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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism related depression!!

28 replies

joaninha · 06/09/2011 20:28

Ok, so I spent the weekend trawling through toy shops for DS's birthday, noting with gritted teeth the oh-so-subtle-as-a-brick way in which toys are targeted according to gender, then I had to listen to DF joking about it just to wind me up.

Then today I learn about this friend who was really excited about starting her first job only to find out that as the female she has to put up with quite a hefty amount of sexual harassment harmless jokes. And it reminded me of how little things have changed since I was young, and how in some ways they've even gotten worse.

Individually these things seems too small to complain about, besides no one wants to be seen as too stroppy, but they add up and I just end up walking under this cloud of low-level grumpiness all the time!

In short I feel like being a feminist is making me depressed but I can't stop being one. I guess my question is: Does anyone else get depressed about it and if so how do you deal with it? Do you express your views (at the risk of being seen as a, um, feminist a.k.a man-hater) or do you hold it in? And does that drive you crazy? I need a coping strategy!!! Advice please...

OP posts:
edd1337 · 06/09/2011 21:39

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CRIKRI · 06/09/2011 21:33

Yes, as colditz says, think of clever quips to use in situations where someone says something desperately stupid. Okay, there will be times you feel the need to bite your lip, but there are plenty of times when you can make a stand. Maybe think back on what you might have said or done differently in situations that pissed you off in the past. That's sort of a rehearsal for situations in the future.

Someone calls you a man-hater? So flipping what? Folks who genuinely care about you, know you and respect you will value you for what you are. Others, well, do their opinions really matter?

If you have "acquaintances," colleagues, family members, etc., who are bigoted fools and wind you up, avoid them as much as you can. Heck, plan you life around them or work them out of your life because well, you could be cultivating useful connections with people who aren't idiots, who add good things to your life, not suck life out of you.

And, it's always worth doing something, anything, that might make a difference. Volunteer as a mentor to young women, at a women's refuge, supporting elderly people (most of whom are women), anything that will bring benefit, opportunities, support, knowledge, empowerment, etc. to women. It can be fun as well as make a difference. If you aren't able to do that, there are other ways - circulating e petitions, writing a blog, even just reading about stuff that expands your mind, and validates what you believe (especially of many around you are rubbishing that.)

I've only been on MN for a few weeks, but it seems a good place for learning, stretching the mental muscles, finding out about campaigns and current events and that all important reinforcement that you sometimes need when stuff in RL seems stacked against you. There are other blogs and boards like that as well if you look around.

Stick to your guns and more power to your elbow/keyboard!

colditz · 06/09/2011 20:30

I express my views. Like when an acquaintence said to her daughter "you could grow up to be a nurse!" I piped up "yes, or a doctor, they get paid more, you know. I know lots of doctors who are ladies"