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.

Discussing an issue with other people means that some of those people will undoubtedly disagree. In fact, 75% of people on this thread disagree with the OP.

OP is entitled to feel how she does, and I am equally entitled to find the OP’s comments insulting. If that is “way out of line” for you, then I suggest you have led a very sheltered life.

You can strongly disagree or find it bonkers without calling it “insulting”. That she has different views to yours is not an insult to your superior intellect, it’s a different opinion.

You made it personal and all about you. My life has not been sheltered, but yours seems or you would be less intolerant and self-centered.

And someone who claims to be a feminist should really not jump at the jugular of other women like that.

Feminism is for all women, even the ones you disagree with. Freedom of expression is for everyone, even the ones you disagree with.

https://www.thedayicelandstoodstill.com/

The women of Iceland did this in 1975 to some effect. So calling the original post embarrassing and inane is a bit ... embarrassing and inane. '

I understand the sentiment OP.

However, I'm a single mum with a child. I have sole control of my home, raising my son, my finances, what I buy, what I do. My boss is a woman. I gave up on any intimate relationship with a man 15 years ago.

Now my only interactions with men are professional, either work relationships in my office or hiring a plumber or car mechanic.

I've quiet quit already. 😊

The women of Iceland did so in order to change their own society. OP would seem to have us believe that our doing so could change Afghan society, which is laughable.

The only thing it would do here would be to divide good men from the women, since (and this may come as a surprise) good men dont actually like being labelled as bad people when they’ve done nothing wrong.

The bad men wouldn’t give a flying fuck.

You’re right, freedom of expression is for everyone, including me. You appear to be under the impression that I should somehow justify my belief’s to you. I’m not going to do that. women are allowed to challenge each other’s ideas and speak honestly about them. But your level of anger towards me for doing just that is disproportionate and seems to suggest that you actually don’t think I should have a voice. That is actually the most anti-feminist thing I’ve read on this thread.

When you say “your idea is shit” and “you’re shit”, you don’t say the same thing.

Why find “insulting” such an hypothetical, inconsequential, pie in the sky, off the cuff vague idea? Especially when we’re on the same side or try to?

I’ll leave you to it.

The Scandinavian people are good at cooperating and planning.

In Sweden people were angry that homosexuality was defined as an illness so at some point ( the seventies?) a lot of people would call in sick at work because they were feeling a bit homosexual that day.

The government decided that homosexuality wasn't an illness after all.

Posts like these are why I hid the feminism topic

@inkognitha I’m not quite sure what you’re trying to say here.

But disagreement in a conversation is normal, and any mature adult should be capable of such conversations without anger. For example, I don’t get angry with women who vote conservative, despite the fact that I feel that anyone who votes for them has a low moral compass.

I love this.

Sadly most of the responses on this thread show why we never get anywhere.

We could have so much more power if we would only work together. It was done in the past (look at Normal Women by Philippa Gregory where some towns had prices controlled by gangs of older women).

The reason we sometimes get nowhere is that some people stay trapped in some kind of feminist purity spiral. If the aim is to work towards a shared goal, then there has to be room for disagreement. We have to stop accusing woman who disagree with us as not being feminist enough. Otherwise our discussions just turn into policing each others ideas

You start it then. See how many followers you get.

I’m not sure if that is to the OP or me?

The OP. Sorry. I agree with your post.

If the world is such a terrible place and men are so evil and you want to do something about it then become an anti-natalist. You can't change the way the world is you can only decide not to bring any innocent children into it. If you continue to do so then you're part of the problem. I don't thank anyone for keeping the human race going and if all you lot can do is complain about it I don't know why you are patting yourselves on the back for being the reason humans exist.

You want us to make ourselves extinct?

@FreshInks it's the only thing that'll work. That's if the world is such a terrible place of course.

As solutions go, it’s a tad on the dramatic side

You’re basically saying our options are to put up with shitty men or die.

@FreshInks who said anything about dying? Not bringing children here doesn't kill anyone. In fact the only way you die is to be born in the first place.

As solutions go, it’s a tad on the dramatic side

It's real change though isn't it instead of just moaning constantly about the state of the world/men. To decide to not bring children here to be victims is completely within our power. Because it doesn't matter how much you demand the world to change it won't ever be completely safe will it. I'd rather not take the risk and what I won't do is bring kids here and then look around hand-wringing about the state of the world when I already knew that before I made that choice.

I phrased it badly. Are you saying that we should either put up with crap men or allow the human race to die out?

So you’re basically talking about antinatalism then?

Over the years I’ve heard some pretty awful things said to and about women, especially feminists. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything quite as vile as suggesting it would be better for humanity to die out than to address the socioeconomic inequalities that many women face.

I'm saying if men are the issue how do you intend to change their very nature? There is a difference between having to put up with "crap men" and what OP is suggesting which is that men as a whole are the issue and that women need to punish them all.

Over the years I’ve heard some pretty awful things said to and about women, especially feminists. But I don’t think I’ve ever heard anything quite as vile as suggesting it would be better for humanity to die out than to address the socioeconomic inequalities that many women face.

I don't think you will change the way the world works. Either it's good enough to bring children into or it's not. Personally I decided not.

Are you doing okay? You sound a little depressed. I genuinely don't mean that as an insult, it comes from a place of kindness.