What ever happened to feminism

[sinny]

Where did all the feminists go?

 

Now it seems women are supposed to love porn, get breast implants and have plastic surgery. Despite the fact that we earn less than men we are still most valued fopr looking hot. Whatever happened to hairy armpits and bra burning??

[cdn]

What is feminism? Not being flip here, just seeking a common understanding of what you mean by this term.

[tattoomytoe]

trust me the hairy crotches, armpits, lips, and chins are there. Maybe it just that it is not so much of an issue, or an issue that does not get as much attention as in the past. There are a whole lot of informal and formal groups out there veing for support.

[doniker]

The feminists realized it was a losing battle and have thinned out.

 

Just like with any radical group, if you go against society you will end up a poor outcast unless you are independently wealthy or are in show business.

[Arabess]

I think most women would rather be sexy and get laid. Maybe it's not much of a political statement......but......

[Kriz]

I'm a guy, but I honestly believe feminism is not to women's advantage. I refuse to buy a feminist a drink, I refuse to hold the door open for her, equality works both ways.

 

If you were clever, you would just continue playing your parts behind the scenes, where you are the ones holding the strings. What? You think we don't know this?

[brashgal]

I think many of us still practice selective feminism. I'm not going to refuse to walk through a door if a man holds it open for me and I shave my legs but I don't put up with derogatory comments directed at women. I compete with men for the same jobs, I question hiring decisions made that appear to be gender-based (yes, I'm very popular at work - lol).

 

Actually it's not just feminism, it's humanism - I do the same when I see a man getting the short end of the stick (although it doesn't happen where I work quite as much).

 

I don't know that the issue comes up quite as much in my personal life - I rarely put up with mistreatment from anyone (save the trials I went through with the ex) so I don't feel the need to actively practice feminism.

 

I conclude that I live a pretty good life if I don't have to think about it very much.

[Kriz]

Furthermore,

Whatever happened to hairy armpits and bra burning??

You miss that?

[jester]

I think most women would rather be sexy and get laid. Maybe it's not much of a political statement......but..

 

 

Arabess, I'm sending you a 1 year gift subscription to "Ms Magazine."

[BlockHead]

sinny

Now it seems women are supposed to love porn, get breast implants and have plastic surgery.

Nobody said you had to like porn. The people here seem to believe that men should have the option to look at porn. What makes porn seem so bad?

 

Why do women obsess over breast size? Are you jealous of big-breasted women?

 

Plastic surgery… I think that should be reserved for scars, burns, and other deformations. One Michael Jackson freak show is one too many.

 

Tell me, why do women put so much into their vanity? That applies to their legs, breasts, body shape, clothing, intelligence, sophistication, purity, innocence, morality, etc.

sinny

Despite the fact that we earn less than men we are still most valued fopr looking hot.

Salary depends on the type of work.

The last time I checked, women still prefer the hot guys when given an option.

sinny

Whatever happened to hairy armpits and bra burning??

I think bras became more important after the breast implants.

Arabess

I think most women would rather be sexy and get laid. Maybe it's not much of a political statement......but......

Maybe feminism went out of fashion.

[AprilFool]

Blockhead:

 

I don't speak for all women, but personally I wasn't too vain before I met my husband. I didn't obsess over my weight, I didn't wear make up all the time, I didn't always fix my hair, but I felt beautiful just the same.

 

Then I got married. My husband started making comments about my weight, my hair, my skin....I can tell that he even TREATS me better when I look good. If I pull my hair back, put on jeans, and don't wear make up, he nags me to death. If I dress up though, he opens doors and holds my hands.

 

That's why I'm vain.

 

Sinny: I wish women would burn their bras, and have hairy armpits.....that way when I wear my bra and shave my armpits, I'll be sexier than all you

 

Seriously, I think it's that women are competitive with each other. We want the best men, the best kids, the best body....men don't seem to compare themselves with each other....they talk about things like the weather and sports. We women are in competition with each other, and THAT'S probably why we aren't feminists

 

Probably dates back to when men had more than one wife....his wives had to compete for his attention. Therefore, the most attractive got to have the most babies.

 

If we don't stick out our chest and wear mascara, we don't get noticed as much as the women who do.

 

Besides I don't like the way my boobs flop around without a bra on, and I hate the way my armpits feel when they get hairy That's why i'm not feminist.

 

Sorry, but I don't know that much about feminism, so I guess I'm not a very helpful poster

[doniker]

Originally posted by AprilFool

 

 

 

My husband started making comments about my weight, my hair, my skin....I can tell that he even TREATS me better when I look good. If I pull my hair back, put on jeans, and don't wear make up, he nags me to death. If I dress up though, he opens doors and holds my hands.

 

 

 

That's one of the weirdest things I have ever heard. Your still his wife, dressed up or not, and he is rude and doesn't treat you as well if your not fixed-up?

 

Shallow city.

[wideawake]

Originally posted by AprilFool I got married. My husband started making comments about my weight, my hair, my skin....I can tell that he even TREATS me better when I look good. If I pull my hair back, put on jeans, and don't wear make up, he nags me to death. If I dress up though, he opens doors and holds my hands.

 

Man, this one struck me as weird as well.

 

It drives me nuts sometimes when my girl take a long time to put on makeup, get all dressed up, do her hair, etc... when we're only going grocery shopping or something!!

 

I much prefer her without makeup, or just a little. She looks fantastic either way, but seriously, sometimes the amount of time she spends on that stuff just really frustrates me.

[doniker]

a dated a girl like that. she would never leave the house without getting all fixed up. she would spend an hour to get ready to go to the corner store for 5 minutes.

 

My wife is the total opposite. She is like me; roll out of bed and and be out the door 5 minutes later.

[jester]

Feminism is one of those loaded terms that has become, for many, pejorative. I don't view it that way. For me, feminism is defined as a social, political and philosophical belief that women and men should be treated equally under the law, in the labor market and in the public realm. Stated differently, feminism, to me, means that the law, employers, and the government should not discriminate against, or disadvantage , a woman because of her sex.

 

Under this definition, feminism is a victim of its success and a reactionary demonization.

 

I believe that women in the USA are better off today, in terms of jobs, education, income and rights, than 10, 20 or 30 years ago. This is especially true for educated middle class women in this post-industrial, service sectored American economy.

 

The term "feminism" has become synonymous with stiff, intolerant, bra-burning radical lesbians. That is a caricature of the worst sort.

 

Feminism hasn't gone anywhere. In fact it's everywhere in the USA. It is woven into the fabric of our public lives.

 

And I believe that's a good thing.

[doniker]

Originally posted by jester

And I believe that's a good thing.

 

Oh yea?

 

You ever work for a woman younger than you?

[jester]

You ever work for a woman younger than you?

 

Yes. I once for a Developmental Psychologist who was younger than I.

 

Your point?

[cdn]

You ever work for a woman younger than you?

 

For what it's worth, this is no fun for the woman, either.

 

I believe that women in the USA are better off today, in terms of jobs, education, income and rights, than 10, 20 or 30 years ago.

 

There is truth in this. But I also think that the feminist movement sold women a bill of goods to a large extent, specifically the notion that they could "have it all" (career and family). Not only do I think that women themselves have taken a larger burden of responsibility since the feminist movement (who wrote "The Second Shift?"), but I wonder what the overall impact will be of a generation of children who have been raised in large part by strangers and institutions.

[Aonz]

DELETED

[moimeme]

trust me the hairy crotches, armpits, lips, and chins are there

 

Honey, that's not feminism. That's menopause.

[jester]

But I also think that the feminist movement sold women a bill of goods to a large extent, specifically the notion that they could "have it all" (career and family). Not only do I think that women themselves have taken a larger burden of responsibility since the feminist movement (who wrote "The Second Shift?"), but I wonder what the overall impact will be of a generation of children who have been raised in large part by strangers and institutions.

 

I know, cdn. That's why I focused on the public realm of rights. Many daughters of 60s feminists are abandoning the workplace for domesticity/family. But they have the choice. Sure it's not perfect. Social arrangements never are.

 

As for the lock key kids, I suspect they'll do just fine.

 

Wasn't the "Second Shift" author someone named Knapp? I think she died some years ago of breast cancer.

[moimeme]

Actually it's not just feminism, it's humanism

 

Germaine Greer said a few years ago that there would not be true equality until men felt as accepted for staying home and taking care of the kids as women wished to feel for working.

[jester]

Actually it's not just feminism, it's humanism

 

Germaine Greer said a few years ago that there would not be true equality until men felt as accepted for staying home and taking care of the kids as women wished to feel for working.

 

 

I agree with that, but I'm in a minority. In the US, unpaid FMLA leave is available up to 12 weeks to care for a new born. No "new dad" attorney in my firm has ever taken FMLA leave to care for his just born child. It's just not done.

[sinny]

Oh, I'm just so excited that people actually care enough about this topic to discuss it. Thank you all for just being interested, it renews some of my faith in humanity.

 

I don't quite know how to pull out those little quotes on this board yet, but I wanted to comment on your comments regarding women seeking male validation and women's competitiveness for this validation.

 

I'm not sure why we seek it and seem to need it so badly that we would get breast implants in the first place. It seems to me that there is an awful lot more power in being unapologetic and assured of who you are, than in having big fake blobs hanging off your chest to attract imbiciles.

 

Women, I think that the competitiveness over appearance and seeking male approval undermines our power in society. I wish that we could be more appreciative and supportive of one another. Instead we seem to get catty and judgemental, threatened by other womwn's successes (or am I projecting here?).

 

Is it just my hippie notion that we should support each other by being true to the goddess within, even if she does have a moustache and saggy tits? I think that consumerism feeds us insecurities that we can only overcome by standing up and shouting that we are okay with ourselves and with each other.

 

So anyways, here's some love ladies... or women... or womyn...

I just want to say to give up being insecure and just love yourselves. We really are quite a fabulous species...

[UCFKevin]

I've seen, in my experience anyway, that most women who want equality don't want it 100%. They want the best of both worlds. I don't dig that. It's all or nothing.