Feminists? Any here?

[Crankin]

Jewell, we still *do* have a long way to go. And there is an ever present degree of racism/heterosexism around.
But, I guess with the perspective of age, I have to say that most people aren't thinking about this. I am not saying this is right, but most people just go about living their lives. If there is an act of egregious racism, sexism, etc., then many would respond. But, on the whole, most white, Christian, heterosexual people don't "get" the racism that a lot live with.

I don't feel like I am fulfilling anyone's image of beauty. I like making myself look good for myself. That includes making myself healthy and fit through sports. I think some people get turned off of the word "feminism" because many feminists give the opinion that if you wear make up, dress up etc. you are doing it because of society's expectations on women. I mean, my husband likes buying clothes, looking good, staying young and fit as we age. He's not doing it to please society any more than I am.

[Pax]

Unfortunately, many feminists in the US tend to wear blinders thinking that we've got it pretty good so why raise a fuss. We forget that women all over the world are treated worse than livestock, raped, beaten, subjected to "honor" killings...

Just today on CNN, yet another example of why we have to remain vigilant.

[Grog]

If you're looking for a closer place to be an active feminist these days, try Canada. The number of steps backwards being taken these last few years is apalling.

http://www.straight.com/article-2049...united-nations

I still can't wrap my heads about unions being FINED for helping women fight for pay equity.

[smurfalicious]

But, on the whole, most white, Christian, heterosexual people don't "get" the racism that a lot live with.

Whoa! The race card and the religion card all rolled into one. Huh, maybe I'll check out synagogues over the weekend so I can "get it." I mean, I've never had anyone bash or mock my faith and life has been a bed of roses. I've never had so called enlightened, liberal folks look down on me and assume I wasn't as intelligent or worthy as they because I'm a country girl and prefer that way of life (at least I know how to grow my own food from veggies to beef to eggs should the world go mad). I especially like the comments from these same people about "rednecks" and how we're everything wrong with the world. Can't even tell you how many times my age has made me less capable, less knowledgeable, whatever. Ageism goes, both ways. Oh, and let me tell you Hillary has 2 mommies went over awesome in my small town. Awe-haw-some! I like to think of myself as "heteroflexible" so there are lesbians out there who hate me (oh the irony). And what about the people our culture refers to as "white trash?" You don't think they encounter prejudice?

I don't label myself a feminist because I think what it has become is a joke and insult to amazing women who actually broke ground for us. It seems now that calling yourself a feminist is an excuse to be a flippant b***h while expecting others to tolerate it. There seems to be an attitude that if one man pays you less, all men are to blame. A lot of two wrongs still not adding up to a right.

So I'd call myself a strong woman, modeled after the strongest woman I know, my mom. Like ShootingStar pointed out, my mom gave up drafting to raise us kids and once we were school age she would do upholstery while we were in school. Unfortunately after my parents divorced she was out of luck because no one drafts on a board anymore. She tried to take CAD classes but my dad made it hard for her. So she was stuck and worked her butt off to take care of us. For years she suffered at my dad's hands to try and do what she thought was best for us kids, keep the family together. That was kind of the prevailing attitude then.

To this day I watch her kick butt and take names. She got her contractors license after a full knee replacement. She's doing what she knows, and loves, and every day it makes me proud of her.

I guess I pick and choose my battles. It's like this gal I'm living with, she complains so much that none of it matters anymore. I stand up for myself, by myself, and hopefully that will mean someone else down the road won't have to.

And lets be a skosh honest with ourselves. If men didn't see us as objects of desire eventually we'd have an epic fail as a species.

[shootingstar]

Actually smurf, it wouldn't be surprising that there are still not alot of black women or women of East Indian descent that cycle regularily. Do you see alot of them in women's or girls' cycling competitions or in regular cycling groups?

It's not that our group here would wilfully exclude these women (or be racist), but our socialization patterns probably affect how to influence, how to make our sport TRULY widespread to all segments of society. And that starts opening our eyes really wide..on who and how others are mentored in cycling. We just forget or don't ...notice.

And I was cycling and involved in the cycling advocacy scene with women in Toronto for 5 years where there is a huge black population. Hmmm, I think we had less than 2-3 black women attend our cycling rides, conferences (200 women attended per conference) and workshops.

Probably a broader range of different outreach efforts needs to be done.

I'm just trying to relate feminism...still to cycling.

[Zen]

And lets be a skosh honest with ourselves. If men didn't see us as objects of desire eventually we'd have an epic fail as a species.

From a scientific standpoint that's not true at all.If men are on earth solely to preserve the species, there is already enough DNA in sperm banks to last for ages.