how old are all the hard-core femminists here?

I'm 65 and I'm still a "feminist" - making compromises in relationships doesn't mean giving up one's beliefs. You have to live in the world you're in, while trying to get a better one. Simone de Beauvoir put up with a lot from Sartre, including agreeing to let him have the top award when they completed their degrees, even though she had the higher academic performance, and settling for the second one herself. I wonder if her title "The Second Sex" had anything to do with that experience!

It is a reality for me, not just a pack of ideals. I have had the notion of fair treatment before feminism was even a household word. I have never wavered from the basic "ideal" of equal opportunity. The only thing that will stop me from trying to do something would be limited physical capability. I have a small frame and some arthritis, so naturally my choices have some built in challenges.

I'm not married now, but my bf also believes in a women having the freedom to live a life that best suits her.

I'm 50 years young.

I'm 30. I got a job when I was 14 and one way or another I worked till I was 29. I moved out of my parents when I was 20, spent 6 years fighting my boyfriend's ex-wife to get visitation for his child and to stop her forcing him into bankruptcy and after that relationship ended, I have lived on my own for 4 years. I quit work last year to go to University soI can do something with my life. I'm not married, I don't have children and I won't have someone putting me down when they're in my home, whether it's a man or not. So yeah, I do kind of live feminism, why not? I think anyone would agree that if they have kids it isn't that simple but at the same time, why throw away your feminist ideals simply because you have grown up, had kids and got married? -)

I'm 31.

I am in a very long term relationship (over 10 years together), though not married (my choice). We don't have kids, and don't intend to have any. We both work, we split the bills and housework equally, and support each other both financially and emotionally whenever needed. My life is exactly the way I want it, which to me is the entire point of feminism... having the freedom to make your own choices and live your life the way you want.

Edit: I was in no way saying that you should want or have the kind of life that I do. If you want kids, then have them! =) Your choices don't have to match mine. As for dressing goth, that's a case of just having to prioritize. Obviously your career is more important than your appearance, so you put it first. Others might prioritize differently and choose to have a career as an artist, musician, or record store owner, and retain the ability to dress the way they want (and probably make a lot less money). Neither way is right, both are just different choices, which is what I am advocating here. I'm not saying people should get to have their cake and eat it too. You just have to decide what's most important to you.

That applies to your role as a wife and mother as well. If you're happy with the way things are, that's great. You don't need to change anything. However, if you're not happy, then I think you should figure out what things would improve your situation, and (if feasible) make the changes your happiness requires. This could be as simple as asking your husband to help with the housework, or cook every other night, or take turns driving your son to his soccer game. You shouldn't feel like you have to stay in a situation where you are the one who's always exhausted and miserable just because you're female. I see marriage as being about compromise. You have to give and take. If you are always doing the giving, or the taking, there is something wrong.

And, again - this only applies if you are, in fact, unhappy. If you like your life, then as far as I'm concerned you are doing everything right. =)

Edit 2: LOL! Look how many thumbs down I'm getting just for talking about my life and encouraging you to live yours however you want. Obviously your views aren't the only ones that get them - why even worry about it?

30 years old. Happily married no kids. We both work. I have two degrees, he has none, therefore I earn more than he does. We share the housework 50/50 though he does more traditionally "male" chores like yard work and taking out the garbage. I do more grocery shopping and cooking. I'm certainly more femininst now than when I was a teenager because I've lived to see a lot of inequality. I also dated an abuser and I think that's what made me more of a feminist.

22

Almost 25 Married and have child.

Life decisions, money, house work and child raising are all done 50/50 neither one of us has the finial say in things, we discuss them. Only place he dominates in the bedroom ;-)

.........gee isnt that just a healthy relationship.

Your worried about the feminist's age...and your worried about "thumbs"???????? They are just thumbs, they don't hurt you just means someone disagrees with your input. This section gives a LOT of up and down thumbs. Get over it.

As to your sex life, studies have shown people in "feminist relationships" (as defined by equal respect and equal "power" in the relationship) are more likely to have more sex and longer happier relationships. Your sex life issues arnt feminism fault. Also if you were able to just "drop it" on a whim, you were never much of a feminist anyway...sure you werent just an angry teen and used feminsim as your cover?

Im not a feminist but I am nineteen and I savour the distinctions between men and women. I think it is wonderful for a woman to work and be sucessful in her life but to always retain her innate biological nature. So many women have problems with coitus and deriving pleasure from men, I think it as they supress feminine aspects of themselves to be sucessful. I believe in equalism not feminism. I am not chirpy, idealistic or wearing rose coloured glasses.

I agree, at 16 I was a gung-ho feminist and liberal. As I mature, my positions on issues become much more nuanced. And that's what bothers me about feminism, there is no change allowed. No matter what new information is introduced, no matter what the facts say, you must bend the knee for mother feminism and all of her offal.

well, i don't know if i'm considered a 'hard-core' feminist, but i'm 28

it's feminist with one m by the way

my relationship is 50:50 equal with regards to work/housework, bills, planning for the future, etc. i don't date abusers.

so yes, it's all perfectly possible