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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU.. What exactly is feminism?

277 replies

FedUp24 · 19/12/2016 09:53

Hi ladies

What exactly is feminism?

I've always thought it is women fighting for equal rights as men, but there seems to be more to it?

Do feminists believe that all men believe they are superior to women? Are women who choose to not be feminists not really choosing? They only think they are?

I'm just a bit confused!

OP posts:
onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 19/12/2016 13:04

I have never witnessed men and women being paid differently for the same job, it's completely illegal for a start

In the interests of transparency figures on pay were recently revealed to employees in a well known Russell group university which showed a 17 per cent gender pay gap. In some cases women who were in jobs higher up the hierarchical scale were paid less than men lower down the scale. This is absolutely true and not exactly what I would call equality.

BertrandRussell · 19/12/2016 13:06

"Just been to pornhub Bert. Looks like acting to me"

Your point?

Missswatch · 19/12/2016 13:07

It's acting. It's not real. You think 50 shades is real? Or Eyes Wide Shut?

Coffeerun · 19/12/2016 13:08

No I'm not confusing regular porn with fetish porn.

It's quite clear from this thread that some people can't see the woods for the trees.

Porn heavily promotes the idea that women are objects for the gratification of men, should be constantly aroused and on tap, that women send mixed signals but are really up for it. That men need sex and are entitled to it.

That is just one tiny aspect of rape culture.

If you believe women are in porn through choice then you believe that Santa is real.

BertrandRussell · 19/12/2016 13:09

Properly baffled now.

Coffeerun · 19/12/2016 13:10

What has acting got to do with promoting rape?

Missswatch · 19/12/2016 13:10

They are being paid to act

Bobkinyoyo · 19/12/2016 13:10

50 shades is basically rape porn. Vile stuff.

Coffeerun · 19/12/2016 13:11

Wtf does them being paid to act have to do with the messages porn sends out?

BertrandRussell · 19/12/2016 13:14

Oh give me strength.

SpeakNoWords · 19/12/2016 13:14

I think Missswatch means that because it's "only" acting, it isn't real and therefore can't be promoting rape culture. The women are only acting scared and hurt, so that's ok!

Coffeerun · 19/12/2016 13:14

Do you think that impressionable teenage boys and girls are able to fully distinguish between porn and reality?

Do you think that porn has no influence at all over people's behaviour?

Do you think that pop music and music videos have no influence over behaviour?

saltydogandme · 19/12/2016 13:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Missswatch · 19/12/2016 13:20

Do you think that pop music and music videos have no influence over behaviour?

My favourite. Why don't feminists attack rap music? They can't, they'll be seen as racist

BertrandRussell · 19/12/2016 13:26

Feminists do attack rap music. Often.

BertrandRussell · 19/12/2016 13:28

Miss. do you think that mainstream porn has an influence on the way boys and men think about women? And an influence on what girls and women feel they should respond to men?

Datun · 19/12/2016 13:29

My favourite. Why don't feminists attack rap music? They can't, they'll be seen as racist

Of course feminists attack rap music! The colour of the singer is irrelevant to the message. Ffs.

Bobkinyoyo · 19/12/2016 13:42

Why don't feminists attack rap music

We do Confused

yorkshapudding · 19/12/2016 13:46

The idea that mainstream porn doesn't promote rape culture is laughable. A recurring theme in mainstream, easily accessible porn is women being degraded and humiliated by men until they realise that they like it and at that point they beg for more.

I work with teenage girls and they frequently tell me that they are coerced, harassed and emotionally blackmailed into performing sex acts that they find to be humiliating and unpleasant because boys have seen it in porn (and we are talking free, easily accessible, mainstream stuff here) and so this is what they 'expect'.

The success of Robin Thicke's nauseating 'Blurred Lines' has already been cited on this thread as evidence that we live in a rape culture. But the messages shamelessly promoted in that disgrace of a song (basically that when a woman says she doesn't want sex, she really does) are massively prevalent in mainstream porn, cinema, music and advertising, they just aren't always as blatant. Anyone remember when the US company Bloomingdales released that ad that had a joke about Christmas being "a chance to spike your female friends eggnog when she's not looking?" What is that if not encouraging rape?? Or is that ok with some posters on this thread because it's just a joke? Hmm

If you believe that women have achieved equality in our society then you're kidding yourself. There is so much evidence all around you that we still live in a patriarchal society and you're choosing to ignore it.

Missswatch · 19/12/2016 13:55

Mercedes Carrera. Major porn star who hates feminists. Why is this?

SpeakNoWords · 19/12/2016 13:56

Why? Is it relevant? What's your point?

BertrandRussell · 19/12/2016 13:56

I don'5 know, missswatch. You tell me.

Bobkinyoyo · 19/12/2016 13:59

Are you actually going to respond to anyone's well reasoned points, miss?

I imagine she hates feminists for the same reason a lot of other people hate feminists - misogyny and misinformation.

Bobkinyoyo · 19/12/2016 14:02

miss appears to logon to mumsnet for the sole purpose of slagging off feminists and/or women so....make of that what you will.

Missswatch · 19/12/2016 14:03

Whatever floats your boat Bobkin. Think I'll go back to politics :)