Handmaidens

I'm guessing it came from Margaret Atwood's novel? I wonder how she feels about to current useage.

It's interesting to hear what other posters mean by it. It's been used on me a few times here, so it's handy to know more about what I'm being labelled as. I got from the context that it wasn't intended as a compliment!

For the record, I'm not young, not in thrall to men or misogyny etc etc, not a prioritiser of men over women. And I've seen it used in here lots of times to posters who aren't being "downright nasty" but are challenging to posts by GC regulars.

I don't think it should be banned, but I have seen it used here as a pejorative to posters who don't conform to the prevailing GC views.

“And this whole conversation about which derogatory term we can best think of to discribe women whose views we don't like, is exactly why so many women agree with the idea of female equality but don't identitfy with feminists“

As I said, it’s not about “views we don’t like”. As I think this thread makes clear. But it’s obvious that you’re not interested in discussion, which is a shame.

Sorry Bertrand but my (and others) personal experience on MN says otherwise. It is very off-putting and distasteful. Extremely so.

And this whole conversation about which derogatory term we can best think of to discribe women whose views we don't like, is exactly why so many women agree with the idea of female equality but don't identitfy with feminists.

Unfortunately the handmaidens that I work with wouldn’t say they are feminists. They prioritise men because it works for them. Either that or they think it’s just the natural order of things. They don’t like other women who try to kick against that.

The natural order comes down to male violence and following on from that fear it leads to psychological male power and control over women and children. They either believe the women are to be a society resource or their own personal resource, many women are happy to be used by males.

Do they live in wee bubbles of life where that junk is believed

Very young teens buy into this yes, as do vulnerable young women.

Unfortunately the handmaidens that I work with wouldn’t say they are feminists. They prioritise men because it works for them. Either that or they think it’s just the natural order of things. They don’t like other women who try to kick against that.

Watched these videos Totally bizarre.
Does they really believe that bonkers stuff
Explaining women to women
Do they live in wee bubbles of life where that junk is believed
Gawd

No, it isn’t. It is used on Mumsnet and elsewhere to describe women who behave in “downright nasty” ways.

Many do accept some of these Aunts/handmaids are vulnerable which is partly why they are Aunts/handmaids.

People are allowed to be frustrated at women damaging other women, working for males, whilst pretending to be feminists. These people are frauds, to themselves and other women in the eyes of some.

Also handmaiden to my mind is not at all an age specific term.

I see it all the bloody time at work from all ages, prioritising male feelings and lauding male accomplishment (when it’s not achievement in any way unique to those males..). 🙄

“I think the term handmaiden is downright nasty and derogatory, and is used on MN all the time to posters who disagree with some feminists viewpoints.”

No, it isn’t. It is used on Mumsnet and elsewhere to describe women who behave in “downright nasty” ways.

I think the term handmaiden is downright nasty and derogatory, and is used on MN all the time to posters who disagree with some feminists viewpoints.

Interesting point about 'handmaiden' but they are. Probably not really their fault. But when you're a handmaiden, I guess it never is.

Handmaiden is a good ironic shorthand for women who happily prioritise the wishes of misogynists to the detriment of other women.

It’s a traditional descriptor of patriarchal approval for a woman performing some kind of limited, secondary, gendered role in a male-approved way. Often linked to caring, nurturing and humble servitude.

If you think ‘handmaiden’ shouldn’t be said because it’s a misogynistic term you are utterly missing the point and the irony. It is feminists subverting the use of a misogynist term. To critique internalised misogyny.

By the way lots of people on FWR slso express concern for the handmaidens of TRAs. Handmaidens think they are defending the rights of a noble cause in not valuing the difference between male and female but they put themselves at risk by doing it.

if they step out of line, Male bodied TRAs will intimidate them (or worse) in a shockingly unsisterly way.

I think some of that is caught on video at Speakers Corner where a handmaiden was calling for a TRA to stop some of the male violence on Maria (grandmother who was punched to the ground by this male bodied person). The handmaiden was squared up to for that.

I don't believe in hell. I do believe in an eternal nothing for certain people.

There’s a special place in hell for women who fuck over other women like this.

That the men they are colluding with and falling over themselves to defend actually fucking hate them.

Yes, some men do fucking hate them and enjoy watching an Aunt attack a woman.

Tell me more about Stella Creasy - you really think she gets it but colludes in any case? How could someone do that.

Yes, an Aunt.

I should also add that these Aunts do not see what we see. That the men they are colluding with and falling over themselves to defend actually fucking hate them.

I prefer to think of these clueless young women as Aunts. Like the Aunts in the handmaid’s tale. They are traitors to their own sex as far as I’m concerned.

Most of them are just daft, clueless and desperate for approval. But some, like MP Stella Creasy, do get it but are prepared to sell their fellow women down the river anyway. For virtue cookies.

There’s a special place in hell for women who fuck over other women like this.

Can I ask how this change of opinion usually comes about, do they say why they change their views?

From reading the T**F blogs that they are told to avoid. From listening to women and having what they say resonate. Same as the consciousness raising that happens here.

'Biological sex has only minor things to do with our body, because most of the ways it affects us are caused by hormones.'

If the young woman who wrote that ^ ever experiences childbirth, I suspect she may have a radical rethink!

@thebewilderness

'It would be unfair if I did not point out that many of these young women do see the error of their ways and apologize to the women they demonized in the past.'

Can I ask how this change of opinion usually comes about, do they say why they change their views?

Lol @ 'trans women do not experience uterus based sexism, but they do experience all the other kinds'

I have no patience left for these young women bashing Lesbians for saying no to sex with anyone who wants to fuck them. 2nd rule of misogyny: Women saying no to men is a hate crime
They have been at it on tumbler for years, and are partly responsible for there being so few Lesbians left in what used to be the LGBT community on college campuses.

It would be unfair if I did not point out that many of these young women do see the error of their ways and apologize to the women they demonized in the past.

The discussion in the comments is way way better than that actual first video!