paying them the higher wage. In effect the women now feel less valued than when they were unfairly waged. Oh and the men were pretty pissed off too (obviously a wage cut meant serious knock on effects for some of them) some of the charming chaps felt it was the fault of the women and were dreadful to work with. Luckily (for the company involved) it was a long time before women dared upset the status quo again so job done for them

[ColgateSmile]

Oooh yes, you can only be a feminist if you're 'butch', wear dungarees, no bra and have hairy legs and armpits don'tchaknow?

OP have people actually said the things that you've listed?! I would like to think that people wouldn't be that dim but it doesn't surprise me.

Fortunately I 'look like a lesbian' so people have no qualms with me .

[IdaClair]

Oh hell should not have clicked on that link.

Now I want to argue a lot (because I am an evil man hating feminist who will argue gender equality with anyone, which means I am ugly, overweight and disgusting)

[ifyourehoppyandyouknowit]

"I don't need feminism because I love men, and a women-only world would be a nightmare"

Shit, ladies, we've been rumbled. Master-plan to wipe out all men is now on the back burner.

I wear quite dull shoes and I'm a bit fat, so I think I'm OK.

[JeanneDeMontbaston]

Great thread. These days I mostly get 'you can't be a radical feminist'. It's true I am a terrible radfem in many ways, but seeing as how I agree with the ideology, I do feel I might know best ...!

However, I can't be a radfem because

• you are too nice!
  

• you were married!
  

• radfems are very theoretical! Not like you!
  

• radfems hate all trans people! Not like you!
  

• radfems hate all straight people!
  

• radfems hate all men!
  

• I don't know what they do but I vaguely associate it with sacrificing cats at the full moon and chanting to the moon goddess.
  

Amazingly, I am fairly sure, knowing a lot of better radfems than me, that these are not actual reasons to think someone isn't a radfem. Although the last one might be an excellent test of hard-line hippies.

[EBearhug]

I'm not sure sacrificing cats is very hippy...

[TooOldForGlitter]

I reckon i'm OK because I wear fantastic shoes but am also quite fat. The two balance each other out y'see.

[MrsWembley]

I don't wear makeup so does that make me ok? I don't do anything to my hair, either, other than stick a brush through it. And I used to be fat.

Disclaimer: I do wear makeup when I'm going out on the evening. I also put my hair up and I've just lost loads of weight... Oh no, sorry, I think I'm... Oh god, this is Feminism, isn't it!

[WellnowImFucked]

Is this what people have told you or what you think yourself?

Oh these are all phrases that have been said to me. Including the wonderful 'You know you really don't look the type. . .'

I'm not sure what it is about me that attracts idiots.