Hi sisters. I haven't been on MN much recently so it appears I missed some threads on the main board in which some posters who post in the feminist section were commented on in a personal way. I have caught up with those threads and also understand that dittany, one of the posters concerned, is taking a break from MN as a result. I don't know if Sakura or any of the other posters concerned also feel this way - I certainly hope not.
Anyway, as someone who was part of the feminist section when it first started, when it was just a few threads and a few posters, not like now we we are big and busy! I wanted to say something about all this.
First of all, I would like to be clear that this is NOT a thread in which to resurrect what went on in the other threads. It is not a thread to go over what was said or not said by so and so. The reason that it is not that sort of thread is because that would only drag the whole thing on again and would no doubt cause hurt and distress to the posters concerned. I also have no interest in this thread being a dig at anyone who has said anything about feminists, the feminist section or any posters on it in the last while on MN.
If this thread turns into any of those things, I will report it and get it pulled.
Now, I know this is a public forum and people can post what they like, when they like, and who the hell am I to be telling anyone what to do, right?
Well, I'm no one, so of course I can't tell anybody what to do, but I can politely ask them. I am asking just one simple thing - if you agree with the premise of this post then add a comment and stand up and be counted.
OK, thank you for reading so far - now for the proper content of this OP!
It is my opinion, that feminism is challenging. Feminism is challenging because it picks apart the status quo and finds it wanting. Feminism is challenging because it takes us out of our comfort zone and encourages us to examine our world, our lives and ourselves in a different manner to that to which we are used. Feminism challenges us because feminist analysis is unpopular and denigrated within the status quo - and that makes feminists unpopular and denigrated too. Feminism is a challenge because it messes with our heads and makes us think about difficult and often distressing issues.
Feminism is essentially a grass roots political movement - and it is a movement which has different schools of thought within it. A lot of the energy in the movement comes from people who are willing to stand up and be counted and point out the patriarchal bullshit that we are all taught to normalize, accept and internalize. Feminism has always had some strong voices in it, women who push boundaries and take no prisoners - often those have been radical voices, but not always. Without such voices we wouldn't be where we are now and we wouldn't keep moving forward.
If you agree, to some extent, with the above, then thank you for saying so.
Can I politely and respectfully request that if you don't agree you could perhaps express those sentiments elsewhere? Thanks in advance for your respect and understanding.