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Original poster

I've got quite a simple question that I just can't answer - why would a woman not be a feminist?

317 replies

MarionCole · 17/03/2011 22:49

Surely everyone wants equality of opportunity, don't they?

Would appreciate the opinions of those feminists far wiser than I.

OP posts:
MitchiestInge · 18/03/2011 22:01

only if you were too thick to read around the topic a bit

LeninGrad · 18/03/2011 22:00

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Omg20 · 18/03/2011 21:59

Imagine that you decided to learn about feminism because you don't know much about it and you were a sahp and you came on this forum and seen someone say that being a sahp isn't feminist then you would ofc rightly assume that you can't be a feminist if you are a sahp.

LeninGrad · 18/03/2011 21:52

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LeninGrad · 18/03/2011 21:50

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StewieGriffinsMom · 18/03/2011 21:49

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MitchiestInge · 18/03/2011 21:49

only thick people would think that, surely?

AyeRobot · 18/03/2011 21:48

OMG, do you confuse "women" with "feminists"? Given that you only post in this section, I would have thought you'd know better by now.

Omg20 · 18/03/2011 21:47

It may or may not be a myth but if people hear feminists saying being a sahm or wearing makeup, cooking etc is not feminist then they are rightly going to assume that they can't be.

StewieGriffinsMom · 18/03/2011 21:40

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LeninGrad · 18/03/2011 21:39

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Omg20 · 18/03/2011 21:33

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/1135064-Feminism-and-SAHM?pg=1

It is on there if you read the whole topic I think some of you even particapated in this discussion.

It doesn't matter whether or not it come from the majority it is normally the minority that gets into the media. Have a look at the student protests and you will see what I mean.

LeninGrad · 18/03/2011 21:10

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MitchiestInge · 18/03/2011 21:09

what criteria do you think women have to meet omg?

StewieGriffinsMom · 18/03/2011 21:09

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LeninGrad · 18/03/2011 21:06

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StewieGriffinsMom · 18/03/2011 21:06

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Omg20 · 18/03/2011 21:03

If feminism wants to be successful it has to be inclusive and for every woman not a select few that meet a certain criteria.

Omg20 · 18/03/2011 20:53

You can't possibly be that naive to claim that there are no negative things that have been associated to feminism.

The woman that set up the first dv shelter for women:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_Pizzey

Read about her and you will see some of the negative things associated with feminism.

Some feminists openly preach hate against men which many of you have rightly pointed out in the past on this very forum.

Some feminists say that sahm can't be feminists. Some have said that you can't be a feminist if you have children. Some have said that you can't be a feminist if you are in a partnership with a man.

A lot of feminist organisations opposed opening and funding of male dv shelters.

There are many bad elements to feminism just like any other social, political, religious etc movement.

This isn't about how I or you potray feminism it is about how others do and I beleive a lot of these negatives have made an impact on the women that choose not to be feminists.

Guitargirl · 18/03/2011 20:41

Ok, I haven't read the whole thread but I think it very much depends on:

a) how you define feminism (everyone's interpretation is different) and
b) life experiences, cards you have been dealt with, where you currently are in your life

I see it very much on a similar playing field to a person's politics tbh

IngridBergmann · 18/03/2011 20:39

When I was 11 and taking on board my militant feminist mother's opinions, without really understanding them, I actually kicked a boy in the balls for being sexist Blush He was in agony - I had no idea it would hurt like that, I'd just overheard random stuff about self defence and got it totally wrong.

It was dreadful, he cried, the entire class visibly backed away from me. I'd always been a 'good girl' until then. People were quite scared of me I think. I apologised till I was blue in the face but the damage was done, though he was really nice about it.

FlamingoBingo · 18/03/2011 20:37

And, do you know what, women who say they're not feminists? Women hated the feminists who won us all those things - who made it so you can work even if you're married; who made it so your husband doesn't own you; who made it so you can go to university; who made it so you can vote. I bet you're bloody glad they did stand up and make a big fucking fuss now, though!

So why do you complain about feminists now? We are so far from being equal still that it's not funny, and it's bloody annoying when you know that you're fighting a fight for women everywhere, and most of them hate you for it.

Lacuna · 18/03/2011 20:34

I've never met a feminist who did 'bad things' or preached hate against men. I'm genuinely interested to know what these bad things are.

(It's not the same as being a christian, anyway. I'm a feminist and I don't have imaginary friends.)

notenoughsocks · 18/03/2011 20:32

making rape in marriage a crime.

notenoughsocks · 18/03/2011 20:31

I am v. worried about back tracking on maternity leave (but that is govt, not feminists)....

Sorry, tangent. It just makes me so cross. Oh - and on the subject of why are not all women feminists - it makes me even more cross when I hear women defending the abolition/diluting of maternity rights as something that will, in fact, benefit all women in the end. Angry Angry Angry

btw, evening all Smile

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