Feminist Pub 14: The Bluestocking, a place for feminist chat and feminists to chat

[YonicScrewdriver]

Welcome!

This is the 14th incarnation of the Pub and is meant as a place to drop by with random thoughts and meandering chats, on feminist or other related themes. Anything you want to mull over but not necessarily start a thread about. Alternatively, flop onto the chaise lounges with some

We have a pub goat, a feminist cannon for firing at crazy sexists and a variety of drinks and snacks. And stools/bar counters at female friendly heights. And a crèche in the back somewhere

Will link the last pub in the next post!

Congratulations,Trev!

Trev that is just the best news.

Thanks chaps .. the NHS is a wonderful thing

Hurray! Great news Trevor, thank you for telling us

Really pleased for you and your mum Trevor , have a on me.

Ellis I didn't think you were being judgemental either, and I think it's good that this is a place where we can challenge each other on our attitudes and values. I'm sorry about the misplaced lighthearted remark about the pub atmosphere, it wasn't meant to be personal about anyone. Too much late night working is bad for my judgement.

I've worked with women who have used flirting and sexuality to get on, and it can be infuriating. But I don't think it's ok to sink to patriarchal style dismissal of women for this - it's a response to a sexist world, which is the main target for our anger.

And yes the NHS is amazing, and very much under threat at the moment

Good news Trev!

Pretty cold here...

Brilliant news Trevor

Great news Trevor

Such lovely news, Trevor! Yay!

I've worked with women who have used flirting and sexuality to get on, and it can be infuriating. But I don't think it's ok to sink to patriarchal style dismissal of women for this - it's a response to a sexist world, which is the main target for our anger.

Totally, completely utterly agree with this. It's divide and rule. Sexist/misogynistic men absolutely love having women as their allies/enablers and they use it to discredit feminism and feminist arguments. It is incredibly frustrating though, yes.

Wow, that's fantastic Trevor!

Ah Thankyou all

But what is "flirtation" from a woman might simply be charisma or bonhomie from a man. And if men flirt with their female bosses, doesn't society sit more in judgment on the "desperate older woman" than it does on the man? Power is socialised to be attractive in men, less so in women.

I have just been doing a spot of lovely feminist Christmas shopping! I have discovered a website called Global Girlfriend that sells ethical/fairtrade goods, many made by women's co-operatives, and who put funds from every purchase into education for girls. And at the moment they're only charging 99c for international shipping on orders over $49 (£31)!

Oh, Annie, I was just browsing for stuff and I shall check them out.

Meanwhile, I have a candidate for most pointless sexism of the week. DS2 (14 months) likes to eat. This evening he snuck off to the kitchen and finally managed to get the fridge open (he'd been getting a little fridge we keep drinks in open for ages, but this is a big one in the kitchen), so I nipped onto Amazon to look for some kind of solution - came across some stick on locks things for which the first review seems hopeful, then this whammy at the end -
only thing that i could think to make these better is just have a choice in colours like having them pink and white for girls

Yes. Girls should have pink adhesive hooks for the kitchen cupboard doors. White and Blue is far from ideal.

sigh.

Why even blue for a fridge lock? Never seen a blue fridge. Those locks are awesome though - had to fit one on my fridge several years ago after coming downstairs to find the cat had helped herself to some steak.

Yes.

DS2 is already a pain for helping himself to gingerbeer, cartons of juice and bottles of water. The idea of him having free access to the fridge and freezer is horrifying (why are second children such a shock to the system? He's so very, very different from DS1 who could be sat in a picnic full of sweets and decide that all he wanted was cucumber)

Also, I may be going mad. DS1 has decided that this toddler cartoon on Cbeebies is great: Bing - except all I see when I watch it is a slave race of knitted toys forced to care for the abandoned children of various animals. Clearly I need to get out of the house more.

Ooh lovely Annie.

I've started to steer clear of those 'have I been raped' threads. Women have been socialised to set the bar so low for what consent is, and what they should just put up with.