Introducing my partner to feminism...

[blinder]

On the back of a spate of good feminism threads here lately I am looking for book recommendations to give to my DP as an introduction to a feminist critique of society.

He's not a particularly neanderthal man - he loves Naomi Klein for example - but he's a bit uneducated about the reality facing women today.

We have a six month old daughter and it worries us both that she is being launched into a culture that systematically de-humanises (objectifies) girls. I'm sure he would be willing to explore ways that we can parent her consciously so that she can preserve her identity in the face of damaging cultural norms.

At the same time, I don't want him to feel lectured, blamed or patronised by the book. But I would like him to be able to examine his own investment in male superiority and recognise that he does have many assumptions about women and many blind spots about male privilege.

It's a fine line.

So, books for men, fathers or people new to feminism?

Thanks for that post TSH.
I guess it is in answer to the one where someone said men have no inconveniences or challenges in their lives. Although I can't find that post.

Does anyone have a stat on how many women are killed by their partners annually versus how many men?

This is why I object to so much of the nonsense which has hijacked feminism these days. Everything is polarised - "women have suffered the most" and "NO! Men suffer more"!!

It all descends into a tedious battle of the sexes. It's idiotic because real feminism, the feminism of equality and freedom, could actually offer alot to men.

Bizarrely, I saw somebody on another site (pure News site) claiming that feminism and evoluntionary science were incompatiable... Anybody have any thoughts on that particular (in my eyes anyway) barmy assertion?

I can help with that too StayFrosty.
I am a feminist.
I do not think all men are rapists.

You're welcome TheShriekingHarpy BTW for putting your quotations into context.

You're right Amber.
I think anti-feminists use it as a distraction tactic.
On the evolutionary science vs feminism issue, I'm guessing the writer was confusing feminists asserting "men and women are equal" with "men and women are exactly the same"?

Amber, I think that some evolutionary science is incompatible with science...

I didn't write that, TSH, which rather suggests that you need to re-read some posts yourself. Or better still, read some feminist literature to help correct your misunderstandings.

Ah good, I see you have googled 'Ice and Fire'.

Perhaps next time you quote the book you would be good enough to add the tag "from that well known work of fiction by Andrea Dworkin".

It is a compound of yours and mine Molesworth.

Maybe TSH thinks we all think the same and are interchangeable in our dungarees.

Which is not the case.

As any fule kno.

Chiz chiz antoinette

Well, TSH, do you think that's what feminism is about or don't you?

antoinette:

The British Crime Survey found that there were an estimated 12.9 million incidents of domestic violence acts (that constituted non-sexual threats or force) against women and 2.5 million against men in England and Wales in the year preceding interview (Walby & Allen, 2004).

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/2468116/Killing-an-abusive-partn er-may-no-longer-be-murder.html
Last year, 83 women and 27 men were killed by their partner or ex-partner. From 2005

all my own words TSH

just like that!

thanks ms risotto

So are you going to answer my question then TSH?

I'd love to know what 'point' I'm 'spectacularly' missing too. Cheers.

Male violence is the leading cause of death for women worldwide, above cancer, above malaria, road accidents and war (World Bank Discussion paper 225).

In the majority of incidents of domestic violence in 2007/8 the victims were women 85% (Home Office Report: Crime in England and Wales 2007/2008)

Female victims are more likely to be killed by someone they know: in 2007/8, 73% of female victims knew the main or only suspect at the time of the offence. Of these female victims, 48% were killed by their partner, ex-partner or lover. By comparison, 48% of male victims knew the main or only suspect. Of these male victims, 13% were killed by their partner, ex-partner or lover (Home Office Statistical Bulletin: Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence 2007/08

So, in the face of these statistics from reputable sources, continue to deny sexism against women and you can only make a fool of yourself.

I gave up striving to be "an individual" when I was about 17 TSH.

Now I'm just me. If I think like some other intelligent, thoughtful peope posting here then great.

Thanks for the compliment.

Oh and be a good sport TSH and answer mine too (the one about why you are misrepresenting works of fiction as non-fiction in order to back up your position).

This thread is fab, its nice to see that not all women perceive men as monsters.

I know that some really are, but not all and feminist views are really not my thing at all. I love having my boy around and we are an equal partnership neither one is better or worse than the other.

All this burn the bra crap.