Why are feminists so aggressive?

I have never cringed at Greer. She's a maverick and totally her own person. I don't agree with all she does, but then, I don't agree with everyone on this forum. However, I think she wears the variables. (Goodness, women have views like men, gasp).

Mind you if she came out in favour of Brexit and Donald Trump, I'd change my view pdq.

Well I can't 'ask Greer' can I? But thanks for that helpful comment . I'm interested to hear if other feminists cringed at her making such crass comments on TV

Feminists have been cringing at Greer for decades now. :)

I made a post of statements from this thread alone that reverberated with sarcastic contempt....

As for Greer ... I happen to agree with her over the trans issue BUT she has always been known for being, for want of a better expression, a bit of a GF. Back in the olden days there is no way she would have been seen as a radical feminist. In fact, she was often seen as ecclectic and a maverick who defied all categorisation (for better or for worse). She often says absolutely outrageous things. Maybe she wants to provoke discussion and debate or maybe she simply seeks publicity. But, whatever whay you look at it, she doe snot speak of all feminists.

whoputthecatout and Elendon

I agree with both your posts.

I acquired late onset feminism. I had clearly been suffering the symptoms for years, but hadn't diagnosed the disease.

It's quite true, once the goggles are off, they're off. Dots everywhere get connected in a big rush.

It's like suddenly looking through the matrix. Unavoidable.

And for those of us who have been feminists since we were knee high to a grasshopper, societal pressures, inequalities, unfairness etc. is so blindingly obvious that we (I, for one certainly) cannot even begin to understand how others fail to see it. I'm sure this exasperation leads to some of the so-called "aggression" FWR is accused of - a sort 'how on earth can you not see what is going on?' moment FFS.

To give an analogy: supposing you were waiting to cross the road with a friend and there is a car coming as your friend starts to step out. You say 'mind the car' and the friend says 'what car?'

I sometimes think that feminism takes a long time to sink in. More than many other issues.

I agree.

And it can be an assault on your being when the rose tinted glasses begin to fall. It's a horrid reality that you have to face. Some replace the tint with full on black out, others go with variables, many know the lens can never be replaced.

BertrandRussell

It's probably a lot to do with a certain minimum level of knowledge, that tends to occur on these boards.

Feminism and equality, including raising children is something that almost every parent has an opinion about. Naturally.

So if something comes up on here, and they give their opinion, they might get a lot of individual posters disagreeing, purely because of their wider knowledge. It's not patronising, or elitist, just factual.

But there is a peculiar touchpaper that gets lit when discussing feminism. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, people still get very entrenched in their views. Because that is what their life looks like. Which is the point of feminism, ironically.

Just look at the shaving threads.

People insist, because of what their life looks like, that it's a personal issue. Feminism says it isn't. They maintain it is...which proves the point of feminism.

I sometimes think that feminism takes a long time to sink in. More than many other issues.

I think that there's a difference between anger and aggression.
You can be both calm and angry.
You get more done that way.

I've just read a thread on AIBU full of posters telling eachother they're pathetic, disgusting, making personal remarks about their parenting skills and generally getting enraged with one another.

And it's all very personal.

People on here do get angry, and very occasionally make personal remarks. But it's certainly not confined to here, and from what I can tell, it's really not as bad.

Me too sparrow. Its fucking annoying. In my case apparently it was my body language that was causing the problem.....

Can I just say here we used to get told to read some books and then come back. That doesn't happen much any more which is a good thing.

I lurk like mad on here, its great to have oneself challenged even if the challenger doesn't know they're challenging folk. And that's a good thing, too.

All in all, no not aggressive.

I still feel a bit stupid sometimes but that's no bad thing!

As you were.

I've been in situations where a man was literally screaming and shouting and yet I was the one considered to have inflamed the situation, even though I was speaking completely calmly. Women are expected to smile, smooth things over, being super nice and kind all the time. IME any time that I've simply stood my ground and haven't fawned over a man's brilliance I've been perceived as angry, humourless, aggressive, uncooperative etc etc. Of course men throwing cups, having a complete tantrum are just expressing themselves.

The problem is, pear, that a woman who calmly states that she's not happy with something (or even a woman who just 'doesn't take a joke', ie roll over and be disrespected) is often perceived as 'angry' and the 'angry' accusation is used as a way to dismiss her as over-emotional, aggressive, abrasive etc etc.

My point is very very simple

If you are angry, you acknowledge you are angry, do not be surprised that others acknowledge it too.

You can't be angry, even enraged, and simultaneously be perplexed as to why anyone would ever perceive this, and find it aggressive or intimidating. It's illogical.

Now if the actual problem is, you do not like being perceived as angry or aggressive. There is little you can do about this.

It's either, you are angry, and feel you have just cause to be, and so your attitude is. "damn right I'm angry, and I make no apologies for it." While understanding people will perceive your anger, and may find it intimidating and aggressive. And so be it. Learn not to care.

Or you are angry, feel you have just cause to be, but still don't want to be viewed as such.
If this is the case, the only way to be viewed differently is to portray yourself differently. Decide how you would like to be viewed, and work at how you can portray this when communicating.
This doesn't just apply to feminism, but anyone, in any area of life, where public perception is your concern. including fighting for human rights.