As a teenage girl, I’ve found myself in many a debate with an ‘Etonian’ or ‘pick-me girl’ who couldn’t resist the urge to explain why ‘all this feminism’ is ridiculous. Whilst the majority of this charming group will agree that women’s rights in other countries need upgrading, our rights here in the UK are more polarising than the reboot of Gossip Girl. At this point, I’ve heard more people denounce ‘feminazis’ than misogynists. Girls would rather say nothing at all than be labelled an ‘overly dramatic man-hater whining over boys invading their safe space.' Now, I’m not so eager for that nickname either, but if we -in an all-girls school- are too scared to say the word ‘feminist’, something is wrong. In year 11 a teacher asked my class to raise our hand if we were a feminist. She was answered with 2 upheld hands and 23 eye rolls. I agree that radicals on the internet nit-picking every slightly sexist movie or joke are frustrating. I understand the hesitancy to associate with them. But just because some take feminism in the wrong direction doesn’t mean the whole movement should be discarded. If only more of us talked about it, the focus on the annoying few would zoom out. Personally, a big part of why I have been wary to voice my thoughts on topics like sexual assault or the pay gap is because I don’t feel informed enough. So, this has been a roundabout way of showing you some links to great resources on women’s rights in the UK/US. Hopefully, with some facts up your sleeve you will be more comfortable entering conversations amongst friends or family and, of course, shutting down that ignorant Etonian with a hot take.
FemSoc is also about to start up again so look out for their email! https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/lifestyle-wellbeing/shocking-gender-inequality-facts-melinda-gates https://medium.com/verve-up/feminist-statistics-why-we-still-need-feminism-2ae62d277baf https://youtu.be/gkjW9PZBRfk https://youtu.be/kU6mNXAFj6Y https://youtu.be/tCWRdp5NAFI https://youtu.be/3d-u9sRy6NA https://open.spotify.com/show/6BVpJ3TTdjnKbHTR4yBjBM?si=OZcZzx1_TVOtYiTRI05Dhg&dl_branch=1 https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/best-feminist-podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/2yMIA0BQiR5fkLo0ZTukzc?si=81FJYhZ9QI2oDTq2TW-4-A&dl_branch=1 https://www.panmacmillan.com/blogs/general/the-best-feminist-books-fiction-non-fiction-poems https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.ft.com/content/09ef73f4-9b5c-4a52-9481-3f924ba890cf https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2017/03/08/what-is-feminism-and-why-do-so-many-women-and-men-hate-it/amp/ https://thelifeofscience.com/2019/05/14/4-reasons-anti-feminist-women-hate-feminism-and-what-theyre-missing/ https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/12/what-happened-women-uk-harassed-street https://www.buzzfeed.com/victoriavouloumanos/women-share-experiences-that-shouldnt-be-normalized
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