To be a bit dismayed if 4 million women visit this site,why are there so few posts on the feminism threads?

[Scarletohello]

Ok so I know there are lots of lurkers but if there are really millions of women who go on MN, why are so many threads on the feminism section consisting of so few women? It doesn't make sense to me as so many issues that
women post about on many different topics are actually feminist issues when it comes down to it...

Because not all women are feminists (I am not)

Can I ask Aurynne why not? Do you think women are less equal than men

4 million women what is that in a month a year or is that 4 million visits

I think many issues in aibu and chat have a feminist theme running through them the word many not be used

I sometimes go on the feminist board but many on there are very much more involved with feminist theory, I learn from them but everyday as a woman I encounter sexism and very much interested in dealing with that

if you feel you are equal to a man and wish to be treated as though you are that is what feminism is about but sadly many women fear being seen as a dungaree wearing hairy legged man hater

Flan, that is exactly the kind of thing that makes people feel it's aggressive. Issues with other posters dragged into new threads, twisting words, making assumptions and generally being a bit obtuse (fwiw getting a rottweiler of a lawyer probably would be a bad idea in family court).

Same thing has happened here. Op asks and gets a wide and varied response, well thought out and interesting. She then pops back over there and boils it all down to "we're a bit too high brow for the commoners" or words to that effect. Then wonders why people get cross

Scarlet, if you wanted to rouse the anti-feminists on MN to have a go at FWR, well done, you've succeeded, and they've been allowed on this thread to paint a portrait of an unfriendly, cliquey, overly-intellectual, quite hateful group that I just don't recognise. Unfortunately people reading this who don't know the FWR boards will take that as a warning and stay away, just reinforcing the cliche that all feminists are humourless theorists who tear down anyone who disagrees with them.

I haven't seen anyone comment on this thread in an 'anti-feminist' way at all. Where has anyone said feminism is wrong and should be ignored / banned / stamped out - which is after all what people tend to want to happen to something they are 'anti' anything.

What I have seen is a lot of people who agree with feminist ideas and identify as feminists who say they don't feel comfortable with the brand of feminism that is rife on the FWR boards because they don't like being told that they are wrong because they don't agree with the general consensus around issues on those boards.

Many have also said that they don't comment as they have been called 'MRA' or 'anti-feminist' - you have rather just proved their point.

Perhaps rather than attacking people / women / other feminists for feeling that wait and rather lazily labelling them as 'anti-feminist' you should take on board their very real feelings and experiences and perhaps develop some self-awareness.

Oh - and I fear people who reading this thread who don't know the FWR boards will see your comment and actually think all of the other people who have commented are dead right.

Sometimes I reply to a thread in this section. But also am not keen on everything being turned into a feminist issue. And also I think Trans people (if that's the right term) are treated very harshly and unsympathetically or so it appears.

Flanjabelle, as I understand it people were signposting you to the relationships board because that is where many posters hang out who know a lot about family law, not because they were telling you you needed help with the relationship. I'm sorry posters on FWR couldn't give you what you needed but surely you can see that they were trying to be helpful and supportive?

See, I think 'feminism' as a topic suffers from similar problems as 'politics' (in fact I would argue they are almost the same thing from a woman's perspective ):
I like and agree with many 'green' values, goals and aims.
I am not a card-carrying member of the Green Party (never will be).
I think some of their politicians are crap (but I think that about most many politicians)

Still think they have the right ideas about what's ailing our planet in most regards.

Wrt RadFem or phrases like PiV : I took me a while to understand that 'radical' feminists are not necessarily man hating banshees who harp on about how hard done by the are, but v good analytical thinkers who do not shy away from taking a thought to its extreme: that does not mean that we in out every day lives should not have sex in whichever shape or form we like. BUT - there is not doubt that PiV sex is more risky to woman than to men, less likely to lead to orgasm and from a female perspective not necessarily required to have a satisfying sex life. Yet for most it is what wee mean by 'sex'. I do think that's an interesting thought. Does not change what I do in bed, mind.

Are the boards really trolled so much
I was accused of being a troll and many others on here have said the same so perhaps you accuse so much you believe it to be so
I may be dumb here but what is PIV?

Not so much recently AFAIK but there was a time when they were.

Because it's seriously over the top and many take offence at every little thing in the world?

Because some seem unable to grasp the fact that women do actually have minds of their own and want to do some things/are happy with some things/don't find what you find offensive?

Because it's patronising?

Because of stupid comments like one the other day on how stay at home mums are not setting a good example to their daughters? They should be doing some form of work or extending their education to set a good example?!

There is a whole list of reasons.

Freedom to choose means that women are perfectly free to decide whether they want to join in in the above and anything else that crops up on the feminism board. Or are you going to tell us all that we've been constructed to not want to spend our time doing exactly what you do/want us to do?

"I haven't seen anyone comment on this thread in an 'anti-feminist' way at all."...

Really. Maybe anti-particular feminist members?

One of the first responses was

"if you dont agree with what the honchos say in the feminism section you get screamed down and belittled"

I am also wondering if the thread was started to deliberately inflame.

Because I wax everywhere, I don't actually like some women, I care about how I look, I like cooking every night (even though I'm a slut with housework), despite my piercings and tattoos I love being wrapped in a big strong mans (my DP's) arms and feeling protected. And for these reasons and many more I don't think you'd like me much. I'm not very well read and can't quote feminist literature (or know what it is).

I've had a fucking hard life as a teen, abusive relationship and then a single mum. I own my own toolkit and know how to use them, I can plaster, build, render with the best of them. I've taught my sons to respect women, they understand (from me) that I've worked hard to feed and clothe them, to tackle any problem but they also find it amusing that cars can stop to let me cross the road. Which I love. I'm not going to berate someone for letting me cross or holding a door open because I'm a woman, fuck that shit.

So basically, I think you'd all hate me for letting your cause down. And I'm a bit scared of you.

Bloomin, I don't think we're reading the same thread... feminists on FWR have been accused here of bullying, belittling, being cliquey, hating men...

My post was to say no, they're not like that at all!

Wow Stupidhead, you can render?

I don't post there because I don't have much to say there, it's not really of interest to me

Aww shucks! Yes I can! The old yard wall in my last house, it's probably all fallen off by now but it lasted a couple of winters

I lurk a lot, post a little on FWR, and def think if you're new to the board it helps to read around the threads first.

I also think a sticky at the top would help enormously, to say

1. Feminism just means you think women are equal to men, and deserve equal opportunities and rewards

2. When FWR posters talk about 'men' as a class doing or saying something, they take it as a given that Not All Men Are Like That (NAMALT)

3. Being a feminist does not mean you cannot wear make-up, wax, love pink, etc etc, but just realise the cultural norms that associate those things with women.

But perhaps none of us can agree on those

WhatwouldFreddiedo -

The pink thing confuses me. I was never a 'pink' girl but I buy pens, paper, all MY stuff in pink. It's because I have a household of men and boys, even my cats are male and I know MY pink things won't be touched.

I know in my heart it doesn't matter two hoots if they were to favour pink things but they don't. At all.