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Zoe Williams -

208 replies

Sizzlysausage · 09/01/2024 13:46

Kate doesn’t want Prince George to go to Eton – and for once I agree with her | Zoe Williams | The Guardian

Sorry if there is another thread on this article by Zoe Williams which is rather extraordinary on a number of counts, but especially confusing is the following:

"Which isn’t to say that nothing good came of it – my experience of an all-girls’ school, followed by twice as long as a trustee of a prison charity, informed a lot of my politics, including why I became a transgender ally. Before I had thought seriously about trans rights, and the immeasurable preciousness of any human being with the courage to live their most meaningful and truthful life, I thought: “Wait, are you saying all-female spaces are kinder? Purer? Inherently less violent? More supportive? Are you joking? Are you out of your mind?”"

I think I might be struggling with my comprehension today - but I don't think gender critical feminists are necessarily saying all-female spaces are kinder or purer - although, yes, almost certainly inherently less violent. It seems like a conflation of different points flung together to construct a straw man argument and entirely misunderstanding safeguarding as a concept in the process. Is this deliberate? Or is she not able to see this? Baffling.

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NoBinturongsHereMate · 09/01/2024 14:51

Woe has never given me the impression of being very bright, or given to thinking.

ValerieDoonican · 09/01/2024 14:40

My all girls school was shitty at times too Zoe, and there was a fair bit of bullying.

Do I think it would have been improved by the presence of males (identifying as either gender)? No.

Tinysoxxx · 09/01/2024 14:33

Hi Zoe

My ‘GC’ views as a mum and biology teacher who’s worked and grown up in single sex and mixed sex workplaces and schools:

are you saying all-female spaces are kinder? no. Very much dependent on so many factors and varies widely amongst classes let alone year groups.

Purer? yes if you are talking physically: In schools at least one rape happens in a British school each day. For girls schools, other pupils won’t be perpetrators. Don’t know statistics on boys schools.

Inherently less violent? yes. Males of all species I can think of off the top of my head are more aggressive. Edit: Preying mantis and a few other insects exceptions

More supportive? no (see kinder)

Are you joking? no

Are you out of your mind? No

Ofcourseshecan · 09/01/2024 14:17

Zoe Williams wrote in the Guardian, after John Major unexpectedly won the 1992 general election for the Tories, that she counted herself among those who wore badges saying “Don’t blame me, I voted Labour”.

Then she admitted she hadn’t bothered to vote.

That disastrous Tory government privatised the railways, causing the present shambles, among other disasters.

I’ve never taken any notice of her since then.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 09/01/2024 13:58

Seems to be up for the Golden Shoehorn award.

Menstrualcycledisplayteam · 09/01/2024 13:56

I think biological female journalists at The Guardian are now required to insert at least one "I'm not GC, honest" reference into all of their articles lest they be Suzanne Moore-d.

maltravers · 09/01/2024 13:53

She was the trustee of a prison charity and still thinks those with penises should be housed with women prisoners?

FKAT · 09/01/2024 13:50

"...are you saying all-female spaces are kinder? Purer? Inherently less violent?"

They are though. Women are less violent than men to a huge degree and it's disturbing a prison trustee doesn't know that.

Interesting perspective on the reasons behind very privileged women being TRAS though. They had a horrid time at their all girls schools.

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