Bronwyn "That is why I find it so disappointing when it seems the next generation of women think the battle's been fought and won and won’t be there to pick up the baton."

That young women are more concerned about the big issues of equality, fairness and so on in a broader sense is good, not bad. Even better, they are choosing to work with young men to find solutions. One gender does not have all of the solutions just as one gender was never entirely to blame.

It is also about being responsible for one's own choices in life and what is so wrong with that?

Usual Suspects,

""'Why should they own the baggage of older generations?'
They shouldn't.

'Why should they be thankful?'
Just as with your RSL example, it's about respect. Some individuals may not return the respect to the younger generation, so in that case fair enough when no respect is returned. But sacrifices were made, and the fruits of those sacrifices are being enjoyed. A bit of thanks wouldn't go astray. Not saying that thanks should include joining up for a cause that no longer has any relevance though. Recognise, while you're moving on""

Utterly agree with you, our feminist predecessors, have to be respected and not forgotten.

Cornflour, the very fact that young women have the right to choose what 'boot' they would like to wear is because of the feminist movement- theyd still be tied to their ovens, with no hope of getting an education let alone driving a tractor. The freedom of choice they have today didnt just happen - surely you must be able to recognise the difference between a woman of the 18th century and a woman of the 21st century - what happened ? we didnt evolve into this.

Feminists came in all shapes and sizes.....not all of them were {and still] arent the stereotypical hairy legged lesbian we so 'fondly' remember.

Every part of our society have their radicals, it would be disastrous if we refused to acknowledge a movement, religion, race, idea etc if we didnt like the look of their radical members

Countrywoman

No, young women like all young people will rightly get their backs up if the are told they should be anything, including being thankful. Respect is earned in the here and now through behaviour.

Respect is also a two way street and feminists are not that willing to listen to anyone, including young women.

That was the point of giving the RSL example which was about club policy and membership being captive of an elite who lived in the past. The continual rejection of younger veterans by the RSL and government, especially by coalition governments including Mr Howard's is well documented, as any Vietnam Veteran will attest.

As far as young women are concerned, driving the tractor is not the same where the feminist matriarch refuses to let go of the steering wheel, preferring to stay in the same old ruts she is familiar with.

Why not simply agree, which should be easy enough to do, that times change and any movement has to change with the times or wither away?

Cornflower, try asking the same group of young women the same question in 10 years time. My views on what equality is and whether it has been achieved changed greatly once I had kids. The simple fact that it is assumed that when the kids are sick or their carer ill, that it is I that takes a day off work to care for them is a dead give-away that the playing field is not yet level. In my case I made the grave mistake of marrying a man who is exceptionally "traditional", and didnt realise how far-fetching that was until the kids came on the scene (dont get me wrong, I love them intensely and wouldnt give them back). Whilst my situation is probably more extreme than most people, I still see with my friends and colleagues, that if both parents are to work, then its the woman's job to find and pay for the childcare, its the women that pick their kids up early, or ferry them to extra activities, and its the women who are responsible for much of the dinner, bath, bed routine at night. This is even the case where I know the woman is the main income-earner (much more common recently, so I guess there is some progress being made). So, I think unless there is significant advancement in the next few years, this group of girls you spoke to are in for a bit of a shock.

CG, whilst I take your point about the preconception that women will be the primary carer whilst married, I must point out that it is usually at the mother's own behest, not imposed upon her. Certainly, my own wife was very happy to take time off from work to do "baby stuff" and was very vocal about how "empowered" and "female" she felt as a result. She never once suggested that I should take over that role, although she was quick to give me a nudge in the ribs if I didn't stir swiftly enough when one of the kids started crying in the middle of the night. The other side of that coin is that mother's are usually able to claim "ownership" of that role when the marriage ends, regardless of the father's wishes. The changes to the FLAct were a response to that preconception.

Country Gal,

Notwithstanding your man's very old fashioned attitudes that I have heard of before, it is not only the men who are responsible for this turn of events.

My partner was very unimpressed when I suggested I work part time and she full time once her degree is finished and she has equal or greater earning power. Very frosty she became. Not even too happy about changing to me 4 days, her 3 rather than me 5 days her 2 at work.

You make it seem like women are 'lumped' with these tasks, when in fact a lot of the time it's the women who see themselves as being the best and most important parent, and insist on having full control. They see themselves as the leader, who delegates tasks that must be done in their own distinctive style. They want 'support' not a partnership when it comes to caring roles. Only mummy can do these things 'properly'.

Women carry the baby for 9 months, and really, after the birth, it takes a long time (if ever) for the women to not consider the baby more hers than his. Likewise a lot of men who work consider the family money more theirs then hers.

When 70% of working mothers would rather be at home with their children, it's simplistic to suggest that it's those dinosaur husbands lumping women with all the caring activities. If anything, we have set up society to coerce these women into a role they see as secondary, some with a tinge of resentment their man doesn't earn enough to allow them the luxury to be full time mom.