to be depressed that only 9% of women identify as feminists?

[parklyfe]

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/only-7-per-cent-of-britons-consider-themselves-feminists/

''When split out by gender, women were more likely to identify as feminist, with nine per cent using the label compared to four per cent of men.''

I don't think many people freaked out by possible trans risks are feminists, actually.
I remember one case of being freaked out by a possible man in a wig entering a changing room in a normal clothes shop.
Quite different from arguments about people who have basically experienced life as men speaking out as women, or ending up taking places that have been fought over for women to level the field between the sexes.

Hardly the same.

And it doesn't bode well for any argument such liberal use of capitals.
Or sound bites that are total misrepresentations.

I think it's because people don't like to be labelled. By calling myself a feminist I am labelling myself something.

I am a feminist though - just not an extreme one.

I believe in equality, I don't think women need special treatment / privilege

We have the equalities act - so how is that working out for you as a woman

UptownFunk00
But saying you're not a feminist automatically identifies you as supporting male privilege.

You're always identified as something.

I disagree lewji

I say I am not catholic. I was but now am not. It doesn't make me an atheist.

It doesn't compare.
If you're not a Catholic you can have another religion, or be agnostic.

But how can you be somewhere between misogynist and feminist?
You either believe in equality or not.

Actually, my bad. Maybe many women believe in female superiority.

But how can you be somewhere between misogynist and feminist?
You either believe in equality or not.

But some people believe in equality without wanting the label of feminist.

Who says you have to be one or the other? Where is that rule?

"I am a feminist though - just not an extreme one."

Can you say what you mean by an extreme feminist?

As I said earlier Bert, it must involve reading Andrea Dworkin while slaloming down a mountain. Maybe even with a burning bra tied to one ski pole?

I've tried to join in on the feminist boards at times (as I'm sure lots of women have) but I find them a bit elitist.
If you don't know all the jargon then you feel a bit sidelined.

I think there should be a section on there for newbies.
A place where people can discuss things, without fear of being looked down on for using the wrong terms.

I'm sure a 'new to feminism' section would draw a lot more women in. Women who want to learn more but feel a bit intimidated.

If you want more women to identify as feminists you have to be a bit more welcoming.

But some people believe in equality without wanting the label of feminist.
Who says you have to be one or the other? Where is that rule?

It's in the definitions.
Neither involves registering and actually carrying a card. People are defined by their beliefs, not what they decide to call themselves.

YABU. I can be what I want.

Or discovering your own cervix with a mirror while sliding down a mountain on a repurposed ironing board.................

I don't see why it bothers anyone whether someone else identifies as a feminist or not. If you are a feminist that's great, but it really doesn't matter if the woman next to you doesn't identify as one. I'm sure said woman still believes in equality.

I also feel a little disappointed - I personally never usually comment on feminist threads as they can feel a little scary, but I commented my opinions a few pages back which were completely ignored when I had some interesting points that I was keen to have discussed.

As if by magic......

Lweji
But saying you're not a feminist automatically identifies you as supporting male privilege.
You're always identified as something.

People are defined by their beliefs, not what they decide to call themselves.

Are you arguing for or against labels? Your comments seem contradictory.

'I'm sure a 'new to feminism' section would draw a lot more women in. Women who want to learn more but feel a bit intimidated.'

Yes! patient posters could give us an idiots guide, educate us without judging. I mean yes still chuck out the insults and sarcasm to those who are goading but the genuinely clueless could have somewhere to go to learn.

Maybe a good suggestion to make to MNHQ?

butterfly- I've just gone back and found your post. I think that on a fast moving thread like this things to get missed- I wrote a post at 2.00 yesterday that I hoped would get comments but it didn't (I'll try and make the same points again sometime soon!) I think as well that you were making points that other people had also made in different ways- the percieved conflict between femininity and feminism, for example, so you got a bit swamped in the flood. Why not post on the [http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/2578468-The-feminist-boards-have-been-a-bit-busy-the-last-few-days-and-people-are-saying-that-they-find-them-a-bit-too-intense-particularly-for-people-new-to-feminism? bring your questions here thread]]?

That link went well!

here!

Iwuddarryl- you might be interested too.

I don't call myself a feminist because feminists say women should make their own choices, which would be fine if feminists actually accepted women's decisions. So for that reason alone I don't identify as a feminist.

My choice is to stay at home and look after my children. And cook. And clean. And iron my DH's clothes. And I like to dress nice and wear makeup/do my hair nice.

MY choice.

But who makes the definitions?

The English language evolves all the time. If the vast majority of people who think that women should have equal rights and there is more to be done to get to that point don't want to label themselves as feminist, or don't think they are feminist, then isn't there a reasonable argument to be made that the definition has changed slightly?

The survey never really digs into why those people don't identify as feminist. Looking at the answers to the question about saying the first thing that comes into your head when you think of feminism, there might actually be a number of different reasons.

"My choice is to stay at home and look after my children. And cook. And clean. And iron my DH's clothes. And I like to dress nice and wear makeup/do my hair nice.

MY choice."

Has someone said you can't?