(Untitled)

[softanimal]

when you come across someone (a woman, no less) who uses the lovely phrase "feminism is dead. besides, it never did anything good for women except get us the vote," how would you calmly and intelligently counter her assertions (after you're done being totally shocked and consumed with rage & sadness)?

seriously, i need some assistance, folks.

Comments

[2littlewings]

I could not be calm and intelligent in that situation. Not at first at least.
that's a toughie...

[softanimal]

yeah, thankfully it's an online forum, so i can formulate my thoughts beforehand..

[squinting_kitty]

How about....

wearing pants!!

being able to work (and then being able to work as something OTHER than a teacher/nurse)

[intl_peace]

I would first ask her to show me examples of why she thinks feminism is dead cause it ain't. Then I would make her watch Iron Jawed Angels and then I would make her give me a report on the ERA and then see what she says..

[deeply_confused]

I definitely love Iron Jawed Angels. Awesome movie.

[prudentlike]

It's too bad about the music that was chosen for it..

[deeply_confused]

I had that problem too. It would have been great if it were, oh, I'unno, timely. It would have been so cool if they had some of the popular music from the era playing.

[kadaria]

It also got us:
-Ability to obtain an education at any school (if we are accepted)
-Work in almost any field (exculding some military areas such as submarine driver)
-Fairer wages (though still not fair enough)
-Protection from harrassment in the workplace
-Classes to learn about women's history, sexuality, biology, sociology, etc.
-Right to own property and have credit cards
-Availability of birth control and health clinics/doctors that deal with women's reproductive issues
-More school sports to play in
-Money for sports when we play on a school sports team
-Better comprehensive sexual education

To name a few.
So if she doesn't like femminsm then maybe she shouldn't take advantage of these things either.

[kammerat_blomst]

"-Work in almost any field (exculding some military areas such as submarine driver)"

I'm pretty sure Norwegian women aren't excluded from any military areas as long as all the physical demands are met. So feminism in general has obviously done some good there too.

[kadaria]

Excellent.
Here in the US women are not allowed to work on submarines (something about being down for more than nine months because obviously we all get pregnant in the military) or Navy Seals (dunno why not).
However we are allowed to be Green Berets and work on other types of ships.

[_ninabruja_]

And find out why she doesn't think that women being able to vote is a big enough deal by itself....

[_ninabruja_]

Haha, it was harder to get the vote than it is to make most college kids use the vote, and that's saying a lot right there....