AIBU to think women should collectively down tools to demand change?

[ZoeHS]

Reflecting on current news such as the Epstein files and wars which are started by men in which women (and children) are adversely affected. We live in a time where women’s rights are being eroded even more and misogyny is increasing. It feels like being a female means we’re in constant danger despite being the reason for the human race existing. We’re exploited in so many ways. I know it isn’t just men who are the perpetrators, but the vast majority of those doing the exploiting are men.

Do those of us who can strike and down tools collectively?

By downing tools I mean not working, not having sex, not looking after children (or perhaps we take the children with us), not producing, not buying anything. We just sit down and say no. I know on one level that it’s bonkers but I also feel like we need a real disruptive movement to challenge the status quo.

And this is why so many people think feminism is ridiculous. Because this post is just embarrassing and insane.

What I find myself saying a lot lately is ‘thank fuck the birth rate is falling’. Women are quietly quitting.

I don’t think the OP’s suggestion will solve anything or get traction. But I do think a lot more needs to be said about those poor girls killed by the US airstrike on Iran. This hasn’t had nearly the level of international outcry that it warrants.

Because they are educated and have reproductive rights. If the world was really getting more misogynistic the opposite would be happening.

Theres never been a better time to be a girl or woman. Not saying misogyny and patriarchy aren’t still a problem but it’s demonstrably got better.

Didn't Icelandic women do something like this (the stopping working bit). Much easier to organise & get traction with a small population though!

Can you explain to my landlord that because I am female I am not going to work and therefore not pay rent

Let's see how that goes down , I am quite happy to be part of a case study .

Protesting against what, specifically? What change are you hoping for? How will not having sex your husband or refusing to care for your own children achieve that?

Give it a go.

Whoever said up thread that there’s never been a better time to be a woman, really?

Misogyny is different but still very much present in today’s society, and what’s worse is how subtle it is that people don’t even realise it’s happening. This week there was a poster asking if she should continue to pay half the bills on maternity leave, so not only wouldn’t she be earning, she’d have to eat into her saving because she had the audacity to have a baby with her partner. A female tax!

How many threads a week are there about women working full time while bearing the mental load, or doing all the night feeds and childcare while their husband plays hours of sports.

OP we might not be able to down tools but we can certainly change things. We can refuse to have multiple children, refuse to give up our careers and, more powerfully, choose where we spend our money. Look up Buy Women Built and spend your money on these products. Money is power, and women wield a lot more money than we used to.

I heard that some women in the US tried this from a work perspective and the response from the men ended up being "it was great, no one caused any issues and we got stuff done".

Both men and women are exploited, in a variety of ways, and for all of human history we have had to work together to survive. Women in the West currently have it the best we've ever had - yet you'd think we were enslaved if you read even half the codswallop online. If you want to go scream into the void, no one is stopping you, but don't try and drag me into it.

YANBU OP. I often think this sort of thing myself. Bloody men.

Iceland have this every every so many years or so . Very effective.

No, actually I would quite like to work and have sex. I am also fond of producing things and, on occasion, buying things. With my own money.
I totally gave up birthing children and doing any unpaid domestic labour in order to be able to do the above. So that's a viable option.

How am I going to pay my bills and mortgage if I stop working?

Yes really.

I literally said I’m not saying misogyny and patriarchy don’t exist.

But objectively, women’s education, political and workforce participation is the highest it’s ever been. Maternal mortality is the lowest it’s ever been. It has never been better than it is now.

So there are threads about bills on maternity leave, women didn’t used to have maternity leave!

If you think there was a better time in human history to be a woman when was it?

We can fight misogyny but it should be on the basis of we can do better, not the most privileged women to ever exist complaining that it’s the worst ever.

By downing tools I mean not working, not having sex, not looking after children (or perhaps we take the children with us), not producing, not buying anything.

Didn't realise your fella controlled the world; by withholding sex a few times you could enact world peace....

Or your kids had a highline connecting them to the world power; and by them not having their nightly tuck in routine it would trigger systemic change.

What an absolute ridiculous post. Making a difference isnt about withholding anything; its about being present at the table - not serving it.

Since when? Or where? How much do you know of human history? Prior to 1066 women enjoyed much more equality in north Europe. Prior to Rome women had much more equality in many places around the Near East and North Africa. Women were at the root of the founding of ‘modern’ Japan, prior to that same time span. We are just coming out of another period when women were pushed back and written out, that’s all, and too much is always thought of the ‘modern’ times, whenever that ‘modern’ happens to be.

So should I just leave my son and take my daughter? Is there an age limit on children we just abandon to prove a point?
Most women end up doing it all because there isn't really another option. It isn't realistic to think men will suddenly step up and provide adequate child care because the mother isn't around anymore. Look at all the 'weekend dad' threads where men leave their children dirty and feed them shite for days on end because they just can't be bothered. Yeah, course that man will have an epiphany if women go on strike 🙄

Anf of course ‘now’ is most definitely not the best time to be a woman in many parts of the world.

In many places it is probably male rejection of help for women in pregnancy and birth and simply male war that is driving down birth rates.

So who is going to pay my mortgage, and clothe and feed my dc? Shall we go and leave in the street? Your post is based on sexist ideas that a woman doesn’t need to earn money and doesn’t have her own bills to pay.

I agree. I’m sure the women of Afghanistan don’t feel like now is the best time to be a woman

I mean as a protest, not long-term.

To show how much women do and contribute because the world would stop if women didn’t do all that they do.

and I mean on behalf of all women and girls because as shit as it can be in ‘the West’, it’s a thousand times harder for women elsewhere.

Also because I do think the vast majority of men are despicable and would happily exploit women if they could. I think it’s so engrained in society most men don’t even realise they’re doing it.

This thread has so many themes and it’s meant to be provoking, I think we need more discussion.

A news story about a 16 year old in South Africa winning an award for her invention of earrings for women that film - a personal safety device for women. I thought wow what an intelligent and creative girl but then I thought she knows at 16 there’s a need for it and it’s lauded by everyone. Women using their time and resources to keep themselves safe from men - not men changing their behaviour. Perhaps the protest would start with that!

Your problem is that apportioning responsiblity for something like starting wars along line of sex is arbitary. It would sound absurd to say anyone of east asian ethnicity should go on strike, or anyone living in Lancashire. You can't opt out of society while benefitting from the bits you do like. You can of course protest you can't place the blame according to divisions you unilaterally decide apply.

Bonkers on one level?

But even short term, how will that work? Who is going to take care of and feed my DC? Who is going to look after the DC when their school shuts as most of the teachers are female? And god forbid you need healthcare, the NHS employs more women than men.