I said I wasn't going to post again in this thread but here I am...


This is all nice and good and everything but this is just referring to the mainstream. Feminism was nice in the 1970s and it was good that white women fought to get jobs but everyone forgets, minoritiy women already had to work to support their families. As a black woman, the civil rights movement helped me more than the feminist movement. But then, I'm a double minority and it sucks to say this, but from personal experience, I've had feminists tell me that my problems are worthless because I'm not white and I deal with another set of issues.

For feminism to really start to matter with me, most feminists are going to have to get over their racism and start to realize that if feminism is really going to change society, it has to respect ALL women and their problems.

I agree 100% with everything KSig RC said.

I'm glad you posted because I think that you raised an important point. I do agree that feminism has not adequately addressed the problems of all women. For some reason, feminism has been a home for educated, middle class or higher, white women. Feminism needs to change and include women of all races, education levels, religions, and economic classes.


If I had people telling me that my problems are worthless and that my choice to be a stay at home mom is a waste of education and time, I would not keep them in my life. That is completely insulting, dismissive, and disrespectful. I can understand why women who experience this treatment feel no connection to feminism. Just thinking about this makes me cringe. Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, and those who choose to do it full time deserve the utmost respect.

something i read that i think really shows the difference between feminists and radical feminists:


"what is the difference between feminists and womanists? a womanist will say 'don't hit girls' while a feminist will say 'don't hit people."

me too.

I am a feminist. I also shave my legs, enjoy dressing in dresses and skirts, and wearing makeup in public. My personal life is also pretty conservative in nature. I have both worked professionally with advanced degrees and have been a stay-at home mom with advanced degrees.

I do expect equal pay as a man for the same position and pay grade. I will not accept racist or sexist remarks form either coworkers or clients. That is just unacceptable behavior. I truely believe that a person's political and religious beliefs are their choice-just display acceptable morals and ethics in the workplace.

Now as a female having some 20 plus years of experience of work experience in professional positions in both government and education-I have experienced the following types of discrimination:

1. Called a redskin-I am only 1/16th Cherokee. The other parts are German and Welsh.
2. Called a spick (spelling?) (I am not hispanic-only look it)
3. Called a sand n@@ger (after 911 due to the fact that I speak Arabic and translating at work-not due to nationality)
4. Had comments about my bust size from male co-workers.
5. Unequal pay to a male in the same position and pay grade
6. Worked for an agency that when pregnant and left for maturnity leave -the agency terminanted my position and along with another pregnant woman's position who left for maturnity leave at the same time. They considered this a cost cutting measure.

In each case I filed a complaint within the proper chanels and the situation was cleared up. The only time I did not file a compliant was on the comments on the bust size-I just told them off and the inappropriate behavior ended. The point I am making is these siutations do happen in real life to normal people because some people are basically idiots. The either act this way because they do not know that the behavior is inappropriate or they are really sexists and racists.

For me, feminism and the civil rights movement are two totally separate issues fighting for two different causes. However, these two moments have more similiarities than differences. Feminists and people that are active in civil rights movement do so because there is still a need in society.

Are you are lesbian, too?

lol Nope very married and active in my church. To answer your question-No I am not a lesbian. Just began working in an area at a time that was typically male orientied and one of the few woman that broke the glass ceiling. However, I did take a six year break to stay at home when my children were young. I truely feel believe that the best people to raise small children is their parents not a day care. Plus I made less money then my husband and I have more patience with children. It was also easier for me to restart my career after the children where in school then hubby-if that is what I choose to do.

So are you a gay? Would it interfer with your career? I have worked with a few men through the years that were closet gays that would not disclose at work due to discrimination. Do you have gay brothers in your chapter? Does this make them any less brothers?

Just curious...........

I don't want to read this thread. I'm too tired. I just want to scream "Lesbian" and run out of the thread.

-Rudey
--That is all

hmmmmm
 

As a feminist, a women studies major, and former pres of my sorority and now alum I find this discussion entertaining.

I think some of you need to take some women studies classes. I think the main thing I learned is that feminism should be called humanism. It deals with EVERYONE and EVERYTHING.

Saying you arn't a feminist, is like saying you are some kind of barbarian who clubs women and marries them.

If you know the history of the ERA, a lot of it stems from the womens movement. If you know about the french revolution then you know that women played a HUGE role and the basis for most feminist thought was written by Mary Wolestonecraft before the revolution and is still read and used today.

For the girls who say they arn't feminists, they need to go read their sororities history and learn that the basis for the whole system starting was in a way feminism. I would bet that every sororities deeper meaning has to do with bettering oneself, and higher education for woman. To me.. that is feminism.

As in eveyrhting in life there is a pendulam and you have the right and the left. There are actualy secs of feminism who don't interact with men at all. Yes, it does seem strange, and yes I do condemn some things they do but it's their right.

The majority of us are not radical anythings... and so it is with feminism. (you should see the reactions I get from guys when I tell them my major or from certain people when i tell them i'm republican).

and so it is...

Re: hmmmmm
 

It wouldn't bother me one bit if things went along like that. :D

There was a prominent feminist who died recently who said the act of sex was about male dominance over the female and all of it should be considered rape.

-Rudey
--Do you all think she shaved?

See, thats why there is this whole date rape theory.....from stupid women like her. Ackkkk, it makes you wonder if these women have ever been laid in their lives.

Personally, I think all feminist should be jailed.


And no, I don't think she shaved. :D

In many universities, the women's studies department are run by radical feminists. I had a very hard time sitting through an intro course, and my TA was very b!tchy to me because of my beliefs. She was my TA again a couple of years later and basically ripped my paper apart because I wrote about speaking to a 90 year old woman about her days in high school (I commented on how women and girls in the 1920s were expected to wear gloves in public, and how we're more relaxed in the 21st century). I also couldn't find the material I wanted for my M.Ed research paper in the women's resource centre because I wanted to write about finishing schools. Luckily, I found stuff in the education library and the main library.

What exactly is a "date rape theory"? I don't think date rape is very theoretical to the people it happens to.

Also, "that feminist who died recently" is Andrea Dworkin. Yes she was very extreme but she didn't hate men. In fact, she was married for a short period (although it didn't go well ... he was abusive). She was a very well known and well respected scholar. I read a good portion of her work and while I don't agree with her, I respected her and the fact that she was a very "out of the box" academic thinker. Her work is often a lightening-rod for people who hate the feminst movement or want to frame it as a bunch of man-haters.