The Sisterhood Thing - AIBU to think it's a bit weird?

[CupcakesandTwunting]

Specifically, the sisterhood thing that says that you should never be disparaging about a fellow woman.

However, my friend just made a slightly catty Facebook status about a female celeb's fashions. A few of her friends had a little chuckle, including me, then one of her other friend steamed in berating us all for being unsisterly and asking us why we needed men to put us down when we do a perfectly good job ourselves.

I must admit, I am a bit about this sisterhood thing i.e you must never be negative about another woman, because YOU are a woman too. The example I just posted about is a bad one because it's shallow/superficial, but I've seen women chided for, say, moaning about a colleague's conduct at work. Surely, we aren't expected to stick together because we are "all women together"? I find it a bit weird and patronising, like we can't judge women on their individual merits but rather blindy applaud them merely because they own a vagina.

I am willing to concede that I might be wrong, though. I am just wondering where the rule ceases to rule, IYSWIM? Are we allowed to be rude about the cat-in-bin lady because, like, she is a lady?

Oh, I discuss how male tv presenters look. I definitely do. I can call a hot mess if I see one, regardless of what's between the legs.

Same here - if a bloke looks like a prize pillock I will say it. And it is ok for men to comment on female slebs fashion faux pas too.

Sisterhood is a myth isn't it, although it's a shame. It is shallow and a bit crap to constantly bitch about other women and what they look like.....

Although I do, hypocrite alert, moan about Sky sports female presenters that they should wear business attire like the men. And can't women have the equivalent to a suit for presenting in general, especially the news?

Ah, I don't constantly do it. I have to stop to read the Daily Fail/get my nails done occasionally.

No Posie. That's not the same. It's not FUN. It needs to be more bitchy you see.

I didn't think you did!!

(I miss your old name)

Ahem, minor sleb in stupid inappropriate dress, I'm in. Sports woman in poor dress, nope.....she's famous for sport and not for fashion.

Arf at HugeKnees...

Exactly - no fun to comment on at all. :) Unless its Ellen McCarthy because I have a random dislike for her, so its therefore fine to pass comment on her.

I like Zara Phillips, a lot.

I like Zara. I like Anne for refusing the princess title for her at birth too.

I like Zara Phillips too, for a few reasons.She seems unspolit/unfazed by her weird family, she's chosen a seemingly decent, normalish bloke for a husband, she has a career/doesn't make a living off the back of who her granny is... She's a fine lady.

Just think she needed sleeves on her frock. And possibly a different neckline. And maybe a different shape of skirt. And possibly a different dress altogether. But from the neck up, she did look radiant and that's what matters.

Oh I agree about Zara's dress, it was bloody awful, it didn't do anything for her at all. But on the positive side, her veil and tiara were georgeous though.

I thought she looked nice on the front of the Telegraph today because her hair is a lovely colour and she was looking down so that de-emphasised her Windsor ears, large nose and strong jaw.

Mike was looking face-on. Or as face-on as could be expected.

Mike looks like he's been ram-raiding on a scooter.

Still, he seems like a groovy kind of chap. I bet he's a laugh and more fun than the Royal men, except Harry who is all kinds of naughty...

Has Mike got his driving licence back? He's been banned for drinkdrivng twice now.

I think that rules out scooters, except for the ones that children ride and get on my nerves in Sainsbury's for which they should be eviscerated banned.

I think it's really patronising to say we're not allowed to criticise one half of the world's population just because we share genitalia.
It implies women are weak and/or a minority that needs protecting.

Btw men do get criticised for their looks too. How about Wills' fast diminishing hair? Or Tindall's nose? Even Princess Anne wanted him to have plastic surgery before his wedding!

"Sisterhood" is an artificial (and, imo, unhelpful) construct - much like "patriarchy". It's all of the particular qualities of an individual that matter, not what gender they are.

The question should really be "am I betraying my own principles if I make disparaging comments about another person"? In my view, it depends on context and on this one I'm firmly with the op!

Sorry - grammar fail there. The question mark should come before the inverted comma

You only have to read MN to know that there is no sisterhood!!

(It is really only when I am referred to a 'syster' that I get rattled).

CupcakesandTwunting
Dave looked fucking awful. WTF were those work shoes all about? With no socks? Black trousers in the Italian heat. I bet his bawbag area stunk like a tramp's hat.

Brilliant! First tea-spit of the day!

the 'sisterhood' bollocks is just that. i do cringe when people start ranting about sticking together etc. but i also think it's shitty that we're obsessed with nitpicking about women's appearance at every moment of their existence. i'm as guilty as anyone, i saw Zara and thought 'no sleeves, really?' but i didn't get the level of glee about it some people seem to get. i looked shit in my wedding dress too. i save my glee for people who pride themselves on their appearance looking dodgey.

also, women are very good at blaming the mistress/wife in a lurve/lust triangle. she should have been shagging him more, she shouldnt have shagged my man etc. focus, idiots!

I think there is such thing as a "Sisterhood" in that as a woman you might have more solidarity with another woman's position e.g. in a society that devalues women, or where women are sometimes/often in a vulnerable position. As a woman, though, I have to say I haven't seen too many examples of this, but maybe thats a London thing.

However, that doesn't mean I would defend a woman who was a nasty person or who did things that were nasty.

As for bitchiness/cattiness, I think it can be funny and light-hearted sometimes! As long as it doesn't go over-the-top.

P.S. If you want to see the worst catty/bitchy comments e.g. in the Daily Mail comments online directed at women especially their looks, they are nearly always from men!!!

You can't please all the people all the time-a woman could look absolutely gorgeous and you can be sure that someone will find a catty comment!