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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not want to hear anything about the suffragettes

285 replies

BrandNewAndImproved · 08/10/2015 23:21

How am I meant to support a movement that was disgustingly racist just because I benefit from it being a white female.

The feminist movement is still subtly racist with a lot of white feminists refusing to see white privilege.

The argument of being of its time doesn't wash. Racism is racism and I refuse to support it.

OP posts:
ihavenonameonhere · 09/10/2015 00:01

Here have one of these Biscuit

wowfudge · 09/10/2015 00:01

WW1 put to stop to a lot of things OP - with the millions of men who were being killed on the battlefields of Europe and beyond, a lot of women took on what had traditionally been men's jobs. Not a great deal of time for protesting about anything.

Meow75 · 09/10/2015 00:02

I work in a call centre, following a 16 year career as a Science teacher.
If I were more sensitive, I could almost see my current job being used as an insult.
Fancy that.

brokenvases · 09/10/2015 00:02

From the limited amount I know Sophia Duleep Singh was very well regarded and part of the very inner circle of the higher suffragettes. She was also punished less severely than her white counterparts because of her background even when she threw herself under the prime ministers car. She was not jailed when others were.

Weathergames · 09/10/2015 00:03

Racism was an accepted part of our society at that time - as was homophobia (it was illegal) - so who else to you want to feel ashamed of? Single mothers were put into the workhouse and not given any support ... Should we feel ashamed of everyone or accept these are mistakes we made and how we have evolved as a society?

MrsJorahMormont · 09/10/2015 00:04

Surely it's all about small steps forward? The suffragettes made a huge step forwards but we have to keep moving forward all the time. I still find all the MLK / segregation in the USA stuff astonishing, that it was so recent. And now there's a black president. Small steps and big leaps, building on what went before.

Weathergames · 09/10/2015 00:04

My reference to working in a call centre was to suggest the OP has some time on her hands Smile

SmellyHead · 09/10/2015 00:04

The women who opposed womens' sufferage are likely to have been just as racist as those who campaigned for women to get the vote.

On the whole, I am glad that I am able to vote. That doesn't mean that I believe that every action of every suffragette was laudable.

wowfudge · 09/10/2015 00:05

Will you please provide evidence of 'so much racism' in the suffrage movement OP because I really am struggling to understand your argument. And no one is asking you to support the movement. It ain't around anymore.

Original poster
BrandNewAndImproved · 09/10/2015 00:07

the-toast.net/2014/04/21/suffragettes-sucked-white-supremacy-womens-rights/

Although that link is American suffragettes it was a world wide movement.

However I will say the British suffragettes actually protested against ww1 and did have IndIan women in the British party. I didn't realise that till googling the suffragettes part in the wws.

OP posts:
wigglesrock · 09/10/2015 00:10

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11914757/Racism-and-the-suffragettes-the-uncomfortable-truth.html
I though this article was very good on this subject.

Also woc means women of colour, I know a poster asked earlier

Original poster
BrandNewAndImproved · 09/10/2015 00:11

It's not a valid argument to say about homosexuality was illegal in those days ect as we don't celebrate people being homophobic.

As for the slave trade I'm not even going to go there on this discussion. We shouldn't glamorise the slave trade and we should of paid reparations imo.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 09/10/2015 00:12

You've just contradicted yourself.

The aim in the UK was to give women the same rights as men. I am not aware of any white supremacist arguments being used here.

wowfudge · 09/10/2015 00:14

It was me - I wasn't sure if it was a typo as it was lowercase. Thanks wiggles.

Original poster
BrandNewAndImproved · 09/10/2015 00:16

After reading that article wiggle my first thought was pankhurst was 'the I'm not racist my best is black' trotted out to show the world how liberal they were.

I may be being unfair with that judgement, however agree completely no white privileged women should be wearing tshirts saying they'd rather be a rebel then a slave. Yeah the slaves really had a choice didn't they. If I had known this I would of put this forward on the ms webchat.

OP posts:
SaltMarshPirate · 09/10/2015 00:16

Yabu.
In fact, I am at a loss. The campaign for women's suffrage began (officially) in Britain in 1866. Which should resonate! This is, of course, the 'Suffragist' movement.

The 'Suffragette' movement originated in 1903, and, despite it's obviously middle class origins; relied heavily upon, needed and whole heartedly embraced, working class women as its back bone. One of the first political unions.
I will accept a class issue!
America's race issue was its own.

wigglesrock · 09/10/2015 00:18

A question was put forward on the webchat, I think specifically about the tshirts but it wasn't answered.

TheDowagerCuntess · 09/10/2015 00:19

There was so much racism in it how can I support it and be proud?

Like what, though?

I genuinely don't know, and would like to broaden my own understanding better.

brokenvases · 09/10/2015 00:19

Its a film about an historical period of time.
You don't have to applaud or support it but to accept that it had benefits for everyone.
My friend who is black can rightly work the same job as me for the same wage, walk the same streets, sit on the same bench or bus seat and be educated in the same university, her children at the same school. She can vote the same way I can.

What they did had an effect for us all whether their history is tainted.

Original poster
BrandNewAndImproved · 09/10/2015 00:19

I haven't contradicted myself. I'm the dalai lama and can see all sides.

But seriously if you just want to pick holes and argue for the sake of it carry on but I won't be responding. If you want to discuss it as an adult and put your pov across that would be great. I can hold a view whilst seeing opposing views and I can also admit when I'm wrong. If your looking for a bun fight you will have to throw buns at yourself.

OP posts:
wowfudge · 09/10/2015 00:21

I agree SaltMarsh and I am going to bed. I do not agree with your view of Mrs Pankhurst OP. She had more integrity that you give her credit for.

Original poster
BrandNewAndImproved · 09/10/2015 00:21

That's actually not true broken. Black women still earn less then white women, they still have career problems that white women don't and they live with oppression everyday.

OP posts:
BitOfFun · 09/10/2015 00:23

Please read this intelligent blog post which puts those ill-judged T-shirts into context and explains how a crass publicity slogan devalues the message of the original suffragettes.

wowfudge · 09/10/2015 00:27

OP - you've said the suffragette movement was racist with a link to an article about prominent US campaigners then you've read a bit more and realised that the movements in the US and UK were different, so you have contradicted yourself.

I'm not throwing buns - I'd rather eat one - but I don't agree with you and think your argument is half-baked because you haven't done your research properly.

missingmumxox · 09/10/2015 00:29

on refection go to bed, this is an apples and pears argument.