Problems Inherent To Women

[Feldspar]

“[…]without having to defend the basic premise that issues do exist which specifically affect and limit women, their rights and their potential.”

That is the second part of the *bylaws* of this Democratic Underground Feminist space.

I’d like to remind everyone that women (although not specifically mentioned as yet in an amendment to the Constitution although we women have been working at it for almost 90 years) are actually human beings with rights and potential that should not be limited.

One of those *rights* is Freedom of Speech unless, of course, you are a woman in a male-centric world.

[niyad]

1. feminism is the radical notion that women are people--rebecca west

[laconicsax]

2. Careful...that's some dangerous thinking 'round these parts.

[niyad]

4. I know--it is simply disgusting that in the 21st century, this should still be an issue--and worse,

that the problem is getting worse again, instead of better.

I never thought, back in the first days of this third wave of feminism, that, all these decades later, we would still be fighting this battle.

[CrispyQ]

13. "...the problem is getting worse again, instead of better."

It's been decades since I read "A Handmaid's Tale." Maybe I was naive back then, but I didn't think it could happen here. Now, I feel we are headed completely in the wrong direction. I worry because the dem party seems willing to capitulate on some of these issues & then where will it stop?

[niyad]

15. I have felt for years that we were one vote from being "the handmaid's tale"-- and these days,

it seems closer than ever. when one listens to the insane, hate-filled rantings of the reichwing fundies.

[CrispyQ]

16. I simply do not understand fundie women.

They are like alien beings to me. Why would you support a religion/cult/whatever that hates/demeans/oppresses you?

[redqueen]

17. Because they're rewarded.

They're praised and held up as examples of virtuous, good Christian women... and that validation is very comforting, especially when contrasted with the fear and uncertainty that would be created if they were to start questioning their beliefs.

[CrispyQ]

21. I wonder what I would be like if I had been raised that way?

I'm so thankful I wasn't! I think how hard it must be to break free of the world view you were raised with & then to follow through by physically removing people from your life, who want to control you.

[niyad]

18. like republican women, as well. have never understood it myself. redqueen has it right for a lot

of these women, sadly enough.

[redqueen]

19. It is sad, very sad.

And I, personally, can't help but think of the extreme form of this situation, where women are physically and emotionally abused and yet they keep their children in that situation... because the fear is just overwhelming, especially for people who were cowed and beaten early in life... and when you grow up thinking that's normal, or at least not so bad as it could be... just ugh.

Right, shutting up again.

[niyad]

20. cowed and beaten early in life--certainly the precepts of the various churches get drummed into

people from very early on.

no need to shut up, these conversations are so very important.

[seabeyond]

22. not all are bad. not all are good. there are a lot of republicans that can and are respectful to

women and their wives. my father a republican. my mother a democrat. and equals, even back in the day.

my hubby a republican. i am a democrat.

does anyone think that i am repressed? my hubby will have his small town country repugs college friends to dinner. say (happened about 2004), my wife opposes the war. cross his arms and sits back with a grin.

i know lots of christians and lots of republicans that are good to each other and dont play in the hierarchy.

i also know democrat men that use patriarchy for their advantages and control over wife making married life difficult and something i would no way be a part of. look at our clinton, weiner, edwards. spitzer. i wouldnt be a part of that, either.

patriarchy is not party specific.

[HeiressofBickworth]

3. The problem goes all the way to the top

When the government defends "human rights" they mean men's rights. If they were really concerned with women's rights, they would have bombed Saudia Arabia by now.

[niyad]

5. not to mention seriously dealing with FGM, human trafficking, etc

[Violet_Crumble]

6. The US govt doesn't care about human rights, let alone the rights of women...

I remember feeling nauseous back when Bush suddenly 'discovered' the abuse of Afghan women by the Taliban when he needed an excuse to bomb Afghanistan, even though it was common knowledge to everyone else for a long time before that....

[DonCoquixote]

7. er

bombing saudi arabia would be bad for women, because women would bear the brunt of it, like in all war. Women who wear hijabs and do not care for Gloria Steinem are women too.

[seabeyond]

8. a lot, not a few, a lot of women felt their position was beneath their husband

felt their role was less than husband. should women not fight for equality, to be equal, a human being in the laws of govt along with society because there were a lot of woen, not a few, but a lot of women that felt they were inferior to men?

[iverglas]

9. welcome, and ... er ...

Lighten up. (You can imagine, if you know me at all, how I'd react to somebody saying that to me, so you should take it extremely lightly!)

I don't think anybody wants anybody bombing anybody.

But that's what the US government tends to do!

So if the US government (especially under Bush, which was the context) were serious about women's rights, it would have bombed Saudi Arabia. Ya see?

I'm going to go find an article on line that I was reading last night in my Saturday paper and put it in a thread here, re women who wear hijabs. You might enjoy it.

[CrispyQ]

14. Yes, man is the default & we must fight it everywhere,

even starting small:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11391321

[Gormy Cuss]

10. I agree with your OP, but what prompted it?

It feels like a reaction to something but I'm not sure what. Context, please?

[seabeyond]

11. i am thinkin... and probably agreeing. hey, did you hear.

sere has been reinstated. i hope she comes back and joins us. allow us to chat it out.

[Gormy Cuss]

12. Yeah, I saw that. n/t