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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Nicola Horlick says she is not a feminist. Does Nicola Horlick know what a feminist is??

157 replies

stillstanding · 23/02/2011 19:24

Am completely confused .... see article

I mean it's pretty nonsensical for anyone semi-conscious to say they are'nt a feminist but for HER to say it? And in the same breath as calling for quotas to get more women in boardrooms??

It's just daft. Am actually quite cross ...

OP posts:
EngelbertFustianMcSlinkydog · 23/02/2011 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HerBeX · 23/02/2011 19:35

Yes she just has the usual prejudices about what feminism is and is scared to be disliked.

RamblingRosa · 23/02/2011 19:38

I don't know much about Nicola Horlick. Why do you all think it's strange that she doesn't consider herself to be a feminist?

Original poster
stillstanding · 23/02/2011 19:55

Rosa, she's a very well known fund manager in the city with five children - constantly referred to in the press as "superwoman". She argued that you could have it all and, as now with the quotas, is regularly quoted in relation to women's issues in the city.

OP posts:
lampli · 23/02/2011 19:56

No, I don't think she can know what a feminist is if she said she isn't one. I agree with Engelbert. I get extremely annoyed with people who say 'I'm not a feminist but...' and I can't understand somebody in her position not considering herself to be a feminist.

HerBeX · 23/02/2011 19:57

Because without feminism, she would not have been able to get to where she is today.

Hassled · 23/02/2011 19:57

No, I don't think she has any idea what a feminist is. If you asked her if she agreed with equality of opportunity, that women should be treated with equal fairness to men, I'm sure she'd say yes. I hate this glib "I am not a feminist" bollocks - like it's something to be ashamed of.

hobbgoblin · 23/02/2011 20:02

I would imagine she meant to say she isn't a dungaree wearing lesbian who objects to men holding open doors for her in her office. That is the 'feminism' to which I think she refers.

She has a lot of home help doesn't she? She might well have it all but there is a vast difference between that and 'doing it all' which is about as far as feminism has got many of us thus far.

The only thing that will change that is a change in perception of what feminism is. At the moment, vast swathes of women hold the stereotypical comedy view as mentioned above.

BelleCurve · 23/02/2011 20:04

I saw this and did a double-take. I think she might actually be right that she is not a feminist though as the few articles I have seen by her certainly don't encourage that perspective.

Also, she could have realised that in order to "have it all" in the City you also need to be a sexism denier of the highest order!

EdgarAleNPie · 23/02/2011 20:04

isn't she on Mumsnet?

hobbgoblin · 23/02/2011 20:05

Edgar, not if you mean Xenia. Do you?

Hullygully · 23/02/2011 20:08

Tosser

Can't even be feucking arsed with it any more.

EdgarAleNPie · 23/02/2011 20:08

some of the details fit..but not all. but i still wondered - thanks for correcting me!

Drizzela · 23/02/2011 20:13

I thought of Xenia too! Is it definitely not her?

I think anyone on earth who says they are not a feminist is just a ridiculous human being.

Surely everyone has a mother or daughter or niece or sister? So it's ok that they suffer(insert your most niggly predudice)because they were born with a vagina is it?

No? Thought not. Then you are a feminist.

KCS · 23/02/2011 20:14

Always been suspicious of her tbh.

Bloody annoying when someone so supposedly 'smart' doesn't understand the meaning of the word. I mean she is in the ideal position to stand up and be counted proudly as one. Grrr...!

Young women know feminism is the only sane way to go but are afraid of the connotations of the word. It is so often misunderstood.

How about a 're-branding' ha ha?

Hassled · 23/02/2011 20:15

Definately not Xenia. Xenia has more sense.

dittany · 23/02/2011 20:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

edam · 23/02/2011 20:20

Blimey, makes that Tory cabinet minister woman who told Dominic Raab off for sniping about feminists look like Angela Dworkin. (I do know her name, am having a duh-brain moment.)

Am sure Horlick has been very honest about having BAGS of help, though, and pointed out repeatedly she couldn't do what she does without the supporting cast. Of women.

She also had a daughter who died of leukaemia. Which doesn't make her a saint, of course, but still.

MitchiestInge · 23/02/2011 20:22

definitely not Xenia (know Xenia from former real life life)

sethstarkaddersmackerel · 23/02/2011 20:22

Edam, you are thinking of Theresa May. Smile

Original poster
stillstanding · 23/02/2011 21:52

"Sometimes it's easier to do feminist things whilst denying you're a feminist. It's like women are only allowed one thing or the other."

Dittany, I think you are on to something here ...

Horlick regularly says how much she hates the whole "superwoman" thing and how annoying it is that she is so often referenced whenever there is any kind of working-mother-in-the-city type story.

Must make your day job pretty difficult if you are seen as the main protagonist in the battle of the sexes. Can also understand wanting to backlash against the label when you are constantly referred to as one and you want to say that is not only what you are.

Buuuuut ... still totally daft to be advocating quotas and in the breath before saying you aren't a feminist saying you have four daughters and it saddens you that there are still underlying prejudices against women and in the breath afterwards saying that you need to do something to give certain sections of society a chance.

OP posts:
KCS · 23/02/2011 21:53

It's a shame Harriet Harman tarnished her rep by sending her kids private. As such a high profile Labour MP, what sort of message does that send out?

Sorry - tad off subject, but I always feel let down by her for that, which is a shame as she's done such marvellous things.

edam · 23/02/2011 22:31

Seth, yes, that's the one! She told him off beautifully. Was quite impressed.

RamblingRosa · 24/02/2011 08:36

But just because she's a successful business woman and may be supporting something that feminists support (quotas), it doesn't follow that she would also consider herself to be a feminist Confused.

There are lots of successful women in male dominated industries who would be horrified to be called a feminist.

JessinAvalon · 24/02/2011 08:40

So what does that make her if she's not a feminist?

To me, if someone doesn't believe that women should be given equal rights and opportunities to men (the basic definition of feminism) then she/he is supporting the patriarchy.