I'm a feminist but...

This is very interesting. I'm an artist and illustrator, i also work with wood and glass (i have a shed ) - and one thing i can say is that i'm a stereotypical arty type (think patchwork trousers and tie dye).

I am also a feminist.

Women in the creative arts have a problem in that the expectation is that they are doing it for a little bit of pocket money in general. You only have to look at the arts and craft section on MN to see that - it's not somewhere i feel i fit in.

If a man tells you he is an artist and illustrator people think he's doing well, supporting his family financially, lots of contacts etc. If a woman does it, it doesn't seem to matter if she doesn't take it so seriously. You don't get many men standing at craft fairs selling bits and bobs week in week out.

Hope that made sense

Stereotypes work because the world is big and complex and we don't have enough time to investigate it. So its easier to say, ok she has a pink skirt on so probably isn't a feminist but that other one has dungarees on so probably is.

We are all guilty of it, I bet. If not about feminism then about folk music or bird watching or football players. Its much easier to slot people into preformed identities than consider that each person has a multifaceted identity that we may only see part of.

This is a bit of a half formulated thought, so I appologise if I have not thought it through properly:

It seems that the biggest stereotypes that exist now relate to women's appearance, rather than behaviour.

I work in what was traditionally a male dominated environment, which requires me to be forceful and opinionated, and to take the lead in group situations.

In my free time, I enjoy DIY, woodwork, and martial arts (as well as cookery and other more traditionally female crafts).

I behave in quite a dominant way in a group situation, and if faced with sexist/ abusive behaviour in a social or public situation, will confront it head on.

I really cannot say that I have ever had any problem with doing what I want in a work or hobby sphere.

However, despite feeling comfortable in controverting these typical stereotypes, I feel the need to spend quite a lot of time on hair depletion, wear make-up for work or to go out socialising, and wear heels and close-fitting clothing.

It seems that for me, taboos about appearance are harder to overcome than taboos about behaviour.

I also wonder sometimes whether I am able to get away with being quite dominant because I am lucky to fall into a stereotype of being tall (but not too tall), blond, slim but with large boobs, and am considered attractive. ie, being close to what the patriarchy sees as an ideal female form gives me more leeway to step outside what is expected behaviour.

I agree that is is easier to say "I am a feminist, but it's okay because, look, I am still pretty and enjoy sewing and baking". There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a pretty feminist who enjoys sewing and baking, but I do baulk sometimes at the way feminists feel they need to make feminism palatable. Just to be clear, I know exactly why we do it and I can even see that in some ways it helps further the cause. I just feel frustrated that I can't be a dungaree wearing, hair legged faminist without being judged harshly for that, and having my views taken less seriously too.

I was at the dreg end of a party recently and the talk turned to feminism. I cheerfully declared myself to be a feminist. People pointed out that I am a SAHM who bakes and sews, and I like pretty clothes therefore I couldn't be a feminist. I insisted that I am one. A real one. Even quite a cross one at times. "Yes," they insisted, "but not a 'hairy legged feminist'". I pointed out that beneath my rather lovely pink swishy skirt my legs were indeed hairy. And what of it? No one really knew what to say. It actually made people uncomfortable to realise that my legs were not bald.

WTF?

I don't think carpentary is well paid! (My brother worked as one) Plumbing, electrician yes.

notenoughsocks - much like most things, when women do them they are undervalued and underpaid (seamstress, cook), when men do them they are highly skilled and prized (tailor, chef)

One of the most damaging stereotypes about feminists is that they have no sense of humour. There seems no room for fun when you are boycotting 1000 companies and knitting your own lentils.

Or that feminists are only concerned with women in developed countries.

I think these things put people off self identifying as feminists.

noddy motor mechanics, carpentary, that sort of thing?

What are the male equivalents of womens crafts?

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=gordonandthewhale.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/brian_cox_ljpg.jpeg&imgrefurl=gordonandthewhale.com/usa-ff-to-bring-ray-liotta-brian-cox-m-emmet-walsh-and-more-to-dallas/&usg=__Uf8EICrZIfesAiOxV4nGm31h9V4=&h=420&w=372&sz=32&hl=en&start=0&sig2=Agw_gLPsgp2l_O2Ha9rIyw&zoom=1&tbnid=zjs8BTtVw2ILCM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=106&ei=i3-ATfKVBIuwhAep66GfBw&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbrian%2Bcox%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1280%26bih%3D590%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=513&vpy=90&dur=244&hovh=239&hovw=211&tx=96&ty=95&oei=i3-ATfKVBIuwhAep66GfBw&page=1&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I was looking for physicist Brian Cox and found this

Dittany are you talking to the thread or to me with the 'let's not stereotype'?

I think the thread was specifically saying "look at us, we are all feminists but not all stereotypes because feminists come in many flavours".

I was just having a laugh, saying that if all feminists are the stereotype then all men must be like the lad stereotype.

Most feminists would faint if they saw what i get up to but I still think I am one

I am very scathing of the wimpishness that leads to women not driving on motorways. But I would rather not drive on any road ever if I have the choice. Not very consistent, I know. BUT I recognise that I am being a wimp and will always try not to put anyone out with my wimpishness, and if someone does me a favour that allows me to not be a wimp I will try to repay them and generally act very grateful.