Are you a feminist? Just a yes or no.

[RedHareWithBlondeHair]

No need to go further into your reasoning if you don't want to but this has always a been curious issue to me and came up today with one of my colleagues. She is a feminist by how she described her beliefs but doesn't actually adopt the term.

I can't be part of this almost cult-like belief that all men are cunts and are out to rape us or flash their dicks at our children at any given opportunity. If that means I can't be a feminist then so be it.

But nobody thinks that. Nobody thinks ALL MEN are rapists, that would be ridiculous.

Some feminists (me included) think ALL MEN have a responsibility to end misogyny and unfairness for women, and male violence and a host of other problems overwhelmingly (not solely) carried out by men - because I don’t see how women can solve that. But you don’t have to agree with me to be a feminist.

Yep!

Yes

No

No, I think I should be treated like a lesser person because I'm a woman.
I think the majority of those who say no have lost sight of what feminism really is.

(Of course it's a yes )

Yes

Yes! But I’ve not always been comfortable with the term feminist! It had very bad connotations for me and it’s only over the last two years when I truly thought about what it meant to me. I now feel comfortable embracing it.

Yes

Yes

Slumber, I think the subtlety of language is also at play here. To me the bigger question coming out of this is "which people have lost sight of what feminism is? " Words and definitions change over time and that is dictated by interpretation of the majority.

Every reasonable person should want equal rights for women. If there are reasonable people who are uncomfortable with the feminist label then there is a problem.

*Qcumber not slumber.

Too old to have to tolerate this kind of shit from predictive text

Yes

Yes

Yes. I am also a radical feminist and a proud and out TERF.

No and I will tell you why.

Because there are actually nut job feminists out there who believe men are all rapists and are all dick heads who shouldn't be alive. Granted they are mainly in america but still they do exist.

I am an equalist which while that is what feminism is meant to stand for, it no longer does to me.

I saw an article recently on the BBC glorifying how some counties in Britain actually on average pay women more than men for the same job. That's still not equality. That is favouring women. That is not meant to be the point of feminism. That is just as unfair as favouring men.

Also, demanding that more women need to be in certain jobs is not right. Maybe they don't want those jobs? I see no one campaigning for more men as midwives, or more women as 'bin men'. The SNP are going to spend £500,000 to get more women into politics. Money that could be better spent on the crumbling NHS, police and fire services here. But no, let's force more women into parliament where they may not be qualified for the job other than by having boobs.

If feminism goes back to what it's meant to be, I would be a feminist. But judging the actions of governments and people, it is not equality they are seeking.

‘If feminism goes back to what it’s neant to be’...?

What, like getting women the right to vote?

Hmm, ok.

@Youngmystery it's similar to the "token black person". I've always wondered why deliberately choosing women for things is acceptable, surely that is more offensive? I remember seeing an article about why aren't there more female CEOs - we'll maybe none of them were suitable candidates. People should be chosen on their merit and capability, not gender or race etc. I think it's worse choosing someone who might not be qualified to do the job just because they need to meet the woman quota.

I hate that short sighted view of positive discrimination. Ask yourself how that man got his experience and skills and why they are lacking in the women interviewed. That’s why we need positive discrimination

Positive discrimination or female only shortlists do not equal ‘choosing someone just because they are a woman’.

They are about recognising that women - talented, qualified women - are not equally represented in the vast majority of decision-making roles, including government. Pretty important that we should be, though, no?

Are people genuinely still confused about this? Jesus

Absolutely!! In the last 5 years I've become even more so. Certainly not radically. I just (maybe overly optimistically) want equal rights for both genders globally. I'm also keen to avoid gender stereotyping on either side.

Yes

Youngmystery you have put into words my thoughts when I originally posted 'no' on this thread earlier. I agree with everything you said in your post.

Of course YES

And yes from my husband too x