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 agree with PPs that pornography objectifies women and it creates the market that encourages trafficking and exploitation by gangs. The charity I'm involved with helps Central Asian women who have been trafficked or go into prostitution because they have no other way of supporting their families. You might say they chose to go into the sex industry but a lot of these women were child brides or raped and can no longer earn a living any other way because of the shame they face from their families. Why don't the men have to face any shame because of their actions.

Believe me, my involvement with this charity has definitely made me into more of a feminist.

Yes

Yes.

So if you don’t think thinks it’s because men are naturally and biologically better at IT than women, surely it’s a logical conclusion to think ‘IT is a male dominated industry because women haven’t had the same opportunity to get into IT’ for whatever reason - whether it’s because of lack of support in schools to go in that direction or because IT is considered a boys subject that excludes girls or because IT companies are unwilling to take on women or whatever - that’s why women-only programmes exsists. To look at the reasons why some industries are male-dominated and try to balance it out.

But if I can come from a science background with a bachelors degree and then randomly decide 'I think I'll do a masters in IT and do something different' why can't anyone else? My masters by the way provided me with NOTHING helpful for the actual job. But I still did it despite being at a disadvantage and being a woman. Despite it being apparently a men only job and without having a woman only shortlist.

You don't need those things. If you want to believe you can't do something because it's men only that's your choice. I know I couldn't be an engineer because I suck at maths. Got nothing to do with me being a woman.

Yes

Yes

BertrandRussell

"No woman, husband, brother, son or father should be against any type of equality for women."

Are you sure about that

What is there to be unsure About?

Every woman and every man should be supporting equality. It's a fairly uncontroversial statement.

And as our society objectifies women and we don't like it, what about all of the naked make calendars and the strippers women get for their hen dos? Is that not objectifying men? But I don't hear anyone complaining or protesting about that.

@Youngmystery men don't get trafficked in the way that women are. So that's why it's really not the same thing.

But I don't hear anyone complaining or protesting about that.

If men object, they are quite free to protest! Or do you expect women to do that too?

But I still did it despite being at a disadvantage and being a woman.

Good for you. Doesn't mean everyone can do it though, does it? Statistics show that women are less likely to be promoted and move ahead in a company, especially if they have a family.

Yes.

Absolutely 100%.

Yes

Yes.

Anyone that says they're not a feminist doesn't believe in equal opportunities for women.

Yes! Anyone who says they aren't doesn't understand what the word means

Yes

Yes.

Kaytee87 and Intelinside, you are both wrong, shortsighted and incredibly arrogant. I’m well aware of what the word means and I do believe in equal rights for women. My choice not to identify as a delist has no bearing on my understanding of the word or concept. It is just that, my CHOICE.

The definition of a feminist is someone who believes in equal rights for women.
It's not hard.

So you are a feminist then! Phew. That's good. Call yourself whatever you want, but you are one.

The question is are you a feminist so based on your post, the answer is "yes you are"

Yes

But if I can come from a science background with a bachelors degree and then randomly decide 'I think I'll do a masters in IT and do something different' why can't anyone else? My masters by the way provided me with NOTHING helpful for the actual job. But I still did it despite being at a disadvantage and being a woman. Despite it being apparently a men only job and without having a woman only shortlist.

You don't need those things. If you want to believe you can't do something because it's men only that's your choice. I know I couldn't be an engineer because I suck at maths. Got nothing to do with me being a woman.

I don’t know why IT is male dominated - but I suspect there are reasons for it. Otherwise why is it male dominated? It seems a bit strange to claim that IT is a male dominated industry (your original point) and then deny that being female is in any way a barrier to that industry.

Arrogance, arrogance arrogance, All over the bloody thread.
If you want to label me a feminist, go right ahead. It's not exactly offensive and I've been called worse things. However, the need to use that label to silence my personal view of the matter without even knowing my personal experience and why I choose to answer "no" is exactly the attitude that leads me to answer "no".

Yes