SAAFE forum
General Category => Politics and academic/media queries => Topic started by: jezebeldays on 04 October 2012, 10:44:53 pm
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I'm thinking of doing my dissertion on media portrayals of women and the decline of feminism, I was wondering if an escort who considered themselves as a feminist would consider doing an interview for me? could either be skype or i can email questions to answer? I will pay of course.. though wouldnt be a huge amount.
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[...] the decline of feminism
The what?! Is your dissertation going to be on the Daily Mail? :)
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I suspect that it depends on what you count as 'feminism'.
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I'm guessing most of us would consider ourselves feminists
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I'm guessing most of us would consider ourselves feminists
I don't. I'm an equalist.
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I'm guessing most of us would consider ourselves feminists
I don't. I'm an equalist.
Snap. Actually I think I'm more of an individualist, everyone has the right to be who they want to be and achieve what they want without their sex, race, sexuality etc holding them back. And no-one gets to dictate how others live their lives.
A 'feminist' who tells other women what they should do, is just as bad as a misogynist who tells women what they shouldn't do.
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I'm guessing most of us would consider ourselves feminists
I don't. I'm an equalist.
Snap. Actually I think I'm more of an individualist, everyone has the right to be who they want to be and achieve what they want without their sex, race, sexuality etc holding them back. And no-one gets to dictate how others live their lives.
A 'feminist' who tells other women what they should do, is just as bad as a misogynist who tells women what they shouldn't do.
Indeed!
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Snap. Actually I think I'm more of an individualist, everyone has the right to be who they want to be and achieve what they want without their sex, race, sexuality etc holding them back. And no-one gets to dictate how others live their lives.
A 'feminist' who tells other women what they should do, is just as bad as a misogynist who tells women what they shouldn't do.
Indeed!
As far as I'm concerned they're one and the same. But I don't think that's anything to do with feminism - that's like saying that religious fundamentalists represent all of Christianity or Islam. They don't.
I was certainly never taught to believe that feminism was anything other than the belief in the same/equal freedoms, rights and choices for women as those available to men. Man hating only comes into it when you dig deep enough to find the nutters.
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Ok, its only Amy's type of Feminism I subscribe to, I dont really recognise the other types. I certainly don't hate men. Most of them are harmless, some are actually quite lovely and after all they tend to be the people who pay my wages.
(I think I may be a closet equalist too, should I come out as bi?)
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I was certainly never taught to believe that feminism was anything other than the belief in the same/equal freedoms, rights and choices for women as those available to men. Man hating only comes into it when you dig deep enough to find the nutters.
I'm the same. Feminism to me means equal rights for all, and it means looking at the damaging effect of stereotyping across all genders and sexualities and races and etc etc etc. And, considering that it wasn't long ago that women had no real choices or rights at all (and that we're still having to be rather firm about maintaining the basic ground that we've won so far), I think that if you're a female human and you have ever voted, or indeed ever walked outside alone without either your dad or a husband or a chaperone making sure you don't trip over and lose your virtue and therefore your value as a human being, then you're a feminist. It's absolutely 100% about everyone being equal. Outdated gender-based stereotypes are damaging to everyone, so IMHO they ought to be shovelled out of our collective mindset same as that whole "poor children are small so they should definitely clean the chimneys" thing, and other insane old ideas.
To be honest, though, the endless tiresome squabbling over what feminism means - and the fact that a couple of bonkers extremists (hating men makes you a misandrist, not a feminist, in my eyes) have made it SO easy for people who don't think women are very good at making decisions to turn feminism into a dirty word, to the extent that many women today shy away from it and each other despite very much enjoying making their own decisions - has made me resigned to the necessity of finding a new word that we can all get behind. The quicker we group together, the more effectively we can improve things. For example, childcare. WHY IS IT NOT FREE FOR ALL WORKING PARENTS?
So is "equalist" a thing now, then? Good. Let's go with that. :)
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For example, childcare. WHY IS IT NOT FREE FOR ALL WORKING PARENTS?
Completely off-topic, but as a working taxpayer without children, I object to subsidising other people's life choices any further than I already unavoidably do and I suspect others feel likewise, at least when it comes to those who could well afford to pay for their childcare. That's assuming said childcare would be state provided, obviously.
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Amy I don't think that is a particularly well thought out argument . Each taxpayer pays for other people's life choices, that's just how our society works. We pay for university education, criminals, housing etc. as prostitutes (which is another life choice) we are entitled to full screening and more health care than most, at no expense to us, and a lot if society would disagree with our life choice.Why should working parents be ignored in particular?
Yes most people hate paying taxes, but on the whole we all benefit in paying taxes, whether it be free healthcare, education etc.
Xx
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No maybe not, but I know I always objected to the idea that people on minimum wage (which used to include me, and still includes plenty of people I know) were contributing to things such as this for people who were earning ?100K+ a year, and I still do object to that; my post was specifically regarding those on high incomes still expecting state help towards something which unlike healthcare and protection from harm/crime prevention I do not personally view as basic human need/necessity, and that is having children*.
I realise there aren't any easy solutions to any of it, but I don't think the country as a whole has the spare cash to throw around on those who don't need it, and are in the process spreading the actual available amounts a lot thinner for those who do.
Anyway, it was me who took it off topic, so it's nobody's fault but my own, but does anybody actually have a clue what the OP is talking about?
*EDIT: I should probably point out before somebody else does, that I am aware the species has to be continued somehow, and that clearly isn't what I meant.
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does anybody actually have a clue what the OP is talking about?
No, I've noticed a shift the other way; that's there's an increased interest in feminism amongst people with vaginas my age. I think it's the internet, or just reactionary to all the crap that's thrown at women by the media (oh how I weep when I read the Daily Mail's online feMail section...but I still fecking read it), or by people who are trying to sell us shit by telling us we're inadequate...I mean look at how Caitlin Moran's How to be a Woman was received (best seller for however many weeks...), and how popular feminist blogs and websites are...
Good luck anyways OP, it'll be a really interesting topic to research.
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No maybe not, but I know I always objected to the idea that people on minimum wage (which used to include me, and still includes plenty of people I know) were contributing to things such as this for people who were earning ?100K+ a year, and I still do object to that; my post was specifically regarding those on high incomes still expecting state help towards something which unlike healthcare and protection from harm/crime prevention I do not personally view as basic human need/necessity, and that is having children*.
I realise there aren't any easy solutions to any of it, but I don't think the country as a whole has the spare cash to throw around on those who don't need it, and are in the process spreading the actual available amounts a lot thinner for those who do.
Anyway, it was me who took it off topic, so it's nobody's fault but my own, but does anybody actually have a clue what the OP is talking about?
*EDIT: I should probably point out before somebody else does, that I am aware the species has to be continued somehow, and that clearly isn't what I meant.
This has gone pointlessly off topic so you an close it I have enough volunteers now. Thanks.
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I'd be willing to speak to the original poster. I've been an escort for more than a year and define myself as a feminist (defined as someone advocating equal rights for women). I'm hoping to get into writing so it might be good for me. :D
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I'd be willing to speak to the original poster. I've been an escort for more than a year and define myself as a feminist (defined as someone advocating equal rights for women). I'm hoping to get into writing so it might be good for me. :D
OP has not been online since Oct 10, might be best to PM her and she may be notified of PM via email.
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Amy I don't think that is a particularly well thought out argument . Each taxpayer pays for other people's life choices, that's just how our society works. We pay for university education, criminals, housing etc. as prostitutes (which is another life choice) we are entitled to full screening and more health care than most, at no expense to us, and a lot if society would disagree with our life choice.Why should working parents be ignored in particular?
Yes most people hate paying taxes, but on the whole we all benefit in paying taxes, whether it be free healthcare, education etc.
Xx
God, you guys have a wonderful paradise in the UK.
You should try living in the US for a year.
I don't have healthcare at all, my partner only does because she's still on her parents insurance.
In Washington State where I live, they used to have a poorly funded state healthcare program.
Now, it just got cut, 60,000 people now (the only ones' who were still left in the program) won't have healthcare.
Free University? That'd be the day, we do have financial aid, but it nowhere near covers the cost.
Childcare? hah! They cut that left and right...
You know where we order medicine to get it cheaper?
The UK!
Our system's so broken it's cheaper to have it shipped from over there, than to go to a doctor and pharmacy here.
It's a really sad, state of affairs here.
There is food welfare, so that's something at least.
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Amy I don't think that is a particularly well thought out argument . Each taxpayer pays for other people's life choices, that's just how our society works. We pay for university education, criminals, housing etc. as prostitutes (which is another life choice) we are entitled to full screening and more health care than most, at no expense to us, and a lot if society would disagree with our life choice.Why should working parents be ignored in particular?
Yes most people hate paying taxes, but on the whole we all benefit in paying taxes, whether it be free healthcare, education etc.
Xx
God, you guys have a wonderful paradise in the UK.
You should try living in the US for a year.
I don't have healthcare at all, my partner only does because she's still on her parents insurance.
In Washington State where I live, they used to have a poorly funded state healthcare program.
Now, it just got cut, 60,000 people now (the only ones' who were still left in the program) won't have healthcare.
Free University? That'd be the day, we do have financial aid, but it nowhere near covers the cost.
Childcare? hah! They cut that left and right...
You know where we order medicine to get it cheaper?
The UK!
Our system's so broken it's cheaper to have it shipped from over there, than to go to a doctor and pharmacy here.
It's a really sad, state of affairs here.
There is food welfare, so that's something at least.
i do feel lucky we have NHS.bet it makes you more poorly with worry,at the bill!..out of intrest why has the same system never been used in states?probably really complicated,but america must know that it works here???
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i do feel lucky we have NHS.bet it makes you more poorly with worry,at the bill!..out of intrest why has the same system never been used in states?probably really complicated,but america must know that it works here???
They do have a minimal free healthcare system in the US ("Obamacare"?), and Obama has stated an intent to improve it. Whether he will be able to remains to be seen; there is a similar reluctance to contribute to public services that might be used mostly by others over there as there is here. Most people resent paying taxes and there is constant scaremongering in the mass media about "scroungers" in any country, I would imagine.
If only people liked each other, eh?
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in ireland they have to pay specifically for healthcare too i think and if people cant afford presctiptions then its tough even if they need them, crazy
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Amy I don't think that is a particularly well thought out argument . Each taxpayer pays for other people's life choices, that's just how our society works. We pay for university education, criminals, housing etc. as prostitutes (which is another life choice) we are entitled to full screening and more health care than most, at no expense to us, and a lot if society would disagree with our life choice.Why should working parents be ignored in particular?
Yes most people hate paying taxes, but on the whole we all benefit in paying taxes, whether it be free healthcare, education etc.
Xx
God, you guys have a wonderful paradise in the UK.
You should try living in the US for a year.
I don't have healthcare at all, my partner only does because she's still on her parents insurance.
In Washington State where I live, they used to have a poorly funded state healthcare program.
Now, it just got cut, 60,000 people now (the only ones' who were still left in the program) won't have healthcare.
Free University? That'd be the day, we do have financial aid, but it nowhere near covers the cost.
Childcare? hah! They cut that left and right...
You know where we order medicine to get it cheaper?
The UK!
Our system's so broken it's cheaper to have it shipped from over there, than to go to a doctor and pharmacy here.
It's a really sad, state of affairs here.
There is food welfare, so that's something at least.
i do feel lucky we have NHS.bet it makes you more poorly with worry,at the bill!..out of intrest why has the same system never been used in states?probably really complicated,but america must know that it works here???
Because of WW II.
We didn't get bombed and such the way London and the UK was.
So there wasn't this big cultural understanding for the need for it like there was over there.
People are seeing over here more and more that our system really doesn't work, but now there are big money interests involved in defending the current system. Obama had to fight really hard to get what he could get passed, and even that is a less-than-ideal compromise.
The idea is that if everybody is required by law to purchase insurance, then the charges will come down, and also the insurance companies will make more money so they won't be as opposed to it. But in exchange for that, the insurance companies had to get servere reforms, and not be able to deny people coverage, or charge people whatever they liked.
It's not national healthcare, but it is better than before.
-Sara
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If we're going to dig up an dead thread, can we drag it back on topic, please? That's if anybody can remember what the topic is.
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Hi Jezebel
I consider myself to be a feminist. Would be glad to answer any questions you may have via email.
info@claire.sc
Regards
Claire
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Hi Guys thanks for all the kind offers.
I changed my freak shows from feminism to
'The enduring nature of the spectacle of difference: The evolution of the freak show to reality TV' I'm interviewing Matt Fraser in a couple of weeks which will be amazing.
any way thank you again.
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Thanks for coming on and letting people know, Jezebel :).
Thread locked.