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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism related depression!!

28 replies

joaninha · 06/09/2011 20:28

Ok, so I spent the weekend trawling through toy shops for DS's birthday, noting with gritted teeth the oh-so-subtle-as-a-brick way in which toys are targeted according to gender, then I had to listen to DF joking about it just to wind me up.

Then today I learn about this friend who was really excited about starting her first job only to find out that as the female she has to put up with quite a hefty amount of sexual harassment harmless jokes. And it reminded me of how little things have changed since I was young, and how in some ways they've even gotten worse.

Individually these things seems too small to complain about, besides no one wants to be seen as too stroppy, but they add up and I just end up walking under this cloud of low-level grumpiness all the time!

In short I feel like being a feminist is making me depressed but I can't stop being one. I guess my question is: Does anyone else get depressed about it and if so how do you deal with it? Do you express your views (at the risk of being seen as a, um, feminist a.k.a man-hater) or do you hold it in? And does that drive you crazy? I need a coping strategy!!! Advice please...

OP posts:
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KeepTheChange · 07/09/2011 09:57

"banter" is often just a word arseholes use to belittle and silence someone else. Then they can do the "It was only a joke!" stuff.

My male boss asked me "Are you on the blob?" once when I refused to make him a cup of tea because I was too busy. When I pulled him up and told him that not only was he being grossly inappropriate but also coming off as a bit of a cunt; he rolled his eyes and said "Point Proved".

Hmm

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edd1337 · 07/09/2011 10:05

KTC. That was REALLY inappropriate by your boss and i'm happy you stood up to him. You are not her personal skivvy

Some people need to learn limits for their banter, or not make it at all

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Tchootnika · 11/09/2011 12:57

"Are you on the blob?"

What a bizarre expression!

If that means what I think it does, why not some 'harmless joke' about what might have ended up in his tea if you'd agreed to make it for him? I'm sure that would have put a sharp stop to his requests for you to provide him with warm beverages. Grin Wink

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