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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Teaching your children about Egalitarianism, not just Feminism.

190 replies

Geminian · 17/09/2017 11:00

I've just seen a post about a child's T shirt saying Feminism on it, -
although I do see the point and do think it's a lovely idea to promote Feminism - sadly the truth is it will spark up debate with those who are passionate about Feminism (and those who will wonder why on earth you are 'showing off') while you are out shopping which can cause upset while in public and could escalate in front of your children.

My question is, do you really want to put yourself and your children in that situation? And my advice is, why not try "Egalitarianism" instead.

Not many people are aware that there are different types of Feminism as there are different believes but all believe in equality for women, and personally for me, Feminism has been blown out of portion thanks to social media.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
babybat · 17/09/2017 17:12

What's your AIBU, caller?

myfeetarealwayscold · 17/09/2017 17:15

Best laugh I've had in months OP, thanks!

PacificDogwod · 17/09/2017 17:17

Sunshine, really?!

You are not describing my experience.

DJBaggySmalls · 17/09/2017 17:19

I'm not aware of how egalitarianism differs from democracy
Whereas feminism makes people aware that specific groups have issues that affect them. since they are the ones that know about those issues, they are the ones to do something about them.

SmileEachDay · 17/09/2017 17:28

Whilst the vast majority of men and women believe in sexual equality, feminism as a movement is dead and buried and doing women a disservice

Unfortunately the "vast majority" believe nothing of the sort. Or if they do, it's in a lip service kinda way.

I'm genuinely puzzled that you think feminism is dead and buried. I've spent quite a lot of today feministing when I should have been working

backOffSunshine · 17/09/2017 17:31

PacificDogwod

Yes

yes

yes

I wish I could remember the 'feminist charity' which agreed too.

Your experience is out of line with the majority.

I'm not arguing as to whether we need feminism still (that's for another thread). I feel like saying that the label "feminism" has become poisonous and is holding back equality seems like a non-argument with so much evidence.

SmileEachDay

Yet you'll no doubt complain that men who have actually been working are promoted above you and earn more?!?

Gottagetmoving · 17/09/2017 17:32

I think you should leave children out of wearing feminism or any other -isms slogans on their t shirts.
As an adult yourself...wear what you like or your children can as teenagers once they are understanding and thinking for themselves.

SmileEachDay · 17/09/2017 17:39

Yet you'll no doubt complain that men who have actually been working are promoted above you and earn more?!?

No, I'll just do my marking on Monday evening instead. Confused

Ttbb · 17/09/2017 17:41

Do you know what elagiltairianosm actually means? The two are not really interchangeable per se.

Pengggwn · 17/09/2017 17:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SmileEachDay · 17/09/2017 17:51

I have a fringe Peng, if that's any help?

SandSnakeOfDorne · 17/09/2017 17:52

Oh, are we not allowed to use dfod now? Pretty sure I learnt that acronym on MN years and years ago.

ErrolTheDragon · 17/09/2017 17:57

I'd have thought most feminists would teach their children both (and the difference).

I wouldn't have dreamed of dressing my DD in a t shirt with any slogan she didn't fully understand - nor tbh one that didn't have some wit about it.

Totally baffled why the OP would think that wearing the mere word 'Feminism' would be liable to cause 'upset' though.

orlantina · 17/09/2017 18:04

I teach DS about feminism. I also teach him about racism and other 'isms'.

Pengggwn · 17/09/2017 18:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MrsTerryPratchett · 17/09/2017 18:08

🙄

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 17/09/2017 18:11

Feminism is dead and buried

Grin wishful thinking for many bad news for you it's very much around and moving forward around the world

vegetariansAreDelicious · 17/09/2017 18:11

@orlantina

as long as you don't forget denominationalism, hydrotropism and thromboembolism. The important ones Confused

PacificDogwod · 17/09/2017 18:19

Well, I'm a feminist. more so now (in my 50s) than I would've said I was in my 20s - it is more relevant now than it has been in the last couple of decades or so IMO.

Sunshine, I am not sure what the newspaper articles you linked to prove?
That many people have no clue what 'feminism' means?
That there are many 'flavours' of feminism?
That there are many people don't see their privilege/oppression (sometimes at the same time)??

Feminism is alive and well and evolving, of course.
I don't really care what label or name it is given and if "FeminismTM" needs to be rebranded I really don't give a monkey's.
It's there, by whatever name.

I like internationalism Grin

Laiste · 17/09/2017 18:21

''I've just seen a post about a child's T shirt saying Anti-racism on it, -
although I do see the point and do think it's a lovely idea to promote Anti-racism - sadly the truth is it will spark up debate with those who are passionate about Anti-racism (and those who will wonder why on earth you are 'showing off') while you are out shopping which can cause upset while in public and could escalate in front of your children.

My question is, do you really want to put yourself and your children in that situation? And my advice is, why not try "Egalitarianism" instead.

Not many people are aware that there are different types of Anti-racism as there are different believes but all believe in equality for people, and personally for me, Anti-racism has been blown out of portion thanks to social media.''

It's amused me to write it like this instead ^^

''Lovely idea''. ''showing off''. Deary me.

Anyway - i agree with pps, no slogans on kids. Children aren't notice boards.

backOffSunshine · 17/09/2017 18:28

PacificDogwod

That whatever some people like to pretend 'feminism' currently means, it certainly doesn't mean the same to the majority of men and women.

Words change their meaning. 'Nice' and 'silly' have near antonymous meanings to that which they had a few years ago. As the meaning of a word tends to be determined by popular interpretation, surely it's fair to say it's a negative label? You and a minority of others loudly shouting 'but you're all wrong' misses the point of popular belief, popular support and popular culture.

PacificDogwod · 17/09/2017 18:32

Oh, I love language and how the meaning of words change - no argument there.
"Gay" being a lovely example.

Coming back to the OP - Feminism does not equal Egalitarianism, nor should it. By whatever name.
And yes, slogans on kids' t-shirts are naff.

MerchantofVenice · 17/09/2017 19:50

feminism is dead and buried

Grin

Nice try.

Polidori · 17/09/2017 19:51

Got my daughter a feminism hoodie for her birthday this year (11yo). She loves it. If I were to suggest to her that she didn't understand it she'd have words.

invictusGames · 18/09/2017 03:21

she'd have words.

Would those words be 'patriarchy', 'oppressed class' and 'toxic masculinity'?

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