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Original poster

So because I'm anti-porn and don't think seven year olds should be encouraged to join glamour modelling...

34 replies

DontCallMePeanut · 06/08/2011 00:46

A friend has labelled me a conservative feminist?

This was following a conversation about this article aboout which I said I thought any mother encouraging her child to join (when she's older) the glamour modelling industry was irresponsible.

Apparently, the fact I'm anti-porn and against encouraging glamour modelling means I'm an "Ultra conservative feminist"... Oh, and anti-sex. (That's the opposite of sex positive feminism, isn't it?)

Any thoughts on this? I'm a bit Hmm and assuming the young man who made the comments isn't as clued up on feminism as he claims

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Prolesworth · 06/08/2011 20:19

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Prolesworth · 06/08/2011 20:17

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Catitainahatita · 06/08/2011 18:03

Jenny I would say that privileged women sometimes talk to women less privileged themselves in a similar way. The thing is that the people who do it tend to be unconscious of their privilege and unconscious about the assumptions they are making. It is this unconsciousness that words like "manplaining" are attempting to change. You can't challenge assumptions until these are identified ifyswim.
And I think that language is not set on stone. New words are invented all the tome. The only was to see if a word is useful is if it is used by a significant number of people. I think "mansplain" has achieved wide enough acceptance to be considered valid on such situations.

jennyvstheworld · 06/08/2011 17:41

Ok, so that's a feminist definition of the word, but I'm not sure that we can reinvent the meanings of words so easily. To avoid semantics then (how often do these discussions boil down to that) I simply mean discriminating against someone on the basis of their gender.

Going massively off-thread, perhaps we should have some terminology that differentiates between discrimination by those historically possessed of the power and those historically dispossessed. Clearly to suggest that women cannot be sexist (trad) or black people racist (trad) is untrue.

Ok, femsplaining, whatever; it was a joke. But could you answer my question about your logic? I'm interested.

Prolesworth · 06/08/2011 17:33

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Prolesworth · 06/08/2011 17:29

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jennyvstheworld · 06/08/2011 17:26

Undoubtedly not, but how is thinking that 'using sexist language to defeat sexist attitiudes may be flawed' associated with showing a lack of interest in confronting sex-based privilege? Are you 'femsplaining'?

Prolesworth · 06/08/2011 17:02

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jennyvstheworld · 06/08/2011 16:57

Exactly - it soon becomes a men vs women argument ie divisive... Also, how do you tell if someone is being supercillious because they are a man talking to a woman and believe in men's superiority - rather than simply being a dick and believing that it is espescially they, themselves, who are superior? I also think it becomes a term that is then easily used to snipe at anyone with whom you disagree "You're just mansplaining" to remove the credibility of their argument through means other than actually critiquing their argument.

Original poster
DontCallMePeanut · 06/08/2011 16:39

I'll agree there. Wink

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Prolesworth · 06/08/2011 16:36

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Original poster
DontCallMePeanut · 06/08/2011 16:33

Aha, but if there's one thing a man who is guity of "mansplaining" will do, when faced with being accused of such, is to turn the term round as misandry, or us women being "man hating feminists".

Or at least, the men I'd accuse of such would.

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Prolesworth · 06/08/2011 16:32

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Prolesworth · 06/08/2011 16:30

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jennyvstheworld · 06/08/2011 16:30

'Superscillious' is, I suspect, exactly the same and already exists. 'Up their own arse' a bit more down to earth....

Prolesworth · 06/08/2011 16:28

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Original poster
DontCallMePeanut · 06/08/2011 16:25

I agree with you, do think maybe another word to describe it would be better. It's not just men who "mansplain"

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jennyvstheworld · 06/08/2011 16:16

Off-thread (I know I get told off for this....)

Is it just me or does anyone else think 'Mansplaining' seems to be sexist terminology used to explain sexist attitudes? I fail to see how fighting sexism with sexism is an intelligent way to fight a divisive society.

giyadas · 06/08/2011 16:07

epic thread on mansplaining

Original poster
DontCallMePeanut · 06/08/2011 16:06

Along with some more misognistic descriptions at the end Hmm

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Original poster
DontCallMePeanut · 06/08/2011 16:04

there's a good few explainations here...

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jennyvstheworld · 06/08/2011 15:58

What is mansplaining please?

Original poster
DontCallMePeanut · 06/08/2011 15:49

SQ, he prides himself on the belief that he is highly intelligent... Much to the amusement of those who see through him.

I'm seriously reconsidering my friendship with him. It's not too long ago he told me that feminists should be focusing on the important issues of pay and equal opportunities, not the "non-issues of Porn"...

TB, I'm not too clued up on sex-positive feminism, but I'm of the impression it argues that pornography and the likes can be enjoyed in a healthy manner. Again, if someone can explain sex-positive feminism, please do. The only feminist reference I found to it so far seemed pretty critical.

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Prolesworth · 06/08/2011 15:27

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alexpolismum · 06/08/2011 15:19