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[mommy101]

I've never been one for feminism but recently I'm starting to realise that, to some extent, it's needed. I've learnt a lot recently and although I think some things are a little 'to far' never did I realise how bad things are in this day and age for women. The trans thing is getting way beyond the joke, equality (which I naievly thought we now had) is clearly not at a stage where it could live up to its name etc...

Anyway... could some feminists tell me anything else I need to know? I'm a baby in all this and would love to learn more....

Speaking of rugby, I was considering starting a thread about this but was quite irked to read of this - despite being World Champions, England's women's team aren't being offered new contracts: www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40704074

And England Women have just won the Cricket Workd Cup.

And Clare Balding is waaaaaaaaay down the list of sports presenters by salary,,,,,,

Indeed Bertrand. The final was well attended but the lack of attention considering their huge achievement is frustrating. The England women's football team also regularly perform far better than the men's in tournaments I believe.

I haven't got a clue most if the time either Giles

I spend all my time saying

I agree with vestal

Or

I agree with datun

All I know is in finding more and more things in getting pissed off at and I thought i was just getting old and miserable

And then I get pissed off that I'm not pissed off st things I've experienced but I can't work out if it's because it really was no big deal or I "knew" it was all my fault anyway or it was just the done thing back then etc

I'm in my thirties so now so I was just a "trouble maker" in my parents eyes when I moaned I couldn't wear trousers at school or I got annoyed I kept getting given barbies as a kid or I wanted to play football and rugby.

Whereas in actual fact Giles you were noticing sexism, stereotyping and being treated in a certain way due to your sex and challenging it!

MN is indeed an eye opener in itself.

It opened my eyes.

I was brought up in a feminist household, so thought I knew it, and stupidly thought we had achieved equality. Becuase I personally broke the stereo types, and achieve everything I wanted (as I was told I could by my mum)

I thought there was no need for feminism anymore. My mum was also sexiest towards men though (as in, all men a useless sort of jokes) which also put me off feminism.

So I was happily going through my life. Sometimes somethings bugged me, the rise in pornography normalizing sex as something you do to women for male pleasure. Children's adverts and such, but I didn't look deeper.

Came on to mumsnet, and took and an instant dislike of the feminist boards and what use to be routine threads in other parts of mumsnet asking why people didn't use the feminist boards.

I use to lurk on the boards, so I could scuff and snigger to myself at these unenlightened people living in a bygone era, whining about perceived slights...........

To say I've done a full about turn, is an understatement

giles

I was due for a promotion that involved travelling round the country

I got pregnant and was refused the promotion as i would have a child. I was refused the far more family friendly hours i requested

So i didnt bother going back after my maternity leave...then i got used to being off and never went back to a career

I am a bit cheesed off at that now

But at the time i thought

Meh...fuck it

I'm pretty used to being overlooked at work myself tbh.

I don't think it was because I was a girl but I often wonder of it's because I'm not a sheep I don't just follow people I can't be moulded into some kinda clone for business purposes. Ive only had crappy jobs anyway so dont worry i never walked into offices questioning ceos. But I have been treated as too stupid to do things. In fact alot of people over the years have just assumed I'm stupid unaware that i see straight through them

The Female Eunuch and the update The Whole Woman.

Great starters for 10.

But what really got me into feminism was Misogynies by Joan Smith. I was young, I was free, had my teeth nice and clean then. And this was before the internet. It really blew my mind.

www.amazon.co.uk/Misogynies-Joan-Smith/dp/0571139965?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I still have this book.

And for an amazing perspective on where we'be come from, The Women's Room is a must read.

It makes me really, really happy when I read about women coming to feminism. It gives me the heart to carry on the fight

If you don't fancy a book, then a browse through the Feminist Current website is definitely worthwhile. Meghan Murphy does some great analysis.

I did post this question under films a few weeks ago bit hot no replies but maybe some of you would know of any films suitable for children where there are female characters who are strong heroic leads? Dd1 has watched alot of films such as full out and soul surfer where the young girls in it have overcome horrific injuries to go on to win major competitions.

But im after something featuring women drs/police officers/firefighters that are really part of the main cast and not some politically correct placement. And preferably one where the woman's not some scruffy flake lunatic who hooks up with the main man befire saving the world evolution I'm looking at you

Dd1 has seen a fair bit of Buffy but being a horror movie person few of the films I know would he suitable

Sorry, I can't help. My kids are all grown up. And I think the films you're after are few and far between.

Yes i couldn't think.of any either...

I haven't seen it, but Ghostbusters2?

Cagney and Lacey is on Netflix, I think.

Oooh I hadn't thought of Ghostbusters 2. And wasn't the new one a female cast?

Maybe this is why I hated all the "family" movies and chick flicks as a kid. Why would I watch some crappy movie where people just got married and had kids when I could watch Sigourney weaver with a flame thrower

I gravitated towards the likes of er, x files and buffy as a teen cos I couldn't stand to watch my mum.ask my dad to carve the chicken for Sunday dinner cos why the hell couldn't she do it... I guess I really for the most part avoided the whole thing of what was expected of girls on tv

How old is your dd?

Silence of the lambs (although not seen it in years)

V for vendetta? Not sure if it counts.

Legally blonde? Finally watched it the other day, was as crap I had suspected.........
But in a weird way, was trumpeting women in all aspects.

Spy? It does indulge in ironic stereo types

She's coming up to 11. Not sure I'm the best advertisement for kids watching horror movies

The other is 6 and a half

Legally blonde should be ok for her, also spy (can't remember the rating on it)

Hunger games?

Ooh hunger games might be good thanks!

12s aren't usually too bad are they?

If she's been watching Buffy she should be ok.

it is quiet dark and graphic, but most dc I know were reading the books and watching it at 11.