A Crash Course in Feminism Mk. II (or, why everyone should be a feminist)

[Kirsten]

yet again you miss the point, congratulations.

[40kGamer]

yet again you miss the point, congratulations.

I'm a little thick today myself... is it that these mooks were in disbelief that a lady could know the answer?

[Kirsten]

yes, I was roundly ignored throughout the entire conversation until the end, made me think of this:

[URL=http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/KirstenIGMB/media/miss_zpsml1ibokd.jpg.html][/URL]

plus, how many men ever actually read the instructions? none I know

[Mr Mystery]

But...but....Miss, everyone knows if we RTFM, we have to hand in our goolies and become Hipsters

The thicker the manual read, the more ridiculous the facial hair we are forced to wear.

[40kGamer]

yes, I was roundly ignored throughout the entire conversation until the end, made me think of this:

[URL=http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/KirstenIGMB/media/miss_zpsml1ibokd.jpg.html][/URL]

plus, how many men ever actually read the instructions? none I know

If it wasn't for my wife pulling out the book and reading the instructions about how to lower the spare tire on my truck for us I would have probably dies from hypothermia cursing and beating on it.

As I've started paying attention to what is 'said' and 'meant' by people in general I've noticed a pervasive subtle undertone of sexism and racism. Not universal but quite a bit skates around just below the surface... It's truly quite disturbing when you tune into it. Not an easy feat for a white male mook since none of it is directed at my demographic per se making it quite easy for it to pass by unnoticed. However I'm certain the intended recipients notice.

[Kirsten]

yeah there really is an awful lot of it in everyday use

[Mr Mystery]

It's scary when you use that to reflect on your own behaviour.

I know it's a Guardianista term, but it does no harm to check your privilege once in a while. I work in a multicultural environment, as you might expect of London. To avoid landing myself in trouble through a careless comment, I really have to think not so much about what I say, but how I say it. Used to be in a team where I was the only White male - that was a learning curve. Even phrases like 'whatchoo talkin' 'bout Willis' could cause offence, and being lefty liberal, I'm one to respect the views of others, particularly when they say x, y or z is offensive to them on a gender, racial or sexuality basis.

I'd say it's made me a better person overall though. The odd witty one liner being sacrificed to develop myself is worth that.

[Kirsten]

yeah. it is worth remembering as well that if you are respectful, and get on well with others, then you can make the odd joke about things and people wont be offended. the offence comes when it is relentless, unfunny, and aimed at minorities etc. it is why some of the comments here along the lines of 'if I said something like that it would be sexist' don't work. yes, it might be. if the world were equal then it would be fine, but it isn't.

one of my favourite quotes is from Yahtzee of Zero Punctuation, and it goes along the lines of 'we will know we live in an equal society when everyone can take the piss out of everyone else, and everyone laughs'

[Mr Mystery]

Yup.

Plus, as a team mentor I need to keep people on side, and not being construed as a bigoted bellend certainly helps there. I watched, I listened and I learned. Everyone has their pressure points, and you can spot them easily enough by what is not said.

For instance, i don't like to discuss my atheism, because it's really hard not to come across as criticising the other persons choice in following a faith. I'll happily chat to someone about their religion of choice though, because I'm genuinely interested. But I explain as above when they ask about my atheism, and that the last thing I want to do is sound like I'm criticising religion.

And even amongst the team I was with, just because two black women use certain phrases does not mean it's ok for me to use them. Might mean I can loosen up a bit with the Willis question like, but nobody gets very far by blundering around and hoping for the best!

[Kirsten]

this is quite interesting

[URL=http://s1216.photobucket.com/user/KirstenIGMB/media/feminism2_zps7hhd6dzx.png.html][/URL]

"I am a feminist and I do not strive for equality. I support liberation....Equality takes the male status quo as the standard to which women aspire.

Backers of equality cheer as women enlist in institutionally discriminatory police forces, join the military in invading other countries and committing war crimes, train for the roughest of men’s sports whether its dangerous and cruel horse racing, or life-threatening cage fighting."