Can you be for gender equality but not a feminist?

Lass, you seem to be arguing that there are no longer any equality issues that are specific to women. In that case feminism is indeed an obsolete relic from history. (Wow! No vote to complete equality in less than a century - we got that sorted out fast!!!)

However, that isn't really the point.
Plenty of people think that women do not yet have equality, and they call themselves feminists, because when you are advocating for a particular group it is so much easier if you have a simple word that explains who that group is.

Similarly, it's much easier if somebody campaigning for gay rights or disability rights doesn't have to pussy foot around mentioning the group that is suffering discrimination.

"Either feminism is about equality, or it is a women's movement, can't have it both ways."

That's a bit like arguing that you can't support the protection of endangered species in general if you are particularly involved in polar bear conservation.

Feminism is just a useful word that describes advocacy of equal rights and opportunities for women.

You do realise that just because something doesn't apply to you, it doesn't mean other women haven't experienced it?

Streep (obviously)

It could have been an interesting topic. I am not a feminist. Meryl Street recently said she wasn't. (Interestingly this was at the time the vacuous Carey Mulligan declared she was)

I am pro-choice; I am against the legalisation of prostitution; porn and "sex work" are not jobs like any other; of course I am in favour of equal opportunities and equal pay; rape jokes are not funny (nor were the appalling "Your Mum" jokes on a recent AIBU, nor for that matter is Cards Against Humanity); nobody ever brought a rape on herself; I kept my name; but do I have to go around calling myself a feminist because of that? Are my views worth less because I don't pre-fix them with "as a feminist"?

What puts me off is all the other baggage.

I really can't be bothered being permanently on the look out for something to be offended by. (Omg someone called me a lady or a lass, or someone told they liked what I'm wearing)

I am irritated by posts making excuses for appalling behaviour by women, because poor thing, she's a victim too.

I'm so fed up of posters saying that they despair because their daughters want to wear girly things (there was one just a few days ago)

I can't take posts seriously which say things like women aren't seen as human; or that girls are discouraged from doing maths (goodness knows where you went to school, certainly wasn't a Scottish comprehensive. Mine was so desperate to improve its pass rate every one who had the slightest hope was encouraged to)

I can't be bothered by threads complaining about "wife-work". Don't do it then. You all seem bright enough and know your own minds.

Or other givens such as how women aren't taken seriously in the work place or their ideas aren't listened to. Bears no resemblance to any office I've worked in.

So yes to answer the original question I think it is possible to be in favour of equality and not be a feminist.

This thread was depressing me but you awesome women won, so feminist all round

The Woman you Failed to italicize. Shame on You.

Only if there is Stray Underlining and "Random" Quotation Marks!

There is a Rash of People writing like Jane Austen at the Moment. Lots of Random Capital letters. Does that go hand in hand with Views about Feminism?

"Either feminism is about equality, or it is a women's movement, can't have it both ways."

Yes I can- it's about equality for women.

I hate wimmim.
Izzall.

Also, interestingly, for someone who says they aren't and MRE, but unbiased, you do like to push the usual MRE lies...

just saying, like.

Calla, they do it a lot, bless them.

Tanith, sweetpea, you sound like you're getting a little het up. Maybe a nice lay down would do you some good.

For someone who says they don't like the aggressive MRE movement, you sure do sound like one.

Probably best you don't become a feminist. It would probably just make you even crosser. Poor thing.

By your thinking Tanith, you could say you were a feminist, but then you'd have to list all the other groups you supported - just incase people were under the impression that you were an animal hating racist man hating feminist intent on world domination.

On the other hand it's more straightforward to say 'feminist' when you are discussing feminist issues.

However, if you really don't think there are any equality issues that are specific to women, you aren't a feminist anyway, so problem solved.

I think it was only me who pointed out that men made that law and it isn't a women's issue to sort, so I'm not sure how that makes us a hive mind. I think what you've witnessed here is a group of people disagreeing that women should be forced to carry unwanted pregnancies and the recognition of the pay gap but, OK. You do you.

Why has an American come onto a British parenting website, expecting the posters on the feminism boards here (most of whom are British) to know everything about how the American legal system apparently disadvantages men?

" I have decided not to be a feminist "

That's nice.

Thanks for your manly insight into what women are doing wrong. It's very helpful to have man tell women how best we should experience life. We might have been doing it wrong. I mean we are only women.

Thanks for your insights OP, it was nice almost knowing you. Don't let the door hit you on your way out!

bbpp - yes it was a Stott & May survey 2015 but I cant quite pick out the number I am looking for. It showed salaries of accountants straight after they qualified and the 20% gap was immediately apparent.

I know having worked in an accounting firm (as a management consultant) it was very apparent women got paid less and promoted more slowly.

There is no doubt at all the gender pay gap exists and since the financial crisis has got wider. Women have taken the brunt of the redundancy and pay cuts - not quite 'we are all in this together'. Indeed I actually think that Govt has by nudge and wink encouraged and allowed the gender pay gap to widen.

Yes Bombardier, we did, it was part of National Service, the difference being that all men had to serve a certain amount of time in one of the arms of the military, unless they were conscientious objectors or unfit.

Again, this hasn't been done in more than 40 years.