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Original poster

Could women strike?

109 replies

GarlicNovember · 06/11/2014 13:46

It'd mean finding enough supportive men to take over child and other caring duties. Could it be done? Would it make the point that the world would grind to a halt if women didn't do all the supposedly invisible stuff they do?

OP posts:
SevenZarkSeven · 06/11/2014 21:36

Well, for me, the point is, like I was imagining earlier today, what would happen if all the women in the world just fucked off somewhere for a while.

It's interesting.

Original poster
GarlicNovember · 06/11/2014 21:33

YY, I think it might be worth exploring hypothetically! Great oaks and all that.

OP posts:
Original poster
GarlicNovember · 06/11/2014 21:30

Last time I was on strike, I answered my phone to tell my clients I was on strike.

There's already a ton of campaigning & protesting about the undervaluation of women's work. Everyone (the patriarchy) assumes women will just carry on doing the stuff anyway ... and it's true, really, because of the 'nurses' argument.

Nurses got a lot of support, though, especially with the way they worked out the rolling strike action.

Just seen your update, maddy, thanks!

OP posts:
WidowWadman · 06/11/2014 21:29

Anyfucker what is the point of the thread, if not to explore the hypothetical question?

MuttonCadet · 06/11/2014 21:29

If it's rhetorical what is the point?

WidowWadman · 06/11/2014 21:27

Mutton - logging in remotely surely is being in work, thus doesn't make any point whatsoever in the context of a strike. Logging in remotely is as much a crossing of the picket line as physically going into the office.

The whole strike idea is beyond stupid, which is why I wouldn't suggest anyone should do it.

AnyFucker · 06/11/2014 21:22

Nobody is going on strike. It was a rhetorical question. Smile

maddy68 · 06/11/2014 21:14

Ahhhhh I see what you mean...you mean it would show solidarity fir those not in the same position. I too was being a bit dim, I thought you meant if I went on strike, the impact I would have on my home and work.

MuttonCadet · 06/11/2014 21:13

Believe me not being in work would be making the point.

How far do you expect individuals to make a sacrifice "for the greater good"?

maddy68 · 06/11/2014 21:12

I may have a skewed perspective, due to the nature of my friendship group but within my circle , I know that they equally share childcare and household chores.
If men went on strike it would cause disruption too.
Lots of assumptions about these 'lazy men' of which I have little knowledge

WidowWadman · 06/11/2014 21:10

Garlic I totally agree with protesting and campaigning about issues even if I'm lucky enough to not be affected directly. It's however perfectly possible to do that without pretending to strike, I really can't see how a pretend strike would show solidarity either. Working during a strike undermines it, surely?

Original poster
GarlicNovember · 06/11/2014 21:04

Maddy, women as a whole are in an unequal relationship with men as a whole.

Strikes are invariably about an issue that affects the entire workforce, not just the individual members taking action.

It's true, Mutton would be cheating ... while showing solidarity ...

OP posts:
SevenZarkSeven · 06/11/2014 21:03

Although this is a total tangent!

SevenZarkSeven · 06/11/2014 21:02

If you google sex strike then lots of them have been done.

It's something that women can do when they have very little else to bargain with I imagine.

I wouldn't condemn / argue with the women in the link I posted up there ^ for what they did. They did what they could in the society they were in to try and make a change that they felt strongly about.

I guess that when you're really at the sharp end of patriarchy you work with what you have right?

maddy68 · 06/11/2014 20:59

Whys it an I'm alright jack? Sorry if it came across that way I'm just stating that in my experience if I went on strike it would prove nothing.
At work it would but then if the men went on strike I woudk face difficulties as well.

I think it's a bit of a daft argument. If people are in unequal relationships then they can do something about it. My mum is in an unequal relationship, very traditional, but she likes it like that, that's her choice, every time my dad tries to cook or do housework it's criticised and re done by her. She likes to feel that she is the ultimate Carer!

WidowWadman · 06/11/2014 20:57

Checking your work emails is working, that's not how strikes work.

mumwithanipad · 06/11/2014 20:57

Xpost sorry, will read link.

mumwithanipad · 06/11/2014 20:56

Where has the sex strike come from? I read back through thread but can't see where anyone said about withholding sex, or is it an assumption that it would be something men would miss if women were to vanish/down tools etc for a day as it's seen as part of a woman's role/duty etc?

I'm not trying to be sarky but can't see the link and am just wondering if I'm missing something, I don't see how having sex plays a part in women downing tools for a day, but I'm new to all this so I'm probably missing something.

WidowWadman · 06/11/2014 20:55

Any Fucker - it was a response to the link about Lysistrata, which indeed is about a sex strike. I think you have not been reading properly

Original poster
GarlicNovember · 06/11/2014 20:54

The sex strike was from Lysistrata. It was a radical idea in Ancient Greece :) Seven, I also vaguely remember something like that, but thought it was daft at the time. Even if it 'worked' for whatever purpose was intended, you'd need all the men to go on phone-ins or something to say "I didn't have sex last night and am destroyed." Can't see that being hugely successful!

I'm ever so glad you got the point, Mutton! Don't see why you shouldn't check your work emails while you hang about in coffee shops demonstrate :)

OP posts:
WidowWadman · 06/11/2014 20:53

Who has an alright jack mentality? Just pointing out that such a strike would be daft does not translate into not caring.

AnyFucker · 06/11/2014 20:52

Yes, garlic's "post at 14:58" has the word "sex" in it...but I don't think you read it properly.

SevenZarkSeven · 06/11/2014 20:51

I'm not even sure where that came from on the thread AF, it seemed to come out of leftfileld unless I missed a post or something.

AnyFucker · 06/11/2014 20:51

But I am concerned by the "alright Jack" mentality.

WidowWadman · 06/11/2014 20:51

Garlic's post at 14:58