Some young women have no idea of the battles we fought?

I'm 31. Working as an IDVA in my early 20s opened my eyes. Alot of my peers don't get it but I don't blame them. The culture we all grew up in (90s ladettes, late stage neoliberalism, social media) is communist China levels of brainwashing

I think motherhood can be radicalising for many women but it's not the whole picture. There are many mothers who have gone all in for TWAW and arguably it's mostly mothers who are the driving force behind trans kids and drag kids.

I think it must be a variety of factors that lead some women to have their awareness raised and for others to never get there. Sadly 'getting it' is often preceded by a traumatic experience or period in ones life when the stark reality of being female hits home. In other cases it might be professionally related - certain careers are more likely to open eyes to sex based inequality.

Women aren't a hive mind and overall that's a good thing but I also think there is some truth to the idea that acknowledging the depth of world wide misogyny is like opening Pandora's Box. It's painful and many women just don't want to look.

There's the #ThankABoomer hashtag on Twitter, but I think there was one woman who collected feminist things together in one thread.

I come across many young people who expect me to be racist, homophobic etc. as I am over 50 (just), whereas I was actually a feminist, lesbian, going to demos, standing on picket lines etc. before they were born.

The day I actually realised that I'd been groomed and sexually abused. That I wasn't the "real woman" at 13 my abuser convinced me I was.

Seeing first-hand the lengths some men go to to get their sexual and power kicks.

You can explain the evils to some younger people but in general, it all boils down to experience. Either having it or gaining it with age.

It's good to see young women on here realising they have a hell of a battle on their hands - I hope for us all they don't give up.

I get depressed when I think that younger women have an even harder time than women my age had. I don't think all men are bad but those who are have evolved to fight dirtier these days.

I don't have children myself, but it's seeing all my friends and family having kids that has opened my eyes to the fact that we still have such a long way to go before we can call ourselves equal to men.

My lovely husband, for instance, was dead keen to have children. No problem, I said. I will do that for you, but I do not want to be a mum or a working parent so you will be at home with said child whilst I go out to work; suddenly, it was not so important to him.....

But the strongest, most intelligent women I know are completely tethered to their roles as mothers whilst their partners lives continue pretty much as before? Men happily shrug off these responsibilities because they know any mother will pick up the pieces rather then let their kids suffer.

Unless this changes, we will never be equal.

I was always aware of the sexism and how very unfair life was and privately railed against the injustice, but was socialised not to actually question it. Mumsnet has been unbelievably liberating for me.

My DH has learnt to duck

It took dv for me to see it.

I have a slightly different perspective on this, which has actually really helped me. I try to change my thinking to 'brilliant, they haven't seen it, they only see the benefits, they only see the rights and this is what we fought for and are still fighting for' This is what we fought for, that they wouldn't need to fight.

And I remember the Dworkin quote about not being able to unsee it once you see it, and I try to be thankful that they've had a whole other day when they didn't see it.

And then I let my inner cynic in for a couple of seconds and remind myself that they will see it one day.

I find that helps me focus on the battle, rather than the lack of foot soldiers beside me. I'm aware this sounds as Pollyanna as fuck, but like I say, it helps my mental health. Also I'm probably very lucky in that I know a lot of young feminists who are really brilliant young women, apart from the kool aid drinking.

Koalaing it's relevant because many women, me included, recognised sexism etc when younger but didn't really really think about feminism until we'd had kids. Not that childless women can't be feminists, but that for some of us it's a trigger to think harder.

How is it relevant that your DIL doesn't have children?

Women don't need to give birth to be able to engage their brains, or to read or study history books, or to be victims and observers of sexism or misogyny.

I think for me it was realising that not everyone is the same. And that I didnt necessarily want the things I had thought I wanted when I was in my teens. I didnt want that "traditional" male version of success and i realised that not all women wanted to or could be like men.

I’m 23 and like PP I’ve grown up sitting around the table in the evenings debating history, future and today’s issues and various other topics.

We’re a family of strong opinions. I do my research and therefore my opinion is always hard to sway.

I’ve also just had my DD, shes 7 weeks old and I already know I want to raise her how I was raised. Strong willed, good work ethic and educated. I want to one day include her in the debates around the table. I want her to learn about the past. Who fought for what and why. Because the ‘why’ is the most important part.

Wasn’t there a great twitter hashtag/feed celebrating what older women achieved? If someone could provide a link?

I think age opened my eyes to the oppression I have faced.
Young women today have a whole new set of battles to fight.

Yup.

Are young women not out and about as much as we were? I’m 70s-born. At 15 I was out clubbing up town, pissed. I imagine this would trigger a visit from Social Services now. I’ve always been aware of the sexual threat from men because I’ve experienced it many times thus I had no problem understanding the need for privacy etc

I also grew up debating around the kitchen table. There is a lack of critical thinking these days. Do people talk less as they’re on their phones?

What pushed me into full on witch mode was having a kid, though

Babies.
Immensely satisfying and frustrating at the time.

Becoming a mother.

I thought feminism had achieved its aims and was all over with. It was having a baby of my own that opened my eyes. (30s, so not exactly “young”).