How NOT To Be A Feminist

[pigri]

I don't feel the need to flash my feminist credentials, because you all know me or should. Suffice to say, I love and respect women and I value informed choice, and I try to leave a wide berth for people who make *informed* choices, even when they disagree with mine. Uninformed choices and positions of privilege? Yeah, those are things I like to

Comments

[travellight]

I fail to understand how they're different from any sorority that only lets in girls who look the same and come from the same kind of backgrounds, then.

The idea that good and healthy things are only available to those who can afford them is vile to me. I could go on at length about that, but I won't, because I've got enough going on right now to make me want to spit quarters.

Fuck 'em all.

[pigri]

Most annoying to me are that any of these women POSTING ON THE INTERNET to say that inexpensive clothing that doesn't suck isn't available to them is ridiculous. There's ALL THE STORES IN THE WORLD here in the ether, people. Catch up. Not to mention that if "securing girls' clothing with which one is pleased" isn't easy and doable and SUCH A HUGE PROBLEM, why aren't you feminists out there providing that much needed service to women instead of wailing in your secure space in the blogosphere? Oh, but i forgot- your job typing at the 50 people who agree with you is helping women so much more than any actual volunteer work.

OMG!

[nerofotia]

I just figured it out!

Maybe if mothers were still sewing appropriate clothing for their girls, this wouldn't be a problem.

Annnnnd....go.

Re: OMG!

[nerofotia]

God, I hope people know I'm not laughing at you or making light of the closed-mindedness at work.

I just figured with a serious response elsewhere, my inner smartass couldn't let it go.

[siercia]

Wow, so much to take apart here, both in their original argument and their treatment of your comments.

This "you can't hold me responsible for what other people do" branch of feminism makes me froth - like the women I knew in college who argued that they should be able to do whatever they liked at parties and expect that it would be a safe space because "men shouldn't rape". Well... yes, in a perfect world, but we don't live in a perfect world, and as women, we need to take ownership of our responsibilities in creating the world we want to see. Making it the other's responsibility allows up to continue to play the victimhood card while not having to make any of the hard choices ourselves.

And I'm sorry, "advertising trumps parenting"? Seriously? Only if you let it. Doesn't mean it doesn't suck having to be the mean mom saying no all the time, but that's what you have to do if your values disagree with the prevailing pop culture. Last time I checked, that was called parenting.

[pigri]

Right?

[loxian]

First link says 'page not found'... maybe they took it down?

[loxian]

Oh, I see it now...

Ruthless comment policing means that now almost every single comment agrees with her, funnily enough.

Edited for typo.

[pigri]

Exactly.

[pigri]

Thank you. I fail to see how it's empowering to deny you have any power to change things you don't like.

[sameasiteverwas]

that is feminist blogging in a nutshell. And it's exactly why feminism has drawn itself more and more into a vacuum where only the small subset of people they approve of participate, as if there is more strength in small numbers than a bigger tent.

Reminds me of Nader voters. OUR 2.7% WILL CHANGE THE WORLD!!!

[pigri]

Shit, at least Nader voters DID SOMETHING; they changed the course of history by affecting an election. I see no evidence that these bloggers are doing anything to help actual women in need, because they are too busy rabidly typing about their virtual "safe space."