Are you a feminist?

[NoLoveofMine]

Yes or no...

I don't think about being a feminist, I just am.
My husband is as well and so are my daughters (11 and 8).

We believe that men and women are equal, but all too often women are still treated as if they are lesser beings.

Seryph

Yep that about sums it up. Everything else is detail.

But Lass sometimes ideas are complex, and you do need polysyllabic words, and referring to theory is helpful!

I am a lawyer. I could when I choose to respond on legal issues do so in a manner which only other lawyers could understand and then sweetly explain them in plain English . There is a difference between discussing complex ideas and using jargon from one's own discipline to show off how clever one is.

She was also quite good at dishing out put downs but got all trembly lipped when posters didn't agree with her. To be honest I think the discussions on FWR have improved enormously without her.

Yes of course.

I also think we need to get past the idea that feminism = equality of the sexes. For many, it's about stopping the oppression of women. It's nothing to do with men, nor should it be. The equality argument only lends itself to MRAs who then take it as "men and women should have identical things" and then spout about how mother's tend to have full custody and get lesser sentences for the same crime - both of these examples are NEVER unpacked to show that, actually, there isn't inequality in either of those instances.

buffy was banned?? no, surely not. I did see her posts had all been withdrawn at some point which is said because she was excellent at explain quite complex stuff. the boards are poorer without her.

Again, I'm tickled by the misrepresentation of feminists as embittered losers seeking to blame their failures on men, any men, all men. Actually, by any measure you care to use, I'm very successful. I have the kind of life that people aspire to (there is no way to put that without sounding arrogant, but there it is).

But it's an inescapable fact that there is stuff in my life that would not have happened if i were a man- sexual harassment, sexual assault, misogynistic bullying at work, and some medical stuff. I'm thankful every day for how lucky I've been, but if 8'd been a man, it could have been even better still...

Also, I'm not an arsehole that thinks just because i'm all right Jack, that I don't have a duty to my fellow women to fight for them, too. The battle is far from over.

Alright, Lass, I take that point, but even if you read a certain posters posts as a bit self-consciously academic, I think that's a personal response to a person, not a reason to form one opinion or another about feminism itself.

Finally, i would like to apologise to nolove as I have made a mockery of her one word rule

It was a fantastic post pretzels showing why the rule warranted being broken!

I learnt loads from Buffy, I don't think she tried to use academic jargon to patronise people, i though she was really clear and concise. And so patient!

I was under the impression that she left because she didn't like the way the trans issue was dominating the feminist board. I seem to remember her posting that she wasn't sure what her position was - and for a good while it was pretty much the only discussion going. It probably doesn't make for very interesting reading if you're not convinced that its a threat to women's rights.

Yes - and I believe that trans women are as an integral part of feminism & the women's movement as the rest of us. Weirdly, Mumsnet is the only place I ever come across the opposite view!

Sophocles

Appalause

I agree, I am lucky. Now. But I have had more than my fair share of sexual assault, bullying and intimidation. And that happened because I am female. I was poor now I'm not. I can do fuck all about being female, despite the anti science mind fuck logic that is pervasive at the moment

"Also, I'm not an arsehole that thinks just because i'm all right Jack, that I don't have a duty to my fellow women to fight for them, too. The battle is far from over."

Totally. I am a feminist because I want to stand with other women and end violence, assault and discrimination for all women. It's the abuse that motivates me, not quotas set by governments etc. I want men to stop hurting women.

Transwomen are not women, they are male

I think that's a personal response to a person, not a reason to form one opinion or another about feminism itself

But what does I am a feminist mean ?Someone has quoted the ever irritating and so pleased with herself Caitlin Moran.

There was a very interesting thread on FWR this week about the equally irritating Kathy Lette who claims she is a feminist but was spouting the most misogynistic nonsense I've seen in a long time.

I didn't reply to the poster at the beginning of the thread who said she is a Muslim and has been told that she means she can't be a feminist. I do think if one embraces certain aspects of Abrahamaic religions it is as redundant as embracing the sex " industry " from the point of view of being a feminist.

"Weirdly, Mumsnet is the only place I ever come across the opposite view!"

I don't think people hold the opposite view. But I do think many people think that there is a vital discussion to be had, and it's not as simple as some people are trying to say it is.

Have not RTFT but no. Rather controversially, I am more interested in the men's rights movement. Some may scoff, but watch the Red Pill movie and perhaps you will understand. I too scoffed initially.

dino - Mumsnet is one of the only places where people are allowed to hold that view.

Other sites ban posters or delete gender critical posts.

What further rights do you think men need Takes?

I'm a feminist in as much a way as wishing we were all equal regardless of gender if that counts.

"Rather controversially, I am more interested in the men's rights movement."

Could you say some more about this?

"Feminism has achieved all of its aims"

Errrrmm, for all of the myriad reasons explained already - it really has only scratched the surface. If you aren't a feminist, then what, you don't believe in the equality of the sexes?

Re - 'that view' about trans and feminism - on MN and with certain feminists on Twitter - Sarah Ditum, Meghan Murphy - you can see that view explored really well. But I agree that in RL it's less visible and not really 'allowed'.

Also I'm not a complete fan of Moran either, and her feminism isn't entirely mine. But I'm still clear on the parts of what she says that I do agree with, and that I'm still a feminist without wholeheartedly agreeing with what she says.

We won't have equality until it is equally as likely to be the man that took the break, and the subsequent career and financial hit, to raise the children.

Why? What is this is fundamentally what most women want, is to be home with their children when they are young?

I am a woman. Why wouldn't I be?

It would be a bit stupid not to be a feminist really. I have met a few women who claim they aren't IRL and when asked a few probing questions it's clear that they are. Their opinion of what feminism actually is is very distorted. They care about the same issues I care about but the word feminist has almost become a dirty word to some.

I believe that trans women are as an integral part of feminism & the women's movement as the rest of us. Weirdly, Mumsnet is the only place I ever come across the opposite view

The reason for that is because is it censored in other places.

Men have been silencing women who dare to challenge them for centuries. It's nothing new, sadly.