To all those who say on threads 'I am too scared to go into feminism' - this topic isn't scary!

[GetOrfMoiLand]

I think it's a shame when I see threads where the OP says 'I am too scared to put this in feminism' or something.

I am certainly not knowledgeable about feminist theory, but have never felt that my opinion on this thread wasn't wanted or I was vilified for stating what I believed.

I think this topic is pretty inclusive - yes some people are forthright with their opinions, but nobody's word is god, and I would hate to think that mumsnetters were put off contributing to threads in this topic because they mistakenly think the posters on here are viragos.

Al0uiseG -honestly loads of SAHM here - I am very part time WOHM so mostly SAHM. SAHM equals lots of time to MN .

"I actually don't see what is left to bang a drum about in the UK in 21st century. Believe me the feminist section really doesn't want me."

That's what I thought before my conversion before I "discovered" feminism. I'm trying to see these thread through the eyes of who I was about a year ago and to be honest I'd probably have said the same as you.

At the risk of being shot for recommending books, I can really recommend The Equality Illusion and Reclaiming the F Word.

Did you ever see this thread?

We need Switzerland.

SWITZERLAND!!

I bet he thought it. My dog ate an old dead seagull today.

but regret to say i have read the attitude described by WriterOfDreams on more than one occasion.

it's ok if you're an intellectual feminist, but simple folk such as i are often intimidated by huge lectures in some posts.

Can we get back to the point of the thread?

Will read the thread Forkful. By the way I would always think of myself as a feminist BUT the feminist section on Mn is far too over analytical for me. If i don't like something (a tv programme for example) i wont engage with it. It does come across as very humourless topic, while i know that rape and dv are not "funny" subjects finding some black humour in a shocking situation is a very human way of dealing with things.

Anyone interested in a "ask what you think are silly Qs here and forkful will try to answer them in a polite helpful way by directing you to the resources she found useful and try to use persuasive arguments and if anyone scary comes along and ruins the thread I will SHOUT at them" thread?

Just marking my place on yet another friendly thread here

Not a bad idea Forkful Its the only topic that i feel could use a moderator or three to stop the "fit in or fuck off attitude" that prevails.

But really....we are all feminists aren't we ?

this is one of the thread proles. It's not one that I started, rather it was one that asked a similar question to the one asked in this thread. I talked, I think in a very measured way, about why I don't consider myself a feminist and to begin with I got some interesting responses. Then some posters twisted my words and eventually one poster (who I shan't name as she very kindly apologised later) who was engaging with me just decided I wasn't worth engaging with any longer. Having read the thread again I do see I was a bit whingy (I think I was having a bad day) but at the same time I don't the responses I got were called for, and I have seen similar responses to other posters in other threads in the feminism section.

Also, when I started a thread in AIBU about enjoying being called "Mrs" I was mocked and called names by a few feminism regulars and then another person started a thread in feminism about my thread, calling it the "Happy wife thread" and basically sneering at it. I have engaged in a couple of good debates in this topic and would like to do it more as it interests me but overall my experience of the topic has been negative.

i would like a 'feminism light' topic - where we can support each other in day-to-day issues, such as how to answer the neighbour who keeps on at me about getting a job to be 'back in the real world' when DD goes to school etc..... or what to say apart from 'fuck off you sexist twunt' to the bloke who tells me i should leave the hedge cutting to my DH when he gets home

you know, that sort of boring stuff

Well, it is scary! Partly because any intellectual holes in one's argument are rigorously exposed (which is good, for the most part), but also because some posters can be rather savage, which is a real problem, I think.

I have had the odd minor mauling but have seen other posters with perfectly interesting and valuable insights be shot down in flames, which is horrid to watch.

Tell them to mind their own business...it's easy.

I have strayed in recently and survived without a pasting-it has even been educational.

I have the strangest sense of deja-vu....

It's totally valid of course to not engage with things which you don't like but of course that's personality driven and some people like to enage with what they don't like and try to change it!

Personally what's persuasive to me wrt to seemingly relatively innoccous (sp?) things is that they can seek into the consciousness and shape/shift society's outlook as a whole.

So how did we get to the point of the Christina Aguilera thing on X-Factor even being seen as ok with that audience and that time of night etc.

A lot of things I have read just don't get much mainstream press coverage.

I like to read a blog called women's views on the news.

When I read an article like this ""At my school we hear three words, slut, sket and slag, every day. It's got so it's not worth challenging it, it is not worth arguing about because it just doesn't change anything," - it makes me want to make a difference by highlighting every day sexism etc.

eg this blog is an inspiration.

And know it's not funny - but it's political and it being involved in feminist activism keeps my brain ticking over and I like to feel part of the movement which got me my basic equal rights etc.

Can you explain Ormirian?

This thread is turning into a replica of a monster thread about a week ago. People who suggested why the feminist section was crap and other people trying to defend it.

it was horrible the first time round.

ok, will be brave and try to read more, even post more.

thanks

IroningBoard - that's what goes on in the feminist chat threads most of the time. You could pop in there if you have day-to-day stuff to talk about and don't want to start a thread.

lol lol lol at Ormirian
funny enough-so do i!