Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
limitedperiodonly · 18/04/2015 23:34

if you dare to have a differing opinion you get screamed down into submission

I've never noticed this in recent years.

At the risk of being screamed down on this thread: can you post an example - a link to a thread and not just a snippet SwirlyThingAlert?

uglyswan · 18/04/2015 23:36

limited - you are on fire today!

limitedperiodonly · 18/04/2015 23:54

Am I?

I'm really glad this discussion is back on a mainstream board.

And if anyone wants any hair dye tips...

timelyreminder · 19/04/2015 00:06

I'm certainly a feminist, but feel I don't know nearly enough about feminist theory/history etc. to join the conversation there.

emotionsecho · 19/04/2015 00:19

In case anyone cares or is interested my experience with the FWR board is as follows:

The threads that discuss theory go way over my head, I have read some but got totally lost as it is not an area I have studied to that level. I don't feel shut out, excluded or belittled by this, why would I?

I think I have a sort of 'wide' view of feminism I think, the discussions over things like pubic hair, makeup, etc., leave me a bit nonplussed I feel like it's picking at minutiae that is more likely to turn people away from feminism and roll their eyes in frustration.

I read and am very interested in the subjects of Equality, FGM, Rape and Sexual abuse and my view seems to be in synch with the majority view on the FWR Board.

I have found the threads around Trans issues extremely interesting and informative, a subject that had never previously crossed my radar.

I haven't posted on the FWR Boards but I do read them.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 19/04/2015 00:25

I'd love to see you post, FWIW.

limitedperiodonly · 19/04/2015 00:29

I'm certainly a feminist, but feel I don't know nearly enough about feminist theory/history etc. to join the conversation there

Same here, timelyreminder, so mostly I lurk.

I don't feel the need to attack if an FWR topic strays onto AIBU or Chat.

Some people do and I find that baffling.

Anyway, if one does turn up, I'm going to stick up for it Grin

emotionsecho · 19/04/2015 01:17

Was that to me Jeanne?

I don't think I'm a particularly 'good' feminist, I struggle with some of the issues.

JeanneDeMontbaston · 19/04/2015 01:27

Yes, it was.

I'm not a good feminist in lots of ways. I am also aware that I can be impatient on FWR, and it's a bad habit, because people have been so patient with me. Sometimes I feel as if I'm about three steps behind the argument.

daffsandtulips · 19/04/2015 01:43

It's all too heavy and staunch for me on that board.

emotionsecho · 19/04/2015 01:53

I'll try and post on the next FWR thread that I read.

I did post on a thread that included a link to a video of a woman walking in New York and being harrassed by men, but I think the thread was in Relationships although I did recognise the names of a number of posters who regularly post in FWR.

I've done the quiz in the thread started by Buffy was quite surprised by the results but not really any the wiser as it doesn't seem to explain the various groups.

daffsandtulips · 19/04/2015 01:57

I don't get you having to "try" and post there? why would you? it doesn't mean that you are less of a feminist you know or a "bad" one.

emotionsecho · 19/04/2015 02:19

Try probably wasn't the right word, I find some of the threads in FWR interesting, as I do on other boards, but across MN I am reluctant to post if the point I was going to make has already been made (in some cases several times!) as I don't think it adds anything to the discussion.

daffsandtulips · 19/04/2015 02:24

Nothing wrong with re-affirming another posters input. I do however think that, for want of a better word "specialist" boards are a bit hardcore and can make you feel like a total twunt if you're not eating and breathing that particular thing. IYSWIM.

emotionsecho · 19/04/2015 02:33

That's a fair point, daffs.

dailygrowl · 19/04/2015 02:50

To answer the OP's question, I've never looked at the feminism section (not even sure if I knew it existed before). I usually look up one topic - from what various new fangled school jargon terms mean to topics like exams and children's sports, then I sort of get waylaid by any active (or heated, ha ha) discussion thread popping up at the top of "most active" or "topics of the day". I tend to put all my feminist answers within my responses if the occasion arises - eg if someone posts about news headlines.

I thought more than 4 million visited this website - of course, not all visit it regularly eg I don't.

daffsandtulips · 19/04/2015 02:58

I personally don't mind what everyone seems to call a "goady fucker" or two. Most of the time a person probably comes here to genuinely ask a question that is a bit emotive, gets absolutely pelted and personally attacked, would you come back to a thread where that was happening. I wouldn't.

daffsandtulips · 19/04/2015 02:59

Wrong thread Grin

OrlandoWoolf · 19/04/2015 07:19

I think it's been established why many people don't post on FWR.

It's a shame because this is one of the world's most popular discussion forums populated mainly by women so you would have thought that there is a place to discuss feminist issues.

But many people on here have given many reasons why they don't post on FWR - and unfortunately some of the FWR regulars seem to have dismissed them or denied this is an issue.

It is an issue if many women on MN feel uncomfortable posting about feminism on a discussion forum on this website. Yes - there are other feminist forums available which are "sex positive trans positive" - but surely the feminist discussions on FWR should be accessible to people who have different views but still fundamentally are feminists. It seems that you have to subscribe to the dominant view of feminism and the beliefs of the majority to be accepted on there - and if not, you are shouted off by the pack.

I don't think it will change. I think it's getting worse to be honest. There should be a place for other types of feminists on here.

It reminds me of Monty Python - the Judean people's front? Fuck off, we're the people's front of Judea. Same ultimate aims - but some different views.

Meanwhile the "patriarchy" laughs as feminism divides and argues amongst itself.

DoraGora · 19/04/2015 07:23

Why can't moderate feminists just discuss their issues in chat or AIBU? If the radicals butt in there, that would be unreasonable. They already have their own corner.

WanderingTrolley1 · 19/04/2015 07:24

They're a condescending bunch, on the whole.

Pity.

Mehitabel6 · 19/04/2015 07:33

I was going to say much the same as Orlando. It is mainly women on MN and feminist threads ought to be of great interest and yet a tiny minority go on them. There is something badly wrong. I have explained precisely why I don't go on , but it is dismissed or I am asked for examples - presumably so that I can be told that I am being silly and reading it wrongly!
The fact that someone hasn't noticed that people don't 'get screamed into submission' doesn't mean that it doesn't happen or that people don't feel that is what happens.
Maybe the 'in' crowd actually want a cosy little group where they all agree and don't want 'outsiders' putting different views. Maybe that is why it is avoided by the vast majority of posters.
I never look on the board, I only see them in 'active conversations' and occasionally I venture in. I have always regretted it. As someone said yesterday- 'life is too short' - generally I see the title and scroll past - something I should do every time.

Mehitabel6 · 19/04/2015 07:36

There you are! As I was posting DoraGora actually said it- keep out!
And then people are surprised that out of 4 million women only a handful post!

Hakluyt · 19/04/2015 08:00

What are the issues moderate feminists want to discuss?

Romeyroo · 19/04/2015 08:28

cailindana and buffy, thank you for your kind words. I have been reflecting on the lived experience versus social and cultural thing and when I feel ready, I will come back to FWR and post something which is not all about me but part of a conversation, if that makes sense.