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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

The 'this is what a feminist looks like' tshirt?

88 replies

jenny60 · 19/05/2010 10:45

Have one of these and am a member of the Fawcett Society but feel a little odd wearing it. Very happy to be seen as a feminist - it's no secret . But slightly worried that it looks as though I'm saying either 'look at me: I'm normal looking, I don't wear dungarees, have short hair, cliche, stereotype etc...' or 'Aren't I gorgeous. Bet you dodn't know feminists could be gorgeous?'.
Anyone else got one? What do yout think?

OP posts:
Original poster
jenny60 · 20/05/2010 11:04

Well, I wore my 'this is what a feminist...' to the PTA last night: 2 women asked where they could get one. I'm thinking that if the three of us wear them to the summer fair, that would be cool, especially as we all look quite different. Maybe at the cake stall ... Am a big fan of slogan tshirts, but kind of usually in private as I hate the idea of being a 'look at me' person. Apart from the obvious million other reasons not to have a conventional wedding, I cannot and never could understand why anyone would want all that attention, walking up an isle, in a church, in a huge white dress

OP posts:
sethstarkaddersmum · 20/05/2010 09:49

I think 'feminists have better sex' is a fab slogan though obviously not everyone would be comfortable wearing it! And it's another that is not good for the school run.
In the current climate (pornification, sex as performance etc) it seems to me to be more powerful than ever.

Prolesworth · 20/05/2010 09:30

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StewieGriffinsMom · 20/05/2010 08:30

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DorotheaPlenticlew · 20/05/2010 08:26

SGM, can't you license your slogan to SGB and make both your fortunes with badges etc? Or make 'em yourself if SGB is too busy?

Ewe · 20/05/2010 08:03

I have the "This is what a feminist looks like" t-shirt, mainly wear it at uni and out to the pub afterwards. I see the point about it focusing on looks but I still think it makes a good point.

I get far fewer men approaching me on the walk to the tube and journey home which can only be a good thing!

Love love love the 'My Marxist Feminist Dialectic brings all the boys to the yard" - I want to buy it!

InvaderZim · 20/05/2010 07:16

I like this shirt best when men are wearing it!

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 20/05/2010 07:06

'My Marxist Feminist Dialectic brings all the boys to the yard"

Oh man I really want this too.

StewieGriffinsMom · 20/05/2010 07:02

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TerritorialMosquito · 19/05/2010 23:56

I've got one. The power is sort of lost in individual circumstance, but I have a picture in my mind of hundreds of different shaped and sized/ coloured men and women wearing them... that's the point I think? You can be a feminist whether you are a man or woman, or whatever you look like... That's how I think about it anyway.

No-one has ever asked me any difficult questions, though. Maybe they are all avoiding me!

SolidGoldBrass · 19/05/2010 23:49

PPP (great name BTW how are the ballet shoes?) I understand that not everyone will like my slogan but I think (and hope) that it will give people a moment's thought. It;s not 'Feminists are better in bed' it's 'Feminists have better sex'

Ie (well this is what I think )- Feminism means not having sex you don't want and not putting up with crap sex just to keep a man but acknowledging that sex is important and there is no need to be ashamed of enjoying it.

Oh and other BTW at the moment I am just doing it on badges and keyrings.
Er, so to speak.

Prolesworth · 19/05/2010 22:15

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PosyPetrovaPauline · 19/05/2010 22:09

feminists have better sex is way too smutty
defeats the object
agree about the neckline i will be at mine with scissors

Original poster
jenny60 · 19/05/2010 21:41

But I will still wear it, if only because it attracts attention and I paid for it and I like advertising feminism.

OP posts:
Original poster
jenny60 · 19/05/2010 21:28

Probably just 'feminist' on a tshirt would do, you're right. But, if lots of different kinds of people wear it, surely it would be ok? Or even better, 'I am a feminist, though presumably one could object to it on the same grounds? Tricky: want to to advertise it and work with lots of young people.
So maybe they are ok for everyone apart from women over say, 18?

OP posts:
msrisotto · 19/05/2010 19:51

I have this one

I disagree that it is inviting people to judge women on their looks.

It is challenging the idea that feminism is for uncool people, it is saying that it is for everybody. And it is important to get feminism into peoples consciousness.

DorotheaPlenticlew · 19/05/2010 18:41

I want StewieGriffinsMom's version.

WidowWadman · 19/05/2010 18:39

My daughter has the "I've got Millicent tendencies" T-Shirt. Mostly because her name is Millicent, so it's true.

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 19/05/2010 18:34

Yes, I think I'm with you OBM, more or less. And see why a simple "Feminist" or "I am a feminist" t-shirt would manage to make feminism more visible while removing the problematic part.

onebatmother · 19/05/2010 18:30

Yes it is Dittany.

At the same time it is saying 'you are wrong to think that feminism is only of interest to a limited section of the female population'.

While that's admirable, I think that the other, fundamentally antifeminist reading outweighs the value of the latter.

Prolesworth · 19/05/2010 18:28

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dittany · 19/05/2010 18:27

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sethstarkaddersmum · 19/05/2010 18:26

Anyone got a spare moment to pop over to this thread? So far I am the only one saying I wouldn't have any plastic surgery done thanks!

dittany · 19/05/2010 18:22

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BoldChislersMummy · 19/05/2010 18:15

hmmm, I'd be afraid I might only compound people's prejudices.