Do teenagers think feminism is ''uncool"?

[Tylee]

Just that, really. Someone told me their daughter thinks feminism is uncool, and I'm wondering if most teenagers think that. And if so, why?

I know "quieter, more sensitive" boys who are regular attendees at the Feminist Society at a boys' school (which has it jointly with their sister school, meetings alternating at each). It was some of the more brash, vocal boys who decided to crash the first couple of meetings with comments such as "women just aren't as good", "men are born to lead" and "women should be in the kitchen not at work".

I have two feminist daughters aged 14 and 16. The younger one is particularly fond of wearing her 'this is what a feminist looks like' Tshirt.

Their school - a large single-sex comp in a non-leafy south east London area - is also v pro-feminist, explicitly so.

I'd say their friends were all feminists too. A gang of them went on the women's march.

They should fantastic motherinferior, as does their school!

I did have an alpha type boy who told me that women should be in the kitchen. The girlsshoutedd him down and I had great plea s ure telling his mum on parents' evening.

I overheard my son watching a video by a US guy trolling radfems. He is anti the homophobic and racist stuff that these people say but believes the other messages that these guys pedal - primarily that sexism is a myth. Boils my piss but he really thinks that feminism is something that's only needed in poor countries.

My dd gets it but being smaller and less aggressive than her brother, won't argue with him which is fine. She has seen and experienced sexism sadly which her brother just rolls his eyes at.

My year elevens say that they don't believe in what it has become. They say that when they think of feminism, all they think of is radical feminism. They believe in equal rights and fairness, but not radical feminism

My dd gets it but being smaller and less aggressive than her brother, won't argue with him which is fine. She has seen and experienced sexism sadly which her brother just rolls his eyes at.

That must be incredibly frustrating for her. I find it enraging enough that I experience sexism, it would upset me even more if my brothers dismissed it. Can you discuss this with him? Perhaps point out commonplace sexism and how it feels for his sister to want support at home and be dismissed by him? Not for me to say of course but I just know how much that'd get to me.

Glad to hear the girls were having none of that nonsense Thegiantofillinois.

"They say that when they think of feminism, all they think of is radical feminism"

Interesting. What do they say when you ask them what they mean by "radical feminism"?

Whoop whoop, I went to school in Southeast London, too!

And I suppose now that you mention the examples yes, those kinds of guys are many, too. I wonder how my mother raised me, I don't remember her doing any teaching or explaining in this matter. What did that mom do? Has the boy changed? Often mothers can be "not my baby".

Well I'm a 20 year old Sociology student so I know many teenage feminists. Although, in one seminar there were still many who thought there wasn't a need for feminism anymore, and what I found even more disappointing was that some girls remained quiet when asked if they were a feminist as if they were paranoid to say their true views, or be seen as 'uncool'/

Also, when discussing unwanted sexual harassment some boys (against feminism) had argued "its only seen as harassment when catcalling is done by an unattractive male"

However, I've noticed as others have said in this thread liberal feminism is more popular with teenage feminists. Radical is often regarded as 'man hating'. Also, another thing that slightly irritates me is that I know lots of my peers who like to use this positive Kardashian/Beyoncé inspired feminism to explain why they have the right to wear whatever they want (fair enough, I will never judge a woman for what she wears) but will disappear when it comes to more pressing matters. I'm not very good at explaining but I don't think this sort of "empowering" feminism is very beneficial (but at the same time I guess it's a start and it's nice to have more teen feminists)

Also, when discussing unwanted sexual harassment some boys (against feminism) had argued "its only seen as harassment when catcalling is done by an unattractive male"

This I hear a lot too. And they always have that one example to "prove" it.

Whereas that sentiment from boys in itself is an example of misogyny and entitlement. How abhorrent. Sexual harassment is awful and often intimidating.

Noloveofmine Ds1 is super rigid in his thinking. He seems to be respectful of his female friends, is a good cook and does as many domestic chores as his sister so considers that plenty.
He is sympathetic to the plight of women in poorer countries but will state that there's nothing that he in the UK can do and end the conversation there.
He's seen his dad and I break up 5 years ago and all the sexism that has resulted but is still unconvinced because I'm good at my role and the girls he know are just as sporty, intelligent... as he is.

I get the impression that there are 'Tumblr feminists' who are annoying, over-the-top, whining about men all the time which puts teens off the feminist tag.

Considering that the tumblrists are more likely to be penis-worshipping libfems who whine about "cismen", I kinda get that.

Also, when discussing unwanted sexual harassment some boys (against feminism) had argued "its only seen as harassment when catcalling is done by an unattractive male"

Considering that men who sexually harrass women make themselves unattractive by that very act, that's rather circular logic.

I'm not very good at explaining but I don't think this sort of "empowering" feminism is very beneficial (but at the same time I guess it's a start and it's nice to have more teen feminists)

I totally get what you mean. But I don't think it is a start, but quite the opposite, it is harmful, because this brand of "feminism" is actually actively antifeminist, as it is pro-prostitution, for example. Not to mention the whole transnonsense that erodes all the rights for women actual feminism fought for.

That's frustrating eyebrowsonfleek. What does he think about street harassment girls start receiving from a young age, violence against women and girls, rape and sexual assault, victim blaming etc? There are so many cases of women and girls being assaulted by unknown men for no reason other than they're female as I've said. I also hope your daughter doesn't let him put her off standing up for herself and her beliefs! My brothers have the same experiences with the girls they know which is partly why they are feminist allies (well the older of the two certainly is, I think the younger will be too).

The media constant feed young women and girls the message that their entire value is dependent upon their looks and sexual availability. At exactly the time in their lives where they are exploring their sexuality and looking for mates.

It's probably a little wonder that they respond to affirmation of this looks based value.

Being concerned about promotion, gender pay gaps, the sexism that explodes when you have a family, is the last thing on their mind.

The rules of the game have been force fed to them for years, and they are now playing by them, without realising.

It's certainly true, that the longer you live, the more feminist you become. It's a great shame. It means you can't easily recruit from a pool of younger women.

My teenage dd doesn't. She does have long hair, and wear a ton of makeup and she is obsessed with make up etc but when I talk to her about the issues that are patriarchal, misogynist or unequal in society, she agrees with me and 'gets' it. She is still susceptible to boys' approval I know but i think she really gets it well for a girl her age.

She does have long hair, and wear a ton of makeup and she is obsessed with make up

None of these things impact on her being a feminist. I know plenty of feminists who love make up and I have long hair myself, as well as often appearing what would be deemed stereotypically "feminine". It's difficult to stop being bothered about boys' approval when as Datun says we're fed so many messages that this is what's most important for a girl.

Yes very uncool, most normal teenagers interested in normal teenage things... not what marks and spencer toilet signs look like

I don't disagree with you NoLoveOfMine. What I meant was that she hasn't found that balance yet (and that's no real surprise given her extreme youth).

Indeed St01c but if she wishes there's no reason she can't continue as she is with regards to makeup, hair and so forth. She sounds like she's doing excellently and it's great she's aware of the issues.

"Yes very uncool, most normal teenagers interested in normal teenage things... not what marks and spencer toilet signs look like"

Teenagers have traditionally been interested in "normal teenage things" - like fairness and social justice.......

Yes very uncool, most normal teenagers interested in normal teenage things... not what marks and spencer toilet signs look like

That's the whole point isn't it? It doesn't yet apply to them. They'll soon wise up when they realise that the Marks & Spencer toilet signs are merely reflecting the world view that a woman's place is in the home with the kids.

Your interpretation of that sign is so flawed...