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.

Why would I penalise myself by not working?
Why would I penalise my husband - who I love - for something he didn't do?
How do I exist if I just decide to not buy anything? Do I live on air?

No. It is not on women to fix wrongs against us. And it's on not on good men to take the brunt either.

So you want us to act against our own and our partners interests, because people who are not us and in relation to whom our actions have zero impact, might be in less favourable situations?

if they’re in the west and ‘have no chocoe’ they need to contact the police/ DV support. If you’re on about Afghans - we can’t help them and it would be virtue signalling only.

I honestly don’t think women are at the table, no. By women, I mean all women not just the privileged ones.

Then you’re part of the problem.

I think the poster was walking about the privilege of women in the UK and the West!

Right... But why would I punish my husband (and myself) for something he didn't do? How would not having sex in my - consensual and loving - marriage, prevent others being forced to have sex against their will?

Let all our daughters be femcel NEETs

The trouble is ‘women’ are no more a uniform group than men are. Yet go and look at pics in news articles concerning international politics and what you’ll see is men, men, men and more men. Women are not at the tables of power recently. In Britain, MPs have been complaining of the ‘boys club’ in Westminster, and women are particularly vulnerable to increasing threats of violence.

We’re only the most privileged to exist if you’re fousing on the west. There are many, many women around the world for whom this is not true.

Of course women are “at the table” in the UK.

And a couple of middle aged blokes in England not getting shagged isn’t going to give women more equality or rights in whatever non western country you’re thinking of.

It’s all quite literally the most nonsensical thing over ever heard.
It’s like a gcse politics argument.

Oh I’m totally being vague but I’m definitely stomping my feet because I think it’s really shit for women in general.

I think the thing I’m most ‘stomping my feet’ about is the exploitation of women (and children) and the way in which it’s just cast off as if it’s nothing.

Talking to my 16 year old and her friends about how they boys act nowadays v what I experienced when I was 16, I can say hand on heart, things are not better for her in that regard . She has different challenges, will face fewer problems when she hits the world of work, but the attitude of many of today’s teenage boys, who will grow up to be men with those attitudes, are a setback to where we were. We may be more privileged than ever in terms of the law but there are problems brewing with this generation of boys.

And you think the way to address the exploitation of children is for women to stop caring for them, even their own?

I mean worldwide.

If I was going to get even more bonkers with my GCSE argument, I’d suggest shutting down every porn website too.

We also have the autonomy, well in the UK anyway, to say "fuck you shitty man that I chose to marry" i'm off.

I was with you OP until I read this "not having sex."

Personally I don't see how "cutting your nose off to spite your face", helps anything 😄

Yes they can.

But it was designed as a female safety device.

A 16 year old girl thought “girls and women need discrete recording devices to help protect them against violence and abuse so I’ll just invent that.”

Unfocused not going shopping (and not fucking) is embarrassing precisely because it is unfocused. A concerted and targeted withdrawal of labour for particular objectives - rather than 'so there' sulking - might initiate discussion and change

It’s so controversial I know and I hear you! Imagine the Daily Mail headlines!

I think it would be to prove that often women are just seen as providers/vessels for sex and children.

Lots of people posting are in lovely, consensual relationships where sex is a wonderful thing for both people and that is great. That’s not the case for many women and maybe we need widespread disruption to start a conversation. Even just the mention of it starts a conversation right?

I’m not saying it will change things overnight but perhaps we need something that will plant the seeds of major change.

She didn’t invent it though, pin cameras have always existed. Have you never heard of meta glasses?

OP kicked off her post with Epstein who, as far as I understand, was not a principal mover in Yemen or Nigeria but the poster boy for Western male privilege and under age trafficking and exploitation of women and girls

I pretty much don't agree with the OP but what a depressing selection (not all) of answers from either males, MRAs or the usual bloody handmaidens

Why would I give up my job when it provides me with independence and helps me and dh have a nice standard of living? We don't have young children so there's no reason for me not to work and why would I put him under the pressure of being the only one bringing in an income when he would never do it to me. I have never been forced into sex or forced to have and care for children I didn't really want. I have been berated on here by angry feminists just because I took my husbands surname, who's business is that and why does that affect anyone else? Some people must have had some shit men in their lives to have that attitude.

So, all of us (mothers of males) what are we doing/not doing that our sons are falling so short?
And yes. I AM putting it on us mothers to bring up our sons to be decent men.
All these "bad" men have had mothers at some point.

Oh yes it’s so vague. I made a list of things I think would disrupt society and the economy if women stopped doing them.

Not shopping and consuming because women are big consumers. The economy needs our money!