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Original poster

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

999 replies

Scarletohello · 30/10/2014 22:05

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...

OP posts:
Mehitabel6 · 18/04/2015 16:34

Exactly SirChenjin.

I get put off because I have the distinct impression that there are FB groups,and if things are getting too moderate they 'round up the cavalry' and charge in to rectify it. It was discussed once on MN and it all made sense to me.

shewept · 18/04/2015 16:34

If you think you can't go swimming because women are expected to hairless. Then quite frankly that's your issue. I train in shorts and with hairy legs if I can't be arsed shaving them. I don't like body hair. I like men with little body hair. I do shave my legs as I don't like the feeling of hairy legs. If I genuinely can't be arsed shaving them I don't. It would not occur to me hide my legs because they are a bit hairy.

To declare that a person who choose to shave their own pubic hair is making an anti feminist choice is ridiculous.

I like wearing make up. I see it as almost art. Alot of the time i can't be arsed with make up either. Its not a feminist choice, because I don't do it because I feel i have to. And tbh I don't envy dh being a man at all.

My daily routine for getting ready is to do what I fancy that day.

Hakluyt · 18/04/2015 16:35

"Ok, but I don't see what you're trying to achieve by pointing at women who are pushed into these choices by that patriarchal sensibility and judging them for it?"

I do try not to do this. But I do think people ought to be aware of why they do things. And make informed choices.

SirChenjin · 18/04/2015 16:36

So, let them not post there

Just to clarify - you're advocating asking people not to post on the Feminist boards unless they agree with a particular feminist ideology?

OrlandoWoolf · 18/04/2015 16:36

I have no doubt there is a call to arms. No doubt at all.

I've seen it happen time and time again. Posters who rarely post on MN and FWR "suddenly" appear out of the blue when certain issues are discussed.

I'm surprised they aren't on here.

lucycant · 18/04/2015 16:36

If there are facebook groups where all the "extreme" MN feminists hang out, I would like to know about it and join.

Hakluyt · 18/04/2015 16:37

"I get put off because I have the distinct impression that there are FB groups,and if things are getting too moderate they 'round up the cavalry' and charge in to rectify it. It was discussed once on MN and it all made sense to me."

Well, I'm not invited Sad

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 18/04/2015 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mehitabel6 · 18/04/2015 16:38

There is no problem in asking a question- the problem comes in answering it! There is generally one answer, which is black and white and there are no shades of grey. It isn't worth challenging the majority because they are 'right' and you are 'wrong'.

lucycant · 18/04/2015 16:38

There are feminist facebook groups, but I have never seen anyone mentioning MN on them. So I am not part of them.

Mehitabel6 · 18/04/2015 16:40

I didn't think that you were Hak - you are a lone maverick like me! There are groups though. I might look for posts about it when I have time.

Mehitabel6 · 18/04/2015 16:41

I think you have to be invited lucycant.

cailindana · 18/04/2015 16:41

"I do try not to do this. But I do think people ought to be aware of why they do things. And make informed choices."

That's fair enough, but calling something an anti-feminist choice comes across as extremely judgemental and I'm not sure it's going to do much for making people aware of anything.

Shewept, there is nothing wrong at all with wanting to shave or wearing make up. The feminist issue with these things is that women are expected to do these things and are judged in the media if they don't. So, while some comments might be made on a male politician's appearance, most of the discussion in the press is about their policies and ideas. In contrast, female politicians' hair, clothes, weight, marital status etc are discussed on a regular basis. All of it centres around the idea that women must be primarily attractive and if they are not they will be judged on that. Which is a problem, because it detracts from women's achievements beyond beauty.

WorraLiberty · 18/04/2015 16:42

cailindana The OP started this thread because she wanted MNetters to go to the FWR topic, to be 'educated'.

It's in her TAAT that has been linked to, near the start of this thread.

cailindana · 18/04/2015 16:42

I don't agree with that statement either need.

shewept · 18/04/2015 16:44

cali I appreciate is CAN be an issue. But to label something, in every circumstance, as anti feminist is wrong. Telling women they can not choose to do something, purely because they want to is ridiculous.

cailindana · 18/04/2015 16:45

Ok, worra, and people discussed that and no one went to be educated. Everyone was left alone to engage or not engage.

There is a sense that people on the feminist board somehow control other people, something I find quite odd.

cailindana · 18/04/2015 16:46

Well I've already stated a number of times shewept that I don't agree with the idea of a choice being anti-feminist, so I'm with you on that one.

I don't understand this statement though: Telling women they can not choose to do something, purely because they want to is ridiculous. Could you explain it?

Mehitabel6 · 18/04/2015 16:48

I am glad that you don't think it a figment of my imagination, OrlandoWoolf. It always surprised me that, out of the blue, you would get a whole group with the same view attacking you and everyone else scared off. Someone explained about the groups and it all made sense.

shewept · 18/04/2015 16:49

I do try not to do this. But I do think people ought to be aware of why they do things. And make informed choices.

Sorry Hak but I think you do, by giving a blanket statement that something is anti feminist. You are telling women they can not make certain choices without being anti feminist.

OrlandoWoolf · 18/04/2015 16:50

Never surprises me. I find it quite predictable actually.

lucycant · 18/04/2015 16:50

Whether you do something or not is up to you. A stranger on the internet can't stop you doing something. Shaving doesn't mean you are not a feminist, but it is an anti feminist action.

WorraLiberty · 18/04/2015 16:50

Mehitabel6 you're not alone. Lots of people noticed the call to arms Grin

shewept · 18/04/2015 16:52

Yes I can explain Cali.

hak blanket statement means I can not choose to shave my pubic hair without being anti feminist. She is saying my choice is not valid, even though I do it out of choice. My choice is not valid, apparently.

SomewhereIBelong · 18/04/2015 16:53

"Could you explain it?"
"Can you give examples?"

these get asked a lot on the feminist boards too, may just be me, but I find it passive aggressive and irritating.

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