Why some women don't identify with feminism

[happysmiley]

I aaw on another tread someone saying that the more they thought about it, the more they thought they weren't a feminist. Someone else on a different thread said that the Feminism topic has a "reputation" elsewhere. I know that if I were to ask most of my female friends if they were feminists, I'd probably just get a puzzled look, maybe a reluctant "yes" but not much enthusiasm.

So why is this? Why don't women identify with feminism?

And what can we do to get women on board? Because if women aren't willing to sign up, men hardly will.

is it possible to be a .. erm.. humanist {grin] equal rights and good treatment and freedom from fear and exploitation for all humans? Regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender....

cos I think that's what I am.

I see areas where women suffer, I see areas where men suffer, I see areas where people with disabilities suffer, I see areas where people suffer based on their ethnicity....

I don't think any one deserves my allegiance more than any other. So I wouldn't say I'm a feminist. I don't put womens rights above the rights of all I've mentioned.

Or perhaps I am really, truly, badly misunderstanding what feminism actually is. In which case, I am honestly open to being educated. (just not attacked!!!)

I'm not, and in fact have been raped and sexually assaulted by different men in the sapce of two eyars between 16 and 19. I have the most unfortuante kind of knowledge.

But when I look at men I don't see potential rapist; I see some rapists and some really good blokes and a lot in the middle.

And I didnt deny rape was gendered: I specifically mentioned rape with regards to men, and assault with regards to females.
Blame the criminal not the gender. Men don't rape IMO becuase they are men, but becuase theya re rapists.

"also the vote and jumping in front of horses etc, was for middle class women , poor plebs still considered too thickto vote. "

I took that to mean that the suffragettes were middle class women and that they were fighting for the vote for themselves, and themsleves only.

I didn't know that before but then I am really shite at history.

pogleswood women in my family who had good careers were forced to stop working on marriage - it wasn't that long ago - my grandparents generation.

Justmy i think you desacribed me too: in my self obsessed youth I described myself as an equallist: sounds a bit up my owna rse now but tbh it describes pretty much what I am anti, which is unfounded bias

No, I'm using SWP as my very first experience of being hammered for wanting a certain life.

And yes, total tossers. But I was young and stupid and they bought the beer

"Men don't rape IMO becuase they are men, but becuase theya re rapists. "

So, what, it's just coincidence that almost all rapists are men?

So to fight sexism we have to be sexist?

And this is why some women don't identify with feminism!

Luckily for me I know there is more than just those opinions but I would be put off reading this thread.

bronze, it's like saying that Martin Luther King et al were being racist for not taking sufficient account of the sufferings of white people.

Of course not

But whilst all rapists are men not all men are rapists.

Rapists are men who commit crimes, there has imo to be a very clear distinction amde between the two

I do not for onr minute beleive the all men are potential rapists argument. NAsty, violent, mena re rapists. Abusive mena re rapists. Criminal men are rapists.

besides Ia ctually think that anything that says that all men have the capacity to rape or that rape is a generic male thing lets rapists off the hook: its not them its their gencder. No it isn't, it's them and they are adults and have the responsibility not to rape, there are no excuses

Molesworth I'm trying to point out why some women are put off. My first reaction on reading it was 'so my lovely DH has to be tarred by the same brush as some fucking rapist just because of his gender? Well all rapists are human so...'

There are better ways to fight a cause and get people to understand than to demomise half the population

Since when were all rapists men?

Feminism will never be taken seriously until it gets its facts straight.

In my experience, men who seem nice and kind and gentle can be rapists.

Nobody has EVER said all men are rapists. That's another anti-feminist myth that gets dragged out as ammunition against us.

But if it's not coincidence that almost all rapists are men, why do you think it is that almost all rapists are men? It must be some underlying reason if it's not coincidence. What do you think the reason is?

er Amber, I think you'll find I said "almost all".

Certtainly I have never encountered a case where a female is accused of rape. If it happens then fair enough, just ahven't encountered it myself.

Amber the only person who says 'all rapists are men' on this thread is Clarissimo, who doesn't identify as feminist.

But you go right ahead attributing everything you disagree with to feminism.

swp

I know you did.

However, Clarrismo:

"But whilst all rapists are men not all men are rapists."

Tortopise

For me it is no coincidence becuase I ahve enver come across anyone classifying anything other than penile penetration as rape. That may well not be a wider case but there you go.