Thanking my feminist sisters

[JeanneDeMontbaston]

Excuse the 1970s title, but I do want to say thanks.

I get the feeling FWR is a bit under a cloud at the moment, but I've had so much good advice and support here, and I don't remember to say thanks often enough. I was chatting to some RL friends today and realising that I have a lot of affection for proper, old style feminism where we do use terms like 'women's liberation' and 'patriarchy' and, yes, sisterhood. And there aren't so very much places you can talk about feminism the way we can here.

So, thank you very much, sisters.

Trouble is I can't even watch telly without a feminist rant

There is a "ninja" obstacle course thingy on at the moment

The vast majority of the course seems to be about upper body strength and there is only one woman in the semi final (who in the very short bit I saw was awesome I must say)

When I first saw it I said that I thought it was biased and tonight I had a little rant to DH and then he said 'well most obstacle courses are set up like that, what else could they do'

THEY COULD HAVE SEPERATE HEATS...MALE ONES AND FEMALE ONES

See..I can't even watch crap Saturday night TV any more

I used to really love posting and reading these boards. Maybe I will do again someday.

I have made some brilliant friends through the board though. Some of the finest women I know post here and I've learned a lot through them

This is one of the few places where I feel intimidated at the erudition and downright scary intelligence of most contributors, so I'm not all over it like some other boards. I do dip in when I feel there's something I want to say though (often a silly lighthearted comment) and have never felt unwelcome. There have also been some fascinating debates at times. The intrusion by the you-know-whos has to be taken as a compliment really; if they didn't fear us they wouldn't bother.

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you....

then you win

I'm v grateful to this board too

(that bastard Gandhi)

This board is my home screen. I love it that much. .... From horror and sadness through to rip roaring laughter ( vergina? ), this board keeps me sane when I want to to scream that the world is so unfair.

Yes I'm do glad that mn feminists successfully persuaded mnhq to start this board (2010 I think?).

It has changed over time, big names have disappeared and new ones have emerged.

The 'others' will always haunt us I suspect.

But yes it takes a lot of effort and energy to keep it going and it's good to hear from lurkers that it's worth it & appreciated.

Another long-term mostly lurker checking in to add my thanks. This is one of the places where I feel most at home. The accumulated wisdom and humour here is astounding. You have given me the confidence and vocabulary to start to challenge things in rl, especially in my workplace. Thank you.

I found feminism through these boards, and the fabulous, patient and kind women here have lead me from my first "I don't believe in feminism, I believe in equalism" posts to the board (yes, I really said that! ) to where I am now. It has been a painful journey of discovery and enlightenment as to just how crap things really are for women, but made infinitely easier for having you all by my side.

I've found this a place where I can talk about women's spaces and women as a priority and not be ripped to shreds. It's a rare and beautiful thing on social media at the moment. I'm very grateful.

I've found pretty much everyone on these boards so open to talk about things - willing to discuss and educate, and change their minds when new evidence or new thoughts come up (I know I've change my opinions often upon further reflection or with more information)

It's such a safe space - not detached or unemotional, but able to rationally discuss very big topics.

I'm also mostly a lurker, but I do love this part of MN. smile And yes, like others, I have learned a lot, even though I can't remember a time when I haven't identified as a feminist.

This is exactly what I wanted to say. Thank you to the regulars and everybody else for keeping this board interesting and active.

I lurk on MN far more than I post these days but just want to offer a sisterly fist bump of solidarity.

Mostly lurk, occasionally post. For me as an old time second-wave (actually pre-second wave) feminist I've found the way the battleground has shifted fascinating.

For us the battleground was equality e.g. equal pay (still not there though), equal opportunities, equal recognition when it came to life decisions e.g. loans, mortgages, the right not to have your life chances taken away from you simply because you became a mother blah blah...

The remnants of all these are still there, though massively diminished. But just as you think you have 'won', the goal posts shift and you find yourself fighting new battles - objectification, over sexualisation, ridiculous pressures on young girls, pink shit and glitter, MRAs etc.

Will it ever stop?

I'm with AF "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win".

Thank you posters for all your erudition. Onwards and upwards

Fist bumps are products of a patriarchal society in which masculinity is preferred. I say we bump vaginas or something to rid ourselves of this inherently male influence.

I assume you've not been bumping many vaginas recently, Bushmom?

As even a very new baby girl can make a fist and yank out half your hair I don't think fists are a sign of the patriarchy.

Then why must we clarify it as a "sisterly" or "feminine" fist bump? If we feel the need to modify the phrase, it is inherently masculine.

I love the FWR boards. They are my favourite bit of MN. I've not posted a lot of late, but I'm definitely still lurking.

Nobody said "feminine"

Feminist fist bump means a fist bump between feminists. Just as, say, socialist fist bump would mean fist bump between socialists.

Just shooting the breeze until you get deleted.