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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

How does this place view single and celibate women

106 replies

IsThereAnEchoInHere · 06/07/2023 09:01

I was reading the comments on other thread (I have a point, so not a TAAT) about the asexual person.
And I’ve also been lurking on Ovarit (I can’t register there) and they also have, just like comments here about asexuality, very disparaging things to say.

So I was wondering does that extent to women who do not have sex? Maybe ever, even once?
Or is the problem just that you don’t like people calling themselves or being asexuals?

And once I’m here.
There’s been lot of talking about virginity being a social construct and shouldn’t matter, but IRL a self-proclaimed feminist (and happens in other situations too) bullied a person who was a virgin. Why was that seen as an okey thing to do?

OP posts:
Imnobody4 · 06/07/2023 09:57

There is zero animosity to asexual people on here or society in general. The issue is around militant asexuals who are claiming the mantle of oppression.

ErrolTheDragon · 06/07/2023 09:51

IRL a self-proclaimed feminist (and happens in other situations too) bullied a person who was a virgin. Why was that seen as an okey thing to do?

It doesn't remotely sound like an okay thing to do. Bullying in general obviously isn't, bullying someone for being a virgin sounds frankly weird.

LonginesPrime · 06/07/2023 09:48

"This place" doesn't have a view to which participants must subscribe to join the conversation, as evidenced by the fact there are discussions and debates over many topics.

Threads wouldn't get so rowdy if everyone on here thought the same things, and that's a good thing, as it's important to be challenged and to stress-test one's own position and engage with others so that they can do the same.

Some people here will have a strong view on a subject and some people couldn't care less, so it's worth remembering that even if a few posters are vehemently against your position, that's not the MN view or the FWR view, and it's not necessarily even the standard radical feminism or liberal feminism view (even if they're convinced it is).

Sure, a poster can say "you can't be x if you think or do y", but their saying it doesn't make them correct, and it would be a shame to walk away from all the incredibly useful and valuable bits of MN FWR because you've mistaken a few vocal posters (including the ones who respond on this thread) as being the arbiters of the FWR/feminist/GC view and have concluded that you don't belong.

Personally I find it's often helpful to debate the differences between different notions of feminism, and to drill down to exactly why people believe that x view isn't compatible with a gender critical position, and so on. I've learned a great deal over the years from others on MN FWR, and also about what I really think on many issues, through the process of having my views challenged and defending and/or modifying my position, which has been incredibly valuable to me personally.

We're all just anonymous people without any collective agreement on anything, so please don't place too much weight on what any one poster (or random person criticising people elsewhere) says, and remember that they don't speak for everyone here, whether "here" means FWR, radical feminism, liberal feminism, gender critical people or whatever.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 06/07/2023 09:46

This place is not a hive mind. Most of us will at some stage of our lives have been celibate / single etc at some stage in our lives.
What there is I think is a weariness at the incessant self absorbed labelling of every passing phase / feeling that the rest of us are meant to acknowledge.
Live your life, be happy, look for support when facing the multitude of challenges (bereavement, mental health, serious illness etc) that life throws our way.

Having said that, there's a fascinating book by the excellent Sheila Jeffreys "The Spinster and Her Enemies: Feminism and Sexuality, 1880-1930"

It's an interesting read.

turbonerd · 06/07/2023 09:39

On the thread you mentioned people were pointing out that screaming loudly that you are asexual whilst posting photos of yourself in highly sexualised BDSM bondage gear is inconsistent, at the very least.

Not YOU you, but the woman that some guy had pointed out did this.

Just be asexual. Wont get much grief from me.
Out of curiosity, what is the problem of being asexual? Is there one?

Meceme · 06/07/2023 09:08

Most people dont care whether you sleep with men, women, both, neither. Its not the most interesting thing about you, unless your identity is defined by your sexuality or asexuality and you yourself make it an issue.
Generally whats important is: are you interested in the topic being discussed and do you have interesting/insightful ideas to add.