Shall we start a feminist think tank?

MN just swallowed my post.

I’m imagining a think tank as a Network for discussion and ideas, a repository for evidence & research, and a powerful lobbying force.

I think it might be helpful to agree a short list of clear and simple statements to use in conversations and online discussions, so that for example, if we are commenting under a newspaper article we are emphasising and repeating key messages.

We need the public to be clear that transwomen are biological males, that transwomen commit crime at the same rate as other biological males and that most transwomen still have intact male genitalia.

Putting my hand up: I too work in Tech, very happy to support the efforts.

You have my axe.

Another highly effective Scottish group is murrayblackburnmackenzie.org/ and there is wgscotland.org.uk/.

And don't forget www.transgendertrend.com/.

I think it is good to have each group working on one specific policy or item to keep focus and manage aggressive kick back.

I am concerned about scientifically misleading and inaccurate media making it's way to children via books/tv/lesson plans/policy etc. I think schools, programmers and publishers have a responsibility to ensure safe passage through adolescence. "Wrong body" is a dangerous fib.

Most urgent though is the total absence of a political party who recognises the rights of women and girls and is not actively working to crush our necks beneath their boot.

I am politically homeless nowadays, and would love to be involved. I'm a counsellor and so have a lot of opinions on so-called conversion therapy and the BACPs views on treating adolescents with gender dysphoria, as well as being active on Twitter around other sex-based rights issues.

we can combine trello and slack for task management and comms, fine

I'm an ex media researcher/producer who has also done social media and communications in politics at a local level. I also write things, so good at churning out reports.

I will look at Trello - we have used Slack before which was also free and I had a love/hate relationship with.

Some things I think we would need to think about:

• contacting a range of interesting women (eg. GC lawyers and writers as well as 'famous' people to be involved and give it some heft. For all I know they may be on here already
• working out a funding source. There will be one, or we crowdfund an initial stage in order to access further funding

What else?

Would a Trello board help to organise the work?
I’ve not actually used it before but heard it’s really useful for this sort of project, the demo looks good and it seems to be free....

help.trello.com/article/899-getting-started-video-demo

It's going to be like that scene in Borgen where they invite loads of people in, cover dozens of flipcharts, and then start shooing people out to whittle it down to something achievable and focussed.

I'm in! Thank you for starting something so positive that we can work towards, as there are so many politically homeless women on here.

reformed Tory sidles in, hoping to find understanding for her former misdemeanours (former economics student)

Female only spaces could cover lots of areas, hospitals, medical appointments, changing rooms in sport, shops, etc.

So what are the most important issues to you?

What issues are being covered well by other groups?

Does one go for a single issue to fill the gap between other groups mentioned or go for a broader remit.

I have a feeling too broad and it will start too many arguements and be ineffective.

I'm in

For Women Scotland

Also, what are the other Scottish groups called?

I don't think you can name a think tank after a person who's alive without that person being the figurehead or having a significant role.

Imagine if someone named a think tank after you but you had no actual say or control over what they did. That would be a bit weird wouldn't it?!

If you want to recognise Maya's hugely important contribution perhaps ask her to get involved?

I'm in and am a GP so useful for medical stuff I hope. Time poor but will contribute on any way I can.

No skills but definitely in

I'm involved in some research of sorts at the mo, I don't have much time to give due to general life and women but absolutely can offer ideas or comment when associated with my areas.

I'm poor and not well connected but I've been following this debate for the last 5 years and would be happy to help and lend support in any way I can.

I’m in too. I know next to nothing about lobbying, but am fairly good at research and stringing arguments together.

Ex professional lobbyist and public affairs adult human female breaking cover and reporting for duty