...to feel depressed that only 7% of UK identify as Feminist?

[DioneTheDiabolist]

www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/2016/01/we-are-a-nation-of-hidden-feminists/

7% of the population and just 9% of women in this country identify as feminist. I'm not saying that everyone should call themselves feminist, I care more about what people do, rather than the label they assign themselves. But I am that the number is so low.

Given that most people believe in sexual equality, why do so many people not feel comfortable to call themselves feminist? And what (if anything) can we do about it?

I have never felt inferior to a man. I believe in equality, and people playing to their strengths. I'm also a realist.

Have perused the feminist threads on here and witnessed epic levels of hair splitting, petty point scoring and truly rabid behaviour if you aren't one of the wimminhood.

I believe men and women are every inch equal; and should have access to the same opportunities and play by the same rules. I feel feminism promotes women, not equality

If it sometimes seems that way, this is why.

I'm proud to call myself a feminist, I don't understand why any self respecting independent woman wouldn't. Because of feminism you have the vote, you can work, own property, do whatever you like. I never understand the vitriol towards the FWR boards either, lots of different flavours of feminism are represented and generally only MRAs get given short shrift.

as a male I used to call my self a feminist until reading several articles telling me men couldn't be feminists

True feminism demands Equality for all.

I'm another one who doesn't like the label and doesn't identify with it.

I believe in equality for everyone - irrespective of gender, age, race, you name it. We're all people and unless we do something to make ourselves less than equal (e.g. by committing a crime), we should all be afforded the same respect and the same rights.

Of course I'm interested in women's rights - but I'm not just interested in women's rights. It's why the label feels inherently wrong.

The comments about life being peachy in the uk are rather classist and blind. Do you think your common or garden working class woman has the same kind of equality that every non-feminist identifying "because we don't need it any more" has?

Women I know who work their little pin money jobs and have full responsibility for kids and house, while their dp swaggers about like it's the 1950s? Off to the pub every evening spending money that she would rather he didn't? Til eventually the man decides he's had enough of her and swans off, leaving her claiming benefits and scraping by til the kids are in high school? When of course she can only get the shitwork that no one else wants?
Yes it exists in the MC, but it's everywhere in the WC.

Yes I bloody well call myself a feminist.

We've had a few generations who have had voting rights, contraception, the right to own one's property etc, so women have forgotten what feminism has achieved and can achieve.
Also, most people are unwilling or unable to look beyond the modern liberal values of individualism and personal "choice" and see the bigger picture wrt sex, race, social class, etc.

I'm more bothered that only 67% believed in equality. Can't quite get my head round why that's so low.

I am a feminist because I believe that there is still much work to do with regards to gender equality. It's not really about promoting women for the benefit of women but for the benefit of everyone. A good example being if women and female "traits" were not viewed so negatively men may feel more able to discuss their emotions and this could help lower the male suicude rates.

There are hundreds of issues, that bother me in big and small a ways, surrounding inequality for all people, feminism I see as one way of addressing some of those.

The idea that some people that use a label have quite militant/extreme views is nothing new, happens in political parties, religions, band fan clubs, seems a shame to drop the name because of the loud views of the few. But I understand why people might not want to use the word feminism if they feel it does not convey what they mean accurately, to whoever they are conversing with etc.

I'm not that surprised. There is a growing backlash against what used to be known as "progressive" values at the moment. And even in the heydays of feminism (e.g. the eras of the suffragettes and Greenham Common) it was never supported by the majority of people.

I believe in feminism but I don't label myself... labels are food and clothing, not people!

I don't believe in feminism.

I beleive in equality.

I know in theory the two should go hand in hand, but a vocal minority has sullied the name of feminism, and I will never associate myself with it.

Isn't a feminist a female MSP?
Ok somewhat provocative but some ardent feminists aren't looking for equality but supremacy. Two wrongs don't make a right.

I don't call myself a feminist as I don't want to be associated with many of them and their ideologies. Especially if feminism is what many on this site think it is. I do believe in equality though, for all, and can certainly see injustice in the world (for women and others). Life seems to be a constant battle, you think progressive ways are winning, but then people like Trump and Farage win the day again. That's bloody depressing, not what people choose to label themselves. I don't call myself a Christian either, but I try and follow the mantra of 'treat others as you would like to be treated'. Not labelling yourself into one group doesn't mean we don't share ideals.

Surely it is pretty obvious that feminism as a term covers a wide spectrum of strength of opinion...All centred around women being equal to men. If you won't admit to agreeing with equality because some people hold stronger views than you would face then that seems a little like cutting your nose off to spite your face.

Exactly, witsender!

As for feminists being female MSPs, I really despair.

I'm happy to call myself feminist.

I'm happy to call myself a woman, short, British, European, etc, etc,

I don't feel these labels diminish me in any way. Ok, short does.

I find it harder to admit I'm a mumsnetter.

I find it peculiar that people say (a very few number of) feminist extremist put them off. If people were put off civil rights because they didn't like the particular approach of say, Malcolm X, I'd suggest their commitment to civil rights was already very weak.

The media did a real number on feminism. Weird when you think of who that would benefit, isn't it.

At heart, I am a feminist. I grew up in a very traditional, working class small town, and I didnt like or agree with the way women were treated/what was expected of them. When I was younger I was quite militant about this. I still feel the UK is an unequal, sexist place. I have absolute respect for women like the suffragettes/working class women campaigning for equal pay in the 70s.

I would not call myself a feminist as I dont feel I have much in common with feminists I have encountered and I feel there is a negative stereotype. Poss a bit controversial but I also feel some feminists I have come across/who's opinions I have read, like to try and tell other women what they should think. I dont like that and they remind me of my dinosaur grandad, who also liked to say what women should do and think.

I don't remember taking part in this survey, and as a feminist in the UK i'd question how representative it's findings actually are.

How many countries in the world are there where being a feminist / standing up for women's rights isn't something that is looked askance at by large swathes of the population / the media / the people in charge?

I don't think this is probably a particularly UK thing. The reasons that people find for it in different countries will differ, as they have in the UK over time (although not that much).
e.g. posters about the suffragettes saying they're ugly harridans who can't get a man etc etc

Bertsdinner I identify with your post.

If you won't admit to agreeing with equality because some people hold stronger views than you would face then that seems a little like cutting your nose off to spite your face.

I admit to agreeing with equality.
I do not agree with obnoxious bullies.

Of course I am a feminist and proud to call myself one

Do I care that those who do not want women to be equal in society will perpetrate the idea and label me as man hating or imply I am hairy and fat and unattractive to men this is why I hate them

No I don't

Do I agree with all feminists on all issues no I don't but I recognise that because of feminism I have a voice and to deny that is down to feminism is to ignore the freedoms and opportunities that our mothers, grandmothers, great grandmothers and women in my family didn't have

troll - from the link

"Respondents were asked to choose between seven statements: 1) “I describe myself
as a feminist”, 2) “I believe in equality for women and men but I don’t describe
myself as a feminist”, 3) I feel excluded by feminism”, 4) “I think feminism is
irrelevant”, 5) “I am opposed to feminism”, 6) “I don’t know what feminism stands
for” or 7) “none of the above”. All those who selected options 1) and 2) are
described as believing in equality for women and men as feminism entails this belief.
This group as also described as “sympathetic” to feminism as they support the key
principle of gender equality. Those who selected options 4), 5) and 6) are described
as “unsympathetic.”"

I think the questions and results are a bit - dunno. It pays to read the whole thing.