AIBU to think women should collectively down tools to demand change?

Honestly this infuriates me. We are reaching a point where we are teaching our daughters that they should be afraid of men. This is madness. There are lots of bad people out there, men and women. Why don’t we just go one step further and safeguard women by permanently segregating men and women.
The idea that all men are inherently bad as the OP has suggested is such a dangerous rhetoric. Don’t me wrong, the idea of my daughters growing up and being potentially exposed to dangerous people is scary - but surely supporting them and helping them to live as safely as possible is the best option we have. Otherwise what is the point in life?
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I said women who can because I completely recognise that many women who say no to their male partners or men in wider society face grave consequences.

That’s my whole point really: so many women aren’t free.

I also didn’t say women just up and leave permanently, I did say a protest.

But that’s also the point: would society crumble if women stopped working for a day or more? Many posters have said but ‘who would look after the children?’ I believe society would crumble yet women are second class citizens in this world (and that intersects with race, sexuality and class). I believe the way we are treated on a whole does not reflect our value.

I agree it starts with small change but my belief is that we need something more radical.

As for my privilege, I know my privilege. I work in an area that is probably 90% women and if those women didn’t show up to work vulnerable children would be at risk. I’ve worked with children and women who have disclosed DA, abuse and exploitation. If you’ve never been adjacent to any of this in your working or personal life, you have no idea of what life is like for many women in this country let alone those with even less rights for women.

I've campaigned for women MPs. MSPs and councillors who haven't bothered to respond to me when I have needed help. I do understand that some people are more involved than others -but I spent ten years plus campaigning for candidates -both men and women

Why should people need to go out and litter pick? For nothing. What is litter picking going to do to improve someones lot? A woman who is being abused for example. Why should women or men have to volunteer unpaid. I've done it myself

I have more respect for people like me who tramped the streets year in year out trying to get people elected- I actually saw someone in my area. A councillor being promoted as a woman's champion on Facebook a few days ago -one that can't even be bothered to engage with people. Me included -and I campaigned for her more than once

Women shouldn't be praised for unpaid labour. They should be paid. That includes political campaigning my view

I'm not going to praise a woman MP just because they are women. They should be judged on the job they do

Reflecting on current news such as the Epstein files and wars which are started by men in which women (and children) are adversely affected. We live in a time where women’s rights are being eroded even more and misogyny is increasing. It feels like being a female means we’re in constant danger despite being the reason for the human race existing. We’re exploited in so many ways. I know it isn’t just men who are the perpetrators, but the vast majority of those doing the exploiting are men.

Do those of us who can strike and down tools collectively?

By downing tools I mean not working, not having sex, not looking after children (or perhaps we take the children with us), not producing, not buying anything. We just sit down and say no. I know on one level that it’s bonkers but I also feel like we need a real disruptive movement to challenge the status quo.

I have a lot of admiration for our local women who do so much in the community and put themselves up as candidates in local elections. And obviously, those woman who do go on to become MP's.

Those are the women I admire and would encourage the women in my life to look up to. The Scout and Brownie leaders and helpers, the litter pickers, the local volunteers, the youth club leaders, the amazing female teachers (the ones who are far more than teachers but women that inspire us for the rest of our lives), the sports coaches etc..

Down tools? No way! Continue to get involved and speak up, yes.

And this is why so many people think feminism is ridiculous. Because this post is just embarrassing and insane.

There aren't enough services to help vulnerable people full stop.

I do think things are worse for women there are 45 million women in Iran and 21 million in Afghanistan. Do you genuinely believe that things are better for those women?

One woman a week on average in England and Wales is killed by a partner or ex partner. Shelters are full all over the UK. Not just in England and Wales. There aren't enough services to help women who are being abused -thats the main problem

It was a specific question, did you campaign for abortion access in the UK? In what way?
Or is it only when it’s the US it’s a valid topic?

Abortion was unavailable in the uk in its entirety until 2020, and yet even then the conversation was always the US, Roe vs Wade and actually women in Britain rarely made issues closer to home a topic.

My mum was beaten by her husband in the 80s -Legislation didn't protect women then either. That's entirely my point -progress has been painfully slow

No I don’t think that not sleeping with a husband is going to change that. That’s why I didn’t say it.

And yes I did actively campaign and I volunteer for an organisation that supports women who are going through all kinds of hell. How about you?

According to the ONS there are 35 million women in the UK. Even if 20 women posted in one day about being in a coercive / DV relationship, it is the tiniest proportion of the female population.

Do you seriously think women are treated worse now than they used to be? Purely because a very small number of women post about their problems on a public forum?

Don't get me wrong, I am so glad for sites like MN where people CAN come and get help and advice and generally just air their problems / concerns / thoughts. But it's certainly not an accurate representation of anything. Much like when a survey publishes their poll results and it says 67% of people prefer Emmerdale to Coronation St (out of 100 people surveyed).

I know for a fact that my great grandma used to be beaten regularly by her husband (in front of her children) and back then (1920s - 30s) it was seen as the norm. There was no no Women's Aid, no refuge shelters, no police involvement, no charities to help... Nothing.

According to the ONS there are 35 million women in the UK. Even if 20 women posted in one day about being in a coercive / DV relationship, it is the tiniest proportion of the female population.

Do you seriously think women are treated worse now than they used to be? Purely because a very small number of women post about their problems on a public forum?

Don't get me wrong, I am so glad for sites like MN where people CAN come and get help and advice and generally just air their problems / concerns / thoughts. But it's certainly not an accurate representation of anything. Much like when a survey publishes their poll results and it says 67% of people prefer Emmerdale to Coronation St (out of 100 people surveyed).

I know for a fact that my great grandma used to be beaten regularly by her husband (in front of her children) and back then (1920s - 30s) it was seen as the norm. There was no no Women's Aid, no refuge shelters, no police involvement, no charities to help... Nothing.

Do you think not sleeping with your husband is going to do anything for that?

Did you protest against women’s restricted access to abortion in NI?

At the end of the day it’s the responsibility of the citizens of any given country to enact the change they want in their own state.