You Do You.

I want to start off by saying this post is not in reference to anybody or anything in particular; it's more of a look at the general attitudes of some women these days. It seems, to me anyway, that being a feminist means YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT OTHER WOMEN'S IDEAS, CHOICES AND MOVEMENTS NO MATTER WHAT.

Personally, I think that's downright dangerous. If a woman has a great idea, you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be the first to share it, praise her, be her cheerleader. But similarly, if a woman has an idea that I think is offensive, distasteful, problematic - I'll call her out. And that's not me bashing other women, that's me telling a person, another human being regardless of their gender, that their idea stinks a bit - that they might want to reword things, or take a few days then look at it afresh.

There have been plenty of women throughout the years who have done terrible things that a lot of people have disagreed with: Margaret Thatcher, Rose West and so many more. Should we, as women, have agreed with their ideas and their actions just because they're female? Of course not. If you do/did agree with them, then cool, you do you. But the majority thought and still think that those women were dangerous/wrong/cruel and a million other things. When I see people telling me I should agree with and support other women always, simply because they're female, I wonder how different things would have turned out if Maggie T had had the support of EVERY SINGLE WOMAN, due to her also being a woman.

I know, they're extreme examples. But when it comes down to it, supporting another woman just because they're a woman is unhealthy and unrealistic - women have bad ideas sometimes, and that's fine. You've got to point out these bad ideas to help each other grow, and learn, and that's not a bad thing. I'd never in a million years suggest that you be rude to somebody about their idea/blog post/comment/job or whatever else YOU think is a load of rubbish. But in the same breath, don't be rude to somebody who does publicly disagree with another woman's idea (etc etc) - maybe ask them why they disagree, why they think it's a crap idea, why they couldn't have kept this to themselves or between them and the idea-maker.

Does any of this make sense? Probably not; but you don't have to support every single idea of every single woman in order to be a feminist. Plenty of women are still, without knowing, perpetuating misogyny and homophobia - we need to help each other grow, and be better people: but that's not always achieved by championing an idea you don't believe in, just because it came from a woman.

Want to see a family-party OOTD? 'course you do