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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Teen DD angry about sexism

36 replies

Aradia · 15/02/2015 23:36

Over the last couple of years, (with the help of MN) I have become much more vocal feminist. My DD is 13 and is very well read and becoming much more socially aware, particularly with regards to feminism. The only problem is it's starting to really upset her as she is seeing sexism and the patriarchy and she is quite rightly bothered by the unfairness of it. For example I recently had a Facebook debate with my sister, her auntie, about 50 shades of grey. My sister doesn't see anything wrong with it and thinks I am making a big fuss over nothing. DD on the other hand recognises it for what it is and can't understand why my sister doesn't see it too.

I am immensely proud of DD and she is growing up to be a wise and compassionate young woman. How do I help her to direct her passion in a positive way? I totally understand her frustration, I feel it too, as we all do. I was even going to post about how frustrated I feel the other day. I think I'm getting feminism burn out or something. Sad In some ways it feels futile to care so much and to see sexism all around and feel like nothing's changing or that it's getting worse not better. I want DD to believe that she can make a difference. She is a very eloquent writer, so I have been encouraging her to write down her thoughts, or to write articles. What else can I do?

OP posts:
AKnickerfulOfMenace · 16/02/2015 12:59

Malala was 11 when she started her blog and what? 15? When she was shot.

Of course a 13 year old can have an opinion on feminism.

ChunkyPickle · 16/02/2015 12:13

13 year old girl has no experience of the patriarchy!

My 4 year old boy is already affected! Saying that daddy was going to work with all the other Daddies, and worriedly whispering in my ear 'these aren't girls trainers are they mummy' as though that might be a bad thing when choosing a pair of silver trainers (yes, from the section labeled girls, but he wanted them, and didn't want any of the boring black/blue/green ones from the section labelled boys).

Hell, I'd say that the teenage years is a time when the patriarchy is acutely felt, as the kids feel out their expected roles, and figure out what they want to do with their lives!

No-one's asking you to listen to her, or praise her, her mother is asking for help supporting her, that's all.

LaurieFairyCake · 16/02/2015 12:13

What a load of shit.

If a young teenager can understand trigonometry and coastal erosion they can bloody well formulate an argument about feminism !

It may not be massively well nuanced or reasoned, it may not read PhD standard - but it's still a bloody good start.

And the vast majority of folk in the street know fuck all about feminism so she's got a better start than most.

You go girl

BuffytheThunderLizard · 16/02/2015 12:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RedHairDontCare · 16/02/2015 12:00

I think its amazing that a 13 yr old is interested in these issues and that you are encouraging her, I wish my mum had opened my eyes to everything earlier, I was basically an adult once I had started to learn.

In terms of her feeling angry, I had a couple of years of anxiety and panic attacks that I'm still dealing with now, and I am certain that a lot of that was due to feeling so pissed off and angry. I have got much better with dealing with it and I think doing lots and lots of reading about the issues, and being on facebook groups about feminism etc has made me feel less alone, and I feel like I have back up now.

purdeybirdie · 16/02/2015 11:52

If a 13 year-old attempted to regale me with the nuances of sex - particularly BDSM - I would politely ask her to run along. What does a thirteen year-old know of sex; of politics; of feminism? She is quite probably miles ahead of her male peers at school (well done feminism) and knows absolutely nothing about oppression by the patriarchy. How can you engage in discourse about something of which you have no experience? Any child can understand the stuff mummy shouts about at home and then nod when she says in Waitrose: 'See, darling? See how all the cashiers are women?'

I despair at these mothers who spout their feminist claptrap at their kids and then tell the rest of us we should sit up and listen because, you know...'she's so wise; so compassionate.'

scallopsrgreat · 16/02/2015 10:41

Really a 13yr old can't recognise a lack of consent when she sees it? That's incredibly dismissive and quite frankly an invalid comment purdeybirdie. Toddlers can recognise when their consent to touch their bodies has been violated, so a 13yr old will certainly be able to.

So if you asked a 13yr old whether someone had sexually assaulted them, it doesn't matter what they say because their opinions are invalid? That way lies a very dangerous road to men being able to rape and sexually assault girls with impunity... oh wait.

BuffytheThunderLizard · 16/02/2015 10:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nooka · 16/02/2015 06:34

Why wouldn't a 13 year old have a view on a book that romanticizes an abusive relationship? My 14 year old certainly has a view on 50SOG and I'm fairly sure she had a view on it last year too, possibly the year before that too (can't remember when the books were published and all the marketing started up).

Her view has become more sophisticated as she has got older but it's not invalid just because she is young. She's had a fair bit of teaching at school about consent, understands about power imbalances and both as an ex-Twilight reader and a reader of fan fic in general is in I think quite a good position to have an opinion. As I am sure the OP's dd is too.

purdeybirdie · 16/02/2015 06:27

A 13 yr old knows nothing about relationships or BDSM. Why do you think she has anything valid to say about these subjects?

PetulaGordino · 16/02/2015 06:11

I know exactly how you and she feel. I don't have any particularly practical advice right now, but she might find this cartoon pertinent if she hasn't seen it before

Teen DD angry about sexism