Site question: what do you all think about the various categories in this "feminism" section of "talk"?

[ArcheryAnnie]

With my apologies for being a relative noob in this neck of the woods - I have before now mainly just posted in threads that have come up in the "active" list, and only relatively recently have started starting my own threads, and browsing this specific bit of the board.

And I've missed loads! And half the time I don't know where to post so come here to "feminist chat". And I've noticed posts not on the chat bit don't seem to be seen as much.

I am very aware that this isn't my call, but has there ever been any discussion about asking MN to consolidate all the feminist sections into one feminism section, so we don't miss anything?

I am very ready to be persuaded that I've got it all wrong!

"started starting" - gah.

I confess I stick to active and feminism chat too.... may now have to have a browse at what I've missed.

Ah! I did wonder if there was some arcane reason for keeping the other bits! It was missing a post from a woman seeking support, who had posted on a traffic-free bit, that finally tipped me over onto asking this. But if it's all been done before, then I shall tiptoe quietly backwards from this question.

As I understand it, there are those who find the dominant brand of comment on FWR to be on the radical side, and thus feel that their more moderate perspective is excluded.
Chat is supposed to be a more inclusive, lighthearted board; with activism and theory for the more hardcore among us. Except they are very rarely used

I don't find "Chat" light hearted nor particularly inclusive. I post because I am female and I have opinions on certain of the points discussed. My opinions often do not resonate with the majority view and tbh I don't feel welcome. However I am not a troll so I don't think my feelings of discomfort should prevent me posting.

"Feminist Book Club" to me seems completely unnecessary. Books are either well written and enjoyable or they are not.

The particular treatment of female characters , views expressed, ideology promoted is part of the overall discussion of the merits of a book.

i don't know whether feminist book club refers to examining books from a feminist POV or whether it refers to a book club that examines feminist texts. my feeling is that the latter was intended by MNHQ. during discussions last year i had hoped to be able to contribute to starting one on here, but circumstances have changed and i unfortunately don't ahve time right now. however i would possibly have suggested putting the longrunning threads in feminist chat as traffic is higher. that might be perpetuating the rpobelm of course

no i didn't mean to suggest that - perhaps problem should ahve been in inverted commas. i don't think there is a problem as such - there are frequently threads in site stuff about too many topics etc but i can't get exercised by that. threads in activism and theory do get overlooked though

i don't think practically you can really separate lighthearted and serious tbh - the one can turn into the other very easily and posters frequently point out the continuum, as well as the links and overlaps between "practical/everyday" stuff and "theory/academic" stuff

rereading, i think when i said "problem" i meant that if you were to start a feminist book club (reading feminist texts together and discussing) and decide to put the longrunning threads in feminism chat because it was higher traffic you're not really helping the "problem" that there is little traffic in the book club section iyswim. not that it is a problem in itself

It was all one area not that long ago iirc. But people asked for a "lighter" chat section as sometimes threads used a lot of very specific terminology and newcomers got a bit lost. The idea I think was for "general chat to do with most peoples concept of feminism" and "specific academic discussion of feminism". But I might not quite be remembering right.

Yes, agree. All lighthearted -with - feminist - flavour ends up quite rightly in the pub. All other stuff in Chat. Cos there's a lot of us on here still feeling our way and not sure I ever post anything that doesn't involve analysis or theory to some degree or other

And YES to big sticky welcome mat which would be compulsory to read

We used to have 'Feminism & Women's Rights', 'Feminist Activism' and 'Feminist Book Club'. Then there was a giant hooha a couple of years ago when someone suggested there should be a separate Radical Feminism section. Everybody got very upset over the course of several threads, some people left and eventually it was decided to have Feminist Theory, Feminist Support and Feminist Chat. I have vague memories of snakes and That Bastard Ghandi

I was one of those who suggested the separate theory section. At the time it seemed a good idea to have somewhere to discuss things without people taking it all so personally - 'are you saying I can't be a feminist because I shave my legs?' etc.

I don't think it's worked out too well but I don't think it's done much harm either. People just gravitate to the chat topic which works very well. I don't post here much these days but I lurk a lot I'd be very happy to see the topics combined again. I'd also like Women's Rights back in the title.

Personally, I'd rather have a single vibrant board.

I'd also like Women's Rights back in the title.

Me. too.

yes to single board, yes to WR title, yes to welcome mat