ZAZZLES HOW DO YOU KNOW!?

Ah but mini. a lot of those words DO have a gender connotation - just as jobs with more 'masculine' sounding attributes required are done so to put off female applicants. We have been trained to read these adjectives as traits we want to emulate on the basis of our sex. So men are more likely to believe they are "assertive" or "aggressive" because we have been told for most of our lives that these are not always a good thing for a woman to be (maybe in moderation, but who would apply to a job they moderately see themselves in the role as?). More about it here www.bizjournals.com/pacific/bizwomen/news/latest-news/2014/04/why-women-didnt-apply-a-primer-on-how-not-to-write.html

marking my place on this thread really

one thing i do is try to avoid taking up women's time more than men's. women tend to be interrupted at work or leisure to assist other people far more than men are IME, implying their time is less important. so for example if at work i need to see someone in another department and i'm not sure what they look like or where they sit, when i reach their department (if there is no obvious "reception" or welcoming person) i will approach a man instead of a woman if possible. i have been in the position where everyone asks me for directions or for people's whereabouts, despite the fact that i sit next to a man who is in fact the departmental administrator who has access to everyone's calendars and floor plans. i don't

Oh I am loving this thread, too

Influence other women in your life to expect more from their husbands and society in putting women equally up there with men, eg child rearing and housework immediately comes to mind. We as women should expect more and better in our lives.

Complain, complain, complain about sexist advertising, whether it is TV, radio, in print or on the web. Remember in a marketing department's eyes, 1 complaint = 9 others who felt the same way but did nothing. Point out the sexism in the ad, and tell them as a consumer, you will not buy their product. This may result in the ad being recut to remove the offensive bits, or even better, the ad may be pulled and replaced (ask me how I know ).

I love this thread.

Make sure your daughters see you spending time with your friends. Too often women end up having their social time with their family (sisters, cousins etc) and it seems to lead to men getting out enjoying hobbies/socialising/life whilst women get to chat whilst preparing a meal/looking after children/seeing extended family - so not a real break away from everyday chores. Makes sure they see that Women's social time is as valuable as men's (probably more really, because we'll be relying on friends because - statistically speaking - male partners die sooner).

So what do you want to do, practically, to celebrate them, mini?

Vote. Take your children with you when you vote. Explain who you are voting for and why.

Liking the let toys be toys. My DM hasn't really seen what I mean about the pink toy onslaught. However she recently went to the Museum of childhood and came back enthusing about all the different colours toys used to be

Liking postie. Problem solved!

Like I say I think it's a whole other thread. I'm not totally convinced on the issue, but I see where you're coming from.

Speak up more in general and not be afraid to have your voice heard.

Campaign by tweeting/writing/emailing companies when we are unhappy about their portrayal of women/men, boys/girls in their advertising or marketing.

Get behind organisations such as Let Toys be Toys and No More Page 3.

Go to the Feminism in London conference 24th and 25th October 2015. It's a great way to get inspired and meet like minded feminists.

Without a doubt mardybra, but to automatically assume that a woman is a victim or coerced into her choice of clothing is to assume her incapable of making her own reasoned choices over what to wear.

(in the small amount I've read on the subject, it appears to me that most women who wear the niqab in Britain are doing it of their own volition, as a political or religious choice).

Which similarities would you like to celebrate?

"Never criticise what another woman wears, be it nipple tassles and a sparkly thong, or full niqab"

It's a whole other thread but there is an argument that the niqab is a garment imposed on some women by a male-dominated religion.

I'm with you on the sentiment of your post though.

They are all know as Postie in NZ

I get a bit bloody minded and always refer to the Men's sport pages or the men's sport during the news.

"And yes, Mardy, it's as if the word 'woman' is somehow pejorative (hugely alarming, clearly) and so 'girl' sounds somehow 'nicer' (i.e cuter/less threatening)."

Of course, it's never used for a higher status job - e.g. the girl who's a company director, or a girl who's a high court judge.

Never criticise what another woman wears, be it nipple tassles and a sparkly thong, or full niqab. She has chosen to dress like that. Respect that choice.

"postie"?

"* Don't hover over your small daughters saying "be careful" if they are doing something like climbing"

Why not? I would do the same with a boy. They do they need to be careful when climbing.

Postal worker is fine.

OK, but what do you do about 'postman'? Can't think of a good gender neutral one.

Also, am always confused about the whole 'don't call me an actress' thing. I regard myself as as feminist as they come, but have never seen the problem with men being actors and women actresses. Given that it is one of the v.v. few professions where females are actually NEEDED (and generally in equal numbers as men - let's not get on to the fact that they aren't needed after 40….) I always struggle to see what actresses are so upset about. Clearly I am missing something and am v. happy to be corrected - just genuinely don't understand what the issue is.

And yes, Mardy, it's as if the word 'woman' is somehow pejorative (hugely alarming, clearly) and so 'girl' sounds somehow 'nicer' (i.e cuter/less threatening). DH tends to shy away from using the word woman - drives me mad.

Our usual doctor is a woman, so kids have never known any different. Then if we need to see her colleague i tell them that we need to see the man doctor

That winds me up too flamingo. Also "male nurse".

There are a whole host of other job assumptions to be avoided such as firemen v firefighters. Also terms such as "manpower", "manned".

My father (sadly not a Granta reading feminist) still refers to manageresses and authoresses.

And the one which really gets my goat is when someone says "the girl on the checkout/reception/whatever", as if the checkout were being staffed by female children (never boys!)