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Original poster

I am one... but why don't I want to be called one?

89 replies

ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 20:58

A feminist that is. I am very much a strong minded woman...independant, succesful and up for the rights of all females in all ways...so why do I feel uncomfortable with the label "Feminist"?

I think it might be due to the negative connotations of the word...the way a lot of people percieve feminists...it conjures up an image that genral sciety aren't comfortable with doesn't it?

Which in turn puts us..the very people who matter most in the fight for equality..at massive disadvantage. Isn't it time for a rebrand?

Why stick with the old title? Why have a "title" at all? Why not just "be" what we are? Women, strong ones...independant,intellegent, talented, funny, succesful..whatever. Get on with making change...forging a future for women where we don't need a name for what we are and what we do or want.

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sixpercenttruejedi · 15/11/2010 21:57

Why not just accept that we are a group, called feminism, and that we work towards equality? We'd love you to join our club, we just don't want you to piss on it from a great height.

Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:56

No I never Dittany...I said it did not need a name. I never said that women should not join together to fight inequality.

Ether Feminists want other like-mided women to join with them...AND take on the name or they want to scare them off with bullying because their veiws don't conform to what's accepted in terms of being a Feminist.

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dittany · 15/11/2010 21:56

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Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:54

You see...I have never heard of Fawcett...or the campaign.So how great was it?

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dittany · 15/11/2010 21:53

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Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:52

dittany...I never told anyone to do anything...I began a debate.

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AliceWorld · 15/11/2010 21:51

That's the million dollar question Shanahan Grin

Anything that challenges the status quo will face a backlash from the status quo, and they are the ones that control what does and doesn't get heard.

But if more and more people use the word, in more and more contexts it will become a bit less 'other'. It's like the Fawcett 'This is what a feminist looks like' campaign. By showing how 'normal' looking people and celebs are feminist too it normalises it. There are things that are and aren't 'normal' and 'common sense' to say and that needs shifting. But alas it is only ever as much as the status quo allows

Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:51

Sixpence you were the one who began the put downs.

I came on here as a woman who has had nothing to do with any organised Faminist group...who has never conversed with a group of women who hold the same strong beliefs as me and I was prety much scared off.

I won't be told I am a woman hater nor that I am not really as commited as you towards equality... thought I might get some interestng comversation/debate and I did get some...but also what I never expected and that was pretty much "you can't join our club"

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dittany · 15/11/2010 21:49

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sixpercenttruejedi · 15/11/2010 21:47

how far will you go to appease those that will oppress you? and what good do you think it will do in the long run? If you could answer without snide put-downs that would be great.

Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:45

I see there are practical reasons Dittany...I came here looking for thoughts and found some very informed opinions and also some mad sounding crap...maybe that's the problem. When someone like sixpence is willing to call a woman like me a woman hater..that's what other people see as crazy.

OP posts:
wukter · 15/11/2010 21:42

x posts, with about 10 posts, this time.

Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:42

Whatever Sixpence...you come over as unbalanced rather than passionate.

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dittany · 15/11/2010 21:41

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wukter · 15/11/2010 21:41

You don't want to be perceived negatively by using the word Feminist. But you'll be perceived negatively if you DO something feminist, label or no.
Maybe being scorned as a labelled Feminist is a baptism of sorts.
Also, by self identifying as a feminist you remind yourself you are not fighting alone, there are a whole network of women who are standing with you (Of course, allowing for idealogical differences)

All movements are 'blackened' by their opponents. The image portrayed is not the reality.

sixpercenttruejedi · 15/11/2010 21:41

I don't care, many people have daughters. Its not a free pass.

Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:40

So far...only AliceWorld has managed to explain anything to me...the vitriol coing out of the mouths/keyboards of some of the other women on here is shocking.

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Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:38

Sixpence....I read what the man said. You talk utter crap. I have two Daughters and I resent the shit you talk.

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Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:37

That's very well put AliceWorld...how could the name be reclaimed then?

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AliceWorld · 15/11/2010 21:36

And I also meant to say most -isms are misrepresented. Socialism, communism, anarchism, anything that threatens the status quo is snarked about. Anarchism is a great example, often co-located with chaos. They do not mean the same thing.

dittany · 15/11/2010 21:36

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sixpercenttruejedi · 15/11/2010 21:35

If you listen to men who use the term feminazi, then your a woman-hater. end of.

AliceWorld · 15/11/2010 21:34

A political movement is not party politics. I agree a political movement needs a name. It's not to do with running for elections. It's to do with describing a particular political position, like liberalism, socialism, anarchism, conservatism etc.

The reason people don't like the name is because people talk crap in order to undermine it. So people don't want to associate with the crap is really nothing to do with it. Like 'man-hating'.

The name could be changed to bananaism and still face the same backlash. It needs reclaiming not changing.

Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:32

hmc no I don't use the title...I just act on inequaliy when I see it.

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Original poster
ShanahansRevenge · 15/11/2010 21:31

dittany...bollocks. I can decide what I want....regarding a movement which is meant to be for my beneft too.

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