Comments on: Misrepresenting feminists

By: persephone

persephone — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:10:14 +0000

Another bit of research has also made the association that the women most likely to be mugged are those who go out, overtly carry a handbag and wear high heels.
Talk about encouraging muggers.

By: Don

Don — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:59:05 +0000

For another example of journalists misrepresenting studies with a feminist angle, try here.

http://www.badscience.net/2009/07/asking-for-it/

By: Rumbold

Rumbold — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:58:53 +0000

Thanks everyone. Cath, thank for pointing out those two articles- it seemed to be only the newspapers (as opposed to the blogs) that produced those silly lists. Says a lot really.

By: persephone

persephone — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:32:16 +0000

” â€˜feminisationâ€™ of society ”

I see this in the same light as the ‘islamicisation’ of society – making something sound all pervasive, overriding all else and so threatening. Personally I think the term feminist is outdated & damaging

I saw this as a scientific discovery rather than linking it to anything else

As to Minette Marrin – I have not come across her and her trite article makes me feel that I have not missed much

By: halima

halima — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:24:25 +0000

Good article , Rumbold. I don’t read the Times – unless it’s the travel section.

But you raise an important point. These days we raise feminism if we want to score cheap points at women or social change. Not because we’re interested in the fundamental issues that might be discussed.

Some might argue that science of this kind is a breakthrough (leaving aside the scientist in question was female), but society isn’t quite ready. I remember reading that great novel by Margeret Atwood , ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ which was also about the future and fertility. Women are always a subversive bunch , but at least we can keep them domesticated because they’ll always need the other sex for pro-creation…

I guess for people who are irreligious such breakthroughs should be welcome news. It disrupts any conservative views of ‘man was put on earth to make babies’ and it actually extends the possibility of raising above our natural capabilities and potential- defying what is possible and isn’t.

What a rare thought – if we dare to accept it.

By: dave bones

dave bones — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:03:38 +0000

Yeah there was a time in the 80s that some feminists were going well over the top with the “All men are rapists” stuff. Like the crazys in the SWP some of these girls sexuality was way too politicized. This chick is obviously reacting to her experienece of that.

Its not really offensive what she is saying, I just thought this war was fairly much over and done. I rarely meet lesbians these days who are man haters. We had one down here a few years back but her lesbian friends were telling her to wake up and snap out of it.

This writer is just a bit dizzy. Men are better than women at composing music? More playful and more inquisitive? She is just a bit stupid isn’t she.

By: Amrit

Amrit — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:32:13 +0000

Rumbold. This article is MUCH APPRECIATED.

I second Cath – I began to read that Times thing, and then gave up because it was such utter shite.

Cath – I think Tanya is a feminist whenever it suits her (i.e. when it’s lucrative) to be, judging by her stuff in the Guardian…

By: Cath Elliott

Cath Elliott — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:30:06 +0000

Oh, and thanks for the link Rumbold

By: Cath Elliott

Cath Elliott — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:27:36 +0000

Funnily enough, possibly one of the worst pieces that appeared about the sperm non-story, aside from Tanya Gold’s nonsense in the Guardian (not sure where she stands on feminism….) was this ridiculous list in, erm, the Times:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article6669807.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1

By: Colin Brown

Colin Brown — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:02:00 +0000

Does anyone know, if feminism can flourish in the Islamic world as it has in Western society?

Here’s some light-hearted video research on the subject:

1): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1uTUO1nKTw

2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1uTUO1nKTw

By: Jo

Jo — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:58:31 +0000

(puts head in hands and quakes gently)

By: asquith

asquith — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:52:46 +0000

As I never tire of saying… it serves you right for reading The Times in the misguided belief that it would be anything other than total shite.

Re: feminist blogs, I like Pandagon myself. They are dead funny.

By: Scots Tiger

Scots Tiger — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:50:11 +0000

What men need to tell wimmin is that no sane male cares what wimmin wear on their trotters so long as they don’t show up in carpet slippers

By: Rumbold

Rumbold — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:31:26 +0000

Thanks Sunny. I like Minette Marrin at times, but this was just cringeworthy.

By: Sunny

Sunny — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:30:05 +0000

Heh. That last line is gold Rumbold.

By: pickles

pickles — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:28:41 +0000

New blog post: Misrepresenting feminists http://www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/5139

By: rosietta

rosietta — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 20:09:22 +0000

I am a feminist, yet I like men: RT @pickledpolitics: New blog post: Misrepresenting feminists http://www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/5139