The "so what can we actually do" thread...

[ImSoNotTelling]

Hello

Following on from the thread about changing the law on rape to grant anonimity to the accused, a few people have started to think about what we can do to get involved, to actually try and change stuff.

So I guess this thread is for suggestions, ideas, and for people to link up to actually try to change things.

So far we have someone possibly standing for pariament!

So come on everyone.

What's the plan....

Hi ISNT! Areas we could look at:

• rape law
• women standing for parliament (even if not me )
• anti-porn/lapdancing (controversial)

Hiya

I'm a bit of a lurker as feel like I never have time to type once I've got through reading all the dicussions...

But WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT is my main response to many of these interesting/enlightening threads throughout the feminism bit. On both the personal and political/societal front.

There are various campaign organisations out there (Fawcett soc etc) - some recommendations on effectiveness & focus of the existing stuff would be a helpful starting point for me?

Is anyone a member of the fawcett society? Or work for them? Would it be worth donating/joining?

Other thoughts:

Getting involved in politics - yes! But it's quite a big deal Are any of us seriously thinking about getting involved? At national or local level?

Marches? We can meet up and march for reclaim the night and stuff like that? I know there is a feminist conference in london here and some people are meeting up for that, details to be arranged nearer the time, I think Lenin is on the case.

Writing firm letters to people

We could create our own pressure group!!!

Are there any organisations specifically working to get the rape conviction rates improved, who have the ears of the right people? Anyone know who they are?

Could you please make it clear with whatever you do that you are campaigning on behalf of women with the same mindset as you? I'm not being at all funny or intentionally rude, but I wouldn't want to think that you are campaigning for 'women' when some of those 'women' agree with the policy change....

I am thinking of what I can do for my own beliefs lou.

Have you contacted MNHQ and asked them to put a disclaimer at the top of their "let girls be girls" campaign saying "please be aware that many people disagree with this campaign, we are only speaking for ourselves and the people who have registered their approvel".

I think it is self-evident that when people campaign or get involved they are not speaking for everyone in the whole world who shares characteristics with them.

So when I write to my MP about this, and say I disagree strongly, you want me to put at the end PS a lot of women think this is a great idea though.

Not being funny, but, come on.

I think MN has made me a bit confrontational and I wanted this to be a nice friendly thread.

Sorry lou, have registered your objections.

I'm not just campaigning on behalf of women with the same mindset as me, anyway. I'm campaigning on behalf of people with the same mindset.

ISNT, I probably haven't been very clear.

Of course you can take action to make your feelings on the matter clear. And you can set up groups, petitions, campaigns, lobby to your hearts' content.

I suppose what I was trying to say is, would it be possible to bear in mind that not all women have the same view when it comes to the changes (if any) to be made.

The rape defendant anonymity clause is a case in point.

You see I don't see that

If that were the case nothing would ever get done

There are always people who want to maintain the status quo. I'm sure there were women who didn't want the vote, I am sure there were women who thought that no crime of rape within marriage was fair enough. I know there are women who think that FGM is a good thing. There are women who believe that a womans place is in the home, or that pimping little chidren is a good job.

If people all had the same views there would be no need for pressure groups. If everyone considered all the opposing views and gave them weight with their view, they would never be able to act. If you see something that you believe is wrong, you need to be able to stand up and say "this is wrong".

There are other websites with threads saying that women who make false rape claims should eb executed. Are they giving fair and balanced consideration to the opposing views? or can I just stand up and say "this is bollocks" without having to give them repectful consideration.

"If people all had the same views there would be no need for pressure groups." Well, quite.

Don't worry Lou, you have many powerful people on your side. In fact, I would say you have most of the world's goverments on your side. So don't mind little old us standing up and fighting in any small way we can, when we can, to protect ourselves and our daughters (real or so-far imaginary) from the worst excesses of misogyny.

Actually, I am not campaigning on behalf of women with the same mindset as me, or even people with the same mindset as me. I am campaigning for people, full-stop. If I or any group in which I participate succeeds, it will make things better for women or humans in general, whether they agree with me or not. I am not going to make sure a new law or right says "except for Lou, who disagreed". The benefits that feminism has achieved so far have probably benefitted you, Lou, if you enjoy the entitlement to equal pay, paid maternity leave, protection from sexual harrassment etc. That's the nice thing about feminism see, it works on behalf of everyone, whatever their own personal views.

Is there anything you would like to see campaigns for lou? Feministy things obviously, not robots to do the housework and stuff. Although that probably would be a feministy thing to campaign for actually.

Anyway.

You don't have to join in but all ideas are welcome

I'm very interested in the ideas here. They go round in my head then I get caught up in the domestic hamster wheel and don't do anything with them, shame on me. The thing that appalls me is how fixated on their physical appearance young girls still are - to a really pernicious degree. It must sap such a lot of their energy. I feel murderous rage when I see adverts selling women in phone boxes. I tear them up when I don't have the kids with me, but would like to see an end to women being marketed as meat for men to consume.

Feel better for writing that. Am with you in spirit as I unload the dishes.

Oh yes, I'm definitely interested in this. I've been thinking about what I could feasibly do ever since I heard about the change.

ISNT, you may not believe me...

...I actually would like to see campaigns for better dealings with women who claim to have been raped. Truly. I have never said that I don't. I just very strongly believe that equality is something that should be afforded to all of society.

I would like campaigns for real steps forward for part-time working and flexi working (for women and men alike).

Why wouldn't I believe you? There are some things that I'm sure I would disagree with others on!

Yes to we need to do something about the treatment of women who have been raped, was to find out how the flagship "sapphire" unit have been cocking it up and not believing women etc.

I think we need to try and find out who the pressure groups are for this sort of tihng - are there any single issue pressure groups, do they have any influence?

Yes to the flexi working thing. This "right to request" stuff is nonsense. I requested it, and was told to get stuff. DHs work don't do part time at all either. I would be very interested in freeing everyone up from the usual constraints which seem to end up forcing a lot of people into traditional gender roles. i like the idea of "sharing" maternity leave as well. There is stuff about all this in the lib/con document and the it was in the queen's speech as well. So that's positive I think. Don't know what their precise plans are I must admit.

Hmm, MN is funny like that isn't it Lenin. It's like blindfolding yourself and walking into a room and just talking, with no idea whether you are alone or whether thousands of people are listening.

I found these earlier:

Truth About Rape

to End Rape

Rape Crisis

Can't actually find a campaigning element that invites the public to join in on any of them though.

That new UK Feminista site looks good though, did a search for "rape" and came up with some interesting results

sorry Campaign to End Rape computer loves to bugger about with the cursor.

It drives me mad how, when you say you are a feminist, people you previously thought were sensible start muttering about dungarees and man hating and so on. The amount of times I have heard "It's not like I am some kind of feminist but..." and they will go on to say something very feminist.

We need to get the word out there that feminism is about equality for all, not running off and living in a hairy lesbian commune, boobs akimbo, bras aflame.

only if you want it to be Lenin

Dittany and I are advocating the wearing of catsuits, at the moment.

Now there's a line yuo thought you'd never see

Actually I'd love to live on a commune. But a really posh one with en suite bathrooms