What would you say to your young feminist self?

[jewel1968]

I came across some books by feminist authors (Atwood and French) I read when I was much younger woman and started to read them. It got me thinking about the woman I am today compared to the woman I thought I might have become. I have at times accepted some of the gender stereotyping without too much challenge but knowing in my heart it is nonsense.

Got me thinking about stuff and wondered if others managed to navigate life holding on to their feminist principles or if other women made comprises?

As a new graduate I remember saying to a more female staff member that equality in my male dominated industry was looking achievable. I was a bit baffled when she replied she'd been hearing that for years but in reality progress was miniscule. I smiled and nodded politely but didn't believe her.

I'd now tell my younger self that she was absolutely right.

I wouldn't have listened at the time but wish I'd seen how much societal pressure there is to conform and how misogynistic my own views were, despite considering myself feminist.

Argh. Fat fingers. *To a more senior female staff member

I’d say “you think you’re being treated equally but you’re not. Hold your guard and press forward in your beliefs when you know you’re being treated differently for being female”.

AND

“Don’t give any time to fuckboys”.

Mannnnn that last one.....

@thinkingaboutLangCleg

Ironically the theme song has lyrics written by Billy Bragg.

Painfully ironic. I’d swear Billy Bragg used to be on ordinary people’s side, and I loved him. Undoubtedly he believes all the propaganda, but it’s no excuse. Even if he believes the wooo, I’d have thought an inborn sense of fairness would have put in a word for women.

It just really pisses me off that even after being told what this ideology will do to women and children, he still dismissed the women trying to get though to him. I just don't understand it. Not a critical thought in his head it would seem.

• refuse to date men who watch porn - difficult but doable *Keep your own surname
• Marriage is not sacred
• The Kardashians are not feminists no matter how much they tell the world they are empowered by showing their tits to the world. *There will be a thing in the future called social media...stay off it at all costs. It's mostly going to make you feel shit. *Guilt will paralyse you in the future- start working on that now.
• Look after yourself more when you get to 40
• Your kids will turn out great so keep drinking the wine..it's a habit you will never grow out of!

I know you've never been good at sports because you're clumsy, but you'll be pretty good at wrestling because it doesn't matter if you fall down, you can just put the other guy down too. It's not like PE at school, the teachers actually want to help you get better and keep you coming back. Start lifting weights and take up martial arts and you'll be safer around men, and you'll also carry yourself with more confidence and be less likely to back down to them. And you'll be able to help out when you see men abusing other girls.

"What would you say to your young feminist self?"
My immediate thought when I read the title was

'Buckle up. It's going to be a bumpy ride.'

Yes, I am becoming increasingly sour .