BDSM And Feminism: Intertwined? How So?

[hopperboo]

I had to comment on these posts...I went back and re-read.

On the other hand, if it means beating men down to nothingness and obliterating them entirely, then I am not a feminist.

+1!!!

When I think of the term "feminist" I automatically think of those women who are 'extreme' about it, ball-busters and what not...which probably is not good.

p.s. Your whole post was very nice.

I will say, that in the work force I absolutely believe that women should be paid the same as men and have all the opportunities available to men. Course, if you really want to get into it deep, I also believe that all children in a two parent home should have a parent at home with them. I don't believe it should always be the mother, but I do believe that it should be a parent. Don't get all up in my face about how the majority of families can't afford that

+1.

With the majority of 'middle class' families depending on the cost of child care in the area and how many children they have it would be a really smart move for the spouse that makes less money to stay home. Both from the monetary view and from the view of having a child raise by their parents.

[AdrianaAurora]

Without Feminism, BDSM amounts to DD.

[Pearlgem]

Sorry if I'm repeating anything here.

When I was younger, I internalized what I thought was the feminist belief that signs of 'masculinity' and 'femininity' were inherently sexist, and in trying to 'defeminize' myself I think now I was deeply misguided and it made me a bit lonely. Now I'm older actually I still think most of what we consider masculine or feminine is a social construct, but since I too am a social being living in the same milieu, I reach for my lipstick...

I think I got feminism wrong when I was youthfully intense, but now I'm older I think of it more as it applies to society and not just me. Equal pay, right to choose, right to be educated, vote - of course. You don't need to be a feminist to agree with these. I would call that 'humanist' if it didn't mean something else - 'personist', perhaps. If life treats women unfairly just because they are women, it can do the same to men. Men can be just as much victims of the so-called patriarchal society as women are. Chauvinistic attitudes, male and female, have been taught to us by society's greed, selfishness and ignorance. 'One is not born a woman, [or man].one becomes one.' de Beauvoir. Much of this we can challenge, but there is a great deal yet simply to acknowledge and understand before we can hope to do anything about it.

Feminism, to me, means challenging any orthodoxy that disadvantages women as human beings. This is not the same as putting men down.

But I have to admit, I don't quite get women who claim there is no relevance in feminism or who revile it. One only has to look around the world and see the powerless, uneducated, grinding struggle that is the lot of too many girls/women. Perhaps it's perfectly legitimate and even a perverse sign of success that what women fought for on your behalf, you now feel free to dismiss, so much is it taken for granted. But I would remind you, women are struggling over the world, the system is unfairly loaded against them. I am thankful for the advantages I enjoy as a Western woman, but let's not suppose that feminism can have no greater relevance than to insist men do dishes and women break balls.

I have realised I can be feminine, feminist and submissive. It's all do to with realising your worth and supporting the worth of others.

[leo9]

When I think of the term "feminist" I automatically think of those women who are 'extreme' about it, ball-busters and what not...which probably is not good.

And when you think "Muslim", do you automatically think of crazy suicide bombers?

With the majority of 'middle class' families depending on the cost of child care in the area and how many children they have it would be a really smart move for the spouse that makes less money to stay home. Both from the monetary view and from the view of having a child raise by their parents.

Which is why, in my previous marriage, I stayed home and raised our kid. (And supervised the household slaves )

But a hundred years ago I wouldn't have had that choice, because even the most basic job I could get would have been better paid, simply by being "men's work", than one she could have got, with all her abilities. Sexism does oppress men as well as women.

[hopperboo]

I won't tell you what I think because it has nothing to do with this topic and it goes off into touching on religion leo.


btw, just a separate comment from another one of your quotes, the feminist movement did a lot of damage, as well as good. Saying women can "vote" now is one of the best things it has done, but it certainly only a tiny piece of what feminist movement gave us.