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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Gender Critical guy - How can I help the cause?

245 replies

MyShyCat · 16/05/2026 22:41

Hoping that the amazing women of Mumsnet can help me. I am firmly in the Gender Critical camp. I peaked many years ago after the birth of my daughter. I simply got to the point where I couldn't ignore the craziness that we were all being expected to accept. Amazing women on Youtube like Magdalen Berns, Posie Parker, Helen Joyce, Jo Bartosch, Arielle Scarcella and Kathleen Stock were able to perfectly articulate all the thoughts that were flying around my head.

Like many of us I have watched with horror as bit by bit the rights of women and girls have been systematically dismantled. There have undoubtedly been successes on our journey back to reality but Sall Grover's defeat the other day has really made me wobble.

My problem is I not sure what to do to help the cause. I feel like I should be more vocal or active - not exactly Bill Board Chris levels of "being out there" but I think I need to actually be a bit braver and make my voice heard.

If anyone has any suggestions as to how a 53 year-old father of a teenage girl can take a more active role in this fight, then I would love to hear more.

I'm not sure I can just carry on watching youtube clips and tutting anymore! All suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I WOULD RATHER BE RUDE THAN A "F**KING LIAR."

OP posts:
MyShyCat · 17/05/2026 18:39

Thank-you to everyone who has responded. Some really interesting (and in some cases very strange!) replies.

Still amazes me that there are some people who don't understand why this debate is so important.

I think I will be contacting Sex Matters and LGB Alliance directly.

Good idea to have a look at the Mumsnet "Feminism and Gender Board." Completely missed that one but if truth be told, I was following Julie Bindel's assertion that "feminism" was actually the only movement "by and for women." So being a guy I didn't want to wade into a place where I wasn't welcome.

OP posts:
GeneralPeter · 17/05/2026 08:35

WhatNextImScared · 17/05/2026 08:10

Or to put it another way: why is OP particularly passionate about the one area of feminist debate/action that doesn’t involve him having to change his behaviour/doesn’t apply to him in any way (because he’s a cis man)? Hmmmm.

That’s a weird response to someone asking “how should I change my behaviour?”.

Also you think men are blameless in the rise of gender ideology? I think plenty of men, and plenty of women, got us here.

Shedmistress · 17/05/2026 08:34

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 17/05/2026 00:15

I think there are more important things to do and campaign for for women’s safety - like campaign for family courts report, domestic abuse awareness to be spread, challenge rape culture when you hear it etc etc

How can anyone 'do' womens safety when the other party include men in that category?

OP without getting all 'typical man having to ask women what to do' on you, I'd suggest looking around you at what in your orbit is unlawful. Start with the policies in councils, schools, local authority provision and go from there.

BiologicalRobot · 17/05/2026 08:30

WhatNextImScared · 17/05/2026 08:10

Or to put it another way: why is OP particularly passionate about the one area of feminist debate/action that doesn’t involve him having to change his behaviour/doesn’t apply to him in any way (because he’s a cis man)? Hmmmm.

No such thing as cis. It's just a word to make people think that you can change sex - but no human can change their sex.

Men (of any type) need to stay out of biological women's single sex spaces. Only predators refuse to do that. If you don't want to be thought of as a creepy predator THEN STAY THE FUCK OUT.

OP - agree with pp. Contact the various organisations such as Sex Matters and keep using the correct words. Gender neutral is mixed sex, transwoman is biological male etc.

WhatNextImScared · 17/05/2026 08:10

Or to put it another way: why is OP particularly passionate about the one area of feminist debate/action that doesn’t involve him having to change his behaviour/doesn’t apply to him in any way (because he’s a cis man)? Hmmmm.

Owly11 · 17/05/2026 08:09

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 17/05/2026 00:15

I think there are more important things to do and campaign for for women’s safety - like campaign for family courts report, domestic abuse awareness to be spread, challenge rape culture when you hear it etc etc

Ah thanks for letting us know what you think is more important. It will be important for me when deciding what to prioritise in my own life.

thekindoflovewemake · 17/05/2026 08:07

I think talking about it is important. Just mentioning it (maybe bring up recent court cases etc) to people you socialise with and voicing why it’s important. So many people don’t think about it and don’t realise there’s an issue. Or worse, know that there’s an issue but bury their heads in the sand.

WhatNextImScared · 17/05/2026 08:06

FruAashild · 17/05/2026 07:59

I think keeping sexually violent men out of women's prisons is pretty important, don't you?

Yes. But one individual man could have much more impact challenging rape culture and misogyny among his own friendship group. None of them ever want to do that, though. In case it affects their social standing.

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 17/05/2026 08:01

Support the fundraisers.
Talk about the court cases.
Uphold acceptance and appreciation of the bodies we have, and emphasise health not appearance.
Accept gender non conformity as an expression of personality that needs no bodily mutilation to justify it.

FruAashild · 17/05/2026 07:59

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 17/05/2026 00:15

I think there are more important things to do and campaign for for women’s safety - like campaign for family courts report, domestic abuse awareness to be spread, challenge rape culture when you hear it etc etc

I think keeping sexually violent men out of women's prisons is pretty important, don't you?

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 17/05/2026 07:59

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 17/05/2026 00:15

I think there are more important things to do and campaign for for women’s safety - like campaign for family courts report, domestic abuse awareness to be spread, challenge rape culture when you hear it etc etc

Those are important, but they depend entirely for effectiveness on being able to define the women we’re trying to support.
If we can’t have single sex spaces, all women are less safe.

Secretsquirrelshh · 17/05/2026 07:55

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 17/05/2026 00:15

I think there are more important things to do and campaign for for women’s safety - like campaign for family courts report, domestic abuse awareness to be spread, challenge rape culture when you hear it etc etc

This type of opinion annoys me as it's always used to shut down conversation disingenuously.

People can care about, and prioritise, different things.

I do not, and would not donate to donkey sanctuaries. To me, there are many more important causes. BUT I am glad that other people do care about the donkeys.

We all do the work that's important to us. To OP, that's ensuring safe spaces for women and contributing to ongoing dialogue about sex-based rights.

bluenova · 17/05/2026 07:51

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 17/05/2026 00:15

I think there are more important things to do and campaign for for women’s safety - like campaign for family courts report, domestic abuse awareness to be spread, challenge rape culture when you hear it etc etc

If the definition of woman includes men then women’s rights to safety etc cannot be upheld.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 17/05/2026 00:15

I think there are more important things to do and campaign for for women’s safety - like campaign for family courts report, domestic abuse awareness to be spread, challenge rape culture when you hear it etc etc

Ghostmartin · 17/05/2026 00:08

Check out mumsnet's Feminism - Sex and gender board

Plenty to read on there!

bluenova · 16/05/2026 22:54

MyShyCat · 16/05/2026 22:51

Thanks BlueNova. I have actually taught the PSHE content. (Not at my daughters school but within the same Multi-Academy Trust.) and yes.... I changed my delivery and content to reflect the actual law and reality as the provided teaching materials were indeed very captured.

Edited

Yes, I am having a battle with my daughter’s school. They refuse to define “gender” despite them referring to it all over their PSHE content.
There are pressure groups that might need volunteers - Sex Matters , Transgender Trend for example. And there’s a couple of groups for schools one is Safe Schools Alliance and another I’ve forgotten the name of.

bluenova · 16/05/2026 22:51

Papersquidge · 16/05/2026 22:46

Just tell your kids the truth and
then take a step back as you seem quite overly invested in this!

Would you call any camapigner “overly invested”? MLK - over invested, Pankhurst - over-invested.

MyShyCat · 16/05/2026 22:51

Thanks BlueNova. I have actually taught the PSHE content. (Not at my daughters school but within the same Multi-Academy Trust.) and yes.... I changed my delivery and content to reflect the actual law and reality as the provided teaching materials were indeed very captured.

OP posts:
Papersquidge · 16/05/2026 22:46

Just tell your kids the truth and
then take a step back as you seem quite overly invested in this!

bluenova · 16/05/2026 22:45

Have you checked out the PSHE content contains at your daughter’s school and whether they work with any gender “advocacy” organisations?
If their PSHE content refers to gender ask how they define it.

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