Can you be for gender equality but not a feminist?

[TanithDaUnicorn]

I am completely for equality of all people ragardless of gender, sexuality, race, etc. But I don't like being a "Feminist" Mainly because in my opinion it focuses on Gender above anything else, and the fact that there are a lot of double standards when it comes to it.

What is your opinion? Am I sexist simply because I don't want to be considered a feminist?

"We get it, you are not a feminist. Great. Move on with your life for god's sake."

Or, even better, accept that you are. Because, apart from your inability to accept that other women's experience might be different to yours, I haven"5 seen much you've written that suggests your're not. A few niggles and misunderstandings- I am sure we can iron those out,,,,,,,,,,

You're a far more patient person than I am Bertrand - Lass continually comes on these threads stating that a particular feminist said this outrageous thing and so we all believe it and we're all wrong. She gets some sort of kick out of it.

I think Aziz has got this spot on...

I think Aziz has got this spot on...

Um, no. I will not be corralled into supporting those with whom I potentially disagree just because we share fundamental values. The expression of those shared values can deviate hugely and make distinctive labels appropriate.

"I believe in democracy and individual rights"
"Ah, so you you're a Conservative supporter then?"
"No, I vote Labour."

"I believe in a centralised state with strong government oversight over all sectors of society"
"Oh, so you're a fascist then?"
"No, I'm a stalinist."

The core value (gender equality) can potentially be expressed in any of a dozen ways that would not be seen as feminist and would make a label inappropriate; A religious fundamentalist, for instance, might believe that men and women have equal rights and value within their faith, but distinctly different roles based on their gender. Would that person still be a feminist?

Lass continually comes on these threads stating that a particular feminist said this outrageous thing and so we all believe it and we're all wrong

That is not true. I respond to what is on here. I don't go looking for blogs like that purple sage blog to point out how ridiculous I think they are. But the link was posted. Someone liked it - I thought it was largely nonsense.

Mephistopheles is correct . Aziz's comment is simplistic.

Oh come off it Lass. You know full well that you spend your time on these threads referring to other threads where a feminist supposedly said something.

To quote you:

'I really can't be bothered being permanently on the look out for something to be offended by. (Omg someone called me a lady or a lass, or someone told they liked what I'm wearing)'

'I am irritated by posts making excuses for appalling behaviour by women, because poor thing, she's a victim too.'

These are things that were not said on this thread, but supposedly said somewhere else. They are taken entirely out of context to make it look like feminists said ridiculous things.

Why do you do it?

You do it purposely too, as you're clearly not as stupid as you'd have to be in order to believe these things.

Lass, did you notice my response to you on Tuesday at 9.48? I addressed many of the points you make................

You are wasting your time Bertrand. Coming on thread and stating over and over that she's not a feminist while misquoting other posters on other threads is Lass's hobby.

Yes, I know. But the problem is a lot of people share her view. And even after all these years, I have this pathetic belief that if we only explain it a bit differently, we'll get people to understand........

Not if someone is invested in not listening. You can't argue with someone who will make things up in order to make you look bad.

I have every sympathy for someone who is genuinely trying to understand, and if they listen and still don't agree, fine, that's obviously not a problem. I was in a position of not understanding at one time. But when someone comes on and says we 'look for things to be offended by,' it's clear they're just out to insult and belittle and there's no desire to understand. When the same person does that over and over and over on multiple threads you have to wonder what on earth their motivation is.

I don't believe in God but there's no way I'd go on multiple threads in religion, say 'people who believe in god are just looking for something to comfort them,' and declare over and over than I'm an atheist. Why would I do that? It's incredibly childish behaviour.

And generally, the response to someone being offended by something that you're not offended by is to either ignore and move on or to say 'Oh why are you offended?' and try to understand. Lass's response is to sneer and say we're 'looking for things to be offended by' which is...very unusual behaviour in an adult.

I appreciate the thread has moved on, way on, from the US Selective Service issue that was mentioned previously, but when I clicked on the link it was interesting (in the context of all the other trans-related discussion of late) to see the approach to "Gender change / transgender"

www.sss.gov/Portals/0/PDFs/WhoMustRegisterChart.pdf

Basically if you are born 'male' then you must register, even if you've "changed your gender to female", and if you're born female but "changed gender to male" then you don't have to.

First you said the blog "resonated with you" about why you're not a feminist, then two posts later it's "nonsense".

Aye, right. I'm out.

Yeah, I noticed that noray!

I said it was "largely nonsense" The part about equating feminism with being anti-capitalist resonated with me as a reason why I can be and am in favour of equality but I cannot describe myself as a feminist.

As for "not listening " and being "misquoted" , I know how that feels. Selkie has just misquoted me for example.

Yes Bertrand Sorry I meant to come back to your post. It had some interesting points

Callin So unless I declare I'm a feminist I'm not allowed to discuss matters such as rape, abortion, exploitation in the "sex trade" , fgm.

Why do you do it?

Callin I said several pages back why I was posting on this thread. Whilst the thread was started by a troll the idea that one can embrace equality but not feminism seems to match my position .

The things you picked from that post were examples of the type of things that irritate me about feminism (or the version as practiced on here)

I did not say they were mentioned on this thread although you have stated I did. They were generalisations from a number of sources (as if no one ever posts using generalisations)

What I find amusing about Callin's position is that women like Laurie Penny and the "pro-sex" lobby go around calling themselves feminists, yet despite my views on that I'm in the wrong because I don't call myself a feminist.

Caitlin didn't say you were wrong because of your views Lass. She disagrees with the way you misrepresent people, take things out of context and then play the victim on threads like this.

She isn't the only one.

*cailin

Tanith,

Of course your right, common sense dictates, by the very definition of the term 'femenist' equal rights for women has been succesfully fought for and aqcuired, and rightfully so.

There is an argument for aspects of the system being preferable toward men, of course there is, but there are also elements favourable toward women.

I can't beleive my first ever comment on here is on a femenism thread, this was not my plan, I am merely researching how to cope with my first child just being conceived...

jaythegent... so everywhere in the world women have equal rights do they??

"I can't beleive my first ever comment on here is on a femenism thread"

Yes, that is surprising! You might find the Pregnancy board has what you need.

Scallops - thirded.