You know guys, if I used the argument that Hitler, Stalin, Genghis Khan, Pol Pot, Mao etc were all men , and that then "proved" men were cruel and incapable of ruling - yes, all men, as represented by the few mentioned here - you would, rightly, be up in arms at my prejudice and stereotyping. Yet, a few of you seem to be saying that because some women are abusive and terrible to their children via Munchausens Syndrome by Proxy, or whatever, all women should therefore shut up about domestic violence et al.
It seems to me that both men and women have the propensity for violence within them. Feminism argues that women - because of their relative lack of power and lack of strength and size - have more often been the victims of men than the other way around. No doubt children - for precisely the same reasons - have been the victims of both men and women. Feminism rejects violence. Some suffragettes blew up property once, more than 100 years ago, but they did not kill a sentient being. One feminist killed herself by throwing herself under the king's racehorse, but that is the sum total of politically inspired deaths in support of women's rights. Some of you will bring up abortion, no doubt in this context. But abortion existed long before feminism and is practiced by many who would never claim to be feminist. Feminists supports a womans right to refuse to be a lousy parent AND a woman's right to have her child regardless of what society may say. But feminism, of all the isms, has never started a war or preached violence - except, for a very short while - against property. The fact that there are stupid and repulsive feminists no more damns feminists than the fact that there are stupid and repulsive men damns all men.

Pass the tissues please. I think I might cry.

Yeah I know that, that is being sarcastic.

Hitler, Khan et al are fortunately all dead.

No it is not a nice feeling having your gendered maligned, welcome to the club.

Ena your 'ism' is showing.

"Feminism rejects violence" CRAP! There was the SCUM manifesto, even today there are calls to castrate alleged rapists and child molestors, some even support the death penalty.

Erin Pizzey founder of the first female refuge has been subjected to death threats, bomb threats and has even had a bullet fired at her house, her dogs have been killed.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=430702&in_page_id=1770&in_page_id=1770&expand=true

I know a few feminists and if I had a dollar for every time they threatened or talked about hitting men, I'd be very very rich. When they start talking I learnt very quickly if you dont agree with them, then it is better and safer to shut up.

One thing I have learnt is just how critical and judgemental members of your gender actually are, sometimes it takes a good ear to detect it.

This gender war has outlasted the 'cold war'.

"Yet, a few of you seem to be saying that because some women are abusive and terrible to their children via Munchausens Syndrome by Proxy, or whatever, all women should therefore shut up about domestic violence et al."

Whats MSP got to do with DV?

A farmer goes to a livestock dealer and buys an anvil, a bucket, two chickens and a goose.
The farmer looks at his purchases and says, "Damn, I walked here. How am I gonna carry all this stuff home?
The livestock dealer said, "Why don't you put the anvil in the bucket, carry the bucket in one hand, put a chicken under each arm and carry the goose in your other hand?"
"Hey thanks!" the farmer said, and off he went.
While walking home he met a little old lady who told him she was lost. She asked, "Can you tell me how to get to Mockingbird Lane?"
The farmer said, "Well, as a matter of fact, I live just down the road from there. Let's take my short cut and go down this alley. We'll be there in no time."
The little old lady said, "I'm a lonely widow without a husband to defend me. How do I know that when we get in the alley, you won't hold me against the wall, pull up my skirt and ravage me?"
The farmer said, "Holy smokes lady! I'm carrying a bucket, an anvil, two chickens and a goose. How in the world could I possibly hold you against the wall and do that?"
She replied, "Set the goose down, cover him with the bucket, put the anvil on top of the bucket... and I'll hold the chickens."

Now that's todays feminism. Victim and aggressor.

aqvarivs,

that is an excellent summary of the matter.

Biting the hand BEFORE it even gets a chance to feed. It works both ways, the gender war has made folks very cynical.

lts just easier to shutup or dole out the facade of agreement. Silence has a way of being taken as agreement, so its a good little ruse.

Then people wounder why they're alone, cant attract a commitment from commitment phobes and so on.

Anyway, its a great day out, lm off to visit some friends, have a bevvy and see if l cant get their kids all wild and excited. hehe.

I'm a feminist and NOBODY"S victim. That's the whole point to being a feminist, you take responsibility for your own life and fate.
I have never hit anyone - I did smack my daughter once and was horrified by it - and I have never been hit. If I am seen as aggressive (by some) it is in putting my point of view and standing up for myself and my beliefs - that's one way you stop being a victim. You refuse to be bullied or ridiculed or threatened into silence.
There are, however, many people who are victims, men and women and children. Feminism aims to model the behaviour that helps people to reject their own victimhood and walk away from the situation and/ or people or societies or religions who are making them miserable and telling them who they should be and how they must behave.
Some feminists may have threatened violence, but there are crazy loons in all movements. Once again, you miss the point of my argument. Do you do so deliberately or do you fail to understand it?

Ena, we get your point - we just don’t agree. In a “post-feminist” world, old feminists in retirement homes will be distinguishable only by their extra neediness.

It may have seemed like a good idea at some point, and it may have even achieved something worthwhile, sometime. But these days it is better known for its narcissism than for its benevolence.