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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Using women as human shields

82 replies

UglyCathKidstonBag · 25/07/2018 13:19

My workplace is having an interesting week. A woman on the day shift (who I only meet at handover) seems to be an ardent GC-er and is peak transing people left right and centre.

It seems yesterday she mentioned women being used as “human shields” which drew a few raised eyebrows and it couldn’t be discussed further due to a work situation.
We picked up some of the discussion on our shift, including demands for cis allies to create barriers at protests or events and even the fact that forcing spaces to become unisex uses women as a human shield.

I thought it would be useful to have a thread documenting when this happens because it is quite extraordinary to ask an adult human female to protect a trans woman from a adult human male.

If anyone has any links to articles/social media posts/threads about this specifically happening then please share them here as this seems to be a cause for concern for many outside or new to the debate.

OP posts:
WhereDoWeBeginToCovetClarice · 25/07/2018 13:56

Wasn't there calls for 'c*s' allies to chaperone trembling 'tfolk' in Bristol? The day of the masked stairwell incident?

Also I don't know if this is relevant to this thread - but this is an MRA tactic. Have you noticed that the pimps, punters, club owners that 'benefit' from the sex industry are without fail represented by women? Also they use disabled people as human shields too as representation for all the nasty punters.

Sarahconnor1 · 25/07/2018 13:55

It's a validation and a 'fuck you' at the same time

Exactly. If I recall in the incident where maria was assualted one of the female trans allies ended up getting a smack from her own side for trying to calm the situation down.

Sarahconnor1 · 25/07/2018 13:52

mobile.twitter.com/belum_cari/status/962115699740168192

This is the Twitter thread where the full leaflet can be found. Tara was also supported by sisters uncut who claim to be feminists who campaign around domestic violence (while supporting a perpetrator of VAWG).

FloralBunting · 25/07/2018 13:51

Be interesting to explore the psychology behind asking for specifically women to act as shields.
Obviously, asking men would be more obvious if they genuinely felt under physical threat. Specifying women is a political statement, isn't it?
It's a validation and a 'fuck you' at the same time, really. I suppose in debate terms, it's akin to the tediously predictable "Most feminists agree TWAW, so you must be wrong if you don't".
So yes, human shields in the sense that they are a protection, not against violence, but as a propaganda tool. Like a human flag. Not all that different to simply decorative.

UglyCathKidstonBag · 25/07/2018 13:41

Thank you both!
Yes, I have recollection of “cis woman” being asked to sort out online arguments. I must see if I can find links to the specific instances.

Sarah I hadn’t seen that, it is outrageous! Thank you.

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Sarahconnor1 · 25/07/2018 13:36

When Tara wolf was in court for assaulting Maria this was doing the rounds on social media and requests allies especially women attend to protect transfeminine (So biologically male) protesters.

Using women as human shields
BettyDuMonde · 25/07/2018 13:29

I’ve seen requests for it happen (calls to allies to protest outside women’s meetings) and virtually too - as in, Transwoman TRA makes inflammatory post, gets called out by GC fem or average man and then calls to followers to defend the inflammatory post, rather than back it up themselves.