I am a right winger - convince me to become a feminist

[RadicalConservative]

As per subject, I vote Conservative, why? Because I believe in personal responsibility, I also believe that if you cannot afford something you should tighten your belt and save up instead of relying on credit which is ridiculously expensive i.e fiscal responsibility. I also believe in an individuals dignity and right to live whether that be a older person with a debilitating illness or a foetus in the womb. I lurk on FWR for a number of reasons and I would like to know and understand "feminist" issues however I find I am often dismayed at some of the "tribalism" and "hive mind" mentality on these threads. However if you can, please do try to educate me as to why women like myself should in your view be feminists, as it would seem that right wingers such as myself are only useful when we happen to agree on specific issues - see this tweet for an example: twitter.com/NadineDorries/status/1068477170526445568

Why is it up to us to educate you? Do some reading.

I am an academic and read significant volumes associated with my subject, if you are not interested in engaging why bother posting

I thought you were into personal responsibility?

I also believe that if you cannot afford something you should tighten your belt and save up instead of relying on credit which is ridiculously expensive i.e fiscal responsibility.

Do you have a mortgage, OP?

No Swannee I do not have a mortgage and I am not a home owner as I cannot afford to be

Why don’t you take personal responsibility for educating yourself then? Rather than demanding feminists do it for you.

Yes I am Istanbul but I am also open to learning

Questions.

Do you have a problem with pornography? Why/why not

Do you have a problem with prostitution? Why/why not

Do you feel that individuals make up society as a whole, and that choices and attitudes of those individuals have an impact on society? Why/why not

Do you feel that individuals and groups of individuals have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure that the most vulnerable groups in society are protected by others who would abuse them? Why/why not

Do you agree that biology has an impact on human behaviour? Why/why not

Do you agree that female humans are - as a class - oppressed due to their biology? Why/why not

Do you have any historical understanding of how women have been treated across the world and how this history underpins our societal expectations of female behaviour and social standing? Why/why not

Do you have access to the internet in order to read websites that explain feminist theory? Why/why not

Do you have a library card that you can use to hire books (for free) about feminist theory? Why/why not

Can you read the above items as suggested? Why/why not

You're an adult OP. You need to take responsibility for your political education yourself.
By all means ask specific questions about issues or comments on here but it really isn't up to feminists on here to try to persuade you.

Op - do you believe that being right wing means you can't be a feminist?

As above Gloriana, I am interested in learning from people who regard themselves as feminists - who better than the "horses mouth"?

Google is your friend.

what a silly challenge. Ever wondered why you were able to vote at all, let alone conservative.

Then ask a specific question instead of lazily demanding strangers try to convince you. No one here is your research assistant.

I am confused as to why you cannot be a conservative AND a feminist all at the same time.

Quite easy, if you believe in personal responsibility - men are not taking personal responsibility for the things they do and don't do in a patriarchy.

Ending patriarchy therefore is in your own best interest.

Women who work hard to get good jobs don't get them because male employers prefer less qualified male employees.

Men who have their fun putting their dicks in women often don't take responsibility for the resulting child.

If they stay around, they often don't do their half of the work that comes with raising a child. (And ask yourself whether the conservative family model with the housewife really usually results in the woman having control over the money the man owes her for doing all the childcare.)

Men who rape avoid the prison time they rightfully deserve because of patriarchy. (I don't think it is controversial that women don't want to be raped, even among conservative women, right?)

You should read Andrea Dworkin. She wrote something called "Right Wing Women" where she explains to feminists why right wing women have the opinions they have. Probably also works to understand things the other way round.

Why do you think that being conservative/right wing means you can't be a feminist?

What is it about feminism that you disagree with, specifically?

The style of the OP really reminds me of something but I can't quite put my finger on it.....

As above Gloriana, I am interested in learning from people who regard themselves as feminists - who better than the "horses mouth"?

Feminists have written a lot of books, you know? You could just read this forum?

I decided to engage with you because I was bored, but after reading your arrogant reaction to those who quite understandably don't want to spoon-feed an adult woman things she could just find and read herself, I find my patience is used up.

Read Andrea Dworkin, I am sure that'll make everything clear. You can use Google to find a pdf of her writings on right wing women.

Men who rape avoid the prison time they rightfully deserve because of patriarchy.

Approximately 85,000 women and 12,000 men are raped in England and Wales alone every year; that's roughly 11 rapes (of adults alone) every hour. These figures include assaults by penetration and attempts.
Nearly half a million adults are sexually assaulted in England and Wales each year
1 in 5 women aged 16 - 59 has experienced some form of sexual violence since the age of 16
Only around 15% of those who experience sexual violence choose to report to the police
Approximately 90% of those who are raped know the perpetrator prior to the offence

The real question is, why aren't you a feminist yet?

Do you have a problem with pornography? Yes because it disempowers women and lessens their status as human into sexual objects for the pleasure of the male species

Do you have a problem with prostitution? Yes, anyone who has to resort to buying sexual gratification is someone with major issues and at the same token any women who has to resort to selling their bodies needs to consider alternative forms of employment

Do you feel that individuals make up society as a whole, and that choices and attitudes of those individuals have an impact on society? I think that each of us has a role to play within a wider society, I would like to think that most people aim towards a fair and equitable society although recognise that there are individuals who are just "in it for the money"

Do you feel that individuals and groups of individuals have a moral and ethical responsibility to ensure that the most vulnerable groups in society are protected by others who would abuse them? Yes I think that vulnerable groups should be protected, but in this world of "Oppression Olympics who is the real victim and who is the chancer?

Do you agree that biology has an impact on human behaviour? I am a biologist next question

Do you agree that female humans are - as a class - oppressed due to their biology? I think that women are raped, subjected to heinous assaults based on their biology i.e FGM

Do you have any historical understanding of how women have been treated across the world and how this history underpins our societal expectations of female behaviour and social standing? Yes I do have an awareness

Do you have access to the internet in order to read websites that explain feminist theory? Yes, I am interested in learning from active feminists

Do you have a library card that you can use to hire books (for free) about feminist theory? Yes see above

Can you read the above items as suggested? Yes hence the reason for posting

This might blow your mind but If you want to hear from actual feminists on feminism there is a mass of information out there in the form of essays, blogs, books.... amazing right? The feminists here aren’t the only ones in existence!

Your unlying assumption is flawed - being a feminist does not mean you can't hold with Conservative policies and principles.
Madeleine Albright was not known for her left wing tenancies but is quoted a saying "There is a special place in hell for women who do not help other women".

Since you haven't said why it is that you're not a feminist it's rather hard to know what would be persuasive. Some issues touch some women more than others.

But since you seem to prioritise personal responsibility, here's one:

At the moment, violence against women is at horrifying levels. Do you believe that men are unable to exercise any restraint over themselves, or do you think they have personal responsibility? Feminists believe that men are capable of self-restraint and that male violence against women is not an inevitability that women should just learn to live with.

Conservative feminists tend to agree with other feminists that the state should not be given too much power over our lives, that pornography and prostitution are not empowering to women, and that individuals should have privacy, safety and dignity whether they are at a spa or in a prison.

I guess I might ask what you're defining a feminist as?
And why you think being a Conservative-voter somehow makes you not one? Or not one "automatically".

Or what is it that makes you sure of your Conservative party support, but less sure of your feminist leanings? That's a genuine question. Not knocking any one political party there.