Are you a feminist?

Foxhound38

I'd be interested in figuring out how many people in AH view themselves as feminists. It is no surprise to many that the term "feminism" is going through what some might call a bit of a brand problem. There are still many outstanding issues calling for increased gender equality but less and less young people (particularly young women) associate themselves with the feminist lable, with many preferring to call themselves humanists or equalists.

So what do ye reckon AH? Do you identify as a feminist?

bodice ripper

FOR THE PATRIARCHY!

Wacker The Attacker

I love tits

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller

I don't think even Emily Davison would want to be associated with the feminists of today.

Links234

I would consider myself a feminist, but with the disclaimer that there are many different schools of thought on what is feminism and what it entails.

Duckworth_Luas

10 bob on Anmer for the Derby!

AudreyHepburn

I would be more for equal rights than women's rights tbh.

Women have certainly been treated badly in the past and I have no issue with us standing up for rights at all.


But I find the whole mentality that men are evil and only out to hurt and mistreat and demean women etc that pervades society today very unpalatable.

shruikan2553

Nope. I'm all for equality but would never consider my self a feminist as I look at both sides and see inequalities. Many feminist groups just exist to have something to complain about these days.

beano345

I believe in equality in its sincerest form,not the Chinese menu approach a lot of feminists take to it though

MagicMarker

I'm an egalitarian.

I am yeah

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller

Vast majority of so called "feminists" today are really just liberals.

Watch this video where a conservative gets treated like it has just been revealed that she eats babies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEYDUnwmG4U

catallus

"To emancipate woman is to refuse to confine her to the relations she bears to man, not to deny them to her; let her have her independent existence and she will continue nonetheless to exist for him also: mutually recognising each other as subject, each will yet remain for the other an other. The reciprocity of their relations will not do away with the miracles – desire, possession, love, dream, adventure – worked by the division of human beings into two separate categories; and the words that move us – giving, conquering, uniting – will not lose their meaning. On the contrary, when we abolish the slavery of half of humanity, together with the whole system of hypocrisy that it implies, then the 'division' of humanity will reveal its genuine significance and the human couple will find its true form." Simon de Beauvoir

Real feminism deals with the messy realm of human relationships; the new waves have, understandably enough, shed a lot of the fundamentals but in doing so it has become inhuman, so it acts not as a restorative balm but as a potion of contempt.

kowloon

Rather than post a new thread, could we add the question: 'What do you think Feminism is?'
It makes no sense to say you are or aren't something when your definition of it isn't made clear.

alroley

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I would be more for equal rights than women's rights tbh.

Women have certainly been treated badly in the past and I have no issue with us standing up for rights at all.


But I find the whole mentality that men are evil and only out to hurt and mistreat and demean women etc that pervades society today very unpalatable.

Feminism is wanting equal rights.

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller

alroley wrote: »

Feminism is wanting equal rights.

:pac:

Exhibit A:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HwfVPmFNlg

MagicMarker

alroley wrote: »

Feminism is wanting equal rights.

......for women.

Pawn

alroley wrote: »

Feminism is wanting equal rights.

Sure...

Muise...

I'm a feminist and so is my wife!

Why? why? why?

We all know how this is going to end up, with petty digs and even pettier rhetoric.


Too late, it's started already.

tritium

alroley wrote: »

Feminism is wanting equal rights.

You'll find a lot of folks who disagree on that definition of applied feminism, me included (I'm sure one particular poster will be here with their dictionary definition shortly)

Candie

Candie wrote: »

Why? why? why?

We all know how this is going to end up, with petty digs and even pettier rhetoric.


Too late, it's started already.

I MET A WOMAN ONCE AND SHE WAS MEAN TO ME AND IT'S YOUR FAULT WHY DON'T YOU FIX THEM

Muise...

Candie wrote: »

Why? why? why?

We all know how this is going to end up, with petty digs and even pettier rhetoric.


Too late, it's started already.

At least it's out in the open here - it's not tacked on to an anecdotal or hypothetical issue. It's clear some people think feminism is aggressive and absurd and anti-men (and they have YouTube clips to prove it! YouTube!) and some others regard it as a broader church with lots of rational people in it. I'm glad to see my new sisters nail their colours to the mast.

seamus

By definition feminism is only concerned with equal rights for women and not concerned with equal rights for men.

Whatever the next level up is which is concerned with equal rights for everyone, that's what I am. Feminism is a subset of that obviously, but being specifically feminist says that you are not concerned with equalisation of men's rights.

tritium

bluewolf wrote: »

I MET A WOMAN ONCE AND SHE WAS MEAN TO ME AND IT'S YOUR FAULT WHY DON'T YOU FIX THEM

ITS BECAUSE ALL MEN ARE RAPISTS AND PAEDOPHILES AND THE WOMYN ARE POOR VICTIMS AND MRAS ARE ALL EVIL AND WANT TO SUPPRESS AND MISANDRY IS A MADE UP WORD

Turtwig

Prefer the term egalitarian because of too many negative connotations associated with feminism. Certain groups seem to believe they have exclusive access to defining feminism. As a result, some folks who are feminists would rather not identify as feminism for fear of association with an extremist or barmy crowd.

So to clarify, yes I am feminist but I am also egalitarian and more associate with the latter than the former. It's not wholly correct, kind of like agnostic over atheism, but it's met with less negative perceptions by others. Others whom ultimately you want to get to understand feminist struggles not brazenly dismiss them.

hfallada

Most young men view women equally to men. The glass ceiling is in women's heads now. Take the law profession. Women's are outperforming men, the most respected barristers are women and female solicitors are doing well also.

Take girls written by Lena Dunham. It's shows 4 girls living in Brooklyn and Dont rely on men like previous TV shows like sex and the city.

Women put down the fact they are underperforming to men, because they are women. But rarely acknowledge they are underqualified or lack experience. Women complain about under representation in politics.But yet rarely run as independent.

desultory

Absolutely. Equal rights and treatment for men & women.
Of course that'll never happen but it's nice to dream.

bluewolf

bluewolf wrote: »

I MET A WOMAN ONCE AND SHE WAS MEAN TO ME AND IT'S YOUR FAULT WHY DON'T YOU FIX THEM

We're too busy, plotting our next move in the great takeover with the rest of the feminist illuminati.

And because we're mean and only like money and muscles, and child benefit, and having men lift things, prefer erotica to porn (this is a new one), and reject those sexy 2 am advances out of hand, fool men into unprotected sex, steal their DNA so we can drag them through the courts and take their money. That's if we don't fool them into marrying us so we can withhold sex and make them miserable and not do the cleaning, while wearing tracksuits, fake tan, and gaining weight at the taxpayers expense. Because that's how we roll.

For fun.

Because we're worth it.

Muise... wrote: »

It's clear some people think feminism is aggressive and absurd and anti-men (and they have YouTube clips to prove it! YouTube!)

Once the YouTube videos are out, its game over basically. I mean, if some random guy mades a video, it's got to be true.

It's like a law, or something.

Aurum

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller wrote: »

:pac:

Exhibit A:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HwfVPmFNlg

You can try to discredit any political movement or ideology by pointing to the actions of some extremist outliers and trying to claim that their actions and opinions are representative of the group as a whole.

Seaneh

In that I believe woman should have equal rights to men, yes I'm a feminist.

I think gender quotas in jobs and government are bloody retarded though.
If you want more women to be politicians or engineers or chefs or race car drivers then promote them as things women can strive to be, make girls interested in those industries, don't make it a situation where if 2 people apply for a job and one of them is a woman and one is a man, the man loses out solely because he's a man, even if he is more qualified to do the job.
The best person to preform the role is the people with the best training, experience and ability, not the person of the "correct" gender to meet a quota.

nokia69

I'm not a feminist

I believe in equal rights

Muise...

hfallada wrote: »

Most young men view women equally to men. The glass ceiling is in women's heads now. Take the law profession. Women's are outperforming men, the most respected barristers are women and female solicitors are doing well also.

Take girls written by Lena Dunham. It's shows 4 girls living in Brooklyn and Dont rely on men like previous TV shows like sex and the city.

Women put down the fact they are underperforming to men, because they are women. But rarely acknowledge they are underqualified or lack experience. Women complain about under representation in politics.But yet rarely run as independent.

I think the remaining battles are to do with the things the sexes can never be equal on because they do not have corresponding biologies. "Equal rights" can't be applied to reproductive choices as easily as to the franchise, for example, and leads to stupid whatabouteries.

Then there are cultural problems such as misogynistic attitudes, which can't be forced to change by legislation, so they'll have to wait till more patient men and women sit down and listen to each other without flying off the handle at extremes and old grievances.

GarIT

In this country women have completely equal rights to men. I challenge anyone to find one law that discriminates against women. As an aside I can find many they discriminate against men.

By feminist's definition of sexism. It is impossible to be feminist and not be sexist. Feminism as a word stems from female, therefore it's sexist, if you wanted equality for everybody you wouldn't have a name made from female.

desultory

Seaneh wrote: »

In that I believe woman should have equal rights to men, yes I'm a feminist.

I think gender quotas in jobs and government are bloody retarded though.
If you want more women to be politicians or engineers or chefs or race car drivers then promote them as things women can strive to be, make girls interested in those industries, don't make it a situation where if 2 people apply for a job and one of them is a woman and one is a man, the man loses out solely because he's a man, even if he is more qualified to do the job.
The best person to preform the role is the people with the best training, experience and ability, not the person of the "correct" gender to meet a quota.

Absolutely. If anything that's sexism.

Those most suited and qualified for the job should get the job, whether they're male or female. If there's 100 positions open and 99 of those are filled with women it'd be considered 'a step forward' (by some) but do the opposite and it's sexist and 'this is why I need feminism' lark.
Why not just look at their qualifications and suitability for the job.
It seems far simpler but no..now there's quotas to ensure people aren't being sexist, madness.

Wishiwasa Littlebitaller

Aurum wrote: »

You can try to discredit any political movement or ideology by pointing to the actions of some extremist outliers and trying to claim that their actions and opinions are representative of the group as a whole.

"Extremists outliers"

You have no idea what you are talking about.

In Sweden, these people are anything but extremists.

They are in fact, the mainstream.

Pwindedd

I'm a feminist in relation to issues where women are not being treated equally, and so I guess I'm also a masculist ? In relation to issues where men are not being treated equally. I believe in fairness for all in matters where sex is irrelevant. I'm also lucky in that all of the hard work has been done by those that have gone before me and I'm living in an age where practically nothing is denied me because of my sex. It's very easy to be part of an ism, when you don't have to do that much to join.

I still think we have a little way to go in acknowledging that men and women are a bit different, physically, mentally and socially. As a species, we're never going to be the same, we need to accept those differences and work around them sensibly, but we're doing okay compared to other regimes.

tritium

Muise... wrote: »

I think the remaining battles are to do with the things the sexes can never be equal on because they do not have corresponding biologies. "Equal rights" can't be applied to reproductive choices as easily as to the franchise, for example, and leads to stupid whatabouteries.

Then there are cultural problems such as misogynistic attitudes, which can't be forced to change by legislation, so they'll have to wait till more patient men and women sit down and listen to each other without flying off the handle at extremes and old grievances.

I'm genuinely curious how that can be squared with the idea of feminism wanting equality for all gender issues. If there are still gender issues such as fathers access to children that don't depend on biology surely a philosophy predicated on full equality would focus there first?

tritium

Aurum wrote: »

You can try to discredit any political movement or ideology by pointing to the actions of some extremist outliers and trying to claim that their actions and opinions are representative of the group as a whole.

And so it starts.

The descent to the place all these threads end up

Muise...

GarIT wrote: »

In this country women have completely equal rights to men. I challenge anyone to find one law that discriminates against women. As an aside I can find many they discriminate against men.

By feminist's definition of sexism. It is impossible to be feminist and not be sexist. Feminism as a word stems from female, therefore it's sexist, if you wanted equality for everybody you wouldn't have a name made from female.

Completely equal rights you say? Like the equal right to life of a foetus and the woman carrying it? Does that mean a man is equal to a foetus too?

(Not throwing down the gauntlet for an abortion row, just saying there are things we will never be equal on because equality is not always possible - you can't get pregnant and I can't piss standing up. Well, I could, but not in these shoes.)

It is possible to be feminist and not discriminate against men, in the same way that I can be a minimalist without doing any harm at all to serialists. It's not a zero-sum game.

GarIT

Pwindedd wrote: »

and so I guess I'm also a masculist ?

The terms that are generally used are equalist and egalitarian.

Links234

There are serious issues women face in this country still, reproductive health for example.

GarIT

Links234 wrote: »

There are serious issues women face in this country still, reproductive health for example.

That's absolutely nothing to do with equality though, it's not like men have a right women don't there.

Also if women can have abortions men should also be allowed have legal abortions, where a father can choose not to be a father before the child is born.

Turtwig

With regard to reproduction, the only way fathers can have 'equal' say is when the technology exists for their bodies to be ones taking the most significant risk. Pregnancy isn't without its lifelong complications. So, it stands to reason, that person taking the biggest risk, the mother, gets the biggest say on the matter.

GarIT

Muise... wrote: »

Completely equal rights you say? Like the equal right to life of a foetus and the woman carrying it? Does that mean a man is equal to a foetus too?

(Not throwing down the gauntlet for an abortion row, just saying there are things we will never be equal on because equality is not always possible - you can't get pregnant and I can't piss standing up. Well, I could, but not in these shoes.)

It is possible to be feminist and not discriminate against men, in the same way that I can be a minimalist without doing any harm at all to serialists. It's not a zero-sum game.

If you use the term feminist to describe yourself that makes you sexist in my eyes. Abortion is nothing to do with equality, men have just as much right to abortions as women at the moment.

ceadaoin.

In Ireland and most (all?) other western nations, women do have equal rights. Can it be said that women are discriminated against by law in Ireland? No. I see feminism nowadays more about giving women choices. It's not someone's right to earn 100k a year but everyone should have the option to strive for that if they wish. In the past, women didn't have that choice.

You are not entitled to something simply because of your gender.

GarIT

Turtwig wrote: »

With regard to reproduction, the only way fathers can have 'equal' say is when the technology exists for their bodies to be ones taking the most significant risk. Pregnancy isn't without its lifelong complications. So, it stands to reason, that person taking the biggest risk, the mother, gets the biggest say on the matter.

A lot of people need to realise that biology dictates that some things will always be different.

If people actually want real equality they should agree to my idea of removing every reference to man, woman, male or female from the constitution and all laws.

RayM

Yes. I've always strongly believed that women should be treated as though they're equal.

Muise...

GarIT wrote: »

If you use the term feminist to describe yourself that makes you sexist in my eyes. Abortion is nothing to do with equality, men have just as much right to abortions as women at the moment.

GarIT wrote: »

A lot of people need to realise that biology dictates that some things will always be different.

You'll be mortified to find that you have just repeated the points of a feminist in your own special way. Scarla for you.

GarIT

Muise... wrote: »

You'll be mortified to find that you have just repeated the points of a feminist in your own special way. Scarla for you.

There are no set feminist points. I certainly agree with a lot of the beliefs of many feminists. I also believe that the vast majority of of feminists are sexist, that doesn't mean I disagree with them on everything.

Pwindedd

GarIT wrote: »

The terms that are generally used are equalist and egalitarian.

But I don't think we should abandon the word feminist because of its perceived negative connotations. The history behind feminism is a lot of hard work, by a lot of women (and men), to bring women's rights up to the level of their male counterparts. I wouldn't like to think we shelve feminist - I would prefer to think it's evolved into a "equal rights for all" banner. "I can't believe it's not feminism" if you will.