Feminism 101

[persister]

I was talking to a group of women recently who were saying that they're just coming round to the concept that maybe feminism is relevant to their lives, but they feel they don't know enough about it. They asked me if I could recommend a book or website that would give them an introduction to the concepts as they are very conscious of that lack of knowledge - something that would explain the waves of feminism, the difference in philosophy and politics between them and so on.

I've tried to find something to recommend to them but I'm finding it hard to locate a useful, up to date summary that isn't coming from a liberal feminist position and therefore fairly dismissive of radical feminism. Please can anyone offer me a suggestion or two?

I’d be interested in this too. Though honestly just reading a lot of these threads have taught me a fair bit.

As has stalking, in a good way, the twitter accounts of outspoken GC Women. You don’t need to join twitter to do this.

There is a frequently asked questions thread (apologies I can’t recall the posters name atm) that is really informative too.

Just to add I would say not to worry too much about not being knowledgeable. Everyone comes to this from different life experiences. I’ve found most people are happy that you’re interested and are willing to share what they’ve learned. There are no sarcastic “google is your friend” happening here.

Here are some useful resources;

Finally Feminism 101 explains feminism in plain English;

finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/purpose/

finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/the-faqs/faq-roundup/

The Women's Liberation Movement has 7 core demands from 1971, the only one that women have come close to is number 2.

finnmackay.wordpress.com/articles-i-like/the-7-demands-of-the-uk-womens-liberation-movement/

(International Women’s Day 1971)

1 Equal pay now

2 Equal education and job opportunities

3 Free contraception and abortion on demand

4 Free 24hr nurseries

5 Financial and legal independence

6 An end to all discrimination against lesbians and a woman’s right to define her own sexuality

7 Freedom from intimidation by threat or use of violence or sexual coercion, regardless of marital status and an end to all laws, assumptions and institutions which perpetuate male dominance and men’s aggression towards women.

Andrea Dworkin says;

“Feminism is a political practice of fighting male supremacy in behalf of women as a class, including all the women you don't like, including all the women you don't want to be around, including all the women who used to be your best friends whom you don't want anything to do with anymore. It doesn't matter who the individual women are. They all have the same vulnerability to rape, to battery, as children to incest. Poorer women have more vulnerability to prostitution, which is basically a form of sexual exploitation that is intolerable in an egalitarian society, which is the society we are fighting for.”

Many thanks for the replies.

I'm trying to distill it myself, as I'm becoming very open about feminist ideas, and some of my acquaintances have huge assumptions about what it means.

So, I'm thinking a very simple sentence or two that disarms assumptions and makes important things clear would be useful.

So far I've got "Women face significant disadvantages in the way society is set up. Feminism seeks to challenge society so that women are protected and freed from the things which are stacked against them."

Is it that helpful to understand the difference between the different waves and flavours? It’s pretty academic really- you don’t need to align yourself with one school of thought or another, you just need to think about the issues and have the courage of your convictions. I think most of us agree that woman = adult human female, that gender stereotypes are restrictive bullshit, and that females are oppressed by male violence and the culture that hypersexualises women at the expense of everything else. Bickering about liberal vs radical adds very little value to that consensus, and actively gets in the way of doing something about it.

I asked a similar question on here a few months (or more) ago. I was pointed towards the book by Kat Banyard 'The Equality Illusion'. It doesn't really go into feminism, but it makes it very clear why we need it. And is an easy read.

"Is it that helpful to understand the difference between the different waves and flavours? It’s pretty academic really- you don’t need to align yourself with one school of thought or another, you just need to think about the issues and have the courage of your convictions. I think most of us agree that woman = adult human female, that gender stereotypes are restrictive bullshit, and that females are oppressed by male violence and the culture that hypersexualises women at the expense of everything else. Bickering about liberal vs radical adds very little value to that consensus, and actively gets in the way of doing something about it."

In my view it's absolutely necessary to "bicker" about liberal vs radical. Liberal feminism does not centre women. Feminism should be all about being for and about women. Only women: the rest of the 50% can take care of themselves, thanks very much. As they have been doing for millennia. If it doesn't centre women what's the bloody point of it?

For Gender Critical basics, the two resources that opened my eyes and explained things clearly are these linked below.

sexandgenderintro.com

thenewbacklash.blogspot.com

makemorenoisemanc.wixsite.com/mysite/mmnblog/the-feminist-cheat-sheet

A quick cheat sheet you might find useful - outlining main schools along with a useful reading list