Women and GE2015 Survey Comments Changes in the Past 5 Years1

Women and GE2015 Survey– Comments – Changes in the past 5 years1

Feminism:

With the fragmenting of any feminist identity it is not surprising that it isn't well recognised in the mainstream.However I do think the media could easily give better coverage to women's issues, as well as giving a platform to women who are actively engaged in challenging and providing support to women suffering discrimination and male violence."
Alienated by neoliberal feminists on the one hand and angry radical feminists on the other. Socialist feminists seemed to have disappeared.
Whilst it's been wonderful to watch the movement blossom and to see people proudly proclaiming themselves to be feminists, this hasn't been matched by a deepening of understanding. I am slightly suspicious that feminism being used as a fashion statement, and I am concerned that another backlash is building. Within the movement itself, as it's grown I feel there's been an unhelpful focus on labels and division. Intersectionality is wonderful, but some disingenuous folk can use it as a tool to divide rather than unite.
Feminism should not equate to 'man-hating' but be about equality
I think most people are more comfortable with feminism than 5 years ago but there is still widespread ignorance about major issues such as pornography, prostitution and caring responsibilities. These need to be tackled seriously by the media.
Young people are more assertive though there appears to be a false consciousness about their power over their own actions and other people manipulating this power.
Feminist campaigns about the sex industry are as realistic as governmental "just say no" campaigns about drugs. Campaigns to criminalise paying for sex undermine a woman's right to bodily autonomy. Both these things alienate women from feminism.
I think the influence of the women's sector in government and making policy based change has got worse, not because of the will of women's groups and activist networks but because the coalition gov hasn't been open to engagement and have just been on a one way mission to attain their goals. Also the cuts have meant women's organisations have had less capacity to do lobbying based work
The Everyday Sexism Project and No More Page 3 have made feminism more visible and accessible
"The three interminable terms of the 'Left-Wing Rich' Bliarites, ruined any chance the Labour Party might have supported radical change for the better in women's issues and concerns.
Maybe our only hope is for the formation of a UK Women's Party, like they had for a while in Iceland. How the women-hating media would loathe that! Must be a really good idea, if so!"
I feel that there has been a much greater push from the women's activism / feminism movement over the last few years, but I feel very much that this has been done in the face of a political environment which has been quite openly misogynistic, and which has actively tried to batter down what the women's activism / feminist movement has been trying so hard to do. Whilst I think that huge progress has been made by women and the movement, I think that the backlash / undercurrent against women has intensified greatly - both explicitly, and under the surface in much more subtle ways - and I am concerned that this will only get worse in the near future, although I am sure that this will only make the women's movement more determined and stronger!
As an individual, when I challenge the current 'system' I am labelled a feminist, when I challenge feminists/feminism I am met with disdain.
the Fawcett Society does a good job in raising issues re equal pay and producing reports, but comes across as quite middle class and I feel does not appear to represent the millions of women on low wages, in part time work, zero hours contracts, affected by the neoliberal ideological cuts to welfare and public services perpetrated by successive Tory and 'Labour' governments. Feminists need a strong political analysis and a deeper understanding of the deliberate choices made by governments to shrink the state, and devalue what is traditionally seen as 'women's work' - nursing, teaching, social services, care work - ie public services. One of the reasons our society has become more 'pornified' is because it is a multi-billion dollar industry, and it is constantly being given the hard sell, children included. It is not just men's attitudes we are up against - it is unbridled neo-liberal capitalism. Only the Greens in my view are presenting us with a viable alternative. I am not a member, but no-one ele's manifesto is as good."
The idea that feminism only aims to make a better world for women is still persistent, and the reality - that feminism also helps to challenge problematic patriarchal values which hold men back - is largely unknown or ignored. There is still a large part of society which seems to believe that positive discrimination in order to create gender balance is inherently wrong, and that balance will happen automatically with no need for intervention.
This is more because of a lack of intelligence, rather than a lack of work achieved.
I'm not sure that the real focus should be on 'feminist' issues - I am as much concerned with quality of life for all citizens, male, female, children.
more and more women are now willing to say they are feminists
Some things have improved - campaigns such as Everyday Sexism have attracted some very positive coverage.
Depoliticisation of real Feminist activism and almost total erasure of biological female only spaces. Issues concerning males who claim they can magically morph into females has become a supposedly 'male sex right' which supercedes biological women's right not to be forced to have men who claim they are females in women only support services.
Some young men such as my son feel got at by feminism. It seems to me this is because of a fringe that is anti men rather than pro equality, which in my mind is equality and respect for men and women and treating both as intelligent human beings
As someone who has engaged in many political debates, I have been frustrated by factionalism - none more so than women seemingly falling over themselves to attack each other, and often without gaining a full grasp of the issues.
"Feminist groups become more cliquey (e.g. lack of disability access/awareness, ""black feminism"" v. ""white feminism"", ""older women"" v. ""younger women"" etc.) instead of including all women as equals.
The assumption that every woman is white, middle-class, able-bodied, heterosexual etc. is very off-putting. "
In my opinion feminism has been taken over by lesbians. We need to go back to grass roots for ALL girls and women.
The word feminism is off putting in itself. While we strive for equality why do we need a word/group/ideal that promotes separation. We are two halves of the same whole.
It is not a one size fits all and too many fail to achieve their potential because they see the short term not the long term.
Feminist ideas have become more mainstream, which is great.
"Notice that younger women are more engaged. More activity at student level and with young LGBT and BME women activists. More confidence.
I feel there has been an increase in activism but also in accepted inequality which is not challenged at high levels e.g. outrageous statements by judges about 'seductive' victims and online trolling of feminist activists.
In some ways feminism has grown in popularity in the last 5 years. However, there are still many women/girls who think it does not apply to them and are ignorant of ongoing issues - some think all the work has been done and there's no need for its continuance. Some are under the impression that because of the rise of women in online porn (being in charge) that that somehow equates with equality and that we are now equal with men. :-/
Re feminists - they are doing damage to the reputation of women who just want to get through life."
success influencing local govt is patchy. lack of consistent leadership at UK government has massive impact for areas where relationships with local feminist groups perceived as ineffective or threatening. If no central directive, local decision makers can ignore issues etc.
I am not sure about feminist activism has changed in the past 5 years as I've been out of the country and not really exposed to it. I feel that there is more feminism around but it might just be because I am looking for it more.
My sense is that we have gone backwards from the high points of the late 70's. We are only now seeing a reawakening of femininist thought by younger women who are recognising that despite all the promises, they may be perceived to have equal chances but this does not guarantee equal outcomes. Indirect discrinination is alive and kicking.
The word "feminism" seems to have had a renaissance, but the definition of the word seems to be more fragmented and personalised rather than reflecting political campaign objectives and academic analysis
"What changes? Why is feminism still a dirty word? When you ask wimin what they want, they say all the same things which feminists want and yet they don't want to be called a feminist. The media are largely to blame because of their interpretation of what a typical feminist is. Butch, aggressive, hate men, not a very attractive person! The attitude of a typical male toward wimin has not, quite frankly changed at all
I consider myself a very staunch feminist. . I am petit, fairly attractive, like wearing make-up and looking nice at times. I have been married twice (never changed my name or wore a wedding ring!). I have been married for 3 years to my partner whom I have been with for 27 years and who is 18 years younger than I am! Nearly every day I shout at the radio or TV because of some sexist comment made by both wimin and men. So what has really changed?"
Women's services are under threat due to prioritising of transwomen - women are put off accessing services

Media:

With the fragmenting of any feminist identity it is not surprising that it isn't well recognised in the mainstream. However I do think the media could easily give better coverage to women's issues, as well as giving a platform to women who are actively engaged in challenging and providing support to women suffering discrimination and male violence."
We are much more visible online now, we need to increase that visibly in the wider press (positively)
As a middle-aged woman, I have been very inspired by some of the on-line activism of the next generation including things like #everyday sexism and No to Page 3, and by the housing campaigns such as E15 mums, Sweets Way etc."
I think the growth of social networking has had a big impact on how widespread feminist activism can be and getting large numbers together, but it has engendered had a similar counter-movement of misogyny and attacks on this wave of feminism which need to be met.
The anti-feminist movement has become more aggressive - threats on social media plus hateful on-line comments to information on websites.
I think some of the feminist campaigns such No More Page 3, and the Object campaign have raised the issue of media sexism, and the horrors of the Jimmy Savile case and its fallout has given victims of sexual abuse a voice that they did not have before. Even more conservative children's charities are beginning to understand and talk about the dangers of sexting, and of porn on young people.
I am encouraged by the rise of feminism amongst young women. I think it is being encouraged by social media (tho I don't use it myself) and greater awareness of sexual and physical abuse. I think women like Laura Bates and the concept of 'everyday sexism' have enabled young women to name sexist male behaviour for what it is - an aspect of patriarchal oppression. My concerns are about the increasing sexualisation of girls; and online pornography and young men's/boy's access to it whch is having a terrible effect on girl's expectations of sexuality, their own sexual expression and self esteem.
I see some stirrings among women and more availability of materials and ideas through women's groups themselves. The media has too heavy influence upon access to ideas for the majority of people
Feminism is still seen as a dirty word and the perception of it in the media is not focused on gender equality but tries to sell it as thinking women are better. I have started working for a women's mental health charity and am frequently challenged about the women only status in a hostile way which has been a new and eye opening experience!"
Some, but not most, people are alienated from feminism by media representation
I think that Social Media and the 'immediate response' that provides, along with the 'campaigning' it enables does help women's issues to a certain extent, but that it loses considered and careful approaches to attitudes and ideas in the same way. I feel that women's issues should go through everything, not just in 'response' it's about how we conduct our relationships with friends and family, bring up children, schooling and employment and should reach every aspect of life, not just be about quick fix media campaigns.
There is clearly more attention paid in the media to feminist issues, including more on gender-related and sexual violence as well as child sexual abuse. But the solutions to these issues remain as stale and rigidly opposed as in the past. There is tremendous media misrepresentation, even in the quality and liberal press. For example, whilst Caroline Criado Perez is a tremendously brave and important campaigner, the attention to her new book in yesterday's Observer makes it seem as if feminists were incredibly rare and unusual 10 or 20 years ago, when she was growing up.
Mainstream presents a very narrow view of feminism. "
I believe all sources of social media have increasingly sexualised their representation of women and female children in particular.

Social Issues

Public services and NHS have declined. I now have to wait a month to see a GP. We are seeing more homeless on the streets and food banks in every town. People on benefits or low wages are really suffering, whilst the rich get richer.
"Essentially, nothing has changed, the world is still at the mercy of economical decision making rather than humanitarian decision making.
We live in a world where men and women co-exist, we know this, I would not wish to enter into this system at all, I would not want to be part of it to represent women/equality.
I believe radical change and the separation of financial and humanitarian decision making is the key."
I think 5 does ring true in some aspects, but not most
media misrepresentation of the assumed perks of being a benefit claimant fuels stigma hatred
The enormous increase in jobs has benefited women, probably more than public spending cuts have hurt them - with the exception of the very old and those who care for them.
There appears to be a perception that equality has been achieved and is no longer an issue amongst women themselves.
The increasing rise of objectified images of women in all forms of mainstream media is an issue that really concerns me, for myself and also for young women coming of age in this environment.
Central Government abolished National Womens' commission and Central government's removal of legal aid to women seeking legal redress in respect of violent male/ex male partners. Central Government abolished female employees right to seek redress via Employment Tribunals and not having to pay for this fundamental right. Central Government's creation of so-called 'zero contracts' which effectively penalise women who don't want to be trapped in low paid temporary work with no provision for holiday pay or sickness pay."
More and more blatant sexism and much less challenge.
"It is not so much that I think that women's activism is less successful, but I think that central government policy has not taken account of issues which specifically affect women, and haven't been willing to listen to us.
Using the financial crisis as an excuse for austerity (to further neoliberal aims of a state serving mainly the rich and powerful) have hit women harder than men in all policy areas, as shown by the Womens Budget group (forgot to say im an active member).
Needs are grater due to drop in services from voluntary sector orgs going under, and job losses in the public sector predominately affecting womens in job loss and service loss.
Womens as carers have a breaking point burden now with reduced support in disability care falling back on women as the family system and also care of the elderly. "
With the Scottish referendum women were actively engaged and demonstrated how politicised they are. More people are sharing information, getting together, discussing issues, looking for facts and challenging the status quo. Groups and networks have continued and day to day conversations among friends have a political slant. Something that was very rarely part of day to day conversations is now very much part of a night out with the girls. My fb page is full of newsfeeds that inform and debate current issues. There has been a huge education, and much of it has rejected mainstream media.
I'm optimistic for the future in Scotland - the work of Women for Independence has done and continues to engage women in politics in a way they haven't engaged before and of course we have in Nicola Sturgeon a First Minister who is actively promoting equality. I have no doubt that she will make others raise their game, as well as being a fantastic example for young people.
Resources available to women in poverty has been removed altogether due to coalition cuts, welfare cuts have directly impacted women who have been paying for the 'savings ' the coaliation have been bragging about. This is obvious as not one of the budgets produced by the coalialition in the past five years have under gone an equality impact assessment as demanded of the EU regulations.
Government has introduced immoral education systems. The new one for youngsters to be taught the PENIS.
Would you like your child to be corrupted through the nursery/school systems.

Mental Health means TRUTH speakers are targeted as being Mental.