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?

Nope!

Ladyscratt - being an equal partnership IS feminism. That's the point - people decide that feminism = man hating and burning bras - now there is a tired old cliche. My DH is a feminist - do you think he hates himself?

Yeah two feminist love-ins in as many days.

Antoinette you make me larf too.

I hope not poor bugger!

Er, right TSH. So feminism is A Good Thing and you never said anything about man-hating at all. I getcha.

My DH is also a feminist but I don't know how he managed to become on because he doesn't own any bras.

TSH I finally understand you! You weren't talking about feminism all along.

"However it also has negative affiliations and (for the billionth time) is used as a platform to air personal prejudices."

He's just fine, thanks, Ladyscratt. Why is he a "poor bugger", btw? Because he supports equality for women?

Lighten up the lot of you.

"However it also has negative affiliations and (for the billionth time) is used as a platform to air personal prejudices" But you could say that about absolutely ANY movement/philosophy, TSH; what is so special about people using feminism to air personal prejudice as opposed to (say) religion, or political affiliation?

God what a great thread, in that every bit of misrepresentation of feminism has been picked up and challenged.

For those who wonder about evolutionary psychology, and why some feminists might object to it, can I present Evopsych bingo. Sometimes the science is bad, or takes the state of affairs as we see it today and works back in hilarious ways. Often though it is the media reporting, or the attitude of those writing the press release. For example when an ancient sculpture of a female figure was found last year it was called "prehistoric porn".

My favourite in the bingo is: "The gender dynamics of our savannah ancestors looked curiously ike those of 1950s America". Amazingly often this is the line taken in news reports, how often do you see something like "new research shows that women have evolved to get boob jobs and do the dusting"?

I'm v happy, thanks, ladyscratt. I have mini magnums in the freezer, 1 sleeping toddler and the baby is playing with a sock.

Chuck us one! the mini magnums I mean

I think ladyscratt is trying to play the anti-feminist bingo?

But seriously LadyScratt I am sitting here in a nice polka dot number that wouldn't burn at all well and I love the males in my life. Bras and love of men are most compatible with feminism.

My Dad is feminist. Don't know if he wears bras though.

Good luck to you btw blinders, I have passed on some interesting articles to my DP which he has read - he is dyslexic though so finds whole long books difficult.

some blogs you might like: Tiger Beatdown

Cruella-Blog

Both of those are very funny and sharp and focus on women in popular culture - Tiger Beatdown did a series of film reviews about a year ago that were brilliant.

Have you heard of the Bechdel Test? Oddly it was talking about this to my DP that made him see the point of feminism rather than "equalism" or whatever. Think of a film. Does it contain:
a) 2 or more female characters who....
b) talk to each other...
c) not about men.

Shockingly few pass this test and it is amazing how few fall down at b) or even a).

My personal definition of feminism is that I believe in the equality of men and women, and I believe that we are not there yet. Many people (including on this thread) believe the first part, lots of the work comes in convincing people of the second part.

Are you kidding, ladyspratt? Equality of opportunity most certainly does not extend to access to my mini magnums.