The Feminist Pub - come on in, chat, ask a quick question, ramble ... whatever you like!

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Hello and welcome! Pull up a chair!

This thread started when we all decided to imagine what the perfect local for feminists would be like. So far, it has taps with plenty of good real ale, and some decent non-alcoholic alternatives too. There are comfy chairs and there's a feminist film night, as well as lots of nice feminist-friendly books on the shelves and space to curl up and read. The open-mic nights are attracting feminist singers and comedians, and we're just sorting out the feminist creche.

Old thread is here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/1875250-The-Feminist-Pub-is-Open-Chat-Rant-or-pull-up-a-chair-here. But don't feel you need to read or catch up - just jump in.

I'm having a nice cup of earl grey but there is wine mulling as requested.

What can I get anyone?

I wear make-up on high holidays or when going out once a year, I detest foundation, but will put some tinted moisturiser on and eyeliner/mascara, cannot stand lipstick - this is my version of 'full slap' and I get v confused and stressed when confronted with department store make-up counters.
Puddlejumper, I hope you didn't feel I had a go at anybody who wears makeup, I really didn't mean to. It's just something I don't 'get' and never have done - I am not at all sure why.
I think people should wear as much or as little make-up as they want, as long they allow me to get away with my barefaced cheek although I secretely worry that at 47 I should be wearing more make-up

Where do you find the time?
Coming back to the marketing for moisturisers for men that stress how fuss-free and fast their use is (Nivea, I am looking at you!), I don't understand who that would not apply to 'female' moisturisers??

Joyful, I think the Movember/Decembeard thing is similar. The norm is for men to be clean shaven, the norm is for women to wear make up.

I would like to retrofit air quotes to "norm" above, please.

Thoughtful and thought provoking article on 'brocialism', 'manarchy' and misogyny on the left, and why that is in the interests of the patriarchy. By Laurie Penny (who I love, but wish she was a bit more strident sometimes.) and Richard Seymour.

Well, and I sometimes wish I had the practice , Puddlejumper.

Is it sexist that women are not inveited to join in Movember ?

Thanks for the link - strident is good, I don't dislike it, but sometimes worry whether it might put people off who are sitting on the feminist fence iyswim?

There is a norm for women to be clean shaven too, but for us it's underarms and legs. Many women "celebrate" no shave winter!
It's nice to not to care about that everyday and grow out the winter fur underneath trousers and long sleeves.

i've just used the work 'intersectionality' on another thread

Some of us don't care about shaving other times of the year too. Although I do pluck chin hairs.

I think you have to be a brave woman to not care about leg/underarm hair during summer. It's such a bother to remove hair but I feel a strong pressure to do it if I'm going to walk around with bare legs and something sleeveless in public.

I almost managed the whole summer without shaving. Almost, but not quite. Shaved when I went on holiday. I still feel uncomfortable when swimming and stuff with unshaven armpits (legs not so much). I'm getting there but it is 40 yrs of conditioning I'm trying to undo .

Can't blame women for shaving at all.

I have never shaved my armpits. I don't shave my legs usually, but do when I go on holiday. I never feel as brave in a foreign country somehow.

I don't blame women for shaving by the way. But it is nice not to bother.

Is it sexist that women are not inveited to join in Movember

The mens are afraid some of us could totally put them to shame :(

I am very lackadaisical about the whole hair removal thing, but often feel profound pressure to conform. And then I do
I don't really care v much either way, for me personally, but do hate the whole pornification of how, particularly a young, woman is expected to look: full lips, smooth face, no hair other than the mane on her head etc etc. I am truly glad I did not grow up amongst all that...

I wear make up.
I would prefer not to but I have uneven skin tone and feel self conscious without my Mac fixfix.

Everyone has uneven skin tone. Our skin is not supposed to be all one even colour.

Yep. Loads of hair removal here too
I'm not a very good feminist.
Although I refuse to sport a complete.y bald fanjo, as I think it's a bit weird and child like.

Yes me too Pacific re the pornification. I find it scary.

No. I mean really uneven grennie happened in first pregnancy and never went away. Real hyperpigmentation

I am truly glad I did not grow up amongst all that...

I asked dh recently if when he was datin he expected a girl to have a hairless fanjo he gave me this look (we've been together a decade and he's ten years older than me). I think the expectation was just that you tried to keep it under your bathing suit.

I wonder if I had met someone my own age I would have felt that pressure to conform. I don't shave anything very often anymore. I'm trying to be comfortable with it. It's not easy

Okay, sorry Amanda to assume