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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Can MNHQ set up a new discussion category called Feminism: sex & gender discussion (inclusive, non-GC)

867 replies

PlanetLuna · 04/04/2023 14:59

MN, will you please create a talk group/category of Feminism: sex & gender discussion (inclusive, non-GC)?

MN appears to currently have only 2 feminism categories:
Feminism: chat
Feminism: sex & gender discussions

But the Feminism: sex & gender category on MN is predominantly GC, with its emphasis on trans exclusion ideology. Feminists who do not subscribe to those beliefs are often unwelcome and treated with derision and hostility in discussions. Certainly not always as some GC posters do enjoy open, intellectual discussions but often enough that engagement can be toxic & intimidating all around.

It is almost impossible for non-GC feminists to find inclusive/non-GC feminist discussions, and we have to wade through unpleasant (for us) GC threads while attempting to do so.

GC feminism dominates on UK parenting sites in particular. However, inclusive/non-GC feminism is extremely popular around the world (especially in places like the US, NZ, and AU) and in the UK among younger feminists and those who do not see trans rights as a threat to women & girls’ safety. Many UK feminists are non-GC but may feel silenced on MN.

The addition of another category will help open up and improve MN discussions while reducing the toxicity and hostility that many feminists on both sides experience in discussions.

So I propose the following feminism discussion categories:
Feminism: chat (general)
Feminism: sex & gender discussions (GC)
Feminism: sex & gender discussion (inclusive, non-GC)

@MNHQ

OP posts:
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27
Lolaandbehold · 04/04/2023 20:49

PlanetLuna · 04/04/2023 14:59

MN, will you please create a talk group/category of Feminism: sex & gender discussion (inclusive, non-GC)?

MN appears to currently have only 2 feminism categories:
Feminism: chat
Feminism: sex & gender discussions

But the Feminism: sex & gender category on MN is predominantly GC, with its emphasis on trans exclusion ideology. Feminists who do not subscribe to those beliefs are often unwelcome and treated with derision and hostility in discussions. Certainly not always as some GC posters do enjoy open, intellectual discussions but often enough that engagement can be toxic & intimidating all around.

It is almost impossible for non-GC feminists to find inclusive/non-GC feminist discussions, and we have to wade through unpleasant (for us) GC threads while attempting to do so.

GC feminism dominates on UK parenting sites in particular. However, inclusive/non-GC feminism is extremely popular around the world (especially in places like the US, NZ, and AU) and in the UK among younger feminists and those who do not see trans rights as a threat to women & girls’ safety. Many UK feminists are non-GC but may feel silenced on MN.

The addition of another category will help open up and improve MN discussions while reducing the toxicity and hostility that many feminists on both sides experience in discussions.

So I propose the following feminism discussion categories:
Feminism: chat (general)
Feminism: sex & gender discussions (GC)
Feminism: sex & gender discussion (inclusive, non-GC)

@MNHQ

Reddit? They seem to favour ideology over biological reality over there.

ArabellaScott · 04/04/2023 20:48

the most feminist and genuinely gender critical spaces are the fantastic, progressive and feminist/LGBTQ spaces

How is it 'gender critical' to say we are on a spectrum between Barbie and GI Joe?

How is it addressing stereotypes to say that if a girl likes football, short hair and - gasp - other girls that she might be in fact, male?

jeffgoldblum · 04/04/2023 20:47

Thank you @Whaeanui , you and I don't agree on some subjects 😉, however we can debate without personal insults.
On this subject we do agree!
Women's rights should never be used as a vehicle to start a bunfight on Mumsnet.

Whaeanui · 04/04/2023 20:47

PlanetLuna · 04/04/2023 17:03

@Helleofabore
Thanks for stalking me, but you don’t know what you’re talking about.

The post MN deleted wasn’t offensive as pointed out by the person who was the recipient of it.

The other threads I asked to have deleted. One was a positive comment about the King’s recent trip with a snarky comment about QC Camilla & a related photo. The others were positive but I had them all deleted to withdraw from the thread.

Just to make it clear here, the post @PlanetLuna asked to have removed was her spreading a claim from Twitter that Camilla had performed a white supremacist gesture- the ‘a ok’ sign! Like Posie was recently. She did say it was ‘probably rubbish’ but given the threads on the same thing happening to Posie here, not sure I’m convinced anymore actually, @jeffgoldblum what do you think?

TheGreatATuin · 04/04/2023 20:45

And this is JK Rowling quite publicly telling Matt Walsh to back off because he doesn't understand the issue.
https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1546141988139016194
We do actually read these things for ourselves, you know.
Although loving the claim that Julie Bindel is somehow right wing because at some point she had her picture taken next to someone 🤣🤣🤣. That's given me a right laugh.

https://twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1546141988139016194

EndlessTea · 04/04/2023 20:43

Wow 23 pages and only started this afternoon

myveryownelectrickitten · 04/04/2023 20:43

@PlanetLuna

So what you (and others here) really want, is a board where you can start discussions about GC views and right wing issues — but without any actual GC feminists popping in to correct you when statements are made like “GC feminists want to police women’s bodily autonomy” or “GC views are right wing”?

Sounds - not very reasonable, really.

Helleofabore · 04/04/2023 20:42

Ah. So no evidence of far right . Just name dropping and say so.

Sounds like the usual.

Brefugee · 04/04/2023 20:42

If you just want people to validate your views, go onto Twitter and follow some TRAs and tell them that the feminists on Mumsnet are being mean - you can call us feminazis so they know you're not TERFy.

🙄 that is so old fashioned

it's Feminazgûl now, thank you

Whaeanui · 04/04/2023 20:42

@PlanetLuna I didn’t insult you! Gosh you are very defensive for someone who started a thread on a board to insult it! Which you absolutely did. I didn’t criticise the fact you like to go specifically to boards and debate from a different viewpoint, as I said, I think though that a message to MN posted here to the whole board while complaining about the women here is quite obviously done to provoke people. I don’t think you understand the difference between differences of opinion and insults. Your comments to @jeffgoldblum were really nasty actually, I’ve disagreed a lot on that board but never resorted to that, and you also were the one to raise that silly ridiculous accusation about Camilla being accused of doing a white supremacy gesture, as Posie Parker was also. You remember me defending you don’t you? Despite it being a horrible thing to spread, I was the one calming the situation down and giving you the benefit of the doubt it wasn’t deliberate. Maybe I was wrong about that.

AlisonDonut · 04/04/2023 20:40

onegirlandherdog · 04/04/2023 20:35

Sure, and my last post.

Julie Bindel smiling and having her photo taken with The Heritage Foundation.
Kathleen Stock discussing with people on twitter that hanging out with an anti-choice campaigner is fine.
JK Rowling praising Matt Walsh's transphobic and extreme right wing film saying 'you make some good points' in front of her millions of followers. This can all be easily found on twitter and probably elsewhere.

How do I know this and why do I care? I'm a lifelong feminist and anti - fascism campaigner, utterly horrified at the overlaps of transphobia/right activity that are happening. I'm also someone who was a bit sucked into the views of Germain Greer 20 odd years ago, uncritically nodding along to her transphobic chapter. Luckily it didn't last long, but it's why I noticed when those same views started popping up on here a few years ago - and of course all across the mainstream media. Anyway, the most feminist and genuinely gender critical spaces are the fantastic, progressive and feminist/LGBTQ spaces and I will standing in solidarity with my trans feminist friends.

But you are hanging out here with a bunch of apparently 'far right' extremists [women who believe in the existence of biological sex].

So what does that make you?

IwantToRetire · 04/04/2023 20:40

Its funny that those who dont want to talk about being gender critical and want more "general" feminist discussions dont in fact join threads that are posted where they could do that.

Without in any way claiming that no one else is doing this, here is a list a threads I recently started (note to self maybe too many!) which aren't about trans identity, and I dont remember seeing any of those complaining about GC feminism dominating this forum contributing.

Funny that, it might seem like they are looking for threads they can take offense to.

All of those complaining they are hemmed in and unable to have feminist discusions please feel free to add comments to any of these:
Rape cases in armed forces double in two years
Suella Braverman vows to stamp out grooming gangs behind organised child sex abuse
Asleep at the Wheel: An Examination of Gender and Safeguarding in Schools - Policy Exchange
Feminist Women International - newly formed group
Berlin welcomes topless female swimmers in victory for activists
Don’t politicise Relationships, Sex & Health Education, 50+ VAWG experts warn
Not just the Met: Fury as Kent Police class rape and sexual assault as 'non-emergency' crimes
New study finds that by the time people reach 26 they do realise that their mum was right
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown defends Fiona Bruce
3 March 2023 17:30 ~ Vigil for Murdered Women – For Women Lancashire
Putting Lesbians Back in Focus - one day workshop by new group the Lesbian Project
Minimum age for marriage raised to 18 from 16

EmotionalSupportHyena · 04/04/2023 20:36

onegirlandherdog · 04/04/2023 20:35

Sure, and my last post.

Julie Bindel smiling and having her photo taken with The Heritage Foundation.
Kathleen Stock discussing with people on twitter that hanging out with an anti-choice campaigner is fine.
JK Rowling praising Matt Walsh's transphobic and extreme right wing film saying 'you make some good points' in front of her millions of followers. This can all be easily found on twitter and probably elsewhere.

How do I know this and why do I care? I'm a lifelong feminist and anti - fascism campaigner, utterly horrified at the overlaps of transphobia/right activity that are happening. I'm also someone who was a bit sucked into the views of Germain Greer 20 odd years ago, uncritically nodding along to her transphobic chapter. Luckily it didn't last long, but it's why I noticed when those same views started popping up on here a few years ago - and of course all across the mainstream media. Anyway, the most feminist and genuinely gender critical spaces are the fantastic, progressive and feminist/LGBTQ spaces and I will standing in solidarity with my trans feminist friends.

photo taken with who at the heritage foundation?

please supply links.

TheGreatATuin · 04/04/2023 20:36

onegirlandherdog · 04/04/2023 20:16

@EmotionalSupportHyena Julie Bindel was hanging out with the Heritage Foundation and Kathleen Stock was praising anti - abortion campaigners on twitter!! JK Rowling praised Matt Walsh - a fascist who openly discusses the fertility of teenage girls - in front of her millions of twitter followers. I can tell which people are the feminists and it isn't this lot.

We in the usual upside down land. This is nonsense, based on nothing but incredible reaches of what was actually said We're getting to the point where just any old mud is slung, never mind whether it has any bearing to reality.
This is why a separate board is not only a bad idea but just won't work.
I can see why non-GC want a space where they can make whatever ridiculous claims they want and not be challenged, but that's not MN.
If you want to find a place where you can stay in your own little bubble, spout spurious accusations and everyone nods along, try a private Facebook group perhaps. A public forum with a culture of strong debate wont give you that.

RosaBonheur · 04/04/2023 20:35

Honestly, the absolute brass neck of accusing gender critical feminists of being far right adjacent when trans activists are literally showing up to protest at women's rights events wearing balaclavas and armed with weapons.

midgemadgemodge · 04/04/2023 20:35

GC means reject the gender norm op

What part of that don't you get when you mistakenly assert that gender critical people want to enforce a gender binary

onegirlandherdog · 04/04/2023 20:35

RoseslnTheHospital · 04/04/2023 20:24

Can you be specific about these claims, forgive my cynicism. What constitutes "hanging out" with the Heritage Foundation? What exactly did Kathleen Stock say to whom? What was JKRs specific praising of Matt Walsh?

Sure, and my last post.

Julie Bindel smiling and having her photo taken with The Heritage Foundation.
Kathleen Stock discussing with people on twitter that hanging out with an anti-choice campaigner is fine.
JK Rowling praising Matt Walsh's transphobic and extreme right wing film saying 'you make some good points' in front of her millions of followers. This can all be easily found on twitter and probably elsewhere.

How do I know this and why do I care? I'm a lifelong feminist and anti - fascism campaigner, utterly horrified at the overlaps of transphobia/right activity that are happening. I'm also someone who was a bit sucked into the views of Germain Greer 20 odd years ago, uncritically nodding along to her transphobic chapter. Luckily it didn't last long, but it's why I noticed when those same views started popping up on here a few years ago - and of course all across the mainstream media. Anyway, the most feminist and genuinely gender critical spaces are the fantastic, progressive and feminist/LGBTQ spaces and I will standing in solidarity with my trans feminist friends.

EmotionalSupportHyena · 04/04/2023 20:35

onegirlandherdog · 04/04/2023 20:16

@EmotionalSupportHyena Julie Bindel was hanging out with the Heritage Foundation and Kathleen Stock was praising anti - abortion campaigners on twitter!! JK Rowling praised Matt Walsh - a fascist who openly discusses the fertility of teenage girls - in front of her millions of twitter followers. I can tell which people are the feminists and it isn't this lot.

Are you really trying to say that Julie Bindel is gender conforming? 😂😂😂

and do you have a source for your claims about Bindel and the heritage foundation? Because I think you are getting your left wing lesbians a bit muddled up here (you mean WoLF?)

And same for Stock, which anti abortionists and what exactly did she say?

As for Walsh, the man’s a knob and not remotely feminist but the ‘Does a chicken have a gender identity, does a chicken cry?’ clip was pure genius.

You seem to be unthinkingly
mapping American politics onto the UK, btw. There is an American feminist on the thread already who has pointed out that Brits rarely understand the specifics of US culture, law, politics and religion in relation to the trans encroachment on womens sex based rights accurately. I suspect you are one of them?

PlanetLuna · 04/04/2023 20:34

Whaeanui · 04/04/2023 19:40

Funnily enough @PlanetLuna I pointed this out to you earlier and as you know, @jeffgoldblum and I tend to come from different perspectives on the royal board but are saying the same thing to you! You’re fine over there in very heated discussions with the vast majority not agreeing with your views, as you often point out and I don’t think you’ve called for that board to be divided up? You’ve started this thread and insulted the entire board and regular users from the get go but are surprised or offended by the tone of responses? I think you knew exactly what response you would get and just like the drama of wading into a board where your view is the minority opinion. It’s literally what you do every day. No issue with that myself but I just think your thread is disingenuous and deliberately goady.

@Whaeanui
You are completely off base with this personal attack. It is uncalled for.

My request to MN was in no way an insult or personal attack on anyway.

You don’t have to like my op or agree with it. But you are choosing to go out of your way to be personally insulting because I’ve espoused a non-GC pov with which you disagree.

Yes I am capable of saying a lot more and very colourfully but I’d prefer not to engage with you further on this and won’t.

OP posts:
MandyMotherOfBrian · 04/04/2023 20:27

onegirlandherdog · 04/04/2023 18:06

And completely agree with poster above that there needs to be much more robust discussion about the CG overlaps with far right groups - like PA in UK and Proud Boys in US - and anti-feminist/anti-abortion groups, especially amongst the hordes of GC men on twitter. There's definitely a threat to women's bodily autonomy looming and it isn't from trans people!

OMG, agin and agin, GC is Right Wing adjacent? It was only a couple of days ago that GC was apparently Communist adjacent. Make your fucking mind up.

OldCrone · 04/04/2023 20:25

The reason far right groups overlap with GC groups is because a key part of fascist ideology is about policing gender and denying bodily autonomy to women - trans or cisgender - and basically anyone else who doesn't fit a strict, readily identifiable gender binary. Which is exactly what GC people are also doing.

@onegirlandherdog In what way do you think feminists are "policing gender and denying bodily autonomy to women"? That's the opposite of feminism.

And what makes you think that feminists want everyone to fit a "readily identifiable gender binary"?

How can you read anything on here and think this is what we are arguing for?

RoseslnTheHospital · 04/04/2023 20:24

onegirlandherdog · 04/04/2023 20:16

@EmotionalSupportHyena Julie Bindel was hanging out with the Heritage Foundation and Kathleen Stock was praising anti - abortion campaigners on twitter!! JK Rowling praised Matt Walsh - a fascist who openly discusses the fertility of teenage girls - in front of her millions of twitter followers. I can tell which people are the feminists and it isn't this lot.

Can you be specific about these claims, forgive my cynicism. What constitutes "hanging out" with the Heritage Foundation? What exactly did Kathleen Stock say to whom? What was JKRs specific praising of Matt Walsh?

midgemadgemodge · 04/04/2023 20:22

Feminists are not having a go anyone who doesn't fit the gender binary

In general they would praise anyone who rejects the gender binary or any other form of gender

The more people who reject gender binary the better

What they do insist is that sex is binary and sometimes sex matter

RosaBonheur · 04/04/2023 20:20

onegirlandherdog · 04/04/2023 20:16

@EmotionalSupportHyena Julie Bindel was hanging out with the Heritage Foundation and Kathleen Stock was praising anti - abortion campaigners on twitter!! JK Rowling praised Matt Walsh - a fascist who openly discusses the fertility of teenage girls - in front of her millions of twitter followers. I can tell which people are the feminists and it isn't this lot.

🙄

myveryownelectrickitten · 04/04/2023 20:19

How annoying: autocarrot corrects Soho to SoHo on my phone. Bloody Americanisms everywhere!