Women's rights general conversations - Thread 10

R.M.W. got 15 minutes on Women's Hour yesterday to be Very Concerned that the SC ruling means women won't be able to take very young male children to the loo at the cinema, etc.

https://x.com/ripx4nutmeg/status/1921935156354404366

Those both look very good, moto. Proper community inclusion.

Second one:

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2025/05/07/edge-hall-road-community-stadium-open-day/

I'd just like to put this here. I an so proud of my club; at a time when 'inclusion' seems to mean draping the place in rainbow flags, here's a couple of great examples of inclusion done properly, making it a real community asset.

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2025/05/11/were-all-wigan-were-all-warriors/

Sport has such an important role to play, in mental health and community cohesion.

That's a brilliant article. I agree with you, @SqueakyDinosaur (and so did the Cass Report IIRC) that there may be people who undergo medical and surgical treatment for their own peace of mind. I have no problem with that, or with how they dress and present themselves. The only thing I have an issue with is men who delude themselves that they are actually women and use that delusion to push themselves into spaces and roles reserved for women.

A slightly more ranty piece from Lionel Shriver in the Spectator. I agree with many of her points, but I do believe there are people who experience such profound misery at their sexed body that ultimately medical and surgical treatment may be the best way for them to be able to exist at peace with themselves.

https://archive.ph/Pu6BZ

They are marvellous. Clear, precise, knowledgable, and utterly undivertable. The interviewer was totally out of his depth, and a textbook example of the shit job so may journalists have been doing.

Particular (slightly paraphrased) highlights on that front:

Sharon: "One thing that's been really upsetting is the centering of men's feelings."
Interviewer: "OK. First question - what about how the men feel?"

And

Interviewer: "We've spoken to a transwoman about her feelings. What would you say to a woman who ... [waffley question about the feelings of the poor left-out transwomen] ?"
Mara: "You said transwoman and then you said woman. Which do you mean?"
Interviewer: "Well, a trans athlete."
Mara: "[??? Surpringly patient explanation of the 2 types on offer]"
Interviewer: " Well, a , er, um, a transperson, er, trans athlete, [drat, I can't avoid this can I?], er, a transwoman."
Mara: "So, a man who wants to play in the women's team?."

A slightly disconcerting aspect for me was that it's the first time I've actually heard Mara speak and she has exactly the same accent and way of speaking as my aunt.

Cracking interview with Sharron Davies and Mara Yamauchi from about 26 minutes in. The interviewer is completely out of his depth, and SD in particular is taking absolutely no prisoners.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w173067qhlkv5vw

Yeah, I noticed that. They should have done a bit more on the Challenor's too.

If you can afford a bit of gardening today: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5262791-rape-crisis-legal-case-court-date?reply=144061501&utm_campaign=reply&utm_medium=share

Interesting article, but I think they've got a bit mixed up in the middle and forgotten the difference between gender critical and gender ideologist.

Just found this and dumping it here because I've got to go out.

https://archive.ph/YlC8x

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/05/green-party-environment-trans-rows/

The Telegraph on the Green Party a bit of history and where they are now, including a brief mention of Challenor. If someone want to find a suitable thread to repost? Apologies for the post and run.

It has a spectrum of meanings. Pick whatever works for you.

Is that a euphemism?

RMW currently on BBC Antiques Roadshow VE Day special. I wasn't really watching but recognised his voice immediately. And there he was on screen talking enthusiastically to the military expert about his grandfather's service pistol.

Do they let us have pictures now?

I was sent this from Holland. Today the flags are at half mast in the Netherlands to commemorate the victims of World War II. Tomorrow full mast to celebrate liberation.

Apart from the obvious, I was trying to work out why I found this so moving. It’s because flags are powerful. We have had years of seeing flags all over the place that celebrate a movement which excludes and threatens women. I still remember my visceral reaction on turning into Regent Street a couple of years ago when there were wall-to-wall progress pride flags all the way down.

Hopefully things are changing. But in the meantime, happy Liberation Day on the 5th.

UB40's Ivory Madonna for me, but yes, takes me straight back to the Bakers Arms in Winchester...

And quite right too!

Another Suzanne Vega fan here, Mum used to play both albums (along with Graceland, Jackson Brown and Sting (!)) when we cleaned the Pub we lived in the mid-eighties. It takes me straight back there instantly - I associate Marlene on the Wall with the smell of stale beer, cigarettes, woodsmoke and polish!

This article is interesting. About the shamans, drug use, etc. middle and South America, the research and how that influences what's being studied creating its own myths which get concreted by people too willing to see what they want to see.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/may/01/the-ancient-psychedelics-myth-people-tell-tourists-the-stories-they-think-are-interesting-for-them

Got me thinking about two spirit (a fairly well known recent 'ancient' phenomenon) used to legitimise gender ideology. I wonder if this is even more widespread. Although I'll probably have to content myself with wondering. I can't imagine anyone having the guts to objectively study whether they have always been there.

I saw her in Portland quite a few years ago. She played in a church so it was a bit smaller than the usual concert venue. She was fantastic.

Just love The Queen and the Soldier, brilliant song.

I saw her live in London a few years ago when she played the whole of the Solitude Standing album. Brilliant.

Loved her music. I heard her singing live at Glastonbury but from about five miles away in Shepton Mallet and even at that distance it was really good.