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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Iowa mum attends school board meeting in matching outfit to Drag Queen school visitor.

58 replies

TheClogLady · 08/10/2022 11:48

An Iowa mother attended a school board meeting dressed up in the costume of a drag performer who had performed for students at the local high school. Kimberly Reiks went to the Ankeny School Board meeting wearing a black, high cut body suit, with one shoulder showing, and tall black boots.

Reiks' purpose was to show the school board what was being permitted at local schools, and to show that this was not at all acceptable for school-sponsored entertainment. Reiks, who is a founder of the local Mama Bears, demanded that the board apologize and pass a resolution "to make sure that this doesn't happen again on school grounds," the Des Moines Register reports.

eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/10/04/iowa-woman-wears-drag-school-board-meeting/8175521001/

thepostmillennial.com/mom-wears-skimpy-drag-queen-outfit-to-school-board-meeting-to-protest-explicit-performance-for-students

Iowa mum attends school board meeting in matching outfit to Drag Queen school visitor.
OP posts:
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DdraigGoch · 08/10/2022 18:06

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 08/10/2022 12:02

@Quartz2208 so often I look at the people I'm seemingly aligned with and I have to really question have I missed something massive? Like am I on the wrong side?

When as many as 95% of the population share the same view (that this is inappropriate), you're inevitably going to have quite a broad coalition.

Handsoffmyrights · 08/10/2022 17:33

The article in question: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-62639419

Handsoffmyrights · 08/10/2022 17:29

BBC's 'disinformation teams'
Oh the irony. 🤣

Handsoffmyrights · 08/10/2022 17:28

'Thank you for getting in touch about our article Supporters and protesters turn out at Oxford drag queen kids' storytime.

We think the article is clear that not all of those in attendance belong to far-right or conspiracy theory groups.

However it does make clear that the protests were planned and that “the personalities behind the demonstrations in Bristol and Reading are well known figures on conspiracy theory-based social media groups”.

It’s also explained that “among” the group was “Alpha Men Assemble” and, again, that doesn’t suggest they were exclusively the group there.

We know this because our disinformation teams have been following these groups for some time and, indeed, they live streamed their protest.'

Best wishes,
Sean Moss
BBC News website
www.bbc.co.uk/complaints

Handsoffmyrights · 08/10/2022 17:25

It is a deliberate strategy. I complained to the BBC after its article on the women protesting outside one of the DQST sessions were bagged up with militanr RW groups. I'll copy the response I got in another post.

Babasghost · 08/10/2022 16:34

MrsOvertonsWindow · 08/10/2022 16:19

It appears that they're determined that anything women say and do in relation to safeguarding children is stopped. Attempting to smear them as "wrongthinkers" is a common tactic.

I try to assume that these people are simply naive but given the exposure of the impact of queer theory in the paedophile scandal at the Tavistock, I'm starting to wonder whether it is actually more sinister.

I think it's a deliberate strategy.
Since I moved from the UK to Ireland it became really clear.In the UK accusing women who speak out of being right wing is an effective divide and conquer but it doesn't work in the much less liberal Ireland. Here the strategy is to say and woman in Ireland is English and therefore the oppressor.

It's super effective and I'd be willing to bet these local dividers are used wherever you go.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 08/10/2022 16:19

fluffinsalad · 08/10/2022 15:49

FFS! Why are more people bothered about the word align rather than what the actual post is about.

Its ridiculous!

She made her point well!

It appears that they're determined that anything women say and do in relation to safeguarding children is stopped. Attempting to smear them as "wrongthinkers" is a common tactic.

I try to assume that these people are simply naive but given the exposure of the impact of queer theory in the paedophile scandal at the Tavistock, I'm starting to wonder whether it is actually more sinister.

RufustheFloralmissingreindeer · 08/10/2022 16:12

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Anactor · 08/10/2022 16:11

“We don’t really have an equivalent to cheerleaders in UK culture, so it’s hard to imagine what it might be like in school context - hopefully not a bad as the little-girl pageant stuff (we don’t really have that either)!”

Incredibly gymnastic; nothing like the movies. It’s sort of a cross between circus skills and gymnastics, lots of teamwork, tumbling skills, some dance. Those skimpy outfits are usually sports clothes with a short skirt added over the shorts. Any guys will probably be in the equivalent of tracksuits, because they’ll be doing the strength work and major lifts.

FKATondelayo · 08/10/2022 15:52

I've tried to find what reprehensible views Iowa Mama Bears have that I am aligning with as no-one here will say what they are.

According to the statement on their private FB group it seems they are opposed to gun regulation and opposed to children wearing compulsory masks in schools. So perfectly mainstream views that many people (including liberals) in the USA and elsewhere have.

Is there anything I am missing?

fluffinsalad · 08/10/2022 15:49

FFS! Why are more people bothered about the word align rather than what the actual post is about.

Its ridiculous!

She made her point well!

BlueBrush · 08/10/2022 15:37

TheClogLady · 08/10/2022 15:23

What opinion could she have that would undermine our shared view that sexualised adult clothing and behaviours should be kept out of schools?

I can’t think of anything except finding out it was all a smokescreen she’s actually a Paedo? In which case I would just say that that’s horrifying she should be held fully legally accountable.

Even if she’s pro gun, Republican, a tradwife, a stripper, a Catholic who disagrees with a gay marriage and is anti abortion, who looks up to Steve Bannon and watches Pewdiepie on YouTube while eating offal and letting off carbon emissions and kicking puppies and stealing charity boxes…

it will still be true that adult sexualised behaviours have no place in schools

🤷‍♀️

Yes, very well put. And (now that my eyes have been opened to the paedophile manifesto) it's important not to let anyone hook "removing children's sexual boundaries" onto "being progressive and left wing".

Ponderingwindow · 08/10/2022 15:34

This is really effective.

the problem is not gender non-confirming clothing. Presenters who do not conform to stereotypes and present diverse ways of living can be positive role models. We want to get rid of the shackles of pink and blue.

the problem has always been that the presenters are not simply gender non-conforming, they present a sexualized caricature of females.

Handsoffmyrights · 08/10/2022 15:29

This is highly effective. Far more effective than anything so far. Good for her.

Whatever else she's part of, we are united on this issue. MRAs want to divide and conqueur.

TheClogLady · 08/10/2022 15:23

MumUndone · 08/10/2022 14:45

I agree. Just because someone does one thing you agree with, it's important to take a broad view of their actions and affiliations otherwise you could end up supporting someone who, on the whole, is not someone you ought to be supporting - and actually, that could end up undermining the message you are 'aligned' with (or providing support to those you are not).

What opinion could she have that would undermine our shared view that sexualised adult clothing and behaviours should be kept out of schools?

I can’t think of anything except finding out it was all a smokescreen she’s actually a Paedo? In which case I would just say that that’s horrifying she should be held fully legally accountable.

Even if she’s pro gun, Republican, a tradwife, a stripper, a Catholic who disagrees with a gay marriage and is anti abortion, who looks up to Steve Bannon and watches Pewdiepie on YouTube while eating offal and letting off carbon emissions and kicking puppies and stealing charity boxes…

it will still be true that adult sexualised behaviours have no place in schools

🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 08/10/2022 15:23

Great job

I have no idea on the club she is part of but the visual impact is effective

Ithoughtthiswastherehearsal · 08/10/2022 15:20

BlueBrush · 08/10/2022 12:07

There's a really important point here, and what this woman is doing makes it really well. The problem with drag queens performing to children is not about them being gay, and not about them being gender-non-conforming - it's that this is a sexualised form of entertainment which is inappropriate in a school, no matter who the performer is, or what their sex, gender identity or sexual orientation is.

This! A thousand times this!

RUFISRUF · 08/10/2022 15:17

RufustheFloralmissingreindeer · 08/10/2022 13:22

This notion that if you agree with someone on one issue, you are aligned with them on all issues is ridiculous

it is….and they still do it!

In that case, all those supporting gender ideology must be aligned with the pro pedophilia community?

NecessaryScene · 08/10/2022 15:15

If you're not aligned with this woman on this point. THEN you're aligned with groomers, those who wish to sexualise children and paedophiles.

That's OTT, but reminds me of something James Lindsay said the other day, in his latest Benjamin Boyce interview, wrt calling people "groomers".

When I use a label, I'm not classically an essentialist, but I want that word to capture the essence of what's going on.

And so why do I call people who are grooming "groomers"? I'm playing a little there, but the reason is they're groomers. They're essentially engaging in the psychological grooming of children.

So that's why. And I'm playing a little bit there, because... they've decided that racism can be structural, so I decided that grooming can be structural. If there's an entire apparatus that upholds a small number of people grooming, but most people aren't directly involved in grooming, aren't they structually groomers? According to their own logic, yes. And I do believe in that point from Alinsky, you should hold your opponent to their own standards.

swordfishspoons · 08/10/2022 15:12

As far as I can tell, all this 'you shouldn't be aligned with this person because X' is a deliberate tactic trying to shame women into not supporting other women who are trying to make children safer.

Women say 'no'. Child safety is too important.

I'm sure I don't agree with this woman on everything. Maybe she has views I find pretty awful on other issues. Don't care, child safety is my number 1 issue. It is for most Mums.

I don't agree with KJK on everything either but the more the MRAs try and tell me I shouldn't agree with her on child safety because she's right wing (or whatever other bollocks they've come up with) the more I realise that some people are ACTIVELY trying to undermine child safety and to attack those women trying to protect children from harm.

It's pretty clear that they don't see woman as fully human because they don't understand that we are - in fact- intelligent enough to understand nuance and - shock! - agree with some people on some issues but not others.

TheClogLady · 08/10/2022 15:08

deeperthanallroses · 08/10/2022 14:25

I think it is potentially a very effective strategy, but wouldn’t most parents there look at her and think the cheerleaders wear about that much and they have to try out to get into the squad and then all the other students watch them and clap?

I don’t entirely disagree with you but I do think there is a cultural/social difference between a cheer uniform or a sports/swimming outfit, or a gymnastics/ballet leotard even if the square inch body coverage isn’t much different.

Plus, an individual unknown-to-the-school adult dressed in a cheerleader costume on school premises is still a questionable situation and not really comparable to students of the school performing as a cheerleading team on a field/in a gym in their uniforms.

Would it be OK for this mum to turn up at the school board meeting wearing a cheerleading costume? I reckon it would still be pretty inappropriate.

What if she dressed as cheerleader to volunteer for the PTA? Or to chaperone a dance?
Or to perform on a stage for a group of teenagers who have been ‘grouped’ together on the basis of adult-world themes of sexual orientation and cross gendered presentation?

Would it be appropriate for one of the teachers to wear a cheerleader costume to teach a class?
How about the black leotard and boots outfit?

And even without all that context I desperately hope a school cheer squad is less adult-themed-provocative in both costume and movement than the professional squads are and if not, that’s a problem that needs to be looked at too!

We don’t really have an equivalent to cheerleaders in UK culture, so it’s hard to imagine what it might be like in school context - hopefully not a bad as the little-girl pageant stuff (we don’t really have that either)!

OP posts:
swordfishspoons · 08/10/2022 15:04

I mean, by this standard of needing to be totally 'aligned' all vegetarians also agree with the genocide of Jews (Hitler was a vegetarian). Which is obviously utterly ridiculous.

ItsLateHumpty · 08/10/2022 14:57

MumUndone · 08/10/2022 14:45

I agree. Just because someone does one thing you agree with, it's important to take a broad view of their actions and affiliations otherwise you could end up supporting someone who, on the whole, is not someone you ought to be supporting - and actually, that could end up undermining the message you are 'aligned' with (or providing support to those you are not).

I like to hold my breath while swimming under water. I hope you don’t drown whilst trying to decide if I’m pure enough to agree with 🤦‍♀️🙄

swordfishspoons · 08/10/2022 14:55

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greektreacle · 08/10/2022 14:55

TheClogLady · 08/10/2022 11:56

Not all sheroes wear capes.

Crazy that the most effective way for a woman to get her serious point across is to STILL to dress like a man while she’s making it (only now that means dressing as a man wearing sexy-female-sterotype-clothing, rather than the traditional Thatcher style power suit) but here we are.

Gosh this

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