Could women strike?

[GarlicNovember]

It'd mean finding enough supportive men to take over child and other caring duties. Could it be done? Would it make the point that the world would grind to a halt if women didn't do all the supposedly invisible stuff they do?

[AnyFucker]

I was finding it difficult to answer a question on another thread. I have just found my answer

[WidowWadman]

Oh, and the idea of a sex strike seems to imply that sex is something only men want. What a totally warped view of the world

[MuttonCadet]

Ah, sorry, I was being dim.

So what you're saying is that as a woman, regardless of the fact that actually I don't have any issues in my personal life or work life around sexism I should strike for a couple of days in solidarity for those women who do struggle.

I think that's perfectly reasonable. I might even consider doing it (but I would have to be in contact by phone).

[SevenZarkSeven]

Sex strike sounds like a dreadful idea to me as well for a number of reasons. I remember reading somewhere they actually did it a few years ago I'll see if I can google.

I supposed if women feel that they have no other "thing" to with-hold then it comes from that - and if women in wherever it was want to do it then who am I to tell them not to - but I wondered if in a society where women had no bargaining chips whatsoever apart from sex how many of the men would take no for an answer anyway. That was what I remember thinking at the time.

Will google.

[WidowWadman]

AnyFucker - but how would a strike by women who already live in an equal relationship help those who don'I don't?
That's not denying that there is a lot of inequality and sexism and women being treated like dirt at home and in the work place at all. I wouldn't want to patronise women in that situation though by striking and thus pretending that I'm in the same situation when I'm not. There are more useful ways of protesting and awareness raising

[PuffinsAreFicticious]

Kinda Mutton, yes

[AnyFucker]

Who is advocating a sex strike ?

[SevenZarkSeven]

it was this that I remember seeing in the news

[AnyFucker]

WW, I don't think for one minute that this hypothetical "strike" (down tools) would ever happen.

[WidowWadman]

Garlic's post at 14:58

[AnyFucker]

But I am concerned by the "alright Jack" mentality.

[SevenZarkSeven]

I'm not even sure where that came from on the thread AF, it seemed to come out of leftfileld unless I missed a post or something.

[AnyFucker]

Yes, garlic's "post at 14:58" has the word "sex" in it...but I don't think you read it properly.

[WidowWadman]

Who has an alright jack mentality? Just pointing out that such a strike would be daft does not translate into not caring.

[GarlicNovember]

The sex strike was from Lysistrata. It was a radical idea in Ancient Greece :) Seven, I also vaguely remember something like that, but thought it was daft at the time. Even if it 'worked' for whatever purpose was intended, you'd need all the men to go on phone-ins or something to say "I didn't have sex last night and am destroyed." Can't see that being hugely successful!

I'm ever so glad you got the point, Mutton! Don't see why you shouldn't check your work emails while you hang about in coffee shops demonstrate :)

[WidowWadman]

Any Fucker - it was a response to the link about Lysistrata, which indeed is about a sex strike. I think you have not been reading properly

[mumwithanipad]

Where has the sex strike come from? I read back through thread but can't see where anyone said about withholding sex, or is it an assumption that it would be something men would miss if women were to vanish/down tools etc for a day as it's seen as part of a woman's role/duty etc?

I'm not trying to be sarky but can't see the link and am just wondering if I'm missing something, I don't see how having sex plays a part in women downing tools for a day, but I'm new to all this so I'm probably missing something.

[mumwithanipad]

Xpost sorry, will read link.

[WidowWadman]

Checking your work emails is working, that's not how strikes work.

[maddy68]

Whys it an I'm alright jack? Sorry if it came across that way I'm just stating that in my experience if I went on strike it would prove nothing.
At work it would but then if the men went on strike I woudk face difficulties as well.
I think it's a bit of a daft argument. If people are in unequal relationships then they can do something about it. My mum is in an unequal relationship, very traditional, but she likes it like that, that's her choice, every time my dad tries to cook or do housework it's criticised and re done by her. She likes to feel that she is the ultimate Carer!

[SevenZarkSeven]

If you google sex strike then lots of them have been done.

It's something that women can do when they have very little else to bargain with I imagine.

I wouldn't condemn / argue with the women in the link I posted up there ^ for what they did. They did what they could in the society they were in to try and make a change that they felt strongly about.

I guess that when you're really at the sharp end of patriarchy you work with what you have right?

[SevenZarkSeven]

Although this is a total tangent!

[GarlicNovember]

Maddy, women as a whole are in an unequal relationship with men as a whole.

Strikes are invariably about an issue that affects the entire workforce, not just the individual members taking action.

It's true, Mutton would be cheating ... while showing solidarity ...

[WidowWadman]

Garlic I totally agree with protesting and campaigning about issues even if I'm lucky enough to not be affected directly. It's however perfectly possible to do that without pretending to strike, I really can't see how a pretend strike would show solidarity either. Working during a strike undermines it, surely?

[maddy68]

I may have a skewed perspective, due to the nature of my friendship group but within my circle , I know that they equally share childcare and household chores.
If men went on strike it would cause disruption too.
Lots of assumptions about these 'lazy men' of which I have little knowledge