Basic questions

[EatsBrainsAndLeaves]

Hi this is a thread to ask basic questions about feminism - anything you want to ask but have felt is too basic or silly to ask anywhere else. It is not a thread to debate issues. So its fine to say for example this is what Marxist or Radical feminists think and this is why - but not to get into a big debate about it.

So, anybody got any questions?

What is a lipstick femanist?

Are you a real femanist unless you are a radical?

What are the core traits of a femanist?

Feminist, of course, sorry I should concentrate!

A lipstick feminist is a woman who says she is a feminist and enjoys wearing lipstick, make up, maybe dressing up "feminine" and doesn't think there is any issue with that in terms of feminism. Is also used sometimes as an insult or put down.

Some radical feminists would say that you can't be a real feminist unless you are a radical, others, including lots of feminists who are not radical, would disagree. Most I think would say yes you can.

Must dash and do pick up - but will answer 3rd question later, unless anyone else wants to.

Traits or beliefs ?

Traits - female anatomy (although that in itself opens a discussion that I suspect is not for here )

Beliefs - that women are not, in a group sense, treated equally to men. That the knock on effect of this oppresses women, allows them to be treated, at best, as inferior, and at worst, beated, abused, raped. That you have to recognise a patriarchial system and that it has a negative effect on women and wish to overcome this. That no women should ever be abused, put down, killed, spoken to or treated less favourably simply on the grounds that they are women.

There are others but the basics are there

Do all feminists want to be treated equal , or do some want equal but different ?

I don't think there is one answer to that Siio. Equal to men for me but recognising that there are differences. Those differences shouldn't be overstated and used as something to denigrate women. Equal to each other but with differences as well.

^Just my take on it

I think everyone should be treated exactly the same and I don't agree that there are differences between the genders.

But there are differences - only women can get pregnant, give birth and breastfeed.

Siio - I think some feminists talk about men and women being treated equally. But when you start talking about what that means in practical situations such as being able to express breast milk at work, then generally feminist say equal but different. Because of course there are some basic differences between men and women everyone agrees on - only women can give birth, breastfeed, etc.

Some feminists think there are more differences between men and women than just these basic biological ones and so some of them - but not all - think that women and men do need to be treated differently. So sorry not one clear answer there.