I’m late to the party but can I have a rant?! (Feminism)

[WhatNowSal]

I was brought up in a traditional household. Nothing majorly controversial I don’t suppose but I grew up oblivious really to the idea that women were actually still treated badly (for want of a better phrase). I’ve been reading about feminism and I am shocked at some of the bias towards men.

Seatbelts for one!!!
Pay gap... didn’t realise this was really still a thing and oh my gosh it really is having read into it
Men can strip off in hot weather but women have to cover their breasts because they are so sexualised
Going into offices pre covid with awful period pain - fuck off, just no, let women work from home if they need to and can. Similarly women are always pushed aside at work as they have to juggle most things
Men who ask if they can help... erm no the cleaning isn’t my job thanks it’s just as much yours!

Anyone else want to join me in this?! I feel so shocked by things I hadn’t even noticed in life, I’d just accepted and never questioned

Rant away. Once you start realising, it can be a depressing journey.

Have you heard about/read this book:

www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/1113605/invisible-women/9781784706289.html

www.google.com/search?q=invisible+women&client=ms-android-tmobile-gb&sxsrf=ALeKk02_lRWPN28L6rgUn3_1f6aq5WyQVw%3A1627216493194&ei=bVr9YJqkC5rk5NoPgNKWgA8&gs_ssp=eJzj4tVP1zc0TDMtSY_PyDAxYPTiz8wryyzOTMpJVSjPz03NAwCjlwqt&oq=invisible+women&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAEYATIFCAAQkQIyBQguELEDMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAOgQIABBHOgQIIxAnOgUIABCxA1DPDljgFmDgKGgAcAF4AIABxQGIAcIEkgEDMC40mAEAoAEByAEIwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp

This marvellous book should be required reading for anyone who thinks feminism isn't needed any more.

'Unisex' safety equipment... no its mens equipment. Not designed for breasts or hips.

Yes, your eyes have been opened. Once you see it, it's so obvious right?!

Once you’ve seen it you will notice it everywhere. Enlightening and frustrating at the same time

Once you open your eyes to sexism it's impossible to ignore it. Depressing but real. I'm also recommending Invisible Women (she also does a newsletter, which is a fun and interesting read.

Car air bags, for "safety". I'm a very small woman and need to sit closer to the steering wheel than DH or my adult sons. So close that were the air bag ever to go off, it would break my neck and seriously injure or even kill me. And I can't even switch it off, as you can passenger air bags. Thanks guys.

@HirplesWithHaggis with you on that one, really depressing

All I need is an off switch. But that's not only not available, it's not even legal! The fucking law says we have to take that risk if we want to drive.

I read that one of the things that radicalised Flora Drummond, one of the suffragettes, was the sudden introduction of a minimum height threshold for the position of Postmistress she'd been training for. She was 5 foot 1, and the new rule was that you had to be 5 foot 2. Obviously, that blocked far more women than it did men. Indirect sex discrimination.

@HirplesWithHaggis

Car air bags, for "safety". I'm a very small woman and need to sit closer to the steering wheel than DH or my adult sons. So close that were the air bag ever to go off, it would break my neck and seriously injure or even kill me. And I can't even switch it off, as you can passenger air bags. Thanks guys.

I thought this topic was about Feminism, are you thinking that there are no small men?

It's indirect discrimination because it affects a greater proportion of women than it does men. Indirect discrimination is recognised as such under the Equalities Act 2010.

How to wilfully misinterpret DagL (suspect you're being disingenuous anyway) - of course there are small men, but there are much (much) more small and very small women. So women are put at risk significantly more than men.

Of course I know there are small men, my own father was only 5 foot 4. However, the tallest woman in my family is also 5 foot 4, while my men folk are all average height (5'8"), or a little over.

Ignorance can be bliss!
Once I started reading feminist theory, especially radical feminist theory... my life was ever-changed.
Sometimes I think it's for the best, sometimes I wish I didn't know about the injustices.

I thought this topic was about Feminism

Yes, that’s why we’re talking about women.

@Leafstamp

I thought this topic was about Feminism

Yes, that’s why we’re talking about women.

Perfect response 👏👏👏

@sfeirical

Ignorance can be bliss! Once I started reading feminist theory, especially radical feminist theory... my life was ever-changed. Sometimes I think it's for the best, sometimes I wish I didn't know about the injustices.

On balance, I’m glad I know what I know and make a point of starting conversations on it now. It feels good to be part of things that work towards protecting women. (And often children as a byproduct).

@Leafstamp yep, as depressing as it can be, it hopefully can lead to good. Long road ahead!

We’ll keep going @sfeirical!

If anyone fancies learning and chatting more, there are some very wise and also quick witted women posting in the feminism section:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights

and:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/feminism

Wait till you're 45 and you look back at all your friends, and compare the paths of the women to the men. You'll see who is poorer, less promoted, more invisible.

I think I'm rather lucky that a) I'm tall - in fact the average height internationally for a human, so everything is designed for my height, and b) spectacularly lazy, therefore utterly resistant to being socialised into taking on wife work.

On those last two posts, I do think some women make their own shit situation by giving up their careers/becoming financially dependent on men and taking on wife work.

We need to be encouraging our sisters and daughters to make good choices.

That said, I have no regrets about giving up my career to spend more time with my DC, money isn’t everything.

No one can do much about their height!

On those last two posts, I do think some women make their own shit situation by giving up their careers/becoming financially dependent on men and taking on wife work.

Agreed. But I did have to be particularly determined to require childcare and workplace facilities that allowed me to continue breastfeeding (and live close enough to work to make it practicable), and I've had to work bloody hard to keep my career going as a part timer, and it really wouldn't have been possible to progress to the role I have now without the kids' dad being committed and available as a parent. My best choice was choosing the right man to have kids with. It's such a gamble.

I know plenty of doctor: doctor and lawyer:lawyer couples who have never been able to find a workable combination. The wife always steps back. Always.