Are feminists getting played?

[Maniak]

It makes me sad that feminists are spending so much time banging on about bathrooms in a world that has women still working for no pay, old women still more likely to be poor, surrogacy, underfunded maternity care, and poor support for carers. And other stuff.

Yes, the trans thing is annoying, but have you noticed how it always fires up before major elections? It's like Afghanistan in the 80s when the US provided just enough weapons to keep the war going so Russia would use all it's energy and get weak.

I feel like feminism is getting distracted with the trans stuff. At most, it should take up 10 percent of our feminist attention. But I rarely see feminism these days that isn't all about trans. Seriously. Do you think we're getting played here? Is trans really such a big deal?

But what can be done about something like that though? He was unusual saying it straight like that

He is not unusual.

So @sackrifice what do you think the solution is for that kind of discrimination?

But what can be done about something like that though?

More financial support for employers to ease the burden of paternity and maternity leave.

Use it or loose it penalties to encourage men to take paternity leave.

Better paid paternity leave.

More government financed childcare.

Financial rewards and incentives for employers who provide work place creches and breastfeeding support.

It's a question of priorities.

Even after all of that you still have to deal with the reality that only women can actually give birth and breast feed, but you are never going to eradicate sexism by pretending that sex doesn't exist.

the idea of queering up gender to the point where nobody knows what sex people have.

This would be attempting to eradicate sexism by pretending that sex doesn't exit. It is ridiculous because

1. It involves people taking vast quantities of unnecessary drugs and undergoing unnecessary surgery at great expense.

2. Most people can't drastically change their appearance. If you are 5"2" you are never going to look like the Rock.

sackrifice

But what can be done about something like that though? He was unusual saying it straight like that

He is not unusual.

In all my years of working experience (in the US) he isn't unusual at all. Every male employer I've ever had has asked me inappropriate questions about intent to have children, my fertility (since no children as late as late 30s) - some even have joked that I'm awesome but when the "baby bug" hits that I'll be USELESS.

To this day I endure jokes about menses/sexuality (I have quite a strong presence so the general consensus among the men is that I'm always on my period, or need to get "laid"). I have men say completely inappropriate things to me in passing (quietly out of ear range of others - walking down the hall etc) because they know that reporting sexual harassment will damage my career and my future job prospects more than it would ever harm them. In order for them to be reprimanded for their behavior they'd have to make a big show of the harassment which they are very careful not to.

Female (potential) employers have asked me direct questions about my intent to have children "off the record" - these conversations happened typically at a follow-up lunch which isn't an official interview.

It isn't about "pregnant people" or the possibility of "people becoming pregnant" or "people having periods" it's about the weight we carry as women because our sex is the bearers of children. I'm not discriminated against as a pregnant woman or a mother (I'm neither) or a "breast haver" or being "almost average height" I am discriminated against because I am a woman.

And if that word is taken from me in the eyes of the law I will be a non-man - likely less appreciated than TW as I don't over-perform femininity.

@Merrymouse yeah those are better ideas.

Suppose all that was implemented, there would be less pressure on employers, and so hopefully less discrimination. There would still be some though.

Implementing your policies wouldn't require sex differentiation, because they are all based on parenthood status. But I suppose addressing the remaining discrimination might require it.

I'm not happy though. I don't like the idea that women give birth and breastfeed so we have to accept some level of financial and social deficit and that's just the way it is. I would like to have a solution that addresses it completely, even if the solution is impractical. Like, even just in theory.

I don't like the idea that women give birth and breastfeed so we have to accept some level of financial and social deficit and that's just the way it is.

It would be 'just the way that is' without legislation and the ability to gather data on women in the work place.

Implementing your policies wouldn't require sex differentiation, because they are all based on parenthood status.

Again, gathering the data that shows that the policies are necessary does require sex differentiation.

Implementing your policies wouldn't require sex differentiation

No, read Red’s post above

Women face s based on their perceived ability to become pregnant (in addition to the discrimination they face if they actually become pregnant)

It is important to be able to correctly identify the class of people who are subject to this form of discrimination

You haven’t answered my questions about what links all the unfortunate people I mentioned yesterday by the way OP

I don't like the idea that women give birth and breastfeed so we have to accept some level of financial and social deficit and that's just the way it is

And who said that? You appear to be arguing against points no one has made again

Can I smell queer theory?

I think she meant that some people think that. Which is true. I think it might be true for that matter, it might always be the case that men and women will approach "being an employee" differently to some extent.

I think we should accept it, if its what people prefer, but fair enough if she doesn't.

I think we should accept it, if its what people prefer

What, you think some women prefer experiencing financial and social deficits for bearing children and breastfeeding?

I know the stereotype is that we’re masochistic, but really ?