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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Valentine's Day is simply a commercial celebration of heteropatriarchy

33 replies

crunchymint · 14/02/2018 19:16

Heteropatriarchy means everything that promotes the idea that we should be in monogamous opposite sex relationships. So our culture that promotes this as the ideal way to live, and practical issues such as available housing and legal protection in the form of marriage, that make this the easiest choice.
Valentine's Day celebrates this through commercialisation that urges you to spend lots of money, to show that you really do love that person of the opposite sex you are in a monogamous relationship with.

OP posts:
Camomila · 14/02/2018 19:26

Plus it's not compulsary to do even if you are in a heterosexual relationship (DH and I aren't doing it this year because it's Ash Wednesday and we thought it'd be odd when we are meant to be sad - Catholic!)

Branleuse · 14/02/2018 19:24

i just think its a day to send your loved one/s a card and go out for dinner or something. Im pretty sure many gay swingers celebrate it too

ScouseQueen · 14/02/2018 19:23

In general yes. But in small ways there are some positive changes. Last year I remember I was listening to local radio and noticed how same sex couples were now part of the phone in bits where listeners were talking about their Valentine's Day plans. One all-female couple were talking about having a steak dinner together. Just small things like that can shift perceptions about coupledom.

MincemeatTart · 14/02/2018 19:23

It’s a Christian celebration. St Valentine’s Day.
Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.

Jaxtellerswife · 14/02/2018 19:23

Shake, I never normally bother but I was nice this year and treated him.

shakeyourcaboose · 14/02/2018 19:22

DH of 14 years didn't get me a card jax 😭😭 though I didn't get him one either!

shakeyourcaboose · 14/02/2018 19:20

Not really, my friends/family in same sex relationships are celebrating valentines day, where have you come across the idea it's for hetero couples only?

Jaxtellerswife · 14/02/2018 19:20

Didn't get a card eh? Wink