Does anyone feel the need to reclaim femnism.....?

I worry that action on the unequal impact of austerity on women and girls is being lost in the so-called TERF wars. But then, if we lose the definition of woman, we won't even be able to calculate it, let alone do anything about it.

Much as it may irritate some people on this thread, my feminism is male - not trans - exclusionary and I genuinely can't see the point of any faction of feminism that includes males. Want to stand up for GNC people? Good for you. But call it something else.

In the end, feminism is a mechanism by which women discuss the inequality they face. Women are bound to have different priorities within that and different opinions about how to combat those priorities. I don't really think any of us can "reclaim" feminism from each other.

I'm an old school leftist with a class analysis based in material reality. So my feminism is never going to be of the choice/individual empowerment/identity-uber-alles kind. That, to me, is just pernicious neoliberalism by another name.

"A handmaiden is a woman who collides with and defends misogyny."

Colludes how?
According to whom?
Against what 'standard'?

You making an argument and not providing anything more than vague references.

By what right do you justify the use of the term? You must have something more than 'because I said so'?

BattleCuntGalactica
Less than human? How do you reach that conclusion?

Is her sexuality relevant to the name calling?

Yes I'd mostly like to reclaim it from trans exclusionary and sexwork exclusionary radical feminists. I mean, I'm less than human to them so their 'feminism' is bullshit.

I think we are talking at cross purposes. there was a well known case recently when a woman was called ''a piece of shit'' by someone who disagreed with her.
That example has nothing to do with your daughter.

I have no idea why your daughter is being called a handmaiden; no one here can possibly tell you. We dont know her or the people calling her that.

"If women behave like handmaidens why should they not be called out on it? It’s a gendered insult because it’s gendered behaviour. Being a feminist does not mean agreeing with all other women." (This was your response to me.)

So again, I ask you - exactly what 'behaviour' do you think my daughter would be being called out on, exactly?

Are you?

When I said that my DD who is bi gets this world slung at her a lot - you immediately went to "Calling a woman ''a piece of shit'' for wanting to discuss the GRA would be the example that comes to mind."

Because I said my daughter had been called a handmaiden, you made that assumption.

Neither my faith, or my daughter, is what is at question here.

ALunerExplorer

You asked for an example of when it would be acceptable to use the term 'handmaiden', and I said Imo, when someone who claims to be a feminist calls another woman 'a piece of shit'.

You've jumped from there to parents supporting people abusing your daughter.
Are you arguing in good faith?

Well, no because you haven't quantified exactly what 'behaviour' you are referring to.

What 'behaviour' does my daughter display, to justify labelling her in that way?

@ALunerExplorer why is your DD being called a handmaiden? Simply for being bi?

Oh well, then lets all sling around some unpleasant names at each other, because that will certainly make everything better.

Excuse me if I feel a little confused, and point out that as a parent I have just stated that my daughter gets gendered insults thrown at her because of her sexuality, and (what I assume are other parents) are actually justifying that?

And to think I thought, as a middle aged disabled woman with a bit of spare time on her hands, I might find a little space for sisterly conversation.

It would seem, however, that would not be the case. I wouldn't go so far as to say I was disappointed - but I shall learn my lesson, and move on I think.

My stay was brief, but if bullying is okay in some peoples books around here, I really don't want to know.

I don't feel like that currently. For me, the idea that the very definition of 'woman' is at stake is an overriding concern. Without a clear definition of 'woman' it will be even more difficult to work towards women's rights and protections in other areas.

At this point I'll take support almost wherever it comes re. sex definitions. Even from people with whom I profoundly disagree on other topics.

Calling a woman ''a piece of shit'' for wanting to discuss the GRA would be the example that comes to mind.

"If women behave like handmaidens why should they not be called out on it?"

What behaviour?

I'll just pipe up here to note that using gendered insults ('handmaidens'? really?) to describe a group of other women whose views you don't agree with, doesn't really serve any good purpose does it?

My DD is bi - she hears this a lot and I know how this grates on her.

I think feminism is being reclaimed - from the antifeminists and handmaidens.

Recently on MN I am delighted to see actual sense being talked rather than the emotive self-negating bollocks that has blighted feminism for so long ie -

"Feminist women need to bend over backwards so hard to be inclusive, we exclude ourselves from the fight for women's rights and exclude women's rights from feminism."
Or
"Feminism should be fighting for women to have the agency and choice to promote and perpetuate the patriarchal oppression of women as a class"
Or
"Feminism is about reclaiming patriarchal oppression and the insults associated with it as an act of resistance and empowerment"

Etc etc.... i've found recent discussions a bit of a breather.

However it does seem timely to utilise this moment of good sense and valuing women to re-center women's actual issues again.

Yes I do. This board is awash with trans issues. It is almost impossible to discuss anything else