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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Small feminist acts

139 replies

Jeanhatchet · 15/02/2019 09:41

Discussing this with a friend the other day. We don't all have the capacity/time/health/money to do big activism.

But feminist women help each other all the time in small ways. Tiny things can be feminist acts. Listening to a woman who is in pain . Bunging her a fiver when she can't feed her kids. Looking after her kids so she can go for a walk. Chucking money into a homeless woman's lap instead of a man's. Consciously finding out the woman to help.

Or choosing to read books by women not men.

Watch films with female leads and female focused themes.

Listen to music by women. Go to an art exhibition by a woman. If you can find one.

Retweet women not men. Read their articles. Post their articles not men's.

Reject conditioning. Try not to look at the women you encounter today and judge their weight, clothes, make up etc. We have been taught to be critical of each other by men and their media and their comments to and about us.

Instead flip your gaze as soon as you feel yourself conforming to that ... onto a man. Judge him. Does he look like a good man? Does he look like he treats women well or beats and rapes them? Or buys them for sex? You can't tell of course. But it moves the game away from women. It is a conscious feminist act not to play the game men have taught us.

OP posts:
MotherForkinShirtBalls · 23/02/2019 18:22

Oh, I didn't mean to shout pants there...

OhHolyJesus · 23/02/2019 18:31

A peak transed an old friend today, does that count?

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 23/02/2019 19:05

Oh I love this thread.

I decided around the time of the Ched Evans case to always believe women. It's a quiet act but I've found it immensely powerful.

I retweet women, try to talk about my feminism, talk to DS about it all the time as well as talking and role modelling consent. There's also a brilliant twitter feed about women's art which I try to find time to look at and share.

SpeakUpXXWomen · 24/02/2019 00:38

I share women's triumphs and am trying to stick to books by women.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/17454134.dolly-the-sheep-pioneer-on-brink-of-cancer-treatment-breakthrough/

Sickoffamilydrama · 24/02/2019 12:24

I've been trying to do this,

So will switch around between male and female when reading to the kids.

With my older 2 who are girls I'll point out the sexism/ abuse of women in the tale...would sleeping beauty really fall in love with the person who threatened her father and kidnapped her?? Led to me explaining what Stockholm syndrome is.

Whenever I hire I ask the agency to ensure there's female candidates.

Ready for the right opportunity I have the phrase "oh is it operated by your penis? "... haven't used it yet but sadly think I will need to in my very male dominated industry.

KarBB · 25/02/2019 07:57

I just read this article which is so infuriating I felt I had to share. I'd live so ideas for SFA that can help tackle some of these inequalities. https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/feb/23/truth-world-built-for-men-car-crashes?CMP=ShareiOSApppOther&twitterrimpression=true

FermatsTheorem · 25/02/2019 17:24

I stuck my head cautiously above the parapet at work today. They linked to our new equalities at work web page, with a discussion thread. And I pointed out that the list of protected characteristics should include "sex." One colleague has liked my post so far.

Sickoffamilydrama · 26/02/2019 18:54

@KarBB
Yes that pissed me off to...I suspect that's why my safety shoes don't fit! Especially round the ankle they are probably smaller versions of mens and I'm big for a woman 5ft 8" weirdly I have bigger/longer hands than my hubby.
I work in an manufacturing were I will be able to bring in considering women when developing our next products.

Vicky1990 · 26/02/2019 19:11

I think you need to go and lay down in a dark room for a long time.
What a ridiculous sexiest misandric posting.

Bumpitybumper · 26/02/2019 19:44

Recently I have tried to draw attention to how traditionally "feminine" pursuits and fields have value and can be of interest to everyone. I don't know why some of this stuff isn't still taught to girls but also boys too (e.g. needlecraft) as it is useful and impressive. I'm not religious but I also go out of my way to support the local mothers union group as the women behind it are incredibly dedicated and run playgroups etc that benefit the whole community. It really annoys me when they're efforts aren't properly appreciated even by their own church.

ChattyLion · 27/02/2019 11:32

I think that posting on MN can be a feminist act a lot of the time Smile

beeyourself · 27/02/2019 15:59

My y3 son has chosen knitting and sewing as optional tasks - completely self-directed. I'm so pleased that he has this option and that he chose it.

Not really a small act of feminism but hopefully a sign that things are improving in that sense.

MrsSnippyPants · 27/02/2019 16:04

I decided on the spur of the moment to drop into one of our town councillor's surgeries this morning in a local cafe. We had a good discussion around being gender critical, he has asked me to send him more information, and I felt quite pleased that I had 'outed' myself IRL for the first time Smile
Even better though, a table of women nearby were listening in and nodding in agreement with me. They all left with leaflets Grin

ChattyLion · 27/02/2019 17:16

This thread is joyful Grin

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