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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Spartacus believes in biology.

457 replies

HairyBallTheorem · 16/04/2018 21:03

Transwomen are biologically male. They are born biologically male and they remain biologically male.

I accept that it must be very hard to suffer from gender dysphoria. I wish transwomen well. I support their right not to be discriminated against in housing, employment and in life in general.

But biology matters. It is biology which means that women in Ireland and across South America and in many other parts of the world are the ones who get pregnant and are then forced to give birth against their will by political systems that deny them the right to abortion. It is biology which enables people in cultures which practice FGM to recognise which babies are female and thus decide which ones' genitals need slicing off with rusty razor blades. It is biology which dictates which foetuses are aborted simply for being female, which infants are allowed to die simply for being female. It is biology which means we are, on average, smaller and less physically strong than men and thus at higher risk of domestic violence up to and including murder (2 a week in this country, into the hundreds in Russia which has recently legalised domestic violence).

I am not prepared to lie about biology. Facts matter. The intersection of facts and political beliefs matters.

This is a hill on which I'm prepared to be banned from Mumsnet.

OP posts:
TotallyLibrarianPoo · 16/04/2018 22:41

I believe transpeople should have their equal rights like everyone else.
I also believe women's rights and biology not only matter, but are vital.
(Helloooo TRSs, understanding the differences between female and male biology is important for men's health too)

Rights and biology can exist at the same time FFS, so why are we having to deny truth. So yup point me to the damn hill.

I am Spartacus.

GColdtimer · 16/04/2018 22:40

What? But Justine has just been on national media talking about this and saying MN will not be dictated to. WTF?

I am Spartacus.

BahHumbygge · 16/04/2018 22:38

Still spartacus. Biology matters. Sex is immutable. A man can never become a woman. Penis is never female. Gender is an oppressive hierarchy, I will never yield to being classified by gender or cis.

Vaginaperson · 16/04/2018 22:37

I’m Spartacus. I will not deny reality.

Mildlyattractivebetty · 16/04/2018 22:29

WTF, not again?

I am Spartacus
I wish transwomen and transmen well
I believe in biology and being able to name my sex based oppression by radically being born a female.

elpth · 16/04/2018 22:29

I am Spartacus. Transwomen are male.

Comedyusername · 16/04/2018 22:29

I gave up biology GCSE but I know what a woman is. I'm Spartacus!

Bowednotbroken · 16/04/2018 22:29

'Believing' in biology smacks of 'believing' in gravity - it just is there whether someone chooses to 'believe' in it or not. So yes, I'm Spartacus too - just like I was last time. Sex, not gender, is what is important and we need to be able to talk about sex - that is: women, and men! I believe in everyone's right to express their personalities however they wish - and do not wish harm (nor am I afraid) of people who wish to be identified with the opposite sex. What about a third pronoun as well as a third space? She / he / per (as in Marge Piercy's Woman on the Edge of Time)?

PencilsInSpace · 16/04/2018 22:28

Still spartacus.

Transwomen are male.

Sex is a protected characteristic.

Sex is why we are oppressed, gender is how.

changeypants · 16/04/2018 22:28

I'm Spartacus. Happy to continue to use correct pronouns when it's appropriate to my relationship with that person. Would never want to hurt someone who's respectful towards me. This system works on trust though and cannot be compelled of me. I have the right to talk about sex whilst I am oppressed for my sexed body. Take away that right and you deny me the language to describe that oppression. We don't need a new word for this though, it's still just misogyny.

PangurBanB · 16/04/2018 22:26

I have been lurking for about a year, but it's time to speak up. I have a Ph.D. in biology and I am Spartacus. I will never agree that a man is a woman or a male a female. Feelings are not facts.

TinselAngel · 16/04/2018 22:25

It was Spartacus that brought me to Mumsnet and Spartacus I remain.

ApplesinmyPocket · 16/04/2018 22:19

Men can never be women. I won't validate delusions with even kindly meant, complicit lies. Sex matters. Biology is real. As Spartacus as ever.

EmpressOfJurisfiction · 16/04/2018 22:17

I am Spartacus & biology matters.

RandyBudgie · 16/04/2018 22:14

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corlan · 16/04/2018 22:14

I am Spartacus.

I got a 'B' in GCSE Biology (Second time round) and I know that you cannot change your biological sex.

I will not pretend otherwise.

Trenzalor · 16/04/2018 22:14

I am Spartacus.

dorade · 16/04/2018 22:11

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OvaHere · 16/04/2018 22:10

This is a bit like Ricky Gervais's point about Bruce Jenner. Are we supposed to pretend he didn't exist, didn't win the male only decathlon or appeared on everyones cereal boxes?

I suppose this will earn a deletion for misgendering and dead naming.

Strigiformes · 16/04/2018 22:10

I am Spartacus. This is all getting ridiculous now.

Muthafunker · 16/04/2018 22:10

I am spartacus. Let's hope it's a bloody big hill, it'll need to be to fit is all on!

AngryAttackKittens · 16/04/2018 22:09

"This hill is crap. The tripadvisor reviews said it had a view. A view of what, the car park? 1/5, would not protest on again."

Ritzsaltedcrackers · 16/04/2018 22:07

I agree, don't let the TRAs find out where the hill is!

They'll bombard it with phone calls using different voices demanding our transphobic dying on it be cancelled and leave it 1 star reviews on Facebook. Then demonstrate beside it wearing masks and banging pots and pans.

SolidarityGdansk · 16/04/2018 22:07

I am Spartacus.

Transwomen are transwomen and are biologically male.

AngryAttackKittens · 16/04/2018 22:03

I'm Spartacus and I think I love Trousers.

“Don't mention where the hill is or it will be forced to cancel.”

I want to work with MNHQ on this, I really do, but not being allowed to call people male? Really? Biology isn't bigotry.