Women who aren't feminists

[HumourlessFeminist]

I've been thinking about this for a while.

I was blissfully unaware of feminism for far too long 😳, probably until a few years after DS was born (and after a few years of MNing). Is this a relatively common experience for women? Are women more likely to become feminists as they experience more of what the patriarchy pushes upon them throughout their lives? And why do some women never become feminists?

Justhadathought

I think you are braver than me. I was really interested in the feminism boards when I first joined but actually I've been finding myself pushed further and further away because of what I was seeing on it. Actually I've enjoyed being on here today because it's been, for the most part, respectful even if we've disagreed.

Looks like I spoke too soon.

^So the view that any and every man is a potential rapist because they belong to the class that is male.

That it's up to men to sort out male violence, as though all men are responsible or should form some sort of vigilante squad. Men are no more responsible for male violence than I am responsible for female violence.^

Amen.

When I voiced this opinion I was repeatedly called an MRA.

@zzz:

Sorry, but I'm giving up responding to you after this. I sense an agenda that is not entirely straightforward. No feeling of communality or sisterhood at all. You seem not to be able to respond to another woman's shared story and genuine communication. You are intent on trouble and conflict. If you are indeed a woman of my age, then I find it difficult to conceive that you do not understand what I'm communicating.

You are talking typical, non-sensical, post modern bullshit. See Sally Hines and all the others......zzzzzzz

I don't call myself a feminist. I'm a woman; and before that I was girl.
Feminism, if you insist, is in the bones - through lived experience. I actually doubt you are a woman at all.

And as predicted, the "you're a man" accusation rears its head as usual...

And as predicted, the "you're a man" accusation rears its head as usual...

It's the night for it.

I've just had it said to me on another thread too.

Justhadathought

Really, what is this sisterhood?

My experience of being a woman will be different to other women. No two of us will have had the self same experience - even if physically we have our emotional or intellectual view of that experience will be different and you last post there sums up exactly what we have been talking about.

Must be Man Thursday... 🤣

@Weetabix:

You too....

I was naive enough to think you were being sincere in seeking dialogue. Nobody expects absolute agreement or conformity. We are all different, with different lived experience. But women, certainly of a certain age, who have celebrated their femaleness; given birth; shared certain types of life experience that are in common with other women, tend not to seek conflict, but rather commonality.

Your words ring hollow and meaningless! They do not even make sense. " Even if physically we have our emotional or intellectual view of that experience...". what does that even mean? Can't even begin to fathom it.

I call you out!

zzzzzz:

Can you not read....? I don't call myself a feminist.

Bullshit nonsense.

You've been caught out. Now get lost.

I found the arguments put forward on this thread fairly succinct and concise.

Several posters have explained that they believe in equality but don't believe that tearing down men is the answer to empowering women, and that they often find this forum negative and insular for want of a better word.

This echoes my own impressions at times but being a man I'm obviously not able to comment from the perspective of a lived women.

This thread has had its day. These guys just make it up as they go along.

Don't waste your breath everyone!

Your words ring hollow and meaningless! They do not even make sense. " Even if physically we have our emotional or intellectual view of that experience...". what does that even mean? Can't even begin to fathom it

It is perfectly obvious what was being said. The poster omitted 1 comma (or a dash) after the word "have".

Everyone makes these sort of small mistakes from time to time.

My experience of being a woman will be different to other women. No two of us will have had the self same experience - even if physically we have, our emotional or intellectual view of that experience will be different

Here is an example of what that post is about. Most people on here have been pregnant. I have. Many posters on MN seem keen on building up a relationship with their midwife and seeing the same one throughout. I absolutely did not want I did not want a close relationship with a midwife. I did not warm to or open up to a midwife. I was very happy that a minor complication meant I was offered an elective caeserean- which I jumped at. Many women would find my attitude and reaction very odd.

I call you out!

Ooh ooh am I a man too?

Thank you LassWiADelicateAir. That was exactly what I meant.

zzzzz

What is really funny is that I'm on another thread at the moment and the ganging up on me is quite spectacular and yet if you ever mention it everyone acts totally amazed and says that they never see it.

I still can't get over the irony of women accusing men of silencing women and then being only too quick to do it themselves.

Utterly bizarre.

And I will check for a random penis before I go to bed, though I think the absolute period from hell visiting me at the moment is assurance enough that I'm not a man (at least the last time I checked anyway )

I am of that age to be one of those feminists who fought for some of those rights. I’m glad you enjoy them, regardless of your antipathy to women like me. Oh, and — you’re welcome.

From someone who didn't do more for feminism than sign a few petitions:

Thank you!