Emily Thornberry MP web chat

Gok Wan being utterly roasted over women's corsetry

Well, that's a novel use of bra-burning.

Oh and another thing

we're finding it increasingly hard to tempt politicians onto Mumsnet because of fears they'll simply be harangued about this single issue and shouted at for not providing the desired response - which ultimately means no one will get to ask any of these important questions to our policy makers.

If they're too fucking cowardly to answer women's questions about issues which directly and indirectly affect us, why are they setting themselves up as our potential leaders?

And why are you rolling out a red carpet and insulating them from us, Mumsnet? Whoever mentioned GokWan and what a mauling he got is dead right - why is it OK for women to stridently challenge an ephemeral sleb (where is he now?) but not political leaders who hope to wield real power over millions of people?

If politicians are too afraid to answer women's questions about trans issues, what are they hiding from us? And why is mumsnet facilitating their hiding, instead of highlighting it?

A strong statement on the protection of single sex provision would have made her a front runner for those really centring women and girls.

It''s nothing to do with trans folk with genuine dysphoria. Why can't they see it's opening the door to arseholes who will take advantage. And we know they will. Predators go to extreme lengths (c.f. Emily Maitless and her horrific experience with a dedicated stalker) - That's why we have boundaries. Not for the nice dinner ladies called Dave.

Working I think you have got a very long wait ahead of you

I have a vote in this election and am still waiting for someone I can vote for.

Well, I think she has dog-whistled that she doesn't intend to defend freedom of speech.

It's the fact that instead of engaging with a question about it, she just made a statement about something else, which is the dog that didn't bark.

If she becomes leader and she gets elected, making a statement of fact might become a hate crime.

I won't be voting for her.

Eleanor, I'm going to read some of your lovely stuff about food & archeology as a salve to the soul

Thanks Eleanor

Mumsnet webchats are now ruled by an authoritarian hand. A lot has changed since the days of Gok Wan being utterly roasted over women's corsetry. That was allowed - this isn't.

Roasting Gok Wan over corseting women up was fine - but talking to politicians about proposed changes to law, and children's safeguarding is now subject to major censorship.

What is it about the magic word "gender" or "trans" or "self ID" that makes everyone - MNHQ, Politicians, journalists, comedians - scurry off and bury themselves in the sand?

Thanks @theflushedzebra. My political blog sees me run screaming through rippling and rotting fields of Lib Dems, Conservatives and Labour. I left politics as an independent.

Great article, Eleanor and I love your blog

I read your 'Mumsnet hands Penny Morduant her arse' blog at the time

Fab article Eleanor.

I'm reeling from the question evading.

She gaslit throughout.

I'm stunned at her answers to the questions about women in prison, and freedom of speech.
Is 'thats a lovely bag, blink if you can't talk' a suitable question for a web chat?

Great article. Hope it is read by Westminster people. Our numbers are growing and they really need to start taking note.

There's a whole book to be had from these webchats. But I'm supposed to be writing at the moment about historical miscarriages of justice involving women. Then I get distracted by MN and incensed by children's safeguarding lapses.

She had a hard time growing up, but now she's fine, so too bad for anyone else that is now finding themselves at the sharp end, is that it, Datun?

Another excellent piece, thank you Eleanor

I don't understand the logic of how, when she was younger, she campaigned that women could do anything, be anything, and weren't 'lesser' men...

...but now times have changed

and isn't that dandy

???

Excellent article Eleanor

eleanorscottarchaeology.com/els-blog/2020/2/5/emily-thornberrys-mumsnet-webchat-amp-the-childrens-safeguarding-inquiry-not-worth-a-mention

It's a short read.

Very happy to make amendments as necessary.

Her response to the question about men in a women's prison is a disgrace. She wasn't evasive. She just didn't get it.

Aargh missed thus entirely

Yes Eleanor and thanks

Yes please Eleanor.

Mumsnet should probably introduce a separate gender subsection to feminist chat to encourage back those women who don't think feminism is all about one issue.

This is like the whole 'MN should have created a Dadsnet' and 'there should be a Men's Hour on radio 4, it's not fair' thing. Take a look at the archives of feminist chat. There really weren't hordes of ardent feminists dying to talk about stuff, it was a very quiet place of a very few people.

I had a post disappeared (uncommented) last night on the web chat thread. I don't believe I broke any guidelines, I just politely pointed put that while limiting the number of answers given on a particular subject might be reasonable, limiting the number of questions (and therefore the number of MNers who could register their concern about the issue) was censorship and silencing.

My post was gone in minutes and with no deletion message I wasn't quite sure what had happened.

Oh, the irony. 🤐