Feminism chat thread

[ElephantsAndMiasmas]

Hello

Been saying for ages that it'd be nice to have an area for just saying hi, letting off some steam and sharing the little things that don't warrant a whole thread.

So, I'll start...

My brother made me :o:o:o last night when we were talking about some crap sexist song. And he said (in all honesty) - well this is just one of the millions of ways the patriarchy keeps itself going.

Also got the updated email from the Feminism in London conference this morning - can't wait.

Anyone else?

I think they'd find that handy Englebert

How about just 'don't be insulting or antagonising' - it's really not difficult for people to have good manners on an internet forum. It should be a given that it's not acceptable to come on a forum and be rude and unpleasant.

I think this is a great idea in principle if it can be phrased right.

I want to carry on engaging with people who are not quite sure about feminism, who are interested but certain aspects don't make sense to them, etc; sometimes people say stuff that looks quite antifeminist but it's the start of a journey.
We don't want to say anything that would make it even scarier for those people, especially given that some perfectly nice people find it scary already

I agree Seth.

AliceWorld wrote - "could we have something that says 'if you are opposed to feminism then this in not the place for you'."

I think some guidelines would be helpful.

I don't think any other section of Mumsnet has such a large number of people from elsewhere on the web who join Mumsnet specifically to spread anti-feminist opinion and who are hostile to rational discussion of life from a feminist perspective.

I've been in groups that have policies along the lines of "this is not a place to attack the existence of feminism or to attack the need for feminism".

Such warnings have helped to keep discussion focused on the particular topic of the thread in those forums, rather than repeatedly having to justify the existence of feminism.

Quite like that phrase Vesuvia. Emphasis on what's not OK rather than what is, as I think the what is is much harder to define here, as imo it isn't just for feminists.

I think it's a great idea if the wording is about being deliberately antagonistic as Flamingo said.

There is a huge difference between someone who is unsure and challenging feminist ideas and someone who just comes on to rile people in a kind of feminist-baiting exercise. It's pretty easy to spot the difference.

Sorry I know I don't post much here so feel free to ignore my opinions :o

IMO good to get views from people who don't post here much too LB, as imo we don't want to exclude overly.

Can I just add in my two pennies worth?

I am a serial name changer, so am not instantly recognisable, but I have been on MN for six years (antipasti, nice ham, pirate sex, Greggs, stealing grapes, Moldies etc) ad think the Feminism section is an important part of the site.

However, sometimes it can be a very frustrating place if you are not 'recognised'. I often disagree strongly with some of the known posters, and just end up getting shouted down and/or gnored. I don't know which is worse, really (probably being ignored ).

I don't always feel there is the room for different feminist perspectives o this board. It often feels like if you don't agree with a handful of rad fems, you are labelled some sort of deluded self-hater.

ignored in second para, sorry

Tical - I have seen that kind of comment before from people I often disagree with here but who I respect and I see you point and it is something I am concerned about but I'm never sure quite what to do about it; make more of an effort not to ignore, I guess, but one person's being shouted down is another person's agreeing with lots of posters.

but people often sincerely think that is what is meant and then when you try to explain it, some will be convinced by the explanation and some won't.

Hmmm...tical, I have felt similar things when I first started here; but also felt incredibly welcome by most posters. Not sure what the answer is.

WRT sthg at the top of the topic, how about 'Friendly, respectful debate about feminism and feminist issues welcome; anti-feminist rants and feminist baiting will be ignored and/or deleted by MNHQ. This is a topic for discussion and learning and we would ask that posters on here respect that. Thank you.'

sorry SaF - I meant 'deluded self-hater'!

I am really, really confused! Who are you responding to, SAF? You're not sure how what can be avoided?