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Fawcett Commission on Gender Stereotypes in Early Childhood: let MNHQ know what you think

182 replies

RowanMumsnet · 15/05/2019 11:29

Hello

As some of you have spotted, our founder Justine is one of the commissioners for the recently announced Fawcett Commission on Gender Stereotypes in Early Childhood.

We at MNHQ are pleased to be on the panel: over the years Mumsnet users have spoken a lot about how gender stereotypes affect children (and indeed adults), leading to independent campaigns such as Let Toys Be Toys and Mumsnet campaigns such as Let Girls Be Girls. This feels like an opportunity to dig deeper into the issues and hopefully contribute to some policy recommendations that will change the way we (as a society) approach gender expectations for children.

For more info on the Commission from Fawcett's Chief Exec Sam Smethers (including her thoughts on why the commission is concentrating on gender rather than sex) take a look at her recent guest post and discussion.

In advance of the Commission's first meeting, we'd love to have your thoughts on the following:

this outline of 'Eight Things You Need to Know About Sex, Gender, Brains, and Behavior' (co-authored by Prof Gina Rippon who will be presenting to the panel);

the Commission's literature review; and

the Commission's call for evidence.

Look forward to hearing what you think - the meeting is on Tuesday 21 May, so please let us have your thoughts before then.

Thanks
MNHQ

OP posts:
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EmpressLesbianInChair · 15/05/2019 14:16

Rowan, I think the problem is that for a lot of us the Fawcett Society lost their credibility when they professed belief in gender identity over sex.

It’s like what happened to the Women’s Equality Party after they supported Tara Hudson’s move to a female prison.

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Redshoeblueshoe · 15/05/2019 14:32

I agree Empress

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Daughterofmabel · 15/05/2019 14:49

As do I. Filled in survey though

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FloralBunting · 15/05/2019 14:49

Yeah, I lost pretty much all fellow feeling with the Fawcett Society, which was already threadbare after that 'nuanced' Q&A document about Self ID, when they actually repeated in that linked webchat the disgusting AWA talking point that it's important to address fair representation of all women and uses women of colour, lesbians and bisexual women as 'categories' of women in the same way as 'trans'. If I see one more comparison of trans 'feminine' people as comparable in any meaningful way with black women, I think I might explode with uncheckable rage.

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WizbetisaNizbet · 15/05/2019 14:58

Absolutely agree with Empress. I've lost faith in the Fawcett society.

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Ineedacupofteadesperately · 15/05/2019 15:00

Yes, agree with Floral and Empress.

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JellySlice · 15/05/2019 15:19

Adult Human Female laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things." "I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the Fawcett Society . "Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

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ohfuckoffalready · 15/05/2019 16:23

Grin Jelly

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LangCleg · 15/05/2019 16:24

I will fill out the survey as soon as I get time.

Afraid I agree with the others, however: Fawcett Society is a triumph of style over substance and the days when they had potential to achieve anything positive for women are long gone. They'll need root and branch reform before I'm interested in anything they do or say.

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onalongsabbatical · 15/05/2019 16:28
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EmpressLesbianInChair · 15/05/2019 16:29

If I see one more comparison of trans 'feminine' people as comparable in any meaningful way with black women, I think I might explode with uncheckable rage.

Yes. I imagine Lesley Woodburn, Clare Heuchan & many other black GC women feel the same way. It's blatant racism.

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YogaDrone · 15/05/2019 16:40

I have no respect for the Fawcett Society I'm afraid. I genuinely don't understand how a pressure group can say they are fighting for sexual equality and for women when they can't even define "woman" in any meaningful way that doesn't involve the gender stereotypes they profess to be fighting against! They are down a rabbit hole of their own creation.

I absolutely agree with FloralBunting upthread:

"FloralBunting Wed 15-May-19 14:49:37
Yeah, I lost pretty much all fellow feeling with the Fawcett Society, which was already threadbare after that 'nuanced' Q&A document about Self ID, when they actually repeated in that linked webchat the disgusting AWA talking point that it's important to address fair representation of all women and uses women of colour, lesbians and bisexual women as 'categories' of women in the same way as 'trans'. If I see one more comparison of trans 'feminine' people as comparable in any meaningful way with black women, I think I might explode with uncheckable rage."

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littlbrowndog · 15/05/2019 16:42

Yeah they need to say what a woman is and that’s not anybody that thinks they are one

Adult human female

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EmpressLesbianInChair · 15/05/2019 16:50

lesbians and bisexual women as 'categories' of women in the same way as 'trans'

And yesssss, that too. The implication here is that white straight able-bodied women are the default & that it's as normal for a woman to have a penis as is it is for a woman to be black, disabled or same-sex attracted.

I object to that.

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sackrifice · 15/05/2019 18:30

If the Fawcett Society are 'concentrating on gender not sex', doesn't that basically mean this is a study of Stereotypes Stereotypes?
What does that even mean?
What is the point?

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Dljlr · 15/05/2019 18:49

Until they demonstrate they know what a woman is, and what a woman isn't, I've no interest in engaging with them. Their radio silence whenever the fact this campaign utterly contradicts their stance on 'gender' is pointed out to them on Twitter doesn't inspire me to believe they give a solitary shit what women think or want; they'd rather pander to a minority cohort of blokes in frocks.

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JessicaWakefieldSV · 15/05/2019 18:57

I concur with the others here, I have literally zero faith in the fawcett society.

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HermioneWeasley · 15/05/2019 19:45

Agree, they lost all credibility and any right to comment on this when they signed up to “lady brain” and your interests determining your sex, not your biology.

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FiremanKing · 15/05/2019 20:03

Done but I expect my answers to be thrown in the bin.

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EmpressLesbianInChair · 15/05/2019 21:36

I would be interested to know what the Fawcett Society think about the lesbians who protested at Pride & Stonewall. Would they be holding the banners or calling the police?

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ThinkWittyThoughts · 16/05/2019 07:28

Well I have submitted some answers, but like a PP I suspect they will end up in the bin.

Those demographic questions made the bile rise. Apparently now we can chose to identify as disabled but our ages are fixed (that German man will be disappointed). Interesting. It somehow feels both disablist and ageist.

Hmm

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DrG · 16/05/2019 07:33

The Fawcett society need to get back to their roots as advocates of women and girls.

Sex stereotypes remain determinant in the majority of socio-economic groups in the U.K. , the exception is amongst the left leaning urban middle class. The rest of us are frequently coerced to act and think within the confines of sex-based stereotype.

It isnt too surprising that it is the urban left leaning middle class that has embraced self id as an exciting new development (they are free to). It is from their position of extreme privilege that they see no issue in elevating men’s rights to be whoever they want and to enter any space they want irrespective of women and children’s needs for safeguarding against them.

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ohfuckoffalready · 16/05/2019 07:58

Yy, our age and ethnicity are fixed. We can all say we're disabled men though, no problems there. 🙄

Either demographic data is important or it isn't.

Why was disabled even on there? How does that category frame responses?

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BuzzShitbagBobbly · 16/05/2019 08:16

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

BuzzShitbagBobbly · 16/05/2019 08:18

ohfuckoffalready Yy, our age and ethnicity are fixed

Not any more. I got to Q3 of a survey the other day which asked me what ethnicity I "self-identified" as.

Regretting not screenshotting and shaming now.

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