Fay Weldon a Feminist? Don't make me laugh...

Why do I keep finding myself so surprised? The attitudes that some people have in society towards the women and men divide continues to annoy me. Jan Moir has an interesting article in the Daily Mail today, which has some points I agree with, but mainly ones I disagree with.

The first part of her article that addresses the comments that often surround Anne Robinson is something I disagree with. She says that women who believe that Anne Robinson's cosmetic surgery is unnecessary are jealous, and makes out that it is a requirement for being a presenter in a modern day media world. This is the type of attitude that needs to be changed. It shouldn't be the case that Robinson only feels comfortable when she looks'younger'. It is fake and does little to bolster the attempts to tackle ageism and pressures around how women look.

However, her highlighting how Duncan Bannatyne never has any snide remarks about his appearance despite his cosmetic surgery, actually illustrates an important point. Women can't win. They can leave themselves how they are. Face the criticism for not fitting the male defined 'ideal image' of what a women should be. Or they could have cosmetic surgery. Fulfil what men want. But then still face criticism. But I really think this is an age specific practice. As models who have breast implants, for example, don't exactly face criticism from the males like Robinson does. I mean, our own Lembit Opic, who I despise, writes in a sickening porn 'newspaper'.

The part of the article that I do agree with however, is the damning of so called Feminist Fay Weldon. Advocating women to not speak about their feelings to men, and basically put up and shut up, Fay believes equality can be formed. Her comments on rape are to be remembered as thoughtless, and sums up her overall supposed Feminist views. How about faking orgasms and not batting an eye lid at your partners porn obsession? All part of her 'amazing' Feminist plan for equality. Absolutely rubbish if you ask me. Masturbating over other women, whilst in a relationship, even if they are not known in person, to me, is a little insensitive. Especially, if those women make real women feel as though they have to change how they look to keep their relationships alive. I totally disagree with almost everything Fay Weldon says.

Rightly, Moir claims that Weldon's comments are a disgrace to those suffragettes who chained themselves to the railings of Downing Street to fight back against the dominance and unequal control men have in society. Fay's comments start to undo this, and start to give air to the Feminist bashing males' such as 'Angry Harry', who I wrote a response to yesterday.

Again, Moir and I face disagreement when she claims:

"It just seems sensible to accept that domestic life runs smoother when there is a clear division of labour."

So what is 'clear' then? Yes, if women want to stay at home and men want to go to work, well yes, I fully support that. But, if women want to go to work as do the men, but women have to stay at home because of the societal attitudes and stigmatisation towards women who go to work with young children, which happened to Sarah Palin, then I disagree. What she fails to understand is that the battle for a 'clear' division of labour is far from attained. We need policies such as a comprehsensive childcare policy, better pay, reforms around paternity and maternity leave so that it provides more scope for equal childcare activities.

Some very interesting points were brought out in the article. Whilst I do agree with her criticism of the so called Feminist, Fay Weldon, on reflection, there is quite a lot of her article I disagree with. Fay Weldon is wrong to call herself a Feminist in my eyes. A Feminist who supports the status quo? News to me.