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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

"First World Problems" "used to keep women down"???

37 replies

KittensOnAPlane · 04/08/2015 11:50

Ok, 'inspired' by another thread, which is the first time i have seen this raised, is there anything else that's an 'anti-woman' phrase that I dont know about? (i'm not having a personal dig at the poster,even if its looking like that, but seriously this is the first time i have seen this)

First World problem
nouninformal
plural noun: First World problems
a relatively trivial or minor problem or frustration (implying a contrast with serious problems such as those that may be experienced in the developing world).
"it's a First World problem, but still if you're staying at a 5-star resort you expect some decent service"

OP posts:
EatShitDerek · 04/08/2015 11:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DawnOfTheDoggers · 04/08/2015 11:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BestZebbie · 04/08/2015 11:57

I'm not convinced it is as gendered as you seem toi think, although it is frequently used in an unintentionally racist way - eg:
'oh no, I've run out of printer ink with one page to go #FirstWorldProblem' --> implying that this couldn't possibly happen in the developing world because there are no printers at all there, etc.

DJThreeDog · 04/08/2015 11:57

I don't think it's anti woman at all.

It just so happens to be the majority of posters on this site are women.

And your example has nothing to do with either men or women. It's about holiday makers.

Either you're not explaining yourself well OP or I am missing something! Confused

ChwatFeechers · 04/08/2015 11:57

Nor me.

ThisNameIsBetterThanMyRealOne · 04/08/2015 11:57

Makes not a jot of sense to me either.

KittensOnAPlane · 04/08/2015 12:01

there is another post (i'm not linking as the issue in the thread is not that relevant) where a poster has put the above

First World Problems is used to keep women down (slightly different wording) and i just thought WTF? is this yet another thing thats anti-women!?!

OP posts:
AuntyMag10 · 04/08/2015 12:01

Fgs must everything be seen as 'anti-woman' or an issue Hmm

KittensOnAPlane · 04/08/2015 12:02

sorry, i linked the definition as thats how i see it, not as the patriarchy putting women down

OP posts:
KittensOnAPlane · 04/08/2015 12:04

i dont think its anti-women, its just a phrase/saying but i have seen posted as that, and thought FFS

OP posts:
Pootles2010 · 04/08/2015 12:04

Well i think it depends on the context, but no its not normally gendered at all, and I don't think I've ever heard anyone say it is?

Bubblesinthesummer · 04/08/2015 12:04

Fgs must everything be seen as 'anti-woman' or an issue hmm

^ this

EatShitDerek · 04/08/2015 12:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Birdsgottafly · 04/08/2015 12:07

I've seen so many men (and towards men), that I don't see FWP, as being gendered.

The men who hashtag it after their posts on FB, are usually posting about KFC running out of Popcorn chicken, or the Tesco not having any of their favourite doughnuts/cakes etc left.

I see it used on here to try to shut a thread down, because "their are bigger issues happening in the world", which is ridiculous.

DawnOfTheDoggers · 04/08/2015 12:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WorraLiberty · 04/08/2015 12:09

The phrase 'fist world problem' should never be taken seriously, because we're living in the first world, so what other bloody problems would we have? Grin

I mostly on see/hear it used in jest and never in a gendered way.

But if someone has tried to make it a 'patriarchy' thing, I imagine they'd be just ask likely to do the same with any phrase.

DJThreeDog · 04/08/2015 12:17

Well I haven't seen the thread so veiled comments about it doesn't make what you're trying to say any clearer!

Can you link to it?

Lelania · 04/08/2015 12:51

I think it's more to do with reminding people that there are others with much greater problems than them in the world. I don't think it's gendered.

KittensOnAPlane · 04/08/2015 13:17

ok, its this one

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2440816-WWYD?

OP posts:
KittensOnAPlane · 04/08/2015 13:18

what i am trying to say is that yet another phrase or comment has now been 'claimed' by the 'feminists'(?) on MN

OP posts:
KittensOnAPlane · 04/08/2015 13:19

(or seems to be)

OP posts:
uglyswan · 04/08/2015 13:25

So one poster on the thread you've linked says: " 'first world problem' is a disparaging term the patriarchy people use to keep women down" - and it's "yet another phrase or comment has now been 'claimed' by the 'feminists'(?) on MN". Bit of a stretch, OP...

InTheBox · 04/08/2015 13:32

What uglyswan said. Quite a leap of logic there.

Postino · 04/08/2015 13:41

Agree with the leap of logic.

Why are people to keen to lay into feminism? As if it's a threat to us (women) or something Confused

TheGirlFromIpanema · 04/08/2015 13:44

I think that poster on the otherr thread had it spot on in that context Confused

Pretty much any phrase can be used in that way though.

Weird TAAT.

Do you hate feminists op?

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