You don't have to be feminist to post here, but it helps...

[MrsReasonable]

I've noticed that whenever a 'non-feminist' view is brought up, there are occasionally some posts along the lines of 'this is a feminist board, why come here if you aren't...', etc.

Genuine question - is this a feminist board, or a board about feminism? Obviously the majority of posters are feminist, but I'm not sure whether that is because feminists (surprise surprise) like discussing feminism, or because it is seen as a feminist 'safe haven'?

i did get asked are you drunk 0930,at work.fair made me snigger
there is a recurrent theme on mn that many find the feminism board harsh and that experience feels off putting and belittling to them.there have been fair few threads about this.and no im not going to go off and link them

Stripey I think Wamster's first post on the PIV thread lead people to wonder if her aim was to engage - she said the subject under discussion was nonsense.

She also introduced a strawman and continued to post about it even though it was pointed out numerous times to her that she was arguing against a view that had not been expressed. And you know what - people did engage with her. They just got bored and frustrated by her clinging to her strawman.

She also called Sakura's views insane which was annoying because quite a lot of people were interested in exploring where sakura was coming from and they wished to so without having to constantly reassure more mainstream thinkers that it was ok to discuss non-mainstream thinking. Especially in a feminist space.

I really enjoy the debates between different strands of feminism - that's why I find this board interesting as I have found my feminist muscle has got rather flabby over the years so it's really great to exercise it again.

stripey - I'm fairly sure Wamster is/was a troll which is why people were not holding back.

I don't know if you can sticky threads on Mumsnet but I think forkful's 'Questions for Newbies' (paraphrase, I can't remember the title), should be permanently at the top of the Feminist section. There's nothing wrong with directing people with Feminism 101 questions to a Feminism 101 section.

Agree with SGM.

I'm a radical feminist but I often agree with SGB and I love what Claig brings to the board even though we are far apart on the political spectrum.

I think maybe some misunderstanding occurs because there is a general snorting at 'choice feminism'. A lot of feminists I know think that choice feminism isn't feminism at all and has been invented by patriarchy to undermine women's politics.

No, I don't thing it should be separated into different topics.

mn is open and discursive not solely feminist space and empathic contributors - if you genuinely feel you want parameters of feminist space then there are plenty feminists chat rooms to participate in. mn is open,discursive and cant create a specific environment. again it smacks a bit of cant say that here

but thats the point of open board and mn.can say what you wish,but do expect it to be challenged or pulled on it

feminism topic within mn doesn't mean its a safe or different space,it just means it is somewhere feminism will be discussed.cant expect a non challenging environment

Well SM if people aren't prepared to back up their assertions others are just going to dismiss them as a load of old nonsense.

For example
SS: SM confessed she's precious moments mama, over and over again on thread after thread.
SM: That's untrue. prove it.
SS: No. can't be arsed. but it's true
Rest of Mn: agog! And ready to dismiss SM's views in WOHM/SAHM debates as she is plainly an unreliable liar

xposts Scottishmummy but ties in nonetheless

I'm still not understanding why the critics think it's ok for someone like me to be discouraged from posting on the feminism board because of the attacks on the mental health of feminist posters, for example, but not ok for others to be discouraged because their mainstream, non-feminist views are challenged.

i feel that one of the things that needs to stop on here is..
sometimes im seeing people having to appologise again and again.
i think that if someones offended/upset someone and said sorry...that should be it..finished.
also..im seeing time and time again..women coming along saying"i feel that i cant join in because im not intelligent"and things like this.
women come from all walks of life and posisions.....please join in.
unless you join in peoples voices arent heard.
ive never read a feminist book...but i know what goes on around me and what ive experianced.

sparky

i dont have to back up a lived experience,and subjective opinion,or attitudinal belief. nor does anyone else.mn is discurseve and demands of prove it are unnecessary

pointles to ask anyone to prove something on mn. its words on a screen,and the words are the proof of a stance

'This topic is stupid and irrelevant and you're all mental' isn't a challenge, it's a pain in the arse.

i have never told anyone on this topic not to express pov
i have been told you cant say that here.

There is so much talk about what can and can't be discussed on this board that the entire topic is in danger of actually eating itself. Just an observation.

Thanks Proles. I agree with what you say about projection.

I also agree very much with AyeRobot here and where she said something similar upthread;

"I'm still not understanding why the critics think it's ok for someone like me to be discouraged from posting on the feminism board because of the attacks on the mental health of feminist posters, for example, but not ok for others to be discouraged because their mainstream, non-feminist views are challenged."

One of the reasons I don't post a lot here is because I get put off by being painted as an insane extremist with personal issues (AKA a radical feminist). It doens't put me off because it bothers me in any kind of personal way - it puts me off because it is boring, tedious, lazy mainstream patriarchal bullshit the likes of which I don't expect to have to wade through in a feminist space for crying out loud!

yep-i agree with beachcombers posts aswell[excellent posts]
sinicalsal[10.55]
[..............back up theyre asserstions then others are going to dismiss them as nonesense]

but if we have to prove everything...doesnt this mean the same as "women are liars"?isnt this what we are trying to get away from.
i may of misread you...ifso i appologise

sparky

Of course you don't have to, SM, the stasi are hardly going to call round to your house if you don't. But if you assert something, be prepared to back it up. Otherwise people will just dismiss you - fine if that doesn't bother you. but a bit pointless, imo.

at lenin