Hello! Are you new? I am still pretty new, myself. Mumsnet can be hard to navigate.
Here are some commonly asked questions I’ve seen asked on the feminist board, with links to threads. Please have a look at these, as many of the regular posters will have likely covered your question in-depth before. I am hoping they don't mind me creating another basic FAQ, that can hopefully be added-to. Remember that this board is not a monolith (even though it might appear to be such), although the majority of posters do seem to have a clearly gender-critical slant, where feminism is centered around biological females. Centering females is also known as radical feminism - because the radical part refers to going back to the "root" of female oppression (which in such feminist theory is the female body).
These FAQs will be heavily related to the "transgender debate" because that is a hot topic right now.
What is the definition of "trans" that is typically used in this forum?
It is Stonewall's:
An umbrella term to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.
Trans people may describe themselves using one or more of a wide variety of terms, including (but not limited to) transgender, transsexual, gender-queer (GQ), gender-fluid, non-binary, gender-variant, crossdresser, genderless, agender, nongender, third gender, two-spirit, bi-gender, trans man, trans woman,trans masculine, trans feminine and neutrois.
www.stonewall.org.uk/help-advice/glossary-terms#t
You will notice that it does not specify only individuals who have gender dysphoria (discomfort with their own body/sex), but includes cross-dressers and those whose feelings are fluid. This is different from the classical term "transsexual," which refers to people with a medical condition named "gender dysphoria," which can only be alleviated by permanently inhabiting the social role of the opposite sex and potentially undergoing medication and surgery in order to achieve this. So the current trans umbrella has been significantly widened and now includes people who have no discomfort with their bodies but simply "identify as" another gender.
It is worth remembering that the definition of "transitioning" now is also very loose. Stonewall defines it like this:
The steps a trans person may take to live in the gender with which they identify. Each person’s transition will involve different things. For some this involves medical intervention, such as hormone therapy and surgeries, but not all trans people want or are able to have this. Transitioning also might involve things such as telling friends and family, dressing differently and changing official documents.
So there is no set definition for transitioning. This could be as simple as wearing a different set of clothes, changing one's name or pronoun.
Under these definitions, the following people are to be considered fully women, just like any female:
Danielle Muscato:
www.daniellemuscato.com/
Ibi-Pippi Hedegaard:
Alex Drummond (who identifies as Lesbian and is on the Trans advisory panel of Stonewall):
www.stonewall.org.uk/trans-advisory-group
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3275432-Why-does-Stonewalls-definition-of-Transgender-trump-all-others-and-does-it-really
Material that serves a useful place to start to understand the gender-critical feminist perspective:
Rebecca Reilly-Cooper
sexandgenderintro.com/
Kathleen Stock
medium.com/@kathleenstock
Magdalen Berns
www.youtube.com/channel/UCvTTakI97sQ4SkMnsH8r0qQ
SAGES Fact-sheet
sages.org.uk/publications/sages-factsheet.html
What is up with the “transgender debate,” why are feminists protesting?
START HERE: “Break it down for me” is a very good introduction (best I have seen) with plenty of links to other beginner’s resources
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3145470-Break-it-down-for-me
A short and snappy summary by Datun
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3175666-Want-to-know-why-women-are-livid-trans-thread?pg=1
“A Beginners guide to the transgender debate” is EXCELLENT, with signposting to a whole bunch of relevant material covering specific subjects (I have basically shamelessly ripped off that post - sorry DJ)
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3246322-A-Beginners-Guide-to-the-Transgender-Debate-A-Signpost-to-Useful-Mumsnet-Threads?pg=1
What are some female-rights organisations that are looking into this issue?
fairplayforwomen.com/
womansplaceuk.org/
manfridayuk.org/
“Trans women are women”? Why is self-ID into the category “woman” so troublesome for some feminists?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3122473--Transwomen-are-women
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3170708-If-youre-pro-Self-ID-for-trans-people-please-could-you-explain-it-to-me?pg=1
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3297719-self-ID-sinnlos
Why do women care about the definition of woman?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3296831-Can-we-talk-about-the-mental-impact-of-being-told-the-definition-of-woman-is-changing
People with cervixes – why are women protesting against dropping the word “woman” to refer to female anatomy in public health?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3277806-Cancer-Research-anyone-with-a-cervix
What’s the issue with “cis”?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3323848-Could-we-reclaim-cis
Why is “TERF” considered a slur?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3330245-Abuse-of-GC-women-on-twitter-be-warned-graphic-disturbing
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3330285-Woke-guy-that-did-that-terfs-are-trash-song-accused-of-sex-crimes
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3040706-TERF-isnt-just-a-slur-its-hate-speech
terfisaslur.com/
The “science of gender identity”?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3331998-The-science-of-transgender-gender-identity?pg=1
A discussion on misgendering:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3334275-Misgendering
Why is the argument “trans women are women, just like black women” considered to be so offensive?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3326391-Why-do-TRAs-keep-using-black-women-when-defending-TWAW
“Don’t most feminists support trans people?”
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3327679-vast-majority-of-feminists-trans
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3327466-People-apparently-support-trans?pg=1&messages=25
What about intersex?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3305291-Trans-activsims-appropriation-of-intersex
Why the fixation on toilets?
A perennial favourite. This subject has been discussed multiple times.
Here are some relevant threads:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3330297-Museum-of-London-why-female-only-toilets-were-so-important
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3322488-GRC-and-Toilets?pg=1
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3329936-teen-films-girl-in-toilet
What about women’s prisons?
Fair Play for Women: fairplayforwomen.com/prisons/
Recent threads:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3334473-BBC-reality-check-on-trans-prisoners
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3309758-This-never-happens-male-offenders-in-female-prisons
What about women’s shelters?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3158576-Women-s-Aid-considers-employing-self-declared-transwomen-i-e-men-in-womens-shelters
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3325247-Stonewall-report-into-domestic-and-violent-services
What about transgender children?
The first port of call should be:
gids.nhs.uk/
A gender-critical parent view is represented by:
www.transgendertrend.com/
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3265524-Transgender-Trend-Crowdfunder-suspended?pg=1
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3317880-Parents-who-wont-affirm-8-yr-old-gender-change-being-referred-to-social-services
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3280972-Rapid-Onset-of-Gender-Dysphoria-in-Adolescents-and-Young-Adults-a-Descriptive-Study
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3318996-Excellent-counter-view-to-ROGD
Why are lesbians protesting?
Magdalen on "Are Genital Preferences Transphobic?"
Trans activism and the lesbian community
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3146166-Transactivism-and-the-lesbian-community
London Pride 2018 protests: Get the L Out
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3301033-Get-the-L-Out-Statement-by-the-lesbian-protesters-at-Pride-London
An introduction to the “cotton ceiling”
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3294339-cotton-ceiling-evidence-thread
What about women’s sports?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3324477-Transwomen-in-sport-I-need-sources-re-their-advantage
What's going on with the Girl Guides?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/2832114-This-puts-me-off-Girl-Guides
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3314566-another-girlguiding-update
What is the difference between transsexuals and the current understanding of transgender ideology? Why are some trans people against the ideas being espoused by some trans activists?
Rose of Dawn
www.youtube.com/user/AshleeK9
Debbie Hayton
debbiehayton.wordpress.com/
Miranda Yardley
mirandayardley.com/en/
What are the protected categories in the Equality Act?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3327711-Has-Transgender-replaced-Gender-Reassignment-in-protected-characteristics-of-Equality-Act
Why is self-ID/reform of the Gender Recognition Act considered controversial?
fairplayforwomen.com/full_guide/
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3188687-impact-of-self-id-on-equality-act
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3198512-Help-me-be-clear-about-the-GRA-Equality-Act-Exemptions
What can I do if I am concerned about this issue?
Links to consultations
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3318003-Bringing-your-MUST-DO-WOMENS-RIGHTS-consultations-together-with-links-and-timelines-thread
Other actions
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3329362-Get-offline
Why are women protesting self-identifying trans women taking places on all-women’s shortlists?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3136891-Transwomen-should-be-considered-for-all-women-shortlist-Guardian
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3329447-People-Who-Oppose-Trans-Rights-Have-No-Place-In-Labour-Says-The-First-LGBT-Mayoral-Adviser?pg=1
How has the gender debate evolved, from the gender-critical perspective?
This “Greatest hits” thread is illustrative
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3318916-Gender-Critical-Greatest-Hits
Also this:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3317032-Using-women-as-human-shields
And a discussion around the silencing of gender-critical voices
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3273966-Twitter-banning-accounts-that-deadname-Ian-Huntley-is-not-using-his-female-name-hate-speech-now
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3262965-Good-article-today-BBC-on-the-twitter-ban-on-womens-free-speech-on-trans-issues?pg=1
“Feminism is about equality” or the related “Is feminism for men?”
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3331306-Feminism-is-equality
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3332894-Can-a-man-teach-feminism
Are we evil?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3301684-Are-we-the-baddies
Are you alone in your gender-critical thoughts?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3291425-Gender-Critical-Lurkers
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3277047-I-am-S-p-a-r-t-a-c-u-s
Are you affected by marital difficulties related to trans issues?
You’re not alone
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3101834-trans-widows-escape-committee
Who is Jess Bradley and why is this individual important?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3320513-Jess-Bradley-first-transgender-student-officer-suspended-after-flashing-photos
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3321764-Jess-Bradley-suspended-Part-II
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3325623-Jess-Bradley-a-government-advisor-on-womens-rights-suspended-by-NUS-over-indecent-blog-Part-iii
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3323623-Who-is-really-funding-Jess-Bradleys-defence
What are some of the theories about the funding of the trans activist movement?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3328210-Follow-the-money-who-is-funding-the-US-transborg
Why is the feminist board so careful?
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3321127-public-service-announcement