AIBU to wonder why any woman would identify herself as [2]

[garlicnutter]

... not a feminist?

Since I killed the old one.

Who's in charge of the committee at Equalist meetings? Are there any women on the board? Who sets the agenda? Who writes the policies? Is it all men directing it, because that's equalist.

Oh, it has no committee, it has no movement. It's got nothing at all. So much the better, since it is intended to achieve nothing at all, except to stop those who really are "stridently" fighting for their rights - that Monstrous Regiment of Women and those nasty meanies, the radfems.

I can't think of any boys' group other than Scouting which is now open to girls.

All the boys' stuff where I live is still boys only, including at school.

Can you name a boys only organisation? I can't think of one.

'It's why I avoid the feminist section because despite a lot of reasonable and lovely posters who I feel I could engage with'

but I thought you were interested in equality? So why aren't you interested in discussing issues of equality on the feminism board? Is it because of the unreasonable, unlovely posters, that bitchfest that you don't like. It doesn't sound like you are really interested in equality. The feminism board is probably not for you. I reckon the MRA's website is more your home. There's no bitchfest there and you'll probably find them more reasonable there. There's not a single feminist there, but there's lots and lots of equalists.

I am talking about leisure activities! Not schools and adults.

claig, I don't care about any equalist committee meetings. I don't even care about the label equalist, I don't like labels. But if you asked me if I was a feminist, I'd say 'no I don't agree with a lot of their views. I do care about injustice and fairness. Apparently that makes me an equalist or an egalitarian.'

And as I've said before, the biggest inequality right now, as ever, maybe more than ever with the Tories back in and kicking downwards, is not between the sexes, it's between the rich and poor. Who has the most power, a rich woman or a poor man? I care about poor men and women and don't really care about rich men and women. That's where my dividing line goes.

The Boys Brigade, our local (non school) boys' football teams, basketball teams, swimming team, athletics team, cricket club and fell running group are all boys only.

Girls teams are entirely separate and run by separate people. They cannot join the boys teams - even at age 7.

I think that approach is fairly common.

Personally, I think there are many things that those who identify as equalists could afford to learn from feminism. There are specific laws that should be addressed, such as better protection for DV victims. Most equalists don't really have an issue with many of the things feminism stands for. Many want tougher laws against sexual harassment and rapists.
Some of them are more concerned with things like equal pay, while maintaining private industry. Heck, some even court the idea of anarchism or socialism, and make pretty good arguments for it.
There are others who are more focused on cultural change, such as allowing women greater access to their spirituality, or teaching men how to channel their energy into constructive means.
I think most equalists try not to look at the world through the feminist lens, but that does not mean that their goals are anathema to feminism's goals. Quite the contrary.
What I do find interesting though is that I have seen more equalists are concerned with their own individual areas, and usually only touch briefly on others. I think this is why there is no official "movement" or "leaders".
It really does come down to a philosophy that someone tries to live by. Some of these philosophies are cobbled together, but I think as more people identify themselves as equalists there will eventually be something more concrete to identify themselves by as a group.

That's fine. People have different views. No one is trying to shut anyone up or stop them having their say. But people will disagree with each other. That doesn't mean they should be branded meanies or vilified or ridiculed. If you believe something different, then argue your case.

House of Commons football team. Men only. They play by and get reffed by FA rules, which prevent mixed teams after the age of 12 I think.

But some people have said that they would prefer the feminism section shut down? Why? Because they got a "kicking"? Because people disagreed with them?

'Equalism' is meaningless. Who wouldn't agree that all should be equal? It's something everyone can agree with.

If only that were true. Did you not read Lenak's post of 12.39? To some feminists the education of boys is not important. I encountered this opinion a while ago myself and that isn't about equality, it is about girls getting one over on boys because apparently they have had it all their own way for too long. That isn't about equality, is it? Also bear in mind that these boys you care so little about are the men of the future and if you walk all over them they will fight back as women have done. It makes more sense to treat both sexes equally.

I am not comfortable with the feminist label (or any label come to that) because I don't want other groups to suffer in the furtherance of women's rights.

Seeker - do you really think that unemployed working class men are equal to wealthy middle class women, because I just don't see it. Which one of them has all the choices?

"and no think again marysue the tory cuts and class war movements are squarely pointed at women. poor women are hit the worst, but all women are hit."

They are squarely pointed at THE POOR. How are they pointed at women first?

Because women are disproportionately represented in the poorest paid jobs.

*"and no think again marysue the tory cuts and class war movements are squarely pointed at women. poor women are hit the worst, but all women are hit."

They are squarely pointed at THE POOR. How are they pointed at women first?*

Cuts to surestart centres (predominantly used by mothers) cuts to child tax credits (predominantly claimed by mothers) cuts to public services (predominantly used by women, and also features a number of female dominated careers) raising the pension age to 68 (adds 3 years for men, 8 years for women). I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that there's been no increase (and perhaps even cuts) to the funding of domestic violence shelters. Guess who suffers again, there? Oh yes. Women and children...

*"and no think again marysue the tory cuts and class war movements are squarely pointed at women. poor women are hit the worst, but all women are hit."

They are squarely pointed at THE POOR. How are they pointed at women first?*

Cuts to surestart centres (predominantly used by mothers) cuts to child tax credits (predominantly claimed by mothers) cuts to public services (predominantly used by women, and also features a number of female dominated careers) raising the pension age to 68 (adds 3 years for men, 8 years for women). I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that there's been no increase (and perhaps even cuts) to the funding of domestic violence shelters. Guess who suffers again, there? Oh yes. Women and children...

And what babyheave said...

"If only that were true. Did you not read Lenak's post of 12.39? To some feminists the education of boys is not important. I encountered this opinion a while ago myself and that isn't about equality, it is about girls getting one over on boys because apparently they have had it all their own way for too long. That isn't about equality, is it? Also bear in mind that these boys you care so little about are the men of the future and if you walk all over them they will fight back as women have done. It makes more sense to treat both sexes equally.

I am not comfortable with the feminist label (or any label come to that) because I don't want other groups to suffer in the furtherance of women's rights. "

What the flippity fuck? Feminism isn't about surpassing men, but becoming equal. I'm a feminist, and a regular on the feminist boards. I've yet to come across one who says that our DS's don't matter, or one who minimises the importance of our DS's in society. They're the one's who will be carrying on our attitudes towards women, after all. Alienating them is as far removed from feminism as you can get

In my area sports are mixed until about 13yrs. They have to separate-women and men playing each other at Wimbledon would be a wipe out. There are gender differences.

In my area sports are mixed until about 13yrs. They have to separate-women and men playing each other at Wimbledon would be a wipe out. There are gender differences.

Gender differences in strength. In marathons there is a women's winner and a men's winner. Fell running would be different categories.