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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Could you be friends with an anti-feminist?

40 replies

SurprisinglyCalm · 26/03/2014 20:35

Just that, really. Someone I know and used to be good friends with, who has since moved away, put something on Facebook (I know, I know) that was along the lines that women aren't constitutionally fit to be involved in public affairs. Worse still, I'm pretty sure she posted it in response to something I said. It made me feel genuinely hurt and if she'd said it in RL, I've got no idea how I'd have responded.

I've seen misogynistic 'jokes' on FB before, which have hurt me, but this felt worse because a) it had no pretence of being funny, b) it was probably aimed at me, and c) said by someone I like and was good friends with.

Because I know her so well, I know that she has become more openly anti feminist over the past few years, and also, again because I know her, I more or less know why - I.e. What in her past she's reacting to, and the male approval she's seeking etc. I feel desperately sorry for her and feel genuine compassion for her. But can I be friends with someone who thinks that who I am, what I do and believe and stand for are all fundamentally wrong? What do you think, and could you be friends with someone who is an open anti feminist?

OP posts:
TwittyMcTwitterson · 26/03/2014 22:39

I wouldn't be friends with idiots, no! Hmm

SplitHeadGirl · 26/03/2014 22:34

Well, I will go against the grain here and say yes, I could be friends.

My best friend is not exactly ANTI-feminist.....she just thinks feminism is daft and she laughs when I talk about it. But the thing is, she is BRILLIANT!!! I can't convey in words so much how lovely, kind and just downright special she is, but she really is!! She is very beautiful, and so I think maybe that is why she doesn't see the need for feminism, because men always bend backwards for her.

She changed my life some years ago when I was in the depths of despair....she saved me and even though we disagree on these issues I can see that she is just wonderful and her lack of understanding does not bother me when it definitely would in other people!!

She is my best, most loved friend and we get on magnificently.

TheCrackFox · 26/03/2014 22:15

No

My mum is anti-feminist and that can be a just a tad tiresome to say the least.

ThatBloodyWoman · 26/03/2014 22:14

Yes, I think I could.

If she used to be a good friend I think I would value her enough to try to help her see what she is doing,and be there to catch her when she falls.

I think you can maintain a relationship through differing beliefs.

I'm even friends with some people who think that God is a man......

FloraFox · 26/03/2014 22:05

No I couldn't be friends with someone so openly anti-feminists. I'm sure I have friends who don't think of themselves as feminists but I would unfriend someone for posting this (both on FB and IRL).

MumOfTheMoos · 26/03/2014 21:58

No

WoTmania · 26/03/2014 21:51

I don't think I could either. In fact I've unfriended acquaintances on FB for being anti-feminist (which to me is just posting things that go against the ideals of feminism rather than expressly anti-feminist iyswim) and one for being a Julian Assange supporter.
It is hard though when they are people you know well and care about.

MadameLeBean · 26/03/2014 20:59

No

i have unfriended people (mostly blokes tbh) for posting even just ignorantly misogynistic stuff

SurprisinglyCalm · 26/03/2014 20:57

Minipie, I know from other things she's said recently that she thinks of herself as 'anti-feminist.'

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SconeRhymesWithGone · 26/03/2014 20:57

One of the most important things to me in friendship is having shared values, so, no, I could not be friends with an anti-feminist, by which I assume you mean someone who is sexist and misogynistic, any more than I could be friends with a racist.

SurprisinglyCalm · 26/03/2014 20:56

Yeah. To be honest, it really did knock me, and one of the problems with FB is that people feel able to say things that they are too polite to say IRL. This is someone I'd travel hours to meet up with, so it's hard to think that our differences are so great that our friendship might dwindle away. At the same time, on a less personal level, it feels utterly crap that we as women have to deal with this sort of shit - there's no way that any man would be told, with a straight face, that they are not fit to do any particular serious work. :(

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minipie · 26/03/2014 20:55

I wouldn't call this anti feminist. She's making comments about women not about feminists. It's sexism pure and simple.

Could I be friends with them? I don't know. I have one or two male friends who come out with sexist guff sometimes. I don't stop being friends with them but I do call them on it. and it does limit how good a friend I see them as iyswim.

AnyFucker · 26/03/2014 20:50

Apart from being "anti feminist" she is also a rude fucker

who would want to be friends with a person like that ?

AnyFucker · 26/03/2014 20:49

No

TheArticFunky · 26/03/2014 20:48

No I couldn't be a friend with someone like that.

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