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Original poster

Has anyone else just discovered that they are a RadFem?

212 replies

loveyouradvice · 09/05/2018 15:17

I'd always thought of myself as a liberal feminist... yup, feminist to the core and ready to fight for women and girls where appropriate but not that knowledgeable - and happy to enjoy the fun of being a women (summer dresses, sexy flirting, beautiful bodies) while acknowledging the horrors (FGM, rape, systemic inequality)....

But who knew it.... It just takes the words Transwomen are men ... so very obvious to me on so many levels.... to turn me into a RadFem....

And I've moved from being happy to encounter the occasional Transwomen in the Ladies (in well-populated, chatty scenarios like clubs) ... treating us with respect and being treated with respect... to not wanting a Penis in any sex-segregated arena...to feel threatened by the incursion of men on "our" spaces....

to sleeping badly and wondering what kind of world we are developing for our DC where playing with the boundaries of gender stereotypes (like Boy George) is less acceptable and the blue/pink divide has become so much more entrenched and the almost automatic reaction to any gender dissatisfaction in the young is to explore whether they are trans, rather than their just questioning and exploring society and their role within it....

OP posts:
Amalfimamma · 09/05/2018 16:46

I didn't know I was a feminist never mind a radfem until I came in here, got educated while lurking and had my #peaktrans

Opheliah · 09/05/2018 16:46

It's a revelation isn't it. But not recently for me. It was year 2011.

LeaningtotheJackofHearts · 09/05/2018 16:45

Yes - about five years ago - when I first heard about the transgender debate (on here); also when I first understood the overwhelming grip of patriarchy (I think?).

I grew up with educational privilege, and as a young woman, felt I could do anything a man could. I would have considered myself a liberal feminist. It took until I was in my 30s to understand how our power or potential is curtailed.

Baroquehavoc · 09/05/2018 16:42

Whenever I do one of those stupid online 'what type of feminist are you' questionnaires, I always come out as part liberal, part radical and a bit conservative (probably because I'm not in favour of prostitution)

I know that I enjoy watching radical feminist speak and agree far more with what they say than liberal feminists. I love how they center women and girls, which isn't something that liberals always do.

OnTheList · 09/05/2018 16:35

I didn't know I was a radfem until I was called a TERF. I then looked into radical feminism, and yes, my views align, on the whole.

SpareRibFem · 09/05/2018 16:33

I still don't understand what a radical feminist is exactly. But a couple of months ago I came here (somewhat in confusion) after seeing tweets about women having a penis Confused and discovered that not believing that statement made me a radical feminist. Until a few months ago I had no idea that anyone even said women have penis's let alone that we were supposed to pretend to believe it

iamawoman · 09/05/2018 16:31

The more i read about liberal feminism the more i think it is a type if feminism that only works if you are a cossetted middle class / privileged female. I mean really sex work (exploitation) is a choice and one we would want out daughters to make and be be happy to share with friends and family? I havent actively chosen to be radfem but it fits closest to what i feel feminisms stance should be

UpstartCrow · 09/05/2018 16:24

Lierre Kieth gives a great explanation about the difference between liberal and radical thinking from 3:08

Lierre Keith & Samantha Grey on Sexuality Power and Pornography
www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=NBzJgJh6bzo

Greymisty · 09/05/2018 16:24

Sort of same...exception im cautious of labellig myself as a feminist because feminst are very clear they are for females and not about hating men.....where as I do actually hate many, many men...so I don't want to be running about with "this is what a GC or lib fem looks like" t shirt because I'm such an awful, terrible, example!

(Just btw I do nothing with my hate of many, many men, most have no idea because im a perfectly pleasent person with a handle on things Grin)

Ereshkigal · 09/05/2018 16:21

About 4 years ago when the trans issue started ramping up in a more mainstream way.

DJLippy · 09/05/2018 16:16

Same.

Always felt there was something missing from feminism - that lack of value for women's maternal role. It's great if you want to be a Dr but until we value the role of raising a family women will never be equal.

Also, reading the Female Eunuch again and it's still so relevant - so current - more than ever.

Ekphrasis · 09/05/2018 15:20

Yes about 2 months ago.