The moment you knew mumsnet feminism section was starting to influence how you think?

[QueenOfAllBiscuitsandMuffins]

I have just seen the new Maire Claire cover of Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bates, my VERY FIRST thought was ffs why is she half naked and he fully dressed. a year ago it would have been wow she looks fantastic (which to be fair she does thanks to the airbrush, hardword and good genes.)
I've only just (last 6 months) started to read the feminist section, I rarely post as my thoughts on the subject are mostly semi formed and rarely coherent.

Anyway, I'm sure there are a lot of people like me out there who don't really post but do read and learn, this is a very fluffy thread for this section but when did you realise the feminist section was having an influence of how you perceived things?

[tougholdbird]

When I started swapping the girl's name for the boy's name while reading 'The Magic Faraway Tree' by Enid Blyton out loud to DD.

I couldn't read her a book in which the girls did nothing but admire the leadership and bravery of the boys.

[colditz]

When I started to flip over the magazines like 'Nuts' and 'zoo' to show their backs in shops.

[HerBeX]

When I was overcome with the urge to shout "Coor darlin', nice arse, get yer bollocks out" at random blameless men in the street.



Nah not really. I think I've always been fairly feminist but I think when I started contradicting everything everyone around me said, I realised this section had influenced me...

[K999]

I've changed my views on porn.

I look at advertising and magazines in a different way.

But I stil like to wear make up, nail varnish and shave my legs

[HerBeX]

I've always had a vague disquiet about porn but was not quite sure why. I| knew there was an issue about objectifying women but didn't quite know how to answer the arguments about "but they choose to do it."

Do now.

[PurpleStrawberry]

I've been lurking for a while, as I didn't want to post until I got a feel for the board, and how it works. Therefore, while I've only just started posting, I've been learning and gaining a lot while lurking.

Anyway, I knew it was beginning to influence me, when I started to get riled up about things I may not have been riled up about previously. It was reading certain things on here, that made me think 'I never thought of in that way before, but having read this, I can see it is sexist/inappropriate'.

Just last week, when I was browsing Virgin TV 'Movies on Demand', I noticed they had a section called 'Not for Girls!' or 'Not for the Girls!'. It contained films like Jackass 3, Due Date and Saw: The Final Chapter, and while they're not my kind of films, I'm sure there are females who do like them. I know they weren't saying women couldn't watch them, but it still angered me, so I e-mailed them. I haven't had a response yet. In the past, it may not have angered me the way it did, and I know it's not the most important thing in the world, but I felt uncomfortable with something being labelled as 'not for girls' in that way.

[TheFeministsWife]

When I started seeing if every film I watched passed the Bechdel test, (none so far ). And then pointing out every little sexist flaw in each film to DH so much so that we can't watch them again. And now DH has starting to notice how everything is swayed towards men.

tougholdbird I hadn't thought of doing that. I'm reading The Faraway Tree to my dds atm and silently fuming when Joe gets to go off to see Moonface and Beth and Frannie (was Fanny when I read it as a child) have to stay home to do chores. I think Joe may just get a sex change and become Jo-anne.

[joaninha]

When I stopped feeling embarrassed to admit that I was a feminist.

You know you meet the same old arguments - you all hate men, you're just a bunch of bunny boilers, problem with feminism is that it's gone too far, blah de blah de blah....

But armed with the arguments of feMNisters, Laurie Penny, Kat Banyard, etc and the comforting knowledge that I wasn't the only one with this feeling of "aaaaagh" ..... hey I no longer feel so isolated.

So, cheers for that!!

[Bumperlicioso]

When dh and I had a debate about feminism, he argued that it wasn't relevant to me as I don't experience sexism (middle class, white, public sector job etc.) and I could eloquently defend myself so I did a bit of research and made him a power point presentation about why feminism is important to me and his daughters and made him view it.

Also yesterday I tried on some 'false lash' mascara (awful btw) and then thought 'why would I want to look like I am wearing false lashes ?'

[MissDemeanor]

I feel that I'm absorbing it all by osmosis without being totally convinced by the over analysis and argument. I don't actually "feel" it's relevance to me personally but bloody hell I can argue with a lot of people about it now. And always from the feminist perspective.

[ScarlettIsWalking]

When I was starting to talk about The Patriarchy at coffee mornings. I don't think the other Mums knew what hit them

[AnyFucker]

what a great thread

never mind "fluffy" this is what we need

my lightbulb moment ?

the many various porn threads, I cannot highlight one

I used to think it was a bit rubbish but "each to their own"

not any more

[TotallyUtterlyDesperate]

When this section made me smile to realise that there are still feminists around! I was beginning to believe that feminism had died some time back in the 1970s! I find myself regularly saying to DH about various incidents that it feels like we have lost ground in so many ways. I work in schools and am regularly horrified by teenage girls believing that a feminist outlook is unnecessary because "women are ahead of men now" or words to that effect!

[Meglet]

When the DC's play hospitals I correct them if they play doctors and nurses. I tell them to play doctors (4yo DS) and consultants (2yo DD) .

(not that theres anything wrong with being a nurse, I just want her to aim high).

[tallwivglasses]

TUD - I agree. I first read The Female Eunuch back in 1977

It's great to see so many women here who are proud to call themselves feminists.

[MrsJamin]

When I read Dear Zoo and thought "why are all the animals male?" and got really annoyed about it!

[MillyR]

TOB, changing the genders around is such a good idea. I am going to start doing that with adult books.