"Mumsnet, of all places"

What makes TERF ideology reactionary rather than radical is its dedication to binary gender essentialism. The concept of gender essentialism is practically timeless, and reaction to it is key to understanding why feminist theory exists in the first place. Gender essentialism is the idea that there is an innate, immutable ‘womanness’ or ‘manness’ which expresses itself in what we consider ‘femininity’ or ‘masculinity’.

If he knew he had that back to front, would he change his mind?

What I'm starting to notice - and I'm sure I am very late to the party here - is that the so called progressive left can be just as misogynistic an eye-eyed as the right.

The first wave of feminism came out of the Abolitionism movement and the second wave came out of the Civil Rights movement, in both cases the women got disgruntled with the parallels between black rights and women's rights not being recognised and addressed.

Yes, I think you're onto something there JanesKettle because there does seem to be a difference. I think the activists here (Sydney) are more climate motivated.

I admit I was reluctant to comment too much due to possible accusations of Sydney vs Melbourne rivalry. Although I'm happy to give props to Melbourne because they do have some academics/feminists speaking out (Clementine Ford as always avoiding comment to protect her book sales). I wonder if the difference is also due to opposing parties in each states government?

It's in Federal legislation too - see the amended Sex Discrimination Act, 5B:

www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018C00499

I know Janes
They can't even define or quantify gender identity but there it is, protected in law...

What a shitty article.

Why, of why, is sexual orientation linked with gender identity in these laws ?!!

DancelikeEmmaGoldman
The Victorian Women’s Guild is a new organisation speaking for women’s rights. Their event from last Thursday is available on their FB page and YouTube.

My friend went to one of the VWG events, I'll ask her the details.

The current VIC labour government worries me in a lot of ways, they are quite woke and won a greater majority of seats last year, pushing this through doesn't surprise me at all. Our premier calls people who disagree 'bigots' and announced new anti conversion therapy laws early this year
"Conversion ‘therapy’ is any practice or treatment that seeks to change, suppress or eliminate an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity."

I have to say, this is the only silver lining I've ever discovered to the housing problem in Sydney - I think the young (mine included) are so busy making sure they can get a damn job that pays enough to rent somewhere (house prices here are insane) that they just don't have as much time as their Melburnian peers for this woke fuckery.

I hate the way I - have never voted further right than the centre-left in my life - now shudder at the word 'progressives'.

We're basically f*cked. My state Extinction Rebelllion group broke down the middle because some middle class white girl with too much time on her hands complained about a picture of another middle class white girl who had committed the crime of wearing dreads.

Everyone not in the mood for a struggle session over nonsense left or was kicked out.

We're on the Titantic, and as it's going down, people are arguing the most important issues of our time, apparently - hair styles and pronouns.

Sorry, that got a bit off topic!

Great post Badger

Ugh. I've been published in Overland - they used to focus on interesting literature. Objectively, it's a poorly written article, regardless of topic.

I really dislike the NZ brand of misogyny towards GC women - it's very personal and poisonous and directed at a small handful of women who are easily identified, and who have been shunned and attacked mercilessly by their own community, and politicians.

Love the comments though.

A bit further south than Melbourne, perhaps cooler heads will prevail?

Gender essentialism is the idea that there is an innate, immutable ‘womanness’ or ‘manness’ which expresses itself in what we consider ‘femininity’ or ‘masculinity’. It posits, for example, that women as a group are naturally more caring and empathetic and men as a group are more aggressive and clever, and – crucially – that these gendered qualities exist inherently, without societal influence.

Well. She's certainly convinced me she's not the sharpest tool in the shed; those are the transactivist arguments, not the gender critical ones.

Bimbo.

It's just the 'progressive' lefty version of the old right-wing "Feminists are man-hating dungaree-wearers who think all sex is rape!" shit. At least that lot never pretended they were the real feminists, I suppose?

I'm astounded at how completely wrong the author has got it. Just mind-boggling!

That’s a poor article.

I tell you who should be going back in history, and that the author. She needs to go back to the 18th century and have a look at what Hume had to say about the is-ought problem.

Feminists (and I agree with her that the “gender critical” tag is a tautology, actually, but not for the reason she supposes) are making observations about what “is” - the material, biological reality of being female. Gender essentialism proposes that there is an “ought” that attaches to these facts of biology - you’re a woman, therefore you ought to be nurturing, you’re a man, therefore you ought not to cry. Feminists have for donkeys fucking years been arguing that you cannot and should not use the “is” of biology to argue for the “ought” of gender/ sex role stereotypes.

She’s got it all arse about face.

53rdWay
Damn it, you are so right.

Pregnancy books should begin with the statement "Women, welcome to the real world".

DuchessDumbarton.

Snap.

MELBOURNE!!! When are some of the so called feminist commentators down there going to actually say something - they are all silent, even when Cricket Australia just quietly kills women's cricket.

Moira Rayner spoke out, as did Liberal Frontbencher Louise Staley. And others. The Victorian Women’s Guild is a new organisation speaking for women’s rights. Their event from last Thursday is available on their FB page and YouTube.

Apparently Peter Singer attended - according to protestors he was not on the side of wokeness.

Ooops cross post

Yes, if you read the article, the author appears to think that GC women think that
"Gender essentialism is the idea that there is an innate, immutable ‘womanness’ or ‘manness’ which expresses itself in what we consider ‘femininity’ or ‘masculinity’. It posits, for example, that women as a group are naturally more caring and empathetic and men as a group are more aggressive and clever, and – crucially – that these gendered qualities exist inherently, without societal influence. "

Author "Danielle" needs to do a bit more reading me-thinks..

It’s a bit iscouraging that a supposedly intellectual journal like Overland can publish an essay which profoundly misunderstands the very thing it’s critiquing.

What makes TERF ideology reactionary rather than radical is its dedication to binary gender essentialism. The concept of gender essentialism is practically timeless, and reaction to it is key to understanding why feminist theory exists in the first place. Gender essentialism is the idea that there is an innate, immutable ‘womanness’ or ‘manness’ which expresses itself in what we consider ‘femininity’ or ‘masculinity’. It posits, for example, that women as a group are naturally more caring and empathetic and men as a group are more aggressive and clever, and – crucially – that these gendered qualities exist inherently, without societal influence. Another key aspect of essentialism is that it is often, but not always, tied to bodies and ‘biology’. So, because a lot of women give birth, gender essentialism associates childcare with women because they are biologically ‘destined’ for it.

Radical feminism, (or, as the unfortunate author has it, “even Mumsnet”), surely isn’t arguing “gender essentialism”, but the material reality of biological sex?

Radical feminism is opposed to the idea that there is some more essential gender identity, other than individual personality shaped by socialisation.

I’m really embarrassed for Danielle Moreau, both for her lack of deep reading and her condescension.