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Original poster

Is mumsnet sexist

35 replies

wizzard99 · 19/10/2018 17:22

This is a genuine question and I'm not looking to stir anything up but recent reports in the news about such things as Kleenex Mansize and the Waitrose Gentleman's sandwich debacle made me wonder. I appreciate that mumsnet has got the tagline by parents for parents but surely the name itself is non-inclusive? Smile

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 19/10/2018 17:24

It's no more sexist than Mothercare

Neither of them prevent men from joining/entering, so no, I don't think it is.

RagingWhoreBag · 19/10/2018 17:24

No

IStandWithPosie · 19/10/2018 17:27

I don’t think you understand what sexist means.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
MephistophelesApprentice · 19/10/2018 17:27

Nah, it's pretty even handed most of the time. There's a handful of hardcore haters, but they mostly get shouted down by the fair minded majority. What is true is that nobody has time for those who demand respect just for being men, which is reasonable enough.

RubberBabyBuggyBumpers · 19/10/2018 17:29

Do you mean the brand name 'Mumsnet' or the forums?

Stompythedinosaur · 19/10/2018 17:32

I don't think it is sexist to have all female or mainly female spaces.

Eventually I hope that they won't be necessary, but right now they are.

Original poster
wizzard99 · 20/10/2018 20:50

I understand perfectly but if a sandwich can be sexist then so can the name of this site.

OP posts:
DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 20/10/2018 20:54

It's welcoming to everyone, although there are places on here I don't go because I don't have the bits.

I will say this: a cute grandchild goes a very long way Wink

Original poster
wizzard99 · 20/10/2018 20:57

Ok so to address some of the comments I mean the name. Surely it is excluding Father's. Also I to the comment about not being sexist to have all female or mostly female spaces, I don't disagree but why can't there be such things for men. I think we've got a massive way to go for true equality and I don't think we'll ever get there if we continue to have the big fuss about anything that could be seen to be named for men. There are many things that are female specific, Mothercare, mothers pride bread and woman's own magazine to name just 3, and this site of course but I don't see anyone complaining about them and calling them sexist (if anyone claims i did, I didn't, I just asked the qeustion). I think we need to sfocus more on the behaviour and not just words.

OP posts:
Truckingonandon · 20/10/2018 21:04

Start your own site then that's more inclusive, for all the poor menfolk out there.

DameFanny · 20/10/2018 21:05

1/10, do some reading and come back with an interesting point OP

Gardai · 20/10/2018 21:10

And you point is OP ??

DuchessStabby · 20/10/2018 21:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Twunk · 20/10/2018 21:15

No. It’s not.

Sparklingbrook · 20/10/2018 21:15

No.

BrendasUmbrella · 20/10/2018 21:24

I think the name may partly be what attracts a lot of trolls. I think if they changed it to Parentsnet some trolls would lose interest. It's the "this is for women" thing that winds them up, like the men who loudly proclaim that they must be included in women only marathons. no other marathons will do, when actually they have no intention of running anywhere, they just want to score a "win for men".

Original poster
wizzard99 · 20/10/2018 21:33

One of those DuchessStabby? Care to elaborate on your meaning because as far as I can see I asked a genuine question intending to start a genuine and perhaps even possibly thought provoking debate and that's all you can manage, A vague accusation of something?

OP posts:
DameFanny · 20/10/2018 21:39

You asked a half-arsed question not deserving of people's time, hence why I suggested you do some reading and come up with something interesting

Original poster
wizzard99 · 20/10/2018 21:39

To answer some of the comments on here, I'm not a troll, I don't want to score points for men and I'm all for genuine equality. However, I struggle to see the importance of the name of a sandwich (I do get the kleenex one) or some of the other things that get thrown up as sexist. Such things are a waste of energy, focus 9n the important stuff like changing attitudes and especially in marketing. Until we change attitudes there will never be any real progress.

OP posts:
hormonalhorrorshow · 20/10/2018 21:41

I was thinking about "mothercare" earlier and I did decide I'd prefer "parent care" as surely it is not just mum's responsibility to buy stuff for kids and it reinforces that childcare is the woman's job and not the male partner. Better for both if inclusive?
But mumsnet... I'm less sure about because I don't primarily think of it as "about parenting" strangely. I've used the advice for all sort of things - mostly re-evaluating how I see all relationships but also beauty and grooming tips. Not just advice from mums - dads too, or even non-parents of all genders and none all useful! But I guess just because of what I'm interested in, the material is more appealing for being more female orientated. I guess how I'd talk about different things in female company to mixed (and I really value my male friends). There might be an equivalent general advice/ Sounding board site mostly frequented by men where women aren't banned, just less interested?

Perfectly1mperfect · 20/10/2018 21:46

I don't think mumsnet would be named mumsnet if it was a website being launched today.

IStandWithPosie · 20/10/2018 21:55

I don't disagree but why can't there be such things for men

Eek, there can, and there are. Go look for them, it’s not Mumsnets responsibility to provides spaces for everyone for every purpose. If you want one for men, go and create one!

CrazyToast · 20/10/2018 21:59

The site was started for mums, I imagine. It has everyone on here now though, you dont have to be a mum or even a woman. Even if it was mums only its ok to have somewhere for mums to talk to other mums. Nothing wrong with that.

Deadringer · 20/10/2018 22:03

Do you know that there is a dadsnet op?

Kr1stina · 20/10/2018 22:06

That’s a great idea OP and you should go and start one. Because so little of the internet is aimed at men, I’m sure it will be very popular.