To get annoyed when other women say "I'm not a feminist"

[Nickabilla]

As if it's a dirty word and a shameful thing to be? I hear it every now and then and always question it. Someone said it today and I'm annoyed again.

Do some women not realise that women didn't used to be allowed to go to university, get divorced, own property or vote?

Rant over.

And your point is?

Mrsjay, it doesn't! And it works. And, it was extremely cheap thanks to Groupon.

And your point is?

Have you just forgotten the last few posts? I thought it was quite aparrent but I guess not.

'I lay a lot of problems at Kim Kardashian's feet.'

I lost interest when I realised she wasn't a Cardassian.
I agree that everyone is a product of their culture and history, both personal and that of their country.
One of the interesting things that happened in the late 60s and early 70s with the availability of contraception is that many young men saw that as fantastic, and an obstacle removed. So they pressurised women for sex under the guise of freedom and empowerment.

No technotropic, my point was that while 40% of men were still disenfranchised prior to December 1918, 100% of women were. If the 19th century saw an expansion in the franchise, the fact remains that women were at the very bottom of the heap in terms of electoral rights, and even then had to meet property qualifications which had been abolished for men.

Skyler

I don't know where that 40% you've quoted comes from (reference required perhaps?) but the thing is, the vast majority of men had never enjoyed voting rights until things started to slowly change in the mid 1800's. So you are at best looking at a 50 year period where men enjoyed slightly more rights than women. Given governments in the UK did not start until the 1700's then this 50 year period is almost insignificant; especially given that the masses had no rights whatsoever when the monarchy ruled the land.

So is the basis of women's sufferage merely about a 50 year span when women weren't allowed to vote and almost half of men weren't either?

Mrsjay, it doesn't! And it works. And, it was extremely cheap thanks to Groupon.

I was thinking about it for the bikini line well i say line it creeps to my knees sigh

It's from Ross McKibbin's PARTIES AND PEOPLE 1914-1951 technotropic.

Have not read the whole thread. But what does being a feminist mean. If it means wearing bovver boots, dungharees a spikey hair cut and growing forests under your arms with and bra-less boobs dangling round your knees, then no I am most definitely not one.

I agree with Spero and Worra as well.

Sad to see the whole 'apologist' thing trotted out again.

amother can I ask why you think that is what being a feminist means? Do you know many feminists like that?

My late and darling Dad worked for 35 years in a factory and the work eventually killed him. He once went on strike for seven weeks when I was 8 years old without pay because men were dying/being killed through industrial accidents every other week.

I remember that year because my brother and I got gifts from a second hand shop for Christmas. He fought for hard hats, safety mats, steel toe caps etc. and my brother and I understood totally.

If you 'aren't a feminist' then think back to the women who fought for:

1. Maternity pay.
2. Your husband cannot beat or rape you and get away with it.
3. If you father a child then pay for it (still a lost hope).
4. The right to vote
5. Own property
6. Have a bank account
7. Take out a mortgage
8. Terminate an unwanted pregnancy
9. Leave/divorce your husband

etc
etc
etc

If you 'aren't a feminist' then recant on your rights to the above that were so bravely fought for.

Rubyredshoes- nicely put.

Feminists seem to take a lot of credit for things (such as the above list). Was feminism really responsible for all of it? Evidence?

I don't very often thank Alexander Fleming whenever I need penicillin, and without anti-B's we'd all be in a very sorry, possibly dead, state. Just doesn't seem necessary to be grateful for every last mortal thing I take for granted. So why do I have to be in a perpetual state of thankfulness to feminists?

amothersplaceisinthewrong, we've been toiling away to define feminism, thank god you came in to clear it up.

'I don't think perpetual gratitude is needed sigmund but then, neither is perpetual disdain for those that presume to see things in a way that is different to your worldview'

If it isn't needed, then why am I asked for it. The perpetual disdain works both ways, believe me

well rubyred some of the things that got achieved led to new problems that society is suffering from.

not achievement brings only positive changes. so although I benefit from a lot of things that feminists achieved, some of those things have backfired spectacularly.
so no, I don't want to call myself a feminist.
the same way as being brought up in communist Hungary benefited me in a lot of ways - but I don't call myself a communist either.

*no achievement
not *not

twatphone

I think historical awareness is always a good thing. Recognition of the struggles of previous generations to secure rights that enrich and enable our lives today is a good thing. Recognition, not gratitude.