What ordinary things make you feel positive about feminism?

Or perhaps the reaction this would get on MN...

'I've started consciously listening to music by men and making men-only playlists, and I find the music empowering. I like female artists too! But I found that without thinking too much about it they were dominating my music collection.'

I wonder how a black person would feel about the following statement:

'I've started consciously listening to music by white people and making white people-only playlists, and I find the music empowering. I like black artists too! But I found that without thinking too much about it they were dominating my music collection.'

And what would be said to the white person making that statement.

BertieBotts
"I've started consciously listening to music by women and making women-only playlists, and I find the music empowering. I like male artists too! But I found that without thinking too much about it they were dominating my music collection."

Just as well you don't racially 'empower' your playlist too.

Justifying that would be quite tricky.

sashh I can't believe your mate said that!

He had a swift lecture about the equal pay act and the sex discimination act. But these were passed before he was born.

This thread prompted me to ask my DS2 (8) if he thought that women and men had to do different jobs, or if men had to be the boss. He looked at me like I was totally mental!

The poster who mentioned Spartacus - in the next series, one of the characters who had been raped, trains hard and becomes a fierce warrior who gets he revenge BIG TIME on those who had wronged her!

Very small in the grand scheme of things, but DD always refers to her soft toys as 'she'.

This thread is making me happy, but I'm horrified at you being caned sashh.

I would thank three great female managers I've had in my life.

They have empowered a lot of women (and men tbf), been flexible and understanding around childcare issues, and made great managers and mentors.

I'd also give my General Manager a huge hug - last week he complained to the board that there were not enough females in Senior management positions and insisted on HR widening the recruitment search and focussing on different skill sets for a more balanced team.

My dad makes me happy to be a feminist. He is 64 years old and for as long as I can remember, he always took an equal role in the housework/childcare department. He would often cook dinner/look after us while mum was at work etc. He is always saying how proud he is to have raised two strong women.

I am a single parent and noone gives two hoots. In fact, I receive far more praise than criticism for raising DD alone.

When my bastard ex hit me, I upped and left. I know it is not easy for many, and I'm not criticizing those who don't leave, but I knew immediately that it was not my fault, that I was not inadequate in any way, and that I deserved better.

-the most respected, capable and farking scary, authoritative boss I have ever had was a woman.

-her second in command (also an amazing woman) has just got a massive promotion to be the boss somewhere else.

-I currently work with a lovely, kind, educated guy who works part time so he can split child are 50:50 with his wife - and he does at least his share if not more. Turned up to a work social a bit late saying 'sorry was baking with the kids, lost track of time'. And NOONE batted an eyelid. He is totally respected. This shouldn't be extraordinary, but I work somewhere with majority male staff and a fair bit of misogyny and he is like a beacon for future hope!

Mainstream feminism like Caitlin Moran's book.

I bang on about feminism in my man's ear.

He recently finished reading a book (can't remember which one now) and turned to me and said he didn't like it because the author's a Misogynist because he only writes about two types of female characters- mothrly matriarchs whose only desire is to breed and care for people and immoral sluts whose only desire is to get fucked by whatever means (including rape) necessary.

Whoop whoop!

Ds saying 'mum when I grow up I'm going to be a feminist' :)

• Voting

• The large number of senior professional mothers I know, being paid good wages. Still room for improvement but a big change from a generation ago, and I think women starting work now do have it better ( and there are a lot more)

• that bodies like the Olympic movement are under pressure all the time for ensuring female equality. I don't think it comes naturally....

• Abortion without stigma. This needs to be fought for again though.

To my mind the big area that needs to be campaigned for now is affordable childcare for working women, I think it's the thing that will make the biggest impact on their lives.

You reminded of my DH Stealth. (Feel bad I didn't think of him but going through a bad patch) as far as childcare goes and splitting the house chores, he always does his share and more so my DC are growing up knowing that running a house is joint responsibility, there are no men jobs and womens responsibilties in our house. We each work to our own strengths. DHs boss (male) is great too and very flexible.

I work in a small team and it's probably half men, half women. I've noticed here, which has not been the case anywhere else that the men seem to be doing an equal amount of childcare, they;re the ones that get the calls when children are sick, they're the ones taking half days when it's sports day etc. A colleague's wife is currently retraining and he was talking about his long term plans and how if she ended up in another city he would of course have to look for another job - it was just a given. The general chat round the office also seems to be about children and our families, camping trips, weekends spent with kids, not the usual macho posturing and "how drunk I got" rubbish. I've never noticed this before! We work on women's issues - not sure if that has anything to do with it or whether it's just coincidence.
My boss is a woman (nothing new there) but she inspires me. She's a good boss and gets things done but the values and passion she has for making things better for women and children is always evident.

I don;t contribute to these boards very often as I'm not as well educated nor as eloquent as the rest of you. But a couple of things I want to add, hope they make sense.

Since MN I have discovered my inner feminist, I always knew it was there but reading and lurking on so many threads has made me think about things a lot more.

My mum was a single parent in the 60s, whilst in nurse training. She did it. A big fuck you to anyone who told her she couldn't. Sadly she then ended up in an abusive marriage that she didn't get out of. She still inspires me though. She passed on so much wisdom to me. I remember her telling me that it had been hard for her, but it would be easier for me, and easier still for my children. As long as we all do our bit. It might not go right sometimes but it will get better for women as a whole. That might sound trite, but I can't convey the feeling with which she said it.

Oh and I have started watching films and questioning the roles of the lead female (sure there was a thread about it, must search it out). I think once you start noticing things like that you can't switch off from it.

But I have to say my DD is what makes me feel great about ordinary things about feminism. She dresses how she pleases, plays the games she wants, and she questions others if they dare suggest her outfit/hobby/game is more suitable for a boy. I know that sounds such a small thing.

I have probably got this whole thread wrong but hope some of what I say makes sense.

There are now more women than men training to be Doctors.

The last time I was admitted as an emergency all the nurses I saw were men.When I was at primary school I was caned for saying a man could be a nurse (Had two uncles who were).

I supose the big ones are that my pay is not decided by having a vagina.

Quote from a male friend "It's not like women were ever paid less for doing the same job" - yes they bloody were, but for someone in their 30s to think that would be so outragous that it had never happened, well that's progress.

I've just been accepted onto a highly competitive graduate scheme which is very managerial focused. The majority of the candidates are female. It is well paid and should open up a hell of a lot of opportunities

And micro, micro - my current boss told me I had to wear heels to this interview and looked horrified when I laughed in his face. Got the fucking job

Feminists are just simply the coolest!

Thanks LRD. Well, in terms of my dd's development and sense of self I am HUGELY pleased, but I just felt quite aware that it's not really in the same league as single mums not being judged as having loose morals, for example.

I'm also grateful to this board for giving me the confidence to explain to my children why 'scream like a girl' is not a phrase I want them to use, without feeling like a humourless (good thread been going on about that) killjoy for doing so.