Compromise for new FWR section - could you support this?

No, I like everything in one place. I only click on threads that interest me. I think also there would be too much overlap. Most discussions about women's rights start with biology.

The FWR board and feminism chat boards need to stay as they are. Hiving off this subject or that topic will lead to fewer opportunities for discussion of news and sharing ideas as divisiveness doesn't give a good platform for sharing views whether critical or acknowledging success.

I too suspect an increase in aggro towards MNHQ given recent events with Maya and Marian Millar, but this is a space where women can discuss such matters without descending into the cesspit of Hades that is Twitter.

Taking a (metaphorical) filleting knife to this board would be a very bad decision, please don't do it. I believe that women won't wheesht still holds for many of us.

I came on FWR by chance and have found it a real source of information and support - would hate for it to go, but somewhere where sex/gender issues can be discussed is SO important - whatever it takes to keep a space open is the lesser of two evils as the poster says above. But it is wierd timing when people are starting to wake up to the issues.

I'm shocked at MN doing this now- the timing really is bizarre.

Given that this just another attempt to silence women, I think OP's suggestion is the lesser of 2 evils.

I have read so many threads on the non-FWR boards which are fundamentally about sexism and sex, just as a few examples,

The one about the man wanting to talk to the poster’s DH because she would not let him park on her drive.

The frequent ones on women being financially abused because, as typically the lower paid, they are expected to take on all childcare, house management etc when they marry and have children and give up their financial independence.

The unbelievably frequent ones where the pain from gynae and period issues are deemed non important by GPs and as something that has to be suffered because that’s just part of being a woman.

All of these threads are about sex, not whether the poster is wearing a frock and heels. Feminism and women’s sex based rights are important as evidenced by the fact that they are not solely discussed in FWR. Now is not the time to shut down discussion.

Would be fine with your idea OP.

I do think your idea is far better than hiving off or splitting - someone needs to define what the new board is for. So let them - whether MNHQ or whoever has been campaigning for it.

I would also be afraid of losing all the older threads in a shuffle, so keeping this board, not two new boards, seems vital. So yes, I'd be relieved to see MNHQ agree to your plan.

No. Just no. Feminism can't exist if we aren't be able to discuss and organise to uphold our rights. I don't want to be hived off into a subsection.

Yes it is an extraordinary suggestion. I assumed MNHQ had a fairly good grasp of this stuff, or were working on a free speech principle. Especially the idea that the board could be called women's/trans rights . Could a rogue intern have been given the keys to Justine's account today?

@shesellsseacats I think everyone is clearly hoping that @MNHQ actually pay attention and scrap this idea and leave FWR as it is!

What are the chances of that happening, do we think?

I'm suggesting this board stays as it is and that if other people want a feminist section where sex and gender are not discussed, then they should have a new thread elsewhere, not us.

I agree that if the board has to be split your option is better. But I still believe that people don't want a section where sex and gender are not discussed, they want sex and gender to not be discussed at all.

a) I don't understand how this is intended to work. How can you talk about feminism and not mention say sexism? Presumably banned as it references the word sex. Or the so-called gender pay gap, banned as it references gender, which is banned.

It's like having a Health board where you're not allowed to mention illness or a Relationships board where you're not allowed to mention the terms husband, partner etc or abbreviations.

b) Why on earth has MN, which has stood strong in defence of its female audience and userbase - without which it doesn't have a business - suddenly succumbed to an attack of what I can only say appears to be cowardice, straight after a judge and the EHRC have officially pronounced that women DO have the right to discuss sex and gender and have opinions on these things?

Why now??

Sorry but another no feminism is about women sex based rights

Sounds like this space is under threat. Do we need to start contingency planning a new online space? If Mumsnet are genuinely considering this, they are not so naive as to not understand the implications. Perhaps it is strategic?