Please or to access all these features

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Help me reply to my "BeKind" brother in NZ, please!

177 replies

Fubbs · 28/03/2023 09:34

I'm in a WhatsApp group with my Dad (in Ireland, as I am) and brother (in NZ for years). I've been trying to explain what's been happening to women's rights but it's ended up that they have expressed compassion for Barbie Kardashian so I've plainly failed (although my Dad did post that Monty Python "because I say I am" speech so I think he's not totally on board).

(Bit of a lead up to it, before that particular part of the conversation, I got the "KJK is a Nazi, not welcome here" line from my brother. I pointed out she'd been attacked and Nazis were in Australia and he didn't mention that and denied the Nazis were there and said there were more protesters than attendees at the Auckland Let Women Speak meeting (I think that proves KJK isn't popular for him). He didn't bother reading thecountess.ie for a very good summary of the issues. He's married with a wife, two boys and a girl. I'm married, two boys).

I asked why it was okay to house a violent man (to be fair, my brother hasn't tried to correct my sex-based pronoun use) with women and he gave me "prison authorities are doing their best for everyone), I countered that women have rights too and that includes single sex spaces. Final message so far (there's quite a time delay) and woke up (I'd my phone on silent, I've been waking at night in turmoil that he doesn't see it and is happy to basically throw me to the wolves):

"Yes, your position has been made clear.

need legal (legislative, judicial, enforcement) society/facilities/legal institutions to figure the mess out for all.

An example I shared earlier about professional level sports bodies [athletics] making a deision, regarding competing, shows it is possible but even that is not the end of it but a single step in a conversation, a process, an evolution.

It will not be straightworward nor easy nor quick but it will requre a lot of hard work from everybody on a good faith basis, because that is where most of us are and I hope not in a bad actor basis because that is the horrific but rare example, abhorrent to all"

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
FOJN · 28/03/2023 09:45

Don't stay up arguing over text just to have the last word or be right.

Go to bed, sleep and formulate arguments for any future discussions when you're well rested.

It's a long fight, you don't need to convince him today.

Fubbs · 28/03/2023 09:42

Sorry it's so long!

I was thinking of replying that women's rights are to protect ALL women from ALL men. Not all women need protection and not all men are a problem but the protections are required (like children should be protected from all adults). These rights are based on sex.

Women's rights are not there to be coopted by anyone not a woman, once a single biological man steps over that boundary, there are no more women's rights. Like biological males in female sport mean there is a male category and a mixed category.

Women's rights make it easier to see the wrong uns - good men stay out so bad men stand out.

Women's rights do not exist until a man decides otherwise, for whatever their reason. Why are women's rights the ones to suffer?

Single bad actor? As if! And why do women have to be the ones to prove who is a good or a bad actor?

You see, I'm getting a bit incoherent, I'm so tired! Please help me put it as clearly as possible and as concisely as possible so I might get some sleep!

Forgot to say, emphasis in DBs message his own.

OP posts: