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.

'I do think there is a risk that feminism is going to end up a very white, middle class group in this country as it simply will not be speaking to and for other groups of women.'

That's pretty much where it is now Spero.

Working class here, ta.

I haven't read about Cordelia Fine but would like to. I thought the Baron Cohen stuff about recognising emotions by just looking at pictures of eyes fascinating - women routinely scored much higher than men.

'Not an excuse for discrimination'

I think this is where my relationship with feminism breaks down.

If a five foot nothing woman applied to be a firefighter I would discriminate against her because she was too small to do the job effectively - but I would also discriminate against a short puny man.

I don't feel 'discriminated' against by runners because I can't run a marathon: I accept that I have certain physical limitations that either stop me doing certain things or make it very difficult.

Surely some discrimination is entirely necessary due to the demands of the job. A blind or partially sighted person can't be a fast jet pilot. A paraplegic can't be a lifeguard etc.

I came across SBC first when researching Asperger's and in the context of helping my son and accessing strategies, his stuff made the most sense of all the various approaches out there after Attwood. (who is the very best IMO)
So my knowledge of his material is solely based on his research into ASDs in older children and I haven't explored the wider areas.

Cordelia Fine is brilliant and writes at a level that I could interact with and see the bones of the reasoning as well as the padding.
www.cordeliafine.com/Fine_Response_Psychologist_December_2010.pdf

Thanks for that link - I am a bit disappointed to see they seem to be putting so much energy into slagging each other off (déjà vu) but if his methodology can be criticised it should be.

But interesting that autism so much more prevalent in men than women. That does fit with the 'extreme male brain' theory and that men are more represented at the extremes.

As I said, in the context of my son and the things he found difficult to understand and recognise, and cope with, SBC made sense. I've also known people who were part of his ongoing study at Cambridge.
At least the slagging off was within the boundaries of heated academic debate.

Bit more information
academia.edu/2241418/Genre-bending_gender_and_good_science_Cordelia_Fine_in_review

Prom, with respect, re your last paragraph of 18.23pm
If you reread my posts quite prior to that, you will see that that is not right at all about what I said.

Actually your 3rd paragraph is wrong too.
I did not say they need more whatever either.

Pleeese can you read what I say a bit more accurately please?
I am not having a go, and you are a reasonable feminist, but it is irritating to be misquoted or misunderstaood or misread at least a couple of times. And I am not the only one you have done it to.
Thanks

Prom, the online questionaire is a step above the quizzes you get in the Sunday supplements. It's a first step for those that might be interested.

If getting a dx was as easy as that, CAMHS and the LEAs would be over-run with parents requesting statements.

You cant claim Autism is more prevalent in men. It is seriously, seriously under-diagnosed in women and girls. So impossible to compare rates. All that can be said with any certainty is that more men and boys than women and girls are diagnosed with autism at present.

draws no conclusions wrt the patriarchy about under diagnosis of women

First off, I dont think I even know the meaning of backhanded compliments.

I am a straight forward type of person.
I meant "reasonable feminist" as a compliment.
Again you misunderstood me. Cant see how "reasonable feminist" is anything other than what it says on the tin.

aarrgh. I am going to get annoyed soon if you keep doing that.

Now I will try and attepmt to unravel your other misunderstandings of what I am saying.
btw, if anyone thinks it is me that is not being clear, feel free to tell me.

I perhaps should say that I have had 2 fillings today, with about 4 injections, so on other days, perhaps I would react slightly differently to this.

Just wanted to come back to Techno's question why women sort of fell by the wayside...........

Thanks for the response btw turbochildren. The thread is running off at speed again so don't want to add to the confusion but I wonder why we didn't, or don't, have more societies like those of the Aka Pygmies. I suppose the desire to conquer/defend was very high in the old days but these guys seem to have it sussed.

Prom, I dont mean anything of the sort.

additional barriers. I answered that one in point 1 of my points 1-5. So yes, I agree that they sometimes face additional barriers.

inferior to men. I quite clearly said that I think women are brighter to men, so how can they be inferior?
Suppose it depends on your definition of inferior I suppose.