Workplace cake sale to raise money for Mermaids

Mermaids cover both females and makes who are trans identifying. So even the terminally woke might see they aren't a women's organisation.

I would be in favour of explaining to whoever is organising this that Mermaids is a political lobby group. They have plenty of money.

Thank you @endofthelinefinally - you've just answered the question I was about to ask (i.e. when you question the motives of a particular organization, always consider who is funding it). A search threw up only quite vague results, although the half-million pound lottery grant was mentioned and I found the feature run by Pink News on how Mumsnet opposed the awarding of this grant (and a thread started by Graham Lineham).

Mermaids seem to have gained so much traction and, seemingly, political credibility. How? Their name pops up everywhere. They're constantly running 'training' in people's organizations (funded by whom? And why would the mainstream public need indoctrination into one group's interpretation of the murky, nebulous, ambiguous concept that is gender? At the same time, initiatives like International Women's Day appear to be losing momentum as fast as organizations like this one are gaining it (possibly at our expense). Mermaids touts itself as a charity for children, so other times/places might be a more appropriate platforming for its fund-raising initiatives.

This is just one symptom of the insidious, slow-but-sure sidelining of women's events, women's issues, women's recognition platforms, women's public lavatories, even women's categorization. It's an attitude propagated so often these days it's sadly almost becoming mainstream. (Obvs, I wouldn't recommend saying this to an employer who has bought into the Woke virtue spiral to this extent. But it is incredibly frustrating). Who would have thought it was feminism and women's rights that would end up recategorised onto the side of conservatism? Betrayal of this magnitude always stings more when it emanates from the supposed left.

What insulting nonsense. What does Mermaids have to do with IWD? Really, there's no connection. Even if you bought into woke gender ideology, I can't see the connection.

I do like the idea of the jellybabies cake.

Rowan makes a very good point. Women's aid shelters etc are defunded and at risk, probably more local and more useful.

Point people towards the lunacy of Mermaids and let them decide

Agreed cucumber!! If you want to link up feel free to pm me or the others who have identified themselves from our workplace. We are already known to each other so had been talking about how to handle it.

A simple black and white cake, with lots of matching black and white stickers.

put out a spoof leaflet mocking them

hang on, just put out one of their leaflets, the Barbie and GI Joe stuff is beyond satire

ChangedBecauseThisWillOutMe
Ooh that's good.

Given that NHS Tavistock GIDS is being taken to Judicial Review for failing the Duty of Care owed to children and Mermaids were pushing the service to do more medical interventions with less Safeguarding, Its highly likely that this charity will be under scrutiny in the very near future.

(It won't stand up to scrutiny)

Gosh - lots of you work at the same place! You’ll all gave to wear a red carnation to identify each other. Can’t you suggest an alternative charity , and those who wish to can give to there instead. Failing that , I’d just not donate , don’t buy cakes , and don’t bring any in.

I would be in favour of explaining to whoever is organising this that Mermaids is a political lobby group. They have plenty of money.
There are more appropriate charities that support women.
Who suggested Mermaids? Do you know?

I understand that it is risky to speak up.

Organisational capture.

Assuming since lots of Mners seem to work there it must be a pretty big org so I assume the 'local charity' idea won't work so perhaps a national women's charity would be a better bet.

Regardless of other issues to do with Mermaids it's such an inappropriate charity for IWD.

I think it would be a fairly safe bet to just point out that the transgender issue is very controversial at the moment and it might be safer for the company to choose a less controversial charity in light of the recent judicial review etc.

It's highly likely not much thought has gone into it and someone at the top has just seen it as an easy woke win without thinking it through.

Looks like there's enough of you to challenge this

or just flip your lid and scream "it's child abuse"

Sounds like you have the makings of a FWR local branch there...

if you are not feeling brave, prepare a line of support if someone else pipes up, it could make a difference.

Nevermind the trans issue, nobody should ever feel ashamed of saying they do not support a particular charity and it is a form of workplace bullying to guilt trip someone over these issues, it is worse as mermaids is a political charity.

I would go with a line like

"I heard something about on TV and am not too sure"

The GIDS review is in the news, could spark a conversation

Since there’s a few gender critical persons in the same org you could have a rival cake sale!

I think I may also work in the same place....

I think giving up cakes for a week for a women's charity, and encouraging others to do the same, is pure passive aggressive genius!

I would play dumb with it. Ask about the charity and what they do... and then watch the logic fall apart before their eyes...

Bake a large cake And Ice “woman: adult human female” on it?

so I say raise your concerns - good luck.

Do give alternative grassroots groups & charities that are supporting women & girls.

Maybe we need a thread with ideas?

Get a baker to do a cake iced with Mermaids propaganda. The gender spectrum would look pretty on a cake and might help the penny drop.
I do agree with Babdoc though, you could just point out that Mermaids has nothing to do with Women's Day, but it would be great if you could draw attention to the fact that its materials promote sexism.

Yay for Mermaids, accidentally bringing GC colleagues together since 2020 (and probably for many years before, too)!