Thank you thread for those standing up for women

[ArcheryAnnie]

I just wanted to start to say thank you to some of those who have given me the courage to begin to speak out, too. The calmness and persistence in the face of absolute hate and vileness is really something. (And it must become very tiring to know that when you google your own name, the search box will autofill "...should die in a fire", so I wanted to add something psoitive to the mix!)

There's lots here on mumsnet that I am grateful to, but I will start with people I got to know elsewhere first.

Linda Bellos. I have only seen her name recently on this issue, but she's been inspiring me since I was a teenage radical, so very long ago. I can't tell you how happy I am that she is here and still fighting. Linda, thank you.

Glosswitch. She was one of the first they went for. She's brilliant and brave and funny and I am so glad she's writing. Glossy, thank you.

Sarah Ditum. Also funny and brilliant and calm and persistent. If you haven't signed up for her tinyletter, I suggest you do so immediately! Sarah, thank you.

Claire Heuchan. Fantastic, thoughtful, insightful writer. Also introduced me to the fact that the Glasgow Women's Library exists! Claire, thank you.

Miranda Yardley. Calm, devastating, and unbelievably persistent. Currently filleting Peter Tatchell on twitter. Miranda, thank you.

There's plenty more, and I'll add them later, bit by bit, but I wanted to get a start. I have begun threads to express my disappointment and anger at those that have drunk the kool-aid, so I thought I'd come here and express my joy and gratitude to those that are standing up for women. I hope this can become a long list!

And anyone's non-appearance on it doesn't mean they aren't wonderful or their work isn't appreciated, it just means they aren't known to me. This isn't a list of any in-crowd, and shouldn't be read as such. We're all doing what we can!

[AdalindSchade]

Janice Turner in the Times - thank you for reporting our valid concerns

Stephanie Davies-Arai - thank you for fighting the corner for children's rights

[norahnamechange]

Seconded for Janice Turner - she started reporting this which has resulted in all the press finally opening up the issue for public awareness.

And a resounding yes for Stephanie Davies- Arai who has been fighting the corner for children for a long time. TransgenderTrend.com is a beacon of hope for desperate parents, teachers and anyone with concerns about children.

A huge thank you to all of those named on this thread as well as to anyone who summons up their courage and has a conversation, writes a post, makes a donation or just takes the trouble to listen and think about this.

[AdalindSchade]

Magdalen Berns - for being brave and putting herself out there despite drawing shit loads of criticism within her university. She's put up with harassment online and real life to speak out.

[BertrandRussell]

Can I add Germaine Greer? I know she's not to everyone's taste, but you can't have a finer example of an older woman with no shits to give.......

[AdalindSchade]

Oh yes germaine Greer is a shero

[ferntwist]

Second you on Germaine Greer! She was the canary in the mine, alerting us to this trans chauvinism years ago. I wish I'd listened then.

And can I add Julie Bindel, Dr Heather Brunskell Evans, sold out by the Women's Equality Party, and Lindsay Shepherd, the brave lecturer from Wilfred Laurier University in Canada who dared to question the dominant ideology on pronouns.

[ferntwist]

Catherine Bennett from the Guardian, who stood up to her colleague Owen Jones last week.

[ferntwist]

Helen Steel, McLibel defendant, for standing up to a baying mob at the Anarchist Book Fair.

Olivia Palmer, Green Party activist, for handing out leaflets on the Gender Recognition Act and its impact on women at the Anarchist Book Fair.

[QuentinSummers]

Lily and Jessie Maynard for talking about what happens when a parent says "no" to tgeir child transitioning, as a counterpoint to the "better a live son than a dead daughter" narrative

[WTAFisthisshit]

I'd like to thank all the woman on mumsnet and elsewhere who were aware of these issues and standing up to them while I was knee deep in nappies and oblivious to these issues. I'd like to thank all the woman on mumsnet who have given me the language and theories to be able to discuss these issues with my daughters now they're all at secondary/6th/uni and being indoctrinated by this ideology (they're not buying it). I'd like to thank all the woman at FairPlay, woman's place, etc who are actually doing something about this while I'm not brave/intelligent/educated enough to do anything beyond the odd email. Basically I'd like to thank any woman ever who refused to bow to misygony and stood up for the rights of woman and children

[UrsulaPandress]

What a lovely thread.

Can we mention the woman who was on tv the other morning?

[ferntwist]

Nicola Williams from Fair Play For Women, who has done research on the huge proportion of trans-identified male prisoners who are serious sex offenders or dangerous prisoners. She was on GMB getting shouted at by India Willoughby

[UrsulaPandress]

That's who I meant.

[DontBuyANewMumCashmere]

Thank you so much for this thread. I recognise all the names but it has spurred me on to follow them all on twitter and I have read some really interesting articles actually am stuck down 4thWaveNow rabbit hole

Thank you to MN (purely for allowing these threads and a safe space to discuss it) and many of the posters on the feminism threads for opening my eyes.

As pp says, you've given me the language to be confident to challenge this and I had an interesting convo with DH last night (who agrees, although was playing devil's advocate a little).

[Backingvocals]

Datun! Takes so much time on these threads - is always calm and thoughtful and has taught me a lot.

[norahnamechange]

A resounding yes to all of these!
Those behind 4thwavenow which is another website offering support to desperate parents and teenagers.
Dame Jenni Murray who was threatened and then silenced by the BBC after her interview with India Willoughby.

[ferntwist]

Datun is a legend.

[OpalIridescence]

Glad Datun has had a mention, responsible for planting questions, and the language to frame them, in many minds on here.

[malaguena]

I rarely post on here (because after Datun has posted, well, there is nothing to add) but I also want to say thank you to all the women on here and in RL for protecting women's rights. I have learnt so much in the last year since I have started lurking around this board, and I am so grateful to you all brilliant articulate women. I am genuinely proud of you! I read the news and I am horrified on the daily basis at the crap that is going on, and then I come on here to restore my sanity. Special mention for Fair Play for Women. Thank you to Mumsnet for keeping this platform free and women-orientated.

[ferntwist]

Massive thanks to Mumsnet for allowing us to talk and share.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I will add my thanks too.

To MN in particular datun who has managed to open my eyes to something I'd never have thought that much about and help me see that this goes beyond a few individuals who would mean no harm to any one and see the big picture.

It has forced me to really think about things. So thank you

And to all those others who have been mentiomed.

[Stopmakingsense]

Adding my heartfelt thanks too - all of the above
Gender Critical Dad - and the others running the Gendercritical resources support board for parents, very honest and heartfelt blogs.

[W8what]

I add my thanks to all those women mentioned. Mumsnet, Janice Turner, Miranda Yardley (special place in my heart for Miranda, devastating is the word) and too many more to mention.

[whitehandledkitchenknife]

Another thank you to Datun, who responded to my very first post when I was questioning my own sanity about what I was reading. Always clear and calm. So patient and dogged.