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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Why aren’t we using our democratic right to protest?

129 replies

WhiteVelvet · 29/02/2024 21:45

We have a democratic right to protest in the UK.

We have the right to publicly protest for our biological sex rights to be upheld.

Other than a small but dedicated group of people under KJKs movement, women have not taken to the streets. In numbers, there is safety.

So why aren’t we?

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SoupDragonsFriend · 01/03/2024 20:25

Can someone point me in the direction of any old discussions that might explain the divisions that came about between different GC factions that have been mentioned on here? I'd just like to catch up and understand what went on. Thanks.

Leafstamp · 01/03/2024 20:05

Just thinking out loud: I’m inclined to agree with a PP that getting more people to attend KJK’s LWS events would be a start.

Also, whether it’s LWS events or something else, I think leadership and instruction/encouragement from said leadership is needed to galvanise people. And in numbers.

So eg would/could the leaders of the various GC groups get together and agree to encourage their members and supporters to attend X protest on Y date.

Another thought I’ve had - related to the tipping point perhaps - is that it will take a Big Thing to spur people on to turn up to a march. Maybe that Big (enough) Thing hasn’t happened yet. Not that we necessarily want to wish it will.

WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 18:15

As long as you still think you live in a democracy and behave as though you do, the more they’ll take away. Because the truth is democracy is dead in the UK. If it wasn’t, they wouldn’t have taken our rights, language and choices away from us without allowing us to vote on it. Without allowing us a say.

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WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 18:08

SadCelticBunny · 01/03/2024 17:48

Sorry wrong thread!

Nope, you’re in the right place.

That was exactly my sentiments in my brain right at the moment I read your previous post.

The UK has become a dictatorship.

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IwantToRetire · 01/03/2024 18:07

I think that over and above the problems of organising a march is that many who have been on protests etc., do become quite cynical.

This idealised notion that by walking down a street you will suddenly persuade passersby they should rethink their ideas and think like you just doesn't happen.

However, as has been alluded to a march / rally that is as much about giving the participants a moment to really be themselves and publicly express it is different.

The IWD marches that took place in the WLM era were as much about being a celebration as a protest. And women did respond to that. Marching down Oxford Street women in offices would lean out of their windows and wave.

But also at that time although often patronising the MSM at least hinted that women were organising around their rights and equality.

That doesn't exist now. The MSM as well as SM is dominated by the TWAW agenda. And because, even subliminally the mud slinging and shouts of transphobia would mean many "apolitical" women would steer well clear. And of course it is political. We might think it is about basic rights, but those opposing gender critical views, are just as certain they are supporting basic rights.

I think currently that it is more realistically to look at building up local contacts. This could be online, but mean that should say a local council or school take a decision that undermind women's sex based rights, local women could easily agree to meet up a stage an impromptu protest or whatever. One of the most sucessful public protest by women was a rally organised in a day via the very old fashion telephone tree method ie you phone 2 women, they each phone 2 women and so on. This meant that within 24 hours of the Government say they would in future pay child benefit to the "head of the household" was reversed.

Also, given the more superficial coverage by the media small events that have a talking point ie Sisters Uncut always have flares and lots of photo ops, it would be easier for local groups where women could get to know each other to plan to do a "spontaneous" event on a saturday in a busy shopping area.

SadCelticBunny · 01/03/2024 17:48

Sorry wrong thread!

SadCelticBunny · 01/03/2024 17:47

Authoritarian state is here now!

NumberTheory · 01/03/2024 17:45

This is probably the best starting point for understanding ManFriday:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3252624--ManFriday-background-Speech-by-Hannah-Clarke

I had a look at their website (http://manfridayuk.org/) and it seems they lasted less than a year but they got some MSM attention so was effective in that sense. Perhaps came across as a bit gimmicky, but that’s very debatable.

I guess I saw your question as more asking why we haven’t been protesting rather than, as your further posts indicate, trying to rally the troops and get us out on the streets. So my previous comments missed the mark. Sorry.

#ManFriday background. Speech by Hannah Clarke | Mumsnet

Speech given as part of WPUK meeting in Basingstoke. thread discussing the meeting here: [[https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3237493-Basing...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3252624--ManFriday-background-Speech-by-Hannah-Clarke

Woodentu · 01/03/2024 17:31

I will be joining the Party of Women as soon as possible. I understand that the membership process will be happening in March. I hope there will be a candidate in my area and I will be volunteering to do some leafleting.

Winnading · 01/03/2024 17:22

WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 14:15

How can they sack you for demonstrating your democratic right to peaceful protest?

This isn’t about politics and it’s important to remain non-partisan politically if doing this I think. It’s a humanitarian crusade isn’t it? We are one half of the population asking to be recognised as that. To be treated fairly, decently and with respect.

Well they wouldnt call it demonstrating my democratic rights, they would call it transphobia. And I would definitely be fired. No question, it was literally a few weeks ago we did the training. It was much impressed on us to use preferred pronouns and names and not misgender anyone or dead name them. I can hardly say I didnt know.
As it happens I don't have anyone in my team or wider that requires pronouns. Thank fuck.

WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 16:38

Thanks @Leafstamp

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Leafstamp · 01/03/2024 15:27

Thank you for starting this thread @WhiteVelvet I have wondered similar and am interested in this discussion so am placemarking. Will give it all some more thought.

WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 15:11

Right. Haven’t all those organizations had to be formed in the last few years because the charities/organizations that used to support and agitate for women as a sex class refused to?

Yes

I suspect the average age of those who are most aware of how damaging the swing to gender ideology could be is also a big factor but mainly I think getting people out on the streets is hard because the sorts of organizations that assisted in not just getting people out to march, but providing the structures for like minded people to find each other in person and then to meet and strategize, organizations like unions (trade, student and other), and political parties, started to freeze out women looking to campaign on the basis of sex about 10 - 20 years ago. The lack of those networks have made it harder to develop the sorts of action you’re talking about.

I never thought it would be easy. The way I see it is, it’s not some other women’s job somewhere else to fight for women’s rights. I’m in the Sex & Gender section of the Feminism board. We’re all here already. Others are on other boards in other forums on other sites, in other orgs etc

One group that did more of the suffragette type work was Man Friday. But they were fairly short lived. I think they formed on this board and some members may still be around - may be worth asking them how they did it and what the issues were if you want to kick start something like that.

Thanks. I don’t know of them nor how to make contact but shall scope around.

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NumberTheory · 01/03/2024 15:01

WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 10:36

The women's rights groups in the fight, that I know of (I think there are others but off the top of my head):

Sex Matters
Fairplay For Women
Women’s Rights Network
For Women Scotland
Let Women Speak

There are also many individual activists in their own right, not tied to one particular group or another. Julie Bindel for example.

The suffragist tack (Forstater) is great. I’m interested in the suffragette tack of this fight, raising awareness through direct action and in this case peaceful protest.

Right. Haven’t all those organizations had to be formed in the last few years because the charities/organizations that used to support and agitate for women as a sex class refused to?

I suspect the average age of those who are most aware of how damaging the swing to gender ideology could be is also a big factor but mainly I think getting people out on the streets is hard because the sorts of organizations that assisted in not just getting people out to march, but providing the structures for like minded people to find each other in person and then to meet and strategize, organizations like unions (trade, student and other), and political parties, started to freeze out women looking to campaign on the basis of sex about 10 - 20 years ago. The lack of those networks have made it harder to develop the sorts of action you’re talking about.

One group that did more of the suffragette type work was Man Friday. But they were fairly short lived. I think they formed on this board and some members may still be around - may be worth asking them how they did it and what the issues were if you want to kick start something like that.

WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 14:55

Zodfa · 01/03/2024 14:47

I think the utility of protests is often overstated. Maybe many people think there are better ways of using their time?

There has been great progress in the fight for sex-based rights over the last couple of years, most of it not obviously connected to protesting.

I think all many protests manage to do is convince the general public that the protestors are an unreasonable shouty mob. There are causes I am if anything less likely to support because of the protests that have happened, or even if I do still support them I find the protestors embarrassing.

The trans movement is inherently irrational so it's possible to make an awful lot of headway against it just by having the patience to wait for the trans lot to make fools of themselves. Isla Bryson did far more to help the anti-gender recognition movement in Scotland than anything the GC side tried.

Thanks for your take. It is much easier to write comments in forums but tbh it doesn’t really make that needed jump into getting women’s rights back.

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Zodfa · 01/03/2024 14:47

I think the utility of protests is often overstated. Maybe many people think there are better ways of using their time?

There has been great progress in the fight for sex-based rights over the last couple of years, most of it not obviously connected to protesting.

I think all many protests manage to do is convince the general public that the protestors are an unreasonable shouty mob. There are causes I am if anything less likely to support because of the protests that have happened, or even if I do still support them I find the protestors embarrassing.

The trans movement is inherently irrational so it's possible to make an awful lot of headway against it just by having the patience to wait for the trans lot to make fools of themselves. Isla Bryson did far more to help the anti-gender recognition movement in Scotland than anything the GC side tried.

WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 14:27

Runningwildish · 01/03/2024 13:53

I think the problem is the media black out, if these events reported in the press the same way as Greenham common or the miners strike, there'd be more knowledge. At the moment it's only those who are in this niche part of the internet who actually know about LWS and women's rights. Young people think the battle has been won.

Edited

Lots of reporting on it now. It’s always in the news and has been for a long time virtually every day or every week on GBNews, TalkTV, The Times, The Telegraph, The Spectator, Daily Mail, The Critic, Unherd, SpikedOnline, Triggernometry, Joe Rogan... there are many more but you get the idea.

What’s missing from public view is us. The women and girls this affects. We haven’t mobilised into public view. We have figureheads yes, but the real everyday people? Tumbleweed

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WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 14:15

Winnading · 01/03/2024 14:07

I don't yet think we are at tipping point, but also not sure if I'd recognise it.

Well if I didnt work for a captured/stonewalled council i might be braver. Sadly like most, I need the job. We had recent refresher training and it was all stonewall law. What If i got sacked for going on a March?

How can they sack you for demonstrating your democratic right to peaceful protest?

This isn’t about politics and it’s important to remain non-partisan politically if doing this I think. It’s a humanitarian crusade isn’t it? We are one half of the population asking to be recognised as that. To be treated fairly, decently and with respect.

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Winnading · 01/03/2024 14:07

WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 11:02

What do you think the ‘tipping point’ is? What are you waiting to happen?

What would mobilise you onto the street to fight for your rights?

I don't yet think we are at tipping point, but also not sure if I'd recognise it.

Well if I didnt work for a captured/stonewalled council i might be braver. Sadly like most, I need the job. We had recent refresher training and it was all stonewall law. What If i got sacked for going on a March?

WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 14:04

Runningwildish · 01/03/2024 13:47

I think mobilising behind Kelly and her Let Women Speak events would be a good place to start, the more people who start showing up to those events the better

Don’t disagree. It’s not going to happen though. Other factions in the movement have put a stop to the movement as a whole galvanising behind her.

She also does meets. I’m thinking more walking the streets/protest.

This is why, I am suggesting something else.

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WhiteVelvet · 01/03/2024 13:59

AlphariusOmegron · 01/03/2024 13:41

Don't disagree at all - it's just getting people to organise is hard. I can't even get the parents of my kids D&D group to agree a day they can all do.

I have given thought to why the letter writing isn’t making the needed dent which is why I stopped.

As @Winnading said, we were met with tumbleweed, denial, obfuscation and gaslighting. My MP turned her entire response to me regards women and girls rights, by talking about transpeople. I spent shitloads of my time in long BS dialogues with her which came to nothing. She got booted out of her seat eventually but it wasn’t due to her pro cult stance. I wrote emails to other political officials in my area from the opposition. Again, I was dismissed and gaslighted.

It’s also boring. Much of the population find it dull I think.

A rally is assertive action, embodying mind & body, being amongst your people, it’s a few hours of activity which has the propensity to make a big impact. A unifying experience.

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Runningwildish · 01/03/2024 13:53

I think the problem is the media black out, if these events reported in the press the same way as Greenham common or the miners strike, there'd be more knowledge. At the moment it's only those who are in this niche part of the internet who actually know about LWS and women's rights. Young people think the battle has been won.

Runningwildish · 01/03/2024 13:50

https://www.letwomenspeak.org/events

here's some events already organised, they need mass attendance

EVENTS | Let Women Speak

https://www.letwomenspeak.org/events

Runningwildish · 01/03/2024 13:47

I think mobilising behind Kelly and her Let Women Speak events would be a good place to start, the more people who start showing up to those events the better

AlphariusOmegron · 01/03/2024 13:41

Don't disagree at all - it's just getting people to organise is hard. I can't even get the parents of my kids D&D group to agree a day they can all do.

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