Gloria Steinem and friends Open Letter

Anti-trans sports bans are as unnecessary as they are harmful—and women athletes at both the professional and college levels support inclusion.

What are they saying here - have they used “woman” to mean biological women? Because obviously TW athletes support inclusion, so it looks as if they mean “actual women” athletes. (Who of course have to appear to support inclusion or get ostracised/bullied)

Oops

Crikey, though, the TRA posts definitely seem to be fewer than all the people just effectively shrugging and telling them 'no'. That's a turnaround from a few months ago. I can sense a change in the air.

I don't know.

It seems to be those most insulated from real life that are happiest to obliviously air their luxury beliefs. So maybe it reaches the established celebs last of all. Meanwhile in the real world, things are moving on ...

"The actress Sarah Paulson, who last year endorsed the vitriolic abuse JK Rowling received because she stood up for women's rights against trans activism, has received over 1,000 misogynistic and abusive messages in a few hours, because she refused to put her pronouns in her bio"

Oh dear. How sad. Never mind.

That should read. aware of the JKR retweet, but not this current twitter spat.

Oh, thank you SunsetBeetch !. I was aware of the SP/JKR retweet. It's very curious that she did not immediately capitulate on pronouns. Wonder why? Is she having a Leah Remini moment? I don't like any woman receiving abuse, but I hope she understands what she has helped to bring about against other women like JKR by retweeting/supporting equally misogynistic rhetoric.

More:

twitter.com/Woke_Misogyny/status/1377359977279463424?s=20

Some really awful misogynistic abuse here

Hey, this is fascinating. The TRAs have been deleting their posts to Sarah.

twitter.com/GoodyCorvid/status/1377394388389748739?s=19

Citation for SP's past toeing of the line.

twitter.com/MsSarahPaulson/status/1377341046854541315

There is a lot of passive aggression in the replies. But I take that as a positive, those responding seem shocked that the ever-reliable tactic of public shaming has not worked in this case.

And that tweet about JKR was actually worse than I remember

(Sorry to triple post. Oh for an edit function!)

It's never enough, Sarah. JKR could have told you that.

"The actress Sarah Paulson, who last year endorsed the vitriolic abuse JK Rowling received because she stood up for women's rights against trans activism, has received over 1,000 misogynistic and abusive messages in a few hours, because she refused to put her pronouns in her bio"

twitter.com/ripx4nutmeg/status/1377515791944400898?s=20

Paulson told JKR to "Shut up". Quote tweeted her to do it too.

The phrase “feminist leaders” rings alarm bells. When did feminists ever call anyone their leader? It’s never been a hierarchical movement. Even as part of the phrase “feminist leaders in advocacy, business etc”.

And Trans women and girls have been an integral part of the fight for gender liberation. Where is the evidence for this? Please don’t repeat the myth that prominent lesbians in the early Gay Rights movement were actually transmen.

And For far too long, lawmakers have worked to strip trans women of their civil liberties ... Many of these laws target the rights of girls to play school sports. ... Anti-trans sports bans are as unnecessary as they are harmful—and women athletes at both the professional and college levels support inclusion.

What civil liberties are transpeople deprived of? No one born male has the right to enter women’s single-sex spaces. Transwomen have the same rights as everyone else to play sports, just not in sports where their male physique gives them an unfair advantage or could injure female opponents. Few women athletes dare risk the consequences of speaking out.

No feminist could sign this letter. Feminism, with all its different strands and opinions, centres women. If it doesn’t, it isn’t feminism. Looks as if we’re having to fight for the word ‘feminism’ as well as ‘woman’.

Yes, Ereshkigalangcleg, THE Angela Davis was a supporter of Jonestown and helped to encourage paranoia there which meant the people were easier to influence and the massacre was more readily carried out. The part she played is mentioned briefly in this article.

www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/17/an-apocalyptic-cult-900-dead-remembering-the-jonestown-massacre-40-years-on

Activists can achieve much but they often have shocking blind spots. So long as enough of the "right" oppression boxes are ticked they can support the most horrible actions and regimes.

...... and you can bet that if trans women are deemed exactly the same as women in law, some bright spark will say that women don't need those protections after all (because not all women CAN get pregnant, so women DON'T need maternity protections) and there you go, Gloria. Thanks a billion.

In fact, wasn't there already a case in the US where a woman was sacked for breastfeeding and lost at tribunal because, as not all women can breastfeed, its no longer sex discrimination? What did Gloria say about that?

Oh, we are very lucky to have abortion rights and I am absolutely pro choice.

You don't have to agree with everything someone says or stands for. I just think it was naive and shortsighted of Steinham et al to campaign for equal rights when it's just not enough.

There's so much wrong with giving trans women the same rights as women - they need different rights, just as robust but with different protections, because no trans woman will ever be sacked whilst pregnant, thrown out of a public space for breastfeeding or left suffering with endemetriosis for decades before anyone bothers to diagnose it......

Maybe. It's an attempt by some to stay relevant/ visible.

When women get older then in general they're seen as pointless and their views dismissed.

Another USA centric piece- I assume it's only intended for USA consumption?

'We continue to reckon with a history that has often excluded women of color, of different sexual orientations, socioeconomic statuses, ages, body types, religions and regions, and who are disabled. However, the feminist movement has largely expanded in beautiful and powerful ways. '

Speak for yourselves. Which I assume you are. Not my problem if you failed to realise that woman = adult human female.

And I'd be very surprised if feminists in India or African nations excluded 'women of colour'??!!

And feminism has expanded in 'beautiful' ways? What a strange word to choose.

So in short. This letter must be USA relevant only. Unless they think feminism started in the USA, was pretty awful in terms of all the women the excluded, and has now spread through the USA. If they're not only talking about the USA then they're very silly.

I also don't see the USA as a country where feminism has done particularly well. They have loads of issues. I'm sure I don't need to list them.

we write this letter as feminist leaders...

This is what happens when someone becomes a professional feminist and believes themselves entitled to speak for, and over, ordinary women.

Luxury beliefs indeed.

GS's current acolytes - people with a history of misogyny and appropriation.