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Original poster

Motherhood, footbinding, and privilege

63 replies

AbortionFairyGodmother · 15/05/2015 02:08

I've been hearing a lot of feminists on Facebook and elsewhere talk about the notion that mothers (because they are viewed as "complete" women and are seen as more socially acceptable than non-mothers) are a privileged class. I wrote this blog entry on the topic, but am curious to hear your thoughts. Have you seen these accusations of "mommy privilege" or "non-mother privilege," and where have they come from in your experience? Is this yet another case of men using groups of women to divide and conquer, or is there another explanation in your view?

OP posts:
BuffyNeverBreaks · 15/05/2015 10:34

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TheBlackRider · 15/05/2015 10:32

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HapShawl · 15/05/2015 10:07

i haven't seen any of the discussions about privileges and motherhood vs non-motherhood, but i thought your blog post was excellent, thanks for highlighting it

YonicScrewdriver · 15/05/2015 09:01

Anyone who cleans 24/7 gets a grip handed to them on here, I'd say Grin

YonicScrewdriver · 15/05/2015 09:00

And you know, I think, that I'm not a SAHM, if that's what you meant by your post?

cailindana · 15/05/2015 09:00

Lotus read the article pet.

YonicScrewdriver · 15/05/2015 08:59

Lotus, the article isn't about that! Did you read it???

LotusLight · 15/05/2015 08:58

Each to their own but for most people cleaning and childcare 24/7 is not the best balanced life. Suggesting staying home is some kind of wonderful prize for women is just pulling the wool over eyes. |if it's such fun cleaning the loo and changing 20 nappies a day let men do it.

cailindana · 15/05/2015 08:55

Very interesting piece and I agree. I like that analogy with footbinding I think it gets the point across well.

YonicScrewdriver · 15/05/2015 07:45

I liked this AFG:

"I implore my feminist friends: Stop fighting for scraps when the whole table stands above you. Stop wielding privilege rhetoric against other women without asking the question: where is the oppression coming from, and who decided that your group of women should be treated in the way that they are? You’ll be surprised how rarely the answer to these questions is actually “other women in that other group.”

If the answer is “men,” don’t we have better things we could be doing?"

YonicScrewdriver · 15/05/2015 07:45

Lotus, I know you've spoken with affection or at least respect about your nanny before. I reckon she'd be hurt if she read that poor sucker comment.

Incidentally, the blog piece isn't about WOHM/SAHM - though its conclusions are relevant to that debate too.

LotusLight · 15/05/2015 07:40

Earned 10x my husband and got some other poor sucker to do dull domestic toil - wonderful. I recommend it to all women.

YonicScrewdriver · 15/05/2015 07:36

I will post something before I read your blog. I don't see mummies as privileged economically, for sure. I haven't seen any accusations if privilege flying between the two groups - WOHM and SAHM occasionally, I guess.