New book coming out! "The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht"

Nice tribute from Ian MacWhirter though a few gaps: "At the time, this legislation [Scottish self-id] seemed unstoppable, supported as it was by the SNP, Labour and the Lib Dems." Oi - dont forget the Greens! Credit where's it's due.

Few years ago we only saw pieces like this in the Mail (but not so good). And people said, it's just the awful Daily Mail. Then it was in the Telegraph, and it's a bit more a 'paper pf record' but still, very Tory-biased. Then it was in the Times (big shout to Janice Turner there), and surely people have to start listening. Come on, Guardian! (although I don't think the G will get far with Viner in charge, and the Indy seems lost to all reason). Good piece, anyway.

IAIN MACWHIRTER in the Times:
https://www.thetimes.com/article/8aebc361-26c9-4587-81eb-e7037af211d5?shareToken=5009ca461b9628e7babc042787f56fd4

Actually I think I’ll go and read it again. After re-watching Magdalen Berns videos.

I bought it in print and audio book and have listened to the audio twice through.
I was almost certain my library wouldn’t have it but I’m going to ask for them to buy it in. Everyone should have the opportunity to read it.
Much of it made me angry and lots made me sad. The reference to the death of the incredible Magdalen Berns brought a lump to my throat. For those not in the know her fantastic YouTube videos are still available to watch.

Finished the book tonight. Wasn't intentional but I'm glad to have read it before the election. Very powerful stuff. Thank you to everyone who recommended it here!

My shopping list at lunchtime last week was:

-The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht
-drain unblocker

My bath tub is draining again, but the book is giving me rage.

TWWWW is excellent. And if you enjoy crime thrillers, another book I'd recommend is Drew Augustine's 'The Twenty Murders' on Amazon. It's set in Scotland and the backdrop is the battle for women's rights. Great holiday read!

I bought my copy today in Waterstones! Can't wait to read it. Thank you @SusanSmithFWS ; all you ladies who wrote and organised this are stars! You make me proud to be Scottish when nothing else currently makes me proud.

The book was displayed at the front of the store beside all the other new books. And this was a Glasgow Waterstones as well! I was expecting a bad reaction from the guy at the till (after all the threads I'd been reading about that said people buying books got glares and huffy staff) but he smiled and joked with me as my toddler was acting up and I couldn't get him to sit still (was also buying Bluey books).

Dear @SusanSmithFWS Susan thank you so much for this book . I don’t generally read much these days but have been getting stuck into this one .

i am full of admiration for all of you and often welling up with tears as I do . I have made a point of reading this in public as much as I can . On the tube , train and in a walk in centre nursing poorly toe as my contribution to the Women who wouldn’t Wheesht .

I too am no longer going to be silent your writing has inspired and moved me.
Thank you x

https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/sunday-times-bestsellers-list-book-sales-chart-fnxjm0bnl

Number 3

”Women’s Rights and Gender Wrongs” is another book with pieces looking at the impact of gender ideology in an international context . Also deeply shocking.

Overseas member here. DHL delivered my copy on Friday! I sneaked a peek at the introduction and the first essay, but I got an advanced reading copy (?) too, which I need to read and review first...
Would have loved to make a point at the local bookstore, but as this is a foreign language non- fiction book, not much point in a rural German bookstore. Also, it's 10 € more expensive via bookstores!
From previous posters, I can see I will be in for a ride. Maybe, just maybe, German women can take advice from their Scottish sisters...

https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/the-women-who-wouldnt-wheesht-review-susan-dalgety-lucy-hunter-blackburn-wvrd6q50c

Thank you for link to book launch. Thought provoking and well worth watching, thank you.

Posted by Jenny Lindsay on Twitter

Yes, reading it too and wondering how this has happened. I'm determined to talk to every person I can about it, to use my vote wisely, and to make sure every candidate in my constituency knows this is important. We have a fight on our hands here in Scotland and, after Labour get in, across the country. Dig in for the long term...

It was a very tough read. Quite a few bits have really stayed in my mind, including where Claire L. Heuchan describes vomiting out of sheer panic, during a talk by the Head of Security at U of E about the violence and abuse they were likely to encounter during the event titled 'women's sex based rights'. And Julie Bindel was attacked after the event.

An event simply to discuss women's sex based rights.

There were a few times I had to put the book down to have a cry.

I'm always astonished at what the fuck has happened to Scotland. 'You'll have had your Enlightenment then?'.

Julie Bindel has written about it in Unherd

https://unherd.com/2024/06/why-scotlands-witches-fought-back/

Some of the comments are a bit nitpicky and, of course, there's always at least one who put the blame for the whole thing on those pesky feminists.

I’m finding it a tough read. Most on here seem to have zipped through it but I keep having to put it down because of rage or tears. Every essay is shocking.

Book launch link

Message from Filia

A huge thank you to everyone who made this important book launch possible – to the speakers, the FiLiA team and to you, the attendees.
We sold out, with 1,000 of you registering.
The feedback has been tremendous and emotional.
"Thank you for hosting this book launch. It was fantastic, emotional, empowering and inspirational"
"I am going to contact the libraries in my work area to order copies. They may refuse but as you all said 'Don't give up!'"
"What a fabulous session - thank you so much"
Apologies to those of you who were unable to access the webinar – we have written to Zoom to ask why it was impossible for some of us (including our CEO!) to join, and will let you know the outcome of that complaint.
The FiLiA team have turned around the recording quickly and you are the first to receive the
Enjoy re-watching (or watching for the first time!).
We are pleased to share a message from Lucy Hunter Blackburn and Susan Dalgety with you:
“We are overwhelmed by response to the launch, and the book. Thanks to everyone. Over the last few years all of us have been bound together by our sex, holding each up other, looking out for each other. A manifestation of FiLiA’s values - sisterhood and solidarity.”
Thank you again for being a part of this historic event.
Sisterhood and Solidarity,
FiLiA team

@Christinapple people
like you are the reason JK was advised not to put her head above the parapet. People who aren't able to listen intelligently to an opinion. And when I say opinion, I mean the statement of incontrovertible facts: like the fact that trans women are trans women, not women.

I finished it last night. What a book!

I totally agree about the Jenny Lindsay and Gillian Philp chapters, both of which had me raging. I was also very struck by the chapters written by politicians, especially the one by Pam Gosal and Rachael Hamilton, which shines a cold, hard light on the shady goings-on in our parliament, and on the extent of shameless ideological capture of those who are elected (and well-paid) to represent us. It's shocking. And what on earth's happening at Edinburgh University, which is the backdrop for several chapters. One of my daughters went there, and I'm so glad she did her degree before all this nonsense started.

I think, though, the chapters that made most impression on me were the ones by the women we never hear from, and perhaps most of all, the foreword by the woman who coined 'women won't wheesht' and her story of her daughter. We fight this cause for the vulnerable girls and women who most need not to have their rights trampled on.