Vice: how an online forum for moms became a toxic hotbed of transphobia

[NotTerfNorCis]

broadly.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/a3mn9k/mumsnet-uk-mom-forum-terf-transphobia-feminism

Thought people might be interested in this article. One thing that strikes me is the 'reducing women to their biology' argument. Don't transwomen 'know' they're not male because their body feels wrong? Then it is about biology isn't it? Otherwise why do they think they're female?

[JustABetterPlayer]

“90 percent discussions about trans people on any given day”

You can’t really argue with that bit 😄

[Squall]

I understand the biology argument is ‘wrong’ when it is made by women who accept their own bodies, but is ‘right’ when used by transgender people.

[sackrifice]

“It’s a core group of a few hundred hardcore trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs), a tiny percentage of overall users,” says Christine, the mother of a trans child and also part of the network that regularly monitors Mumsnet. (Christine’s name has been changed for privacy reasons.) “Yet the Feminism board is just 90 percent discussions about trans people on any given day.”

Weird how 'Christine' wants anonymity but is part of the network that monitors what we are saying.

All the better to DOXX us, eh?

[LangCleg]

Hello Joss, how are you this lovely Thursday?!

[AssassinatedBeauty]

Oh yawn.

Makes me chuckle though how het up people can get about the idea that a bunch of "moms" might talk amongst themselves.

[Riotingbananas]

part of the network that regularly monitors Mumsnet

I really dont like that. Very creepy.

Hello 'Christine' waves

[sackrifice]

I know, talking without permission from the men, and some of us not even mums!

What the fuck?

[morningtoncrescent62]

I've never come across any "I am Spartacus" references on this board. Too late to the party, story of my life.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

I wish it was a hotbed - I'm fucking freezing

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Also, I'm sure I've read that before today.

[morningtoncrescent62]

I know, talking without permission from the men, and some of us not even mums!

We should stick to discussing nappies and dealing with temper tantrums (the kind thrown by 2-year-olds, not 20-something transwomen).

[Dothehappydance]

If Mumsnet is just 'an echo chamber' and 'a minority' why do they feel the need to be part of a network that regularly monitors Mumsnet? Seems a strange use of time.

[Anlaf]

Dearie me! Bad ladies straying from naice subjects like sexy time and nappies.

Sarah Pedersen, professor of communications and media at Robert Gordon University, has carried out extensive research into Mumsnet

My OH would be like aye right if I claimed this. Sarah sounds decent sort - wonder what she's found?

More likely to be politically radicalised by hanging out with other women and realising what a shitshow everything is

[ZuttZeVootEeeVro]

“It’s a core group of a few hundred hardcore trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs), a tiny percentage of overall users,” says Christine

How does 'Christine' know this? How is 'Christine' counting?

It's odd at a tiny percentage is making up 90% of the content. Maybe 'Christine' should analyse that phenomenon.

[HumourlessFeminist]

"It’s a core group of a few hundred hardcore trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs), a tiny percentage of overall users,”

I just don't think that's true. I'd love to see some data from MN re which route people come to MN from, which boards they spend the most time on etc. Has anyone any seen this or similar data?

[Sarahconnor1]

also part of the network that regularly monitors Mumsnet

At first I thought creepy, but then it made me laugh. It's an open forum, so for 'monitoring' read 'having a browse'

[HexagonalBattenburg]

Oooh a toxic hotbed - that sounds so much more fun than a double divan (a fucking broken double divan because a large bed retailer sucks)

[terryleather]

Hi Christine, are you keeping your Big Brother eye on Kiwi Farms, Data Lounge and Piston Heads too...?

[sackrifice]

Where is that thread about which board users regularly use?

Where is the thread on the stats about the 12 fold increase in people coming to FWR?

If there are just a few hundred people in an echo chamber, they wouldn't really need monitoring would they? Surely that negates their own argument?

Not that negating their own argument isn't pretty much a daily occurrence for them, as they have no argument

[NotTerfNorCis]

Not once in that whole article is there any consideration that gender critical feminists might have one or two good points. It just accuses of us hate speech and slyly links us to a murderer who used Gab. A more balanced article would have looked at GC ideas even if it disagreed with them.

[GrinitchSpinach]

I lol'd at the menacing wedding ring on the hand of the woman in the illustration. Also at the very grave accusation that Mumsnet users are largely white and middle class---quite unlike prominent transactivists, right? SO many working class POC represented amongst their most vocal ranks!

[sackrifice]

At first I thought creepy, but then it made me laugh. It's an open forum, so for 'monitoring' read 'having a browse'

I suspect they have secret groups all with charts and clipboards; that's how they choose which person gets the 'treatment'.

[Milfromhades]

Interesting she keeps focusing on posters being white, which has nothing to do with gender.

[Sarahconnor1]

I suspect they have secret groups all with charts and clipboards

There is a drawing in that, we need Sandy.

[HestiaParthenos]

Makes me chuckle though how het up people can get about the idea that a bunch of "moms" might talk amongst themselves.

"The sight of women talking together has always made men uneasy; nowadays it means rank subversion."

Germaine Greer