Rapper Zuby breaks British Women's deadlift record...

Hi Zuby Thanks for checking in.

I am a proud feminist and see it as an honour to be in some way shaped by, educated and lifted up by women's campaigning, courage, tenacity, wit and resourcefulness over the centuries.

I yawn every time I hear feminism 'needs a re-brand' - because it is so often said by people who have been taken in by the perennial anti-feminist efforts to smear, demonise and misrepresent feminism. When they get a bit closer, find out the truth, find out how pressing, serious and necessary feminism is, from FGM to securing a rape conviction, for example, they have a light-bulb moment, then.... three.... two.... one.... "We need to re-brand feminism!".

It is totally predictable.

But, of course, the new word would just be subject to the same onslaught - so what benefit would changing it or re-branding it bring?

The fact is that feminism challenges and threatens the status quo, so the beneficiaries of structural inequality will kick back hard to maintain it.

However, feminists need to persist, despite being under constant attack, because we have no other choice. We can't stop. We can't stop the attacks. All we can focus on is the hope that the truth will win out in the end.

Something that is most galling though, is the tactic of anti-feminists calling themselves feminists and trying to split us from the inside. A lot of men who support the industrial sexual abuse and exploitation of women are real Machiavellian bastards who claim to be 'feminists' and join feminist groups, taking in young and gullible women, who now do their work for them. They are not feminists, they are anti-feminist. Many of these anti-feminists are who you probably see as feminists.

Any way Zuby, I appreciate what you have done and I appreciate that you have engaged will us and are willing to engage feminists on your platform.

Well, I'm still glad Zuby did the deadlifting thing. It brought a lot of attention to the cause and highlighted the absolute absurdity of allowing men to compete against women. There are lots of people who aren't really bothered about women in prison or women in refuges but do understand the simple, stark unfairness of allowing a big, strong, tall, muscular man to compete against female athletes.

And I'm glad that Zuby came along here to share his view on feminism even though I don't agree with it. You never know, he might hang around and discover we're not as dreadful as we're made out to be.

Zuby, if you spend a bit of time looking around these boards you will find plenty of examples of situations where despite responsible use contraception has failed or where medical issues mean a risk to the life of the mother or the baby, and let’s not discount pregnancy resulting from rape. Irresponsibility is not the only (or even the main) reason for abortion, but for some reason tends to be the focus for those who are pro life.

Thanks for engaging, Zuby, and as you can see, many here are happy to agree to disagree. Personal attacks are not nice (and probably not uncommon for a person in public life) but this is one of the few places online where women can speak on a range of issues without constantly self-censoring. Sad but true.

I happen to agree abortion is a very complex ethical issue. The fewer women are put in the heartbreaking situation of an unwanted pregnancy, the better. That’s why it’s so important that we are clear about biological realities. Thanks for helping with that.

Despite some great developments recently (speaking out about sexual harassment on public transport, in schools etc. - btw, have you any idea what it’s like to be humiliated in this way?) feminism is in crisis. If a movement stops centering the people it’s about, it has lost its way.

Final point: you do realise how recent women’s gains are? Marital rape only made a crime in the 1990s. Vote for not even all women only achieved 100 years ago. We can’t afford to be complacent.

And now I’ll let you get on with selling a few more t-shirts ;-)

“There are some really awful individual ‘feminists’ and ‘feminist groups’ out there“

Whenever anyone says things like this I ask for examples-and I never, ever get them. It’s very odd.

Oh well. As I said before -Zuby doesn’t have to be a feminist or a feminist ally to be a useful resource. And he is certainly a useful resource when it comes to the protection of women’s sport.

Yes Rufus, lovely use of paragraphs and spacing

you may have another Zuby to go with the for your nice clear enunciation

including the one that the modern western world is an oppressive ‘patriarchy’. I think it is utter nonsense and demonstrably false

great. Demonstrate it

Pfft. I'm pro life too. From the perspective of the sanctity of all human life. I often make the case for it here, where I am listened to, argued and disagreed with, and there is useful discussion.

What I don't do is leap in two footed and tell everyone their beliefs and viewpoints are wrong and they are awful. Because that would earn me a biscuit and make me sound very much like a man.

But you crack on.

What kat said

And I appreciate errols point, but it was awfully long

I did really well to finish it...it was probably the spacing that helped

Spaces rule

Nice to see you here Zuby, thanks for adding your voice to the trans sport discussion. I quite like what I listened to of your music too, not sure that a middle aged mum helps your cred! (Even if we did listen to wu tang, busta, public enemy etc back in the day!)

Might I just suggest, as I'm sure you know the conservatives viewpoint often gets mangled and misrepresented in mainstream media, that much of the mainstream feminism you've likely seen has similarly been hijacked.
Feminism isn't a monolith either, we are strong women with strong opinions!
I'm not saying that you need to immediately become a feminist ally, I'm just saying that if you give the real us a fair hearing, you might be surprised.

In this instance, I don't think a long post is unreasonable, as it's by the person that the thread is about.

We have interesting discussions here, we are not the borg. As individuals we have divergent beliefs and commentators reflect that.

Myself, I would not choose to have an abortion (And I have been in the position), but respect others rights to choose what's right for them.

As for you Mr Zuby, you've really helped us with your humour and your excellent down to earth points. So thank you for making them!

Welcome to the vipers' nest Zuby

Thanks for dropping in. Pull up a chair and have a while we read your post in full. Forgive us if it takes some time as it's rather long. (Do I mention that this is often the case when men post on here? Ok I won't.)

tens of hours of research

Cor

Hi Zuby!
Just a couple of things

I find it odd that you can say that women in the west are ‘liberated’ when we are fighting to maintain the legal definition of what a woman is. How can women have rights if the word woman doesn’t mean anything and cannot be defined?

I also think it’s a shame you can see that there’s no ‘transgender community’ but then proceed to tar feminists with one brush, and accuse them of having ‘bad pr’.

However in terms of your pro life views, that’s your views. As long as they just stay moral views and you are not trying to criminalise abortion then that’s up to you.

Yes. I am pro-life. I am anti-abortion.

I am not ‘anti-choice’

If you’re anti abortion, you’re anti choice. Your also pro forced birth. And anti women. Own it.

There are some really awful individual ‘feminists’ and ‘feminist groups’ out there.

And some fucking fantastic ones.

There are some really awful individual men and men’s groups out there. And yet, you’re happy to identify as a man, I assume?

Hi all, Zuby here.

What a fascinating thread this is! It was first brought to my attention by my sister and then through various friends and Twitter followers.

Given the unexpected rise in attention and media requests following my viral video (over 1.1 million views now!) I’ve only just now had a chance to peruse this thread completely.

I felt compelled to write this post after seeing some of the unfair attacks on my personal character and misrepresentation of my views.

Like most people, I don’t appreciate being mischaracterised or demonised.

Firstly, I’m glad that my ‘deadlift record’ video brought attention to an important topic, with a healthy dose of humour.

For many people, it highlighted the absurdity and lack of common sense by those who say there are no strength or speed advantages that men have over women…

It is objectively false and obvious to anyone with common sense who is not wrapped up in ideology and ‘gender theory’. The notion that I or any other biological man can or should directly compete with biological women in sports is frankly ridiculous.

Taken to its logical conclusion, women would be pushed out of professional sports completely over time. It also presents huge safety risks, privacy concerns and is simply unfair. It would be a disaster.

Seems like we all agree on that and this is exactly what I’ve been saying in every interview.

Regarding my ‘feminist status’ – I’ve been very clear for years that I do not ‘identify’ as such (heh).

This is not because I am ignorant, uneducated, nor against equal rights for both sexes - but because I have major issues with much of the ideology, delusion, hypocrisy and frankly nastiness exhibited by many who cling to the title.

I am not alone in this. A large % of both men and women have a negative perception of modern feminism and it’s hard to blame us. There are some really awful individual ‘feminists’ and ‘feminist groups’ out there...

I’d rather not associate myself with that, nor do I buy into many of the ideas – including the one that the modern western world is an oppressive ‘patriarchy’. I think it is utter nonsense and demonstrably false.

Moving on, regarding my views on abortion…

Some recent posts have suggested that I believe:

‘women’s bodies are the property of men’

‘women shouldn't be able to control their own fertility‘

‘It’s always the women’s fault isn’t it?’

And accusations that I’m a:

‘misogynistic dick’

‘self important wanker’

And so on…

I don’t believe any of the above nor do I appreciate attacks on my character from people who don’t know me.

Yes. I am pro-life. I am anti-abortion.

I accept there are exceptions - rare 1-2% of cases may include rape, genuine health risks to the mother, severe abnormalities in the fetus, etc.

However, these unfortunate fringe cases cannot be used to morally justify the other 98-99%. It is intellectually dishonest, logically inconsistent and a cheap debate tactic at best.

I am not ‘anti-choice’ (this label is another cheap tactic) any more than pro-choice people are 'pro-death'.

There are 4 morally sound choices in my personal opinion:

• abstinence
• contraception/birth control
• adoption
• parenthood

As some have correctly pointed out, I believe that human life is sacred, the unborn child/fetus is a human life and that innocent human life should be protected.

This is not a view based on ‘ignorance’ but on logic, biology, ethics and reason - tens of hours research, debate and years of consideration.

Yes, I am a man who will never get pregnant -sure. However millions (billions probably) of women agree with my position on this. Men are also 50% of the baby making process...

‘Pro-life’ vs ‘pro-choice’ debates often regress into personal attacks, ascribing bad intent, de-humanisation, unscientific nonsense, playing with euphemisms and repeating trite, brain dead mantras.

It’s a shame.

I view it as a human rights issue, not strictly a women’s rights issue.
If that framing is considered, it should be very easy to understand where I’m coming from if you are capable of empathy.

I understand the pro-choice position and have had many debates about it. Some of my good friends disagree with me, although they tend to move closer to my position when they think about it properly and consider my arguments.

I have NO INTEREST in FORCING anything on women.

If a woman wants to amputate her arm, tattoo her forehead or pierce her entire body then I don’t care. Once another life is created and is present, it becomes a moral issue to me. It goes beyond purely ‘my body my choice’ after that point. To disagree on that is solipsistic.

No child chooses to be conceived. None of us did. But here we are having this conversation because we were given a chance to live.

Anyway…

It’s all part of a long overdue, bigger discussion around the sexual behaviours and personal responsibilities of both men and women.

Until that is discussed honestly, it will be hard to move forward.
Don’t think I let men off the hook and I’m placing the ‘blame’ on women. No.

It takes a man and woman to conceive a child and we’re all smart enough to know what the outcomes of unprotected sex are.

Men who impregnate women and leave are scumbags and I strongly condemn this behaviour. It all comes down to responsibility and dealing with the consequences of personal actions.

Some may think I’m ‘old school’ or ‘conservative’ in this regard and I might be. I don't think that's a bad thing.

Heck, some people say my views are 'outdated' because I think there are only 2 genders, hey ho...

But I think our society’s fabric has degraded from what could be considered the ‘over-liberalisation’ of everything.

It could be the Western world’s eventual downfall. Not be alarmist but we are already going in some very weird directions (I mean, I did just ‘identify as a woman’ and make international news for breaking powerlifting records).

Hopefully, that’s cleared things up.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with all of my positions, especially given I'm on the feminist sub-section of this forum.

I do ask that my opinions are considered and that my views and personal character are not unfairly misrepresented.

I plan to speak to some feminists on future episodes of my ‘Real Talk with Zuby’ podcast and would be happy to discuss this and many other issues in an honest, longer format.

So subscribe if you’re interested in the follow up and stay tuned.

Thanks and have a good day.

Zuby

Dont give him ideas floral

Yup. Funny. Should be a book title "Five minutes as a Feminist Icon"

Yeah it is funny toe

This is quite funny though:

" This week I:

• Identified as a woman and broke a powerlifting record
• Gained 8,000 new followers
• Hit 1 million views in 5 days
• Featured in multiple national and international media outlets
• Became a feminist icon
• Stopped being a feminist icon

You? "

twitter.com/ZubyMusic/status/1102339744623677440

As someone said, think of him as
a resource, not an ally.

Well I for one appreciate his efforts in exposing the nonsense of self ID in sport. I wish more make athletes would do the same.

Agreed.

I know nobody is perfect and I am not going to agree with anyone on everything.

I have had to come to terms with quite a bit in recent years - finding out that Jimmy Page, John Peel, David Bowie, etc have all been pervs. But I think there is a difference between Hugh Grant being caught with Divine Brown and Keith Vaz heading an APPG on prostitution whilst hiring rent boys. It's politicians and lobbyists who need to be squeaky clean.

Yeah, you don't have to be a feminist to know that (a) men are mostly bigger and stronger than women and (b) anybody saying otherwise is daft.

I expect an awful lot of men who are very very non-feminist will reject the idea of transathletes.

Biological reality isn't a feminist construct.

I like Zuby's music btw. He knows how to engage his brain and it shows in the music. I don't have to believe everything he believes to like some of what he creates.