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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Has MN become just another platform that silences women?

172 replies

Sparklybutold · 13/09/2022 23:23

www.newstatesman.com/politics/media/2022/05/mumsnets-founder-justine-roberts-it-is-a-place-where-women-can-speak-the-truth

What are your thoughts? Interesting piece above but my experience using MN has seen threads being deleted if women actually talk about there experiences within the real world. It feels that ‘hate speech’ has become muddled with the political agenda to silence women who dare to speak there truth.

OP posts:
AdamRyan · 15/09/2022 12:13

WanOvaryKenobi · 15/09/2022 11:09

What is your evidence that people are 'born in the wrong body'?

How can someone be 'born in the wrong body'?

Are you suggesting that, somehow, there is a separation between internal identity and the body? That sounds like a concept akin to a soul. Which most people think is completely unscientific. Because it is. You can't evidence that.

Or are you suggesting that, somehow, the brain is not part of the body? Other than being a Cartesian philosophical thought experiment, again, no evidence for that either.

She is very clearly saying she has personally observed a number of people who persistently describe themselves as "in the wrong body".
That's entirely consistent with what medical professionals and researchers are saying.

She's not saying anything about whether people are actually born in the wrong body, just they feel they are.

Your reply again illustrates what she's talking about. Jumping straight to "no such thing" rather than talking about the reasons why people say the feel "in the wrong body". Not helpful.

WanOvaryKenobi · 15/09/2022 11:09

bellac11 · 14/09/2022 22:59

Yes Ive found this, I happened to mention on one thread that I do accept there are people that feel that they are born 'in the wrong body' as they might describe it.

I feel there is a big difference between people that presented like that as children and those who almost pick it up as an affectation in teen years, Ive worked with so many children like this over the last 30 years and there is a big difference. The former is a very small number of course.

But neverthless the responses to me were outright rude, sneery, talking to me as if I was stupid. Completely unecessary. It wasnt even a discussion about that, it was about something else within the current ideology of gender.

What is your evidence that people are 'born in the wrong body'?

How can someone be 'born in the wrong body'?

Are you suggesting that, somehow, there is a separation between internal identity and the body? That sounds like a concept akin to a soul. Which most people think is completely unscientific. Because it is. You can't evidence that.

Or are you suggesting that, somehow, the brain is not part of the body? Other than being a Cartesian philosophical thought experiment, again, no evidence for that either.

WanOvaryKenobi · 15/09/2022 11:05

Wildflowercottage · 14/09/2022 12:25

If anyone out there wants to come and discuss this from an alternative point of view, please, please do so! Just don't come in an expect automatic agreement or fawning abeisance, because we don't do that. Bring your logic, evidence and willingness to question and be asked questions. That's all.

I would love it if this was the case, but I'm definitely someone who doesn't feel comfortable offering my opinion on this part of Mumsnet.
Unfortunately, the many previous times I've attempted to join a discussion, I've been met with quite a bit of unpleasantness that has led me to just leave the conversation. I think that people on this board are so passionate and knowledgable about their beliefs, opinions etc, and whilst that's fantastic for them, I don't think it leaves much/any space for people like me with differing opinions, which I do find a pity.

So, your issue is you try to join a debate but the people with differing opinions are too knowledgeable for you?

That's actually laughable.

That sounds like a you problem, frankly. If you can't argue a position based on evidence, that suggests your conclusions are wrong.

DrBlackbird · 15/09/2022 10:58

When I first began to realise what was going on (Anarchist book fair incident) I found it hard to discover any background information at all. It was only when I got to mumsnet that I realised these things had been happening for some time. There must be many others like me

It was JKR’s essay on Self ID / being labelled transphobic that triggered my search into the issues. It’s on these threads that I’ve witnessed some incredible debates and learned so much.

TheKeatingFive · 15/09/2022 10:12

Hmm I see a sensible thread on the topic, expressing incredulity at how far the TRA movement had gone has just been taken down in AIBU. That's a real shame as more and more women are wanting to talk this out.

I accept the title of the thread in question may have been problematic, but surely that could have been changed rather than stopping the discussion altogether?

AdamRyan · 15/09/2022 08:56

What's a trans person patti? If you could offer a rational, biology-based and intellectually strong argument that didn't require us to accept that humans can change sex/ that people can be born into the wrong body/ that gender is anything more than a feeling that is difficult to describe that would be great 👍

pattihews · 15/09/2022 08:42

Perhaps those of you who feel your pro-trans views would like to ask some questions of the transman on this thread, who is also GC:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4633855-im-trans-and-i-fully-support-jkr-and-disagree-with-the-eradication-of-womens-spaces?page=2

As you'll see, thoughtful GC people (which I think the majority here are) support transpeople and trans rights.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 15/09/2022 08:38

Matters came to a head for Mumsnet in 2018 when Emma Healy, a former intern, tweeted that the “vast majority” of discussions about trans issues on the site “descend into scaremongering and hate speech”. She wrote that Mumsnet made “no attempt to keep this discussion civil or polite”, and that criticism was dismissed by senior staff as a “smear campaign by trans activists”.

No mention that she illegally shared posters' IP addresses on Twitter then.

pattihews · 15/09/2022 08:37

Sonnex · 14/09/2022 23:02

Let's test it. 60 year old blokes in miniskirts and fishnets are AGP.

Good luck. I've tried every variation I can think of, from the formal term to polite descriptors, and I've been taken down every time. I change my name every week or two in the hope that it's the name people are tracking and still it happens!

pattihews · 15/09/2022 08:32

Wildflowercottage · 14/09/2022 13:39

Think my fingers typed faster than my brain could speak there, sorry. I mean that I wish it were the case that most people on this board did want to hear another opinion/point of view without things getting nasty.

If you could offer a rational, biology-based and intellectually strong argument that didn't require us to accept that humans can change sex/ that people can be born into the wrong body/ that gender is anything more than a feeling that is difficult to describe/ that didn't require us to change the meaning of words that have been in common use for 800 years/ that didn't impinge on women's rights, a lot of us would love to hear it. We've been longing to hear it for years because if you could trump our arguments with yours, many of us are the kind of people who'd say 'Yes, I can see that makes sense and I'm going to change my mind in light of the argument you've put before me.'

Sadly, that hasn't yet happened. We ask difficult questions because we're testing our own ideas as well as yours.

TheKeatingFive · 15/09/2022 08:23

Has Twitter changed then? Because you certainly can post GC views there nowadays.

FlippertyGibberts · 15/09/2022 07:22

I think MN has allowed discussion about some complex and divisive comments to take place, at least in some form. And I don't think that has been an easy thing for them to do.

But I was subject to a 'Not in the spirit' deletion message recently for what was a mildly annoyed comment on an uncontroversial thread. I've stopped myself from posting sometimes since then in case it 'isn't in the spirit', but I'm a bit baffled by the whole thing TBH.

RadicalisedByMumzNet · 14/09/2022 23:49

MN and the FWR boards completely changed my views, because of the robust defence and discussions.

Whatsthepointofmosquitos · 14/09/2022 23:36

ImherewithBoudica · 14/09/2022 08:17

Yes, women are silenced and forced to co operate with the One True Faith to a large extent in discussions, however by the strong modding Justine has enabled a conversation to go on here that hasn't been had by women anywhere else. It's had a price for MNHQ, I appreciate very much the difficult line they walk here and I suspect we have no idea of the mess they soak up in the background from those who think women shouldn't be allowed to talk at all.

This.

For a long time Mumsnet was the only place I knew where you could speak truth on trans issues without getting desth threats etc

ImNotAnExpert · 14/09/2022 23:13

I would agree that there are a tiny, tiny number of children who are strongly 'gender incongruent' from a very young age.

I'm quite surprised that anyone would have been rude or sneery at you for making this point, tbh. It's not all that contentious.

TheKeatingFive · 14/09/2022 23:07

But neverthless the responses to me were outright rude, sneery, talking to me as if I was stupid. Completely unecessary.

If you have a point you believe in, stay and defend it. I think it's too easy for posters to blame the 'tone' of posters disagreeing with them. There are talk guidelines and posts that break them are deleted. Beyond that, robust debate will help you with your arguments, so use it to your advantage.

Well reasoned, solidly backed up points stand for themselves, regardless of anything going on around them. Have the courage of your convictions.

Sonnex · 14/09/2022 23:02

Let's test it. 60 year old blokes in miniskirts and fishnets are AGP.

bellac11 · 14/09/2022 22:59

Wildflowercottage · 14/09/2022 12:25

If anyone out there wants to come and discuss this from an alternative point of view, please, please do so! Just don't come in an expect automatic agreement or fawning abeisance, because we don't do that. Bring your logic, evidence and willingness to question and be asked questions. That's all.

I would love it if this was the case, but I'm definitely someone who doesn't feel comfortable offering my opinion on this part of Mumsnet.
Unfortunately, the many previous times I've attempted to join a discussion, I've been met with quite a bit of unpleasantness that has led me to just leave the conversation. I think that people on this board are so passionate and knowledgable about their beliefs, opinions etc, and whilst that's fantastic for them, I don't think it leaves much/any space for people like me with differing opinions, which I do find a pity.

Yes Ive found this, I happened to mention on one thread that I do accept there are people that feel that they are born 'in the wrong body' as they might describe it.

I feel there is a big difference between people that presented like that as children and those who almost pick it up as an affectation in teen years, Ive worked with so many children like this over the last 30 years and there is a big difference. The former is a very small number of course.

But neverthless the responses to me were outright rude, sneery, talking to me as if I was stupid. Completely unecessary. It wasnt even a discussion about that, it was about something else within the current ideology of gender.

pattihews · 14/09/2022 22:51

I've been deleted innumerable times over the years and it rankles that women still can't speak about the three-letter issue that cannot be named here on MN.

And still I celebrate the fact that US transactivists name MN as the reason they haven't been able to take total control here in the UK.

WarriorN · 14/09/2022 21:50

Although I have been able to learn a lot and share info and reflections too on this subject.

And it's the forum I return to.

It went a bit wonky when they split the topics though.

I get deleted a lot here after I've been too used to saying what I want to on Twitter

WarriorN · 14/09/2022 21:49

Yes and no.

I'm not allowed to use the c word for WPATH.

FireSideCat · 14/09/2022 21:16

Nope. Mumsnet has certainly been a tremendous public magnifying glass exposing the general bullshit the female sex are up against on a daily basis. Whether it is F4J or wokery fuckery or red pill nutballs, all have tried, in every way they can think of, to bring Justine down and silence women. They have failed and exposed their own silliness in the process so far from silencing women, Mumsnet has helped show the world what depths men will sink to in the pursuit of silencing women. Thank you Justine and MNHQ.

BoreOfWhabylon · 14/09/2022 21:02

MrsOvertonsWindow · 14/09/2022 09:01

Despite the deletions, I'm very aware that this is a place where women are permitted to speak (carefully) about certain issues and am personally very grateful to MNHQ for taking this stance on freedom of speech. Just look at what happens in the NHS, universities, schools and the law with untruths and fantasies being presented as reality and dissent being brutally sanctioned.

Mumsnet is not the problem - it's actually part of the solution.

I agree.

ImNotAnExpert · 14/09/2022 20:50

I also think there are various scenarios where sex isn't relevant

Absolutely agree. But as Errol says, if sex isn't relevant then you aren't treating someone 'as a woman', are you? Just as a person.