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Original poster

Women's rights general conversations - Thread 10

833 replies

Kucinghitam · 10/04/2025 11:08

Continuation of Thread 9.

There is so much excellent information and so many active discussions on FWR that I wondered if it would be useful to have a thread to sort of "cross-fertilise" between them - airing little thoughts or vignettes that wouldn't themselves merit their own thread, to highlight other posts/threads of particular interest or to point to notable developments on fast-moving threads so that casual observers know where to look.

(For example, "the X thread has meandered onto a fascinating discussion of Y" or "Poster P's amazing analysis on thread Z might have relevance to the scenario in thread W" or "Has anybody noticed this recurring theme that keeps coming up??" or even "Random bloke asked me to smile while I was choosing onions in the supermarket, grr"- that sort of thing).

Women's rights general conversations - Thread 9 | Mumsnet

Continuation of Thread 8. There is so much excellent information and so many active discussions on FWR that I wondered if it would be useful to have...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5132652-womens-rights-general-conversations-thread-9?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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moto748e · 27/03/2026 18:10

It's a lovely tale, but it hardly has the ring of truth!

Original poster
Kucinghitam · 27/03/2026 18:08

That's brilliant @bignosebignose Grin

OP posts:
Britinme · 27/03/2026 18:04

No idea if it’s true but I love the story.

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 27/03/2026 17:30

Good story, love it!

bignosebignose · 27/03/2026 17:17

G'Day all, long time no post, hope everyone is well. Good news on the women's sports front this week. One of this afternoon's posts inspiried me to post this anecdote about the late George Brown (former Deputy Leader of Labour) which I read in Another Place a day or two ago. Sorry, it's totally off topic, but it's quite good fun.

Attending a glittering official reception, with all the military officers in full-dress uniform and the ambassadors in court dress, he is said to have made a bee-line for a gorgeously crimson-clad figure.

A colleague later recalled the story: George said: “Excuse me, but may I have the pleasure of this dance?” There was a terrible silence for a moment before the guest, who knew who he was, replied:

“There are three reasons, Mr Brown, why I will not dance with you. The first, I fear, is that you’ve had too much to drink. The second is that this is not, as you suppose, a waltz that the orchestra is playing but the Peruvian national anthem, for which you should be standing to attention. And the third reason why we may not dance, Mr Brown, is that I am the Cardinal Archbishop of Lima.”’

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 27/03/2026 17:00

more pertinently because women can take a new soul into their wombs.

What a strange idea. I wonder if someone told him that or he made it up himself?

Anyway, even if women could take a new soul into their wombs why should that prevent them from being an Archbishop?

moto748e · 27/03/2026 16:43

If you'll believe in a virgin birth...

Original poster
Kucinghitam · 27/03/2026 16:00

I went to the library yesterday after work and noted one of the 'regulars' (a 60+ Caribbean lady, FWIW) chatting to a similarly-aged man in the newspaper section. I regret to say that the chap had the stereotypical appearance and speaking manner of a Boris Johnson-type. Well, he held forth, brayingly, on a range of topics including carbon dating, DNA testing and the Turin shroud.

And then the conversation turned to the new Archbishop of Canterbury. The library were treated to an explanation of how women couldn't be spiritual leaders because they were too easily distracted... but more pertinently because women can take a new soul into their wombs. ConfusedConfusedConfused

Nope, me neither.

OP posts:
SqueakyDinosaur · 23/03/2026 15:25

I think the current hoo ha is that Steph, who stepped down as CEO, has now been appointed as parliamentary engagement officer for Endometriosis South Coast. Nothing to see here, look at that squirrel over there!

CriticalCondition · 23/03/2026 11:49

I thought things had moved on at MN and the days of bowing to trans bullying were over. It seems not.

There's a current thread about the appointment of Steph Richards, a TIM transactivist, to a position at an endometriosis charity. This is pretty much a re-run of what happened a couple of years ago in November 2023. Steph and Jodie the charity's founder were robustly interviewed by Emma Barnett on WH at the time and there was a thread about it then. That interview was frankly a car crash.

The current thread is being reported and MN have taken down the original 2023 thread which has stood for the last two and half years and, most importantly, has a link to the WH broadcast.

borntobequiet · 22/03/2026 09:16

What a terrible title for a book.

lcakethereforeIam · 21/03/2026 20:55

I've been reading a bunch of reviews for Good Slut. With only one exception (Ella Whelan for the Telegraph) the book was slated. I actually began to feel a little sorry for Zoe. I then read another review (the New Statesman I think) that reminded me she wrote that women in poverty should sell themselves on Only Fans. In the interests of fairness though, here's her right of reply

https://archive.ph/acjcA

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/12/terrible-reviews-made-me-better-person/

Perhaps her, Laura Pennie and Grace Lavery could start a self help group.

As I've not read the book and have no plans to all I can say about it is the suggestively arranged chilli peppers on the cover would be better suited on a book about UTIs.

Britinme · 21/03/2026 20:08

Love that review. Takes me all the way back to the Thatcherite eighties - whether that strikes you as a good thing or not, I will leave to the reader's discretion.

anyolddinosaur · 21/03/2026 19:19

Stellaand crow posted this on the thread about Faye's tribunal

I've just seen that the GMC is having a consultation on personal beliefs.
Doctors GMC personal beliefs consultation - BMJ article
GMC guidance: https://www.gmc-uk.org/.../personal-beliefs-and-medical...
GMC public consultation open until June 11th:
https://www.gmc-uk.org/.../personal-beliefs-and-medical...
GMC: Doctors to get new rules on their personal beliefs and work

Sammidge · 21/03/2026 18:22

That's a cracking review.

lcakethereforeIam · 21/03/2026 15:20

Just read this book review 😘

https://archive.ph/GfEXw

https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/good-slut-zoe-strimpel-review-x0gddgz8d

Out does Brendan O'Neill at his vituperative best. Zoe Strimple I've vaguely heard of but I've read a few articles in various publications by Poppy Sowerby. This is just brilliant.

Down with other feminists! A liberal rant

In Good Slut, Zoe Strimpel mounts a defence of the sexual revolution that mostly involves attacking other women writers

https://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/good-slut-zoe-strimpel-review-x0gddgz8d

lcakethereforeIam · 14/03/2026 00:15

I wasn't sure if this deserved a thread

New civil society council established to put partnership at the heart of government - GOV.UK https://share.google/vTY7ceiL4mapjIP6p

Does anyone recognise the names? The make-up of the council has already been criticised

Prime minister has excluded disabled people from new civil society forum, evidence suggests – Disability News Service https://share.google/4J2NfSDBLz1SfN5Zq

Sir Keir Starmer speaking in a Commons committee room

Prime minister has excluded disabled people from new civil society forum, evidence suggests

The prime minister has excluded disabled people from a new forum he has set up to “bring civil society into the heart of government decision‑making”, evidence suggests. Downing Street released the …

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/prime-minister-has-excluded-disabled-people-from-new-civil-society-forum-evidence-suggests/

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 12/03/2026 13:14

FFS. It never changes, does it.

JumpingPumpkin · 11/03/2026 22:59

BezMills · 28/01/2026 17:24

I think it's kind of understandable at population level. Groups need cohesion more than they need the awkward squad.

The idea that we can all be heroic and fight the power is great but maybe it's just not how we're made.

Which is where the founders of the constitution were wise to realise that We The People will eventually need to go Full Awkward Squad, even as The Power uses the tendency to obedience against them/us

Show quote history

Just catching up from a while ago. I think this is an interesting point - too many awkward squad people in an organisation make it completely unmanageable, everyone is only willing to follow their own plan. In reality a group willing to support a single vision will be more effective than a loose collection of geniuses who insist their unique plan is the best.

NoBinturongsHereMate · 09/03/2026 09:24

Please sign and share this www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5501107-urgent-iranian-womens-football-team

moto748e · 08/03/2026 22:40

Well, it's the Indy. It's their last stronghold, as the Graun starts to crumble, a bit (but has a long way to go).

Waitwhat23 · 08/03/2026 22:17

I scrolled through this list by The Independent titled 'Independent Women - The Influence List 2026', published to mark IWD and was utterly unsurprised to see 1. A dude featured (Paris Lees) and 2. one of those on the list quoted as being left with 'pure rage' following the Supreme Court judgement.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/international-womens-day-independent-influence-list-2026-b2930360.html