As a feminist, which social problems are you most concerned with?

[BlueIris]

For me, aside from the ever lasting fight for freedom of choice, my biggest "issue" at the moment is lack of awareness. For the need for full equality for women, that is.

[ismnotwasm]

1. Reproductive choice

I mean, there is the bizarre sexualization of little girls, women who have no idea how to measure their worth other than what they think is sexually attractive, the plight of impoverished women worldwide, the wholesald violence against women, there is a long,long list, but right now reproductive choice seems to be almost a harbringer.

We lose choice as we are and have, we go back a thousand years in certain ways. Anti-choice women themselves don't understand, or don't seem to understand WHY choice is so important.

But you're right the lack of awareness, the whole "we don't need feminism anymore, we've arrived" meme that's out there is more than disturbing. On a thread in GD on "stunned french women" over the misogynistic response to the rape, I made the arguement that no one should be "stunned", because it's expected, or at least *I* expect it. But now I wonder. Do women really think that rape is either not common, or prosecuted fairly?

[Lunacee2012]

21. I know the statistics say that

Last edited Tue Dec 13, 2011, 10:31 AM - Edit history (1)

1-in-4 women are either raped or attacked, but in my own experience it's 3 out of 4. I guess that's my biggest issue.

[vim876]

2. The fact that...

so many people seem to think we've actually reached equality, that there's no need for feminism.

[redqueen]

6. This.

To me, this seems to be the reason all the rest is still so problematic; too many people don't even want to acknowledge that the issues facing women exist.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. Agree

with both misconceptions.

[PhoenixAbove]

3. 1 - Reproductive and Contraceptive Choice

The fact that we have to keep circling the wagons around #1 is driving me batshit insane. There could be so much *more* we could be focusing our energy on if it wasn't for that.

2 - The fact that women's issues always ends up having to take a back seat to almost *every* other issue that comes along. How can we focus on ERA, pay equity, rape culture, and sexual harassment when those issues never somehow get to be important enough to deal with properly.

3 - (And this one drives me batshit screaming insane) Programs Repubs to want to put on the chopping block affect women more. Everything from SS to Medicaid to Welfare to Domestic Violence shelters... not to mention aid to families with dependent children.

[pitbullgirl1965]

10. We are always expected to make the sacrifices

and not complain about it. The Democratic Party is more interested in trying to win over Independants and maybe some Republicans (as if that'd happen) then actually doing anything that would help us. We're stuck with them because the alternitive is so much worse and they know it. My biggest concern? All of it: the gutting of safety nets, reproductive justice, the overall attitude that women aren't seen as fully human as men are.

[seabeyond]

4. mine really is the pornification of our girls and women.

it is so invasive adn world wide conditioning our girls and boys this is what is. i see this as feeding the reproductive issue and full equality issues. i see this as destructive in the basics of who we are as human beings, ending marriages and stopping relationships before they even begin, because our young is being conditioned in a manner that is not condusive to a healthy, balanced and even happy life.

i see this as our biggest issue.

[CrispyQ]

8. I completely agree.

It perverts what should be a beautiful symbiotic relationship between the two sexes of our species. The two sexes are complimentary, not competitive, not one better than the other. Healthy, human relationships cannot be built upon dominance. I think our culture is so perverted, it's no wonder everyone is stressed out & hateful & mean.

[LiberalLoner]

9. I completely agree too! Very good posts!

[Lunacee2012]

22. I agree with you

(and everyone else here). Especially when it comes to the whole "competitive" thing. It's like I don't want to be behind you, and I don't want to be in front of you, I just want to be beside you. Why is that so hard for our culture to understand?

[Stargleamer]

11. Anyone here want to start an anti-pornography group?

Maybe DU wouldn't allow it.

Anyhow I think pornography both causes/depicts rape and sexual abuse.

[seabeyond]

12. we have so many many groups. i think it sets well in both

womens rights and feminisim. regardless of agreeing or not. it ties into all of our gender issues, males or females or people.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

28. Seabeyond, you're so right. This is the biggest issue because it's pervasive and colors the way

women are viewed by men and other women. The self-esteem of women suffers because of it,yet women are often unaware that their self-esteem is suffering because of it because we are all raised in it, exposed to it, and believe that the sexualization and objectification of women is normal and even healthy!

If men were equally sexualized and objectified as well, it'd be different (and I don't think men would stand for it). It's always women that are sexualized and objectified in the media.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

5. income inequality

followed by access to birth control and access to our own bodies (which includes making choices to be or not be in the sex industry)

[xmas74]

13. Mine is also income inequality

seconded with reproductive issues.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. thank goddess. i was beginning to feel lonely

[xmas74]

15. I'm a single mother

I'm raising a (soon-to-be) teenage daughter. I see how income inequality directly affects me every single day. I make less money, I'm less likely to be promoted even if I'm the most qualified, I have a lower overall standard of living (not by choice!).

If income inequality is addressed and all are brought up to the same level field then the rest follow. Access to birth control is easier and becomes more affordable, if I'm making the same amount of money as my male colleagues. I'm less likely to live in poverty and my daughter is less likely to raise future children in poverty, if incomes are brought to the same level.

In the end it's all about control. Money is a powerful way to control all.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. yeah, income inequality def affects lesbians and single women/mothers

even more than other women.

if we had less overall poverty, there would be less need for sex work to sustain ourselves too. at the end of the day, money is the answer to a lot of questions

[xmas74]

17. Exactly.

No matter what anyone wants to think, money makes the world go 'round. Make the distribution a bit fairer for both sexes and equality will be present in other areas.

[BlueIris]

23. Hey!

Nice to see you here.

[xmas74]

26. You too!

I was mostly a lurker in this forum on the old DU. Right now I feel as though I can catch up, since it's so new over here.

[CrispyQ]

24. I think income inequality stems from a belief that women are not equal to men.

Same with control of our bodies - we are objects. At times, some societies have situations where women have actually reached second class citizen status, (we're allowed to vote!) but in most cases we are merely objects - property.

So is your take that by making more money we will no longer be property? That being economically viable is how we are going to crash this attitude of women as objects?

I'll have to think on that more to see if I agree. Good thread!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

27. yes, equal pay for equal, equal opportunities for jobs

is an important end goal for feminists.

if men & women had equal power in society, we wouldn't be second class citizens

the path to equal pay and equal opportunity is through education but also through legislation and is raising daughters who value their careers and sons who value women who work.

there is a lot more to this, but i have to go to class now... will finish this up later..

[backtoblue]

18. income inequality and reproductive rights

nt

[ZombieHorde]

19. Around the world? Education. nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. good one. nt

[CrispyQ]

25. Education is key.

We could start by making Miss Representation required viewing for teens & adults in this country.

There are so many ills in our society that people aren't even aware of, because we've been conditioned to accept them as normal. And let's not forget how religion feeds this sickness, too.

[LadyHawkAZ]

29. ...

Reproductive choice would have to top the list, since it's the one with the most visibly pressing attacks at the moment.
Cultural distortion of human sexuality: everything from the increasing media sexualization of the prepubescent female form to homophobia to the radfem attempt to demonize all heterosexual activity. This is probably my most important long-term concern, since so many other gender-based issues spring from it.
Criminalized prostitution and its associated body count & abuse rate.
Organized religion with its gender roles and regulations.
Poverty and lack of available medical care.

[IrishEyes]

30. Domestic and Sexual Violence

There are many things that concern me. I think the social problem that concerns me most is rape and violence against women. It is a big problem that gets ignored a lot.

I'm also concerned with

Work and educational opportunities for women and girls.
Equal pay
Portrayal of women in movies and TV
The belief that there are men's job and women's job.
Eating disorders

There are many more things but that is all that I can think of off the top of my head.

[JustAnotherGen]

31. Equal Pay

For equal experience, education, and situation.

I know money doesn't buy happYness - but it CAN buy the ability to chart your own course. From a U.S. Standpoint - my number one issue (if I'm going to be a one issue voter ) is Infrastructure renewal and development. That will create jobs if we can get it done.

But when women are hired for those jobs? I want them paid the exact same as their male counterparts. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

This way - we can afford to give money to Emily's List, and to candidates that are fully in support of a woman's right to privacy.

Second would be one that is almost never heard in traditional feminist circles: Birth Control on Demand provided by federal dispensaries. If you want an IUD. It should be provided if you can't afford one. If you want depoprovera - it should be provided to you if you can't afford the four shots per year and doctor's appointments. If you prefer 'otc' barrier methods - it should be provided to you if you can't afford it.

Increase AFFORDABLE and EASY access to birth control - and potentially lower the need for abortion.

Make it so a 17 year old girl can finish high school or university or trade school without a child under her arm, you open her world of opportunity up to financial independence.

Make it so a now ONE income family can sex without fear of having another mouth to feed . .. until they can get on their feet.

And yep - I want the teenager to just be able to go get it.

Third - we expand the concept of what it means to be eligible for TANF.


See - I'm one of "those ones". I hate abortion. I hate that it occurs. But I also know that women need to earn a solid dollar, those who aren't currently should be able to manage/control their fertility, and until we have that - then we better make sure that those women/families that are hungry and trying to get ahead - can eat, have a warm home in the winter, and clothes on our back.

In a perfect world we would not need abortion with but a few exceptions. But we live in an imperfect country that does not value (TRULY VALUE) every child born into it - so we should be doing what we can to make sure that child is not conceived in the first place, and if they are - making sure their mom has a chance to get ahead.

[Whisp]

32. personal safety

nothing else matters if rapists and abusers are free to roam and carnage within a society that obviously doesn't really take that seriously enough.

[The empressof all]

33. Denial that Misogony is endemic in our culture

The little things wear on our general sensibilities and we begin to accept offensive language and media as "the norm"

It's my little pet peeve this week

[Starry Messenger]

34. Economic equality and employment justice for women.

Also access to health care and reproductive rights. It's hard to pick, they all tend to influence each other.

[iverglas]

35. argh, what a question! women's safety?

I can bring so much under that rubric.

Spousal violence, sexual abuse and exploitation, sexual violence, workplace issues (harassment and assault, and also occupational health and safety), safe reproductive health services ...

There are so many angles to look at the "sine qua non" question.

Without being free from violence and threats of violence, no one can live autonomously, and achieve the economic security everyone needs. Or, sometimes, even live.

Without economic security, women are vulnerable to all those threats to their physical safety.

Without a society that regards women as full and equal human beings, women can be neither free from violence nor economically secure ...