Workplace cake sale to raise money for Mermaids

I know its not the same thing but where I work I recently raised my concerns about stonwall with our E&D team (and was really nervous about doing so) and they were great about it so I say raise your concerns - good luck.

I’m still identifying with the orange one, personally. It’s the puff sleeves/misshapen biceps that I find so appealing, I think?

Cucumbersalad - we work at the same company as I had this email today - I feel exactly the same as you, so youre not alone.
I am certainly planning to register how angry this has made me (and why)

I think you must work at the same place as me OP - begins with a 'W'? I just came on here having received the same email to see if anyone had any suggestions for how to respond and saw that someone had got there before me...

A few of us have been discussing how to openly boycott it, or to do our own activity to raise money for a women's charity if they won't budge (perhaps by giving up cakes for the week and donating the money we would have otherwise spent.....).

How about a jelly babies cake on a rainbow spectrum, with a slogan, "It's all about the feelz".

Apologies, I meant the Eve Appeal: eveappeal.org.uk/

The Eve Project is a charity for female abuse survivors and looks equally women centred, but is based in Australia

The Pankhurst Centre in MCR incorporates MCR Women’s Aid, so is both relevant to women’s history and women in the present day.

Maybe there is a similar charity in your area, Cucumber?

How to do this delicately/ sensitively?.I don't want to rock the boat though, as it's work! And ultra-woke...

Id point to the current Charity Commission account balance & the fact that Starbucks are running a fundraising campaign for Mermaids.

Take along three alternative charities supporting girls & women, including a local grassroots one (which no doubt will have few funds).

I’m puzzled - and disheartened - that so many women seem afraid to speak out in defence of our rights, for fear of the woke brigade.
How dare these idiots hijack the only bloody day of the year that is meant to be solely for women?
Where is your anger, OP? Your pride, your self respect as a feminist?
Why is it apparently so difficult to go to your managers and say that it is wholly inappropriate to support a charity that undermines women with sexist stereotypes and pushes young autistic or lesbian girls into a trans pathway of sterilisation and serious health damage? Ever - let alone on Women’s Day?

Do they have any idea how much money Mermaids Charity is currently holding in their accounts?

Charity Commission:
Data for financial year ending 31 March 2019

Mermaids
Income £715.3K

Spending £406.7K

beta.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1160575&subid=0

Were there really no local grassroots charities supporting women & girls in need of fundraising & awareness raising?

Ask them if they're not concerned that they may be seen as transphobic, after all TMAM and non-binary people are valid

Can you at least suggest they split the proceeds with a less fashionable charity? The Eve Project, as an example?

After all, Mermaids ‘support’ Male and female children, so it’s not really the right choice for Women’s Day.

Otherwise, I agree, vulva cupcakes, get icing!

can you canvass other peoples opinions?

I bet you are not the only person who thinks this is bullshit

Why on earth are they fundraising for an org that pushes the Barbie/GI Joe gender spectrum on kids? They celebrate sexist stereotypes, the opposite of what the International Women's Day is supposed to be about.

Can't "someone" anonymously (if you're uncomfortable rocking the boat) email or mail the people in charge setting them straight?

Otherwise, as PP have said, boycott.

I wouldn't do anything. I wouldn't donate, bake or consume any of the cakes. If anyone notices and asks, I would say that I have to cut down sugar because of dental problems.

I wouldn't engage with this in any way and would donate to a woman's charity from the comfort of my own home.

Just ask that question: why not a charity benefiting women? And suggest an alternative. And if they don’t switch, boycott it.

I'd be tempted to play all innocent and ask if the communication has gone out with incorrect dates. 'I assume this is for Transgender day, has there been a mixup of dates and events?'

Honestly I think I'd find a pressing reason to be out of the office that day.

Mermaids? For International Women's Day?

I was wondering if they are deliberately taking the piss, but it probably works more like: people raise entirely legitimate concerns about Mermaids -> wokeoids interpret that as "zomg the trans community is under attack"-> wokeoids raise more money for Mermaids so any attempts to discuss the incredible dodginess of the organisation are going to backfire.

There is no solution to this as far as I can see - clearly the woke will never learn how to do critical thinking or even basic research, so the only solution is to somehow persuade them that Mermaids is transphobic.

Good luck with that, OP. I hope someone has some better ideas than I do!