History of Feminism
Related: About this forum"Stop complaining, Western women - you could be living in Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia!"
Am I the only one who finds this talking point utterly insulting and offensive? Not only does it denigrate Western women for "complaining" because they allegedly "have it so good" ( ), but the unstated assumption is that women in Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia (or other countries that are all lumped in under the same helpless, "backward", "Third World" banner) are, by definition, victims of their own culture - but not Western women, because Western society is oh so benevolent. Gross.
It's like those who tell poor people in America to shut up because they (supposedly) "have it so good" compared to poor people in other parts of the world. Apparently people should stop speaking out against privilege and inequality in America because somewhere in the world, someone else has it worse. Excuse me, but fuck. That.

SamKnause
(14,091 posts)Where did the quote come from ?
YoungDemCA
(5,714 posts)Sorry if I gave the impression otherwise.
SamKnause
(14,091 posts)It is as stupid as stating most people in the U.S. have
refrigerators.
Fox 'News' came out with some kind of report stating the poor
in the U.S. have it so good because they have refrigerators,
microwaves, and TVs.
The rich want us to be their unpaid slaves and live in mud huts.
(A Republican actually said he doesn't believe in retirement.
It is not mentioned in the Bible and Noah started building the ark
when he was 600.)
I am serious, a Republican actually said this.
eppur_se_muova
(38,531 posts)Can be applied to any argument.
JTFrog
(14,274 posts)My experiences reduced to "first world problems".
Don't want to relive all that, so I'll just say that it's incredibly painful to be so casually dismissed.
Phentex
(16,600 posts)It IS dismissive when someone says it because they think I can't distinguish the fact that some problems are more serious than others. Others have retorted that they are able to think about more than one thing at a time. Sometimes people online are just venting. They aren't implying that what they are talking about is more important than hunger or poverty or war. I find it to be a nasty response.
I had someone in real life say this to me and it wasn't even about me. It was about something I told her about. You feel like you can't say anything at all. Like excuse me for bothering you with this conversation.
I'm sorry this happened to you.
Starry Messenger
(32,376 posts)It just goes to show that they don't really pay attention to the problems that women have in this country.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)"Sit down and shut up- we'll think for you". If the right had there way, they would make this country just like Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia in relation to women.
Lilith Rising
(184 posts)Every woman everywhere has the right to speak up about her experiences. Period.
bullwinkle428
(20,649 posts)etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)Its an idiotically offensive attempt to minimize women's issues
AuntPatsy
(9,904 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)betsuni
(27,612 posts)Even when it's used like this:
A: "The humidity is the worst thing about summers here, it's terrible."
B: "Well, it's lucky you don't live in Bangkok -- that's humidity."
So what am I supposed to say? I feel stupid and the conversation ends there. What's the point? We shouldn't discuss anything because it's always worse somewhere else?
Also, accusations that because you are only talking about topic A right now you are a bad person who doesn't care about topics B, C, and D. Does everything we say need a preface listing all our opinions about everything in the world? Why do people like that accuse you of hating dogs because you say you love cats?
And I hate the "If you go looking for something to be offended about, you'll find it" thing. What the hell does that even mean?
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I find it beyond irritating.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)And if we don't sit down and shut up as told, what's next? Flogging? Stoning?
Unable to say 'No' to rape, kept barefoot and pregnant and forced marriage? No more education?
No job? No vote?
Not much being offered there but a veiled warning...
gollygee
(22,336 posts)Why should that be the standard to be measured against? We aren't likely to be victims of honor killings, so anything else is fair game? No.