Where did all the Feminists go?

[Portofino]

MN seems to have had a reorganisation of FWR when I was on holiday and me no-likey. Why do we now have a Rad fem section and Feminist light chat. So many of the dynamic, knowledgable and interesting posters have disappeared. I have to say that some of the more radical stuff posted really made me think about my views and re-align them. There doesn't seem to be much of that anymore. I am disappointed to be honest.

Can the two join? I mean, I find the RadFem ideals and aims as you've just set out really interesting, I just think that the LibFem methods more realistic. But I'm a pessimist.

Cuervo, you get blurred lines, increasingly these days. The law is now used against protesters so democracy-friendly feminists such as yours truly, who believe in protest and civil action, have to disregard such laws now and again.

While my views have been 'radical', in the sense that I want fundamental societal changes, since 1972, I don't count as a radical feminist in the eyes of women who claim it as their movement. We haven't got time to sit around moaning about how different things should be, we need things to BE different, from yesterday. If there were a fully-formed radical feminist strategy I would give serious consideration to supporting it. There isn't one.

Feminists working within the existing structure(s) have, meanwhile, achieved equal pay (this wasn't enacted until 1975, Xenia, and the Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value Amendment was 1983), supposedly equal opportunities, sex discrimination laws, maternity leave (1984), improved rape laws including marital rape (1991) - and the vote, the right to stand for Parliament and various other wins. I know which faction I support.

This post was interrupted. Sorry if it's now redundant!

Ah, not too redundant :) Similarly envious of studying with Jeffries, SGM!

All radfems believe that patriarchy will only not exist when it is overthrown. Some believe that it will never be and we thus we have to try and make things better for girls and women in the here and now. Others believe it is possible to end patriarchy and have a freer society.

Oh reading list! So long ago and then I moved to London and threw all my stuff out. I misspelt her name now I looked it up it's Jeffreys! We were all so young and innocent and constantly harrassed just walking down the street. It was great for me and my friends. Wish I could remember more now.

Garlic, exactly.

I think you and I have had somewhat parallel feminist experiences garlicnutty, and I am very proud of being a part of the changes we have seen over the last 30 years.
Still identifying as a liberal feminist with some radfem aspects and an anti-porn and prostitution stance. So, something of a muddle for the pigeonhole.
Still working on equality, I'm going to die with my boots on!

woffling, thats where I stand too. I believe that things CAN change, and I believe that they should, and while theory is interesting, I dont see feminism as a political stance, more a way of life.

You can't see the House of Commons full of feminists all yelling and insulting each other and picking on minute details to contest?
With every good idea from one side instantly dismissed by the rest because it came from a source they disagreed with?
Oh, I can see it as a political movement alright!

feminists yelling and insulting each other?
that pretty much describes this topic
and the deleted posts indicative of how irascible it gets.

Fuck it, Woffling, I'm dying in my expensive high-heeled, pointy boots. Never been able to walk in them and have always called them 'killer boots'! I'm saving 'em, special like

YY to muddle. I'm not even sure about my take on porn and prostitution. I'd like to be able to separate them out into different styles/means of sex trade, and to censure some while improving circumstances for others. Difficult to have such conversations, especially as I'm not definite about it. And it's all theoretical anyway, as I'm never going to get powerful enough close down all the undercover corporations.

I'm a hippy Earth child too, my boots look a bit like these
compare.ebay.co.uk/like/330748920311?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla but they are painted and tooled because I got them at a festival.

'feminists yelling and insulting each other?
that pretty much describes this topic
and the deleted posts indicative of how irascible it gets.'

That's politics for you sm.

OK, I would consider teetering into the Commons in said boots. I could stab a few politicians with the heels. I'll need your assistance, SM.

absolutely no problem with riposte on mn
the trick is no mn grudges or gripes
after all it's lively debate, but not more than that

I've got no idea why, but your purple DMs keep coming up in my Facebook advertisements! Are they "feminist" boots or summat??
Nice that yours are customised :)

Imagine it....tippytoe tippytoe...
stomp stomp stomp.
We need someone with short hair and dungarees to complete the parliamentary coup.

Probably spamming you now, saying 'Buy me, it's a feminist statement'

I have some maryjanes could clobber any assailant with them
but I'm not a fighter too woosy
I'm more verbally fluent

Ok, so this is where I part company with RadFeminism. I am, like Blameit, a realist. I don't see how that is going to ever come to pass.

(the overthrow of the patriarchy)

I guess I am more of a chip away kind of a person, than a blow the system to bits gal.

I do agree with bits of the RadFem agenda, but can't quite make that leap.

I'm don't want to overthrow capitalism,or the system
I accept inherent flaws in capitalism
however I'm prepared to work at agitation of current system ax I think y
it yields results

Mme, exactly. Women working hard and gaining positions of power helps the feminist agenda. woman closing that pay gap helps the feminist agenda. women fighting for reproductive rights and overturning outdated and frankly appalling laws that deny women the rights to their own bodies helps the feminist agenda. regulating (and hopefully, one day shutting down) the sex industry helps the feminist agenda.

while theory is fascinating, it doesnt help to change things for the future.

Thats just my opinion though.