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Original poster

what brings you 'here'?

60 replies

bejeezus · 01/02/2012 14:36

hello, Ive been posting mostly in Relationships and AIBU so far. I have started threads recently which started off as being about; 'Women who get on better with men' and 'the messages within fairytales'. Also been posting in a thread about the 'Relationship' board being full of misandry.

The cumulative effect of these have lead me to the shocking realisation that some women have misogynistic views. I always thought I was pretty much apathetic and my views about womens rights were middle of the roadish. But I think,actually I might be a feminist! If Im not, then I want to be please.

Im nearly 40; am I too old? will I get run out of town for being the most bimbling/unread/foot in mouth 40 year old born again feminist? I thought people realised this about themselves in their 20s? I was too busy saboutaging fox hunts in my 20s to be thinking about women.

So, how did your femisinist POVs evolve?

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Original poster
bejeezus · 08/02/2012 12:37

oh ok- i had misunderstood 'radical' as being more extreme

havent finished reading the whole article. But it would seem I have some radical ND soem liberal views

I struggle with hijabs...what is the radical stance on them? (or is this a stupid question- and it is individual). I see so many strong women choosing to wear them, I feel in a way they are 'reclaimed'? Like the N word in some ways? (although im not sure how I feel about that neither!)

my daughter chooses to wear one sometimes. Its not our religion but she is a child exploring and being influenced by her peers. I have explained in simple terms, the history of them

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Cybermob · 08/02/2012 00:10

The radical part of radical feminism is often confused with being militant. It can be, but not necessarily. I've been described as militant, I take that as a compliment.

TBE · 07/02/2012 22:33

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Original poster
bejeezus · 07/02/2012 21:04

What's the difference between a 'radical feminist' and a plain old feminist? Obviously the former is more devout/hardcore, but are there kind of defining principles/beliefs?

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munkysea · 07/02/2012 21:00

I realised I was a feminist when I went to university and met more people from different background, then developed it more when I started to work for a living.

TBE · 07/02/2012 20:18

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Cybermob · 07/02/2012 19:54

I'm new here, have only been reading for a short while and still trying to understand the lingo. Hopefully I will make myself understood too. English isn't my first language so my grammar might not be right all the time, although I'm right about everything else! Wink

I'm in my late 40s and have been a feminist all my adult life. I'm a radical feminist (not the fun kind, as Dworkin said) and do believe that 'the patriarchy' exists, and I intend to fight it.

CatherineMacauley · 03/02/2012 16:17

As usual, that doesn't read right and if I were more capable I would use the preview feature.

Meant to say that, placing a MTF in a shelter which describes itself as exclusively female is unfair to the women in the shelter.

But that I agree that it is unfair that the MTF has no where to go.

Sorry for being unclear.

CatherineMacauley · 03/02/2012 16:12

Because they exist WW. Sadly for the imaginary person being described, but they do. They cannot be wished away and neither can the emotional upset that might be caused to other women if they are seen by accident.

I agree is it is unfair for the MTF. This is not their fault. But neither is it the fault of the imaginary women in the shelter either.

But I would say again that I would expect them to understand. If they don't want to go to a male shelter, they must also understand why a male body in a female shelter could be so traumatic.

A solution must be found that avoids placing anyone in a traumatic situation.

WidowWadman · 03/02/2012 15:30

Why should the person who identifies herself as a woman and lives as a woman be asked to share the status of her genitals?

CatherineMacauley · 03/02/2012 14:18

Sorry, why should the women in the shelter be the ones asked to forget their trauma?

CatherineMacauley · 03/02/2012 14:14

WW. I certainly am not saying this imaginary person does not deserve shelter. I think anyone deserves help when in the situation put forward. I just don't think it is appropriate to put them in a women's refuge. It's a question of respecting both sides in question and not prioritizing one person over others. It is very sad that someone who believes themselves to be female be in a male body and very traumatic for them. However, I find it hard to believe that a person who has experienced this truama is unable to empathize with a situation where women who are in a shelter, traumatized themselves by abuse from men and promised that they are in an all female environment, might feel if they found a male body among them. I don't understand why they would not demand to have a safe space for themselves. Why should they have to swallow their fears and be made to feel unsafe? Why should it be them who make a sacrifice here?

WidowWadman · 03/02/2012 13:58

Good question. I don't know. And that's why I personally can't tell someone who identifies as a woman that they are not.

Original poster
bejeezus · 03/02/2012 13:39

What makes a women a women then?

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WidowWadman · 03/02/2012 13:25

Who says they want or claim to be better women?

WidowWadman · 03/02/2012 13:24

No, you lost me there. My life experiences as a woman are certainly very different from women in other societies - and whilst having experienced some sexist attitudes (and those only relatively late and not in early life), I'm certainly quite privileged compared to others. Would that make me less of a woman then, too?

TBE · 03/02/2012 12:58

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Original poster
bejeezus · 03/02/2012 12:24

and biologically,it isnt even just genitals - genetics, hormones etc mensturation, child birth

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Original poster
bejeezus · 03/02/2012 12:22

its not- it includes life experiences

And life experiences are what makes a person

Women are united through shared life experiences

TG people have different life experiences

?

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WidowWadman · 03/02/2012 11:46

It's just reduction of people to their genitals. That's wrong, no matter whether they're men, women or transgendered. To me that's a very simplistic world view.

StewieGriffinsMom · 03/02/2012 11:36

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Original poster
bejeezus · 03/02/2012 11:33

x posted!

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Original poster
bejeezus · 03/02/2012 11:30

Im not even convinced that bullying of TG people is down to misogyny? Im pretty sure that the bullies wouldnt view those people as women.. Isnt it just generalised bigotry/xenophobia?

and yes,I would never want to feel that people felt my views were perpetrating any isolation/bullying/assualts or humiliation Sad

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WidowWadman · 03/02/2012 11:30

Ah, so it's of course the misogynists who marginalise them. Not those people who declare them not to be women in the first place. Confused

StewieGriffinsMom · 03/02/2012 11:16

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