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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

UK radical feminists; what to do?

879 replies

RealRoseCritic · 29/07/2026 15:19

So there was a question earlier today in one of my groups about TERFs in the UK, why are they so strong there, etc. Let me elaborate on something.

There is something special in mainstream British feminism that is quite different from European feminism(s), but since the English speaking internet concerns mostly the Anglosphere and not Europe, due to us having separate, isolated debates in each country/language, you won't likely ever hear how the UK is substantially different.
It is important to understand the logic of British feminism. Unlike European feminism, which is mostly inclusive and focused on stuff like equal pay, care, safe design of public space and general equity, in the UK it was always about "separate but equal".

British centres of power were always men-only, and many British feminists didn't react the way European women did (aka pushed their way into male spaces, so that these became co-ed spaces), but created their own, separate spaces, which they then aggressively policed the same way British men did with theirs. Add some Victorian prudishness and bioessentialism, that was abandoned in Europe after WWII for obvious reasons, but not in the UK, and voilà, here come British second-wave radfems and the TERFs.

I am from the Czech Republic where I currently live; I lived in Norway, Poland and the Netherlands, I speak fluently multiple European languages and understand few others; I don't say that to brag, but to show my ability to do the comparative analysis, since I study the topic closely.

Out of EU member states, only in Bulgaria and Hungary are trans rights worse than in the UK at the moment, with Hungary being expected to get substantially better soon, and in neither of those two countries are trans people, and especially trans women, as demonised as in the UK.

In all EU member states transphobia comes exclusively from far right places; it is unheard of that liberals or anyone non-far right would say what is absolutely the mainstream in the UK, including Hungary and Bulgaria.
If you are saying the stuff JKR is saying, you are 100 % aligned with far right politics.

We had an attempt by a group of our far right senators to enact a bill proposal similar to what is in the UK, but the proposal was killed within a week before it could have been even voted upon in the Chamber of Deputies. Just for instance.
Scandinavian feminism is focused mostly on fair share of care and chores, German feminism focuses mostly on equal pay, Kita for everyone and the like, Polish feminism is mostly about access to abortion, Czech feminism is mostly about equal pay and safety from domestic violence - I could go on, but all in all, men are welcome to participate and the goal is to create equity for everyone, regardless of their gender. Together.
We don't get British obsession with separate spaces for women, women here are absolutely fine with the way things are, mostly because cultures in the Continent are far less prudish and overall we treat men and women as one people rather than different species.

Moreover, because of civil law rather than common law, we have different approach to legal texts and their interpretations; this makes it different too.
Not just regarding trans rights, but also regarding women's rights, I am often amazed by how much backward the UK is in so many ways compared to the EU (again, including places like Hungary, this needs to be stressed). I often see women in English-speaking debates saying things like "ugh, men" on things that actually concern problems that are specifically British and that stem mostly from both societies' tendency to separate already boys from girls, treating them differently and sexualising women in contexts we don't really see as sexual at all.

We can't really get this across the Channel, because we just don't have the power to do so. For instance Czech debate on feminism is quite isolated; it's interesting, but no more than 15 million people would ever be able to participate in it (CZ/SK) due to the language barrier, the same goes for Scandinavia (17 million), Benelux (28 million), Poland (38 million), or even DACH (95 million). It is nothing compared to half a billion people of the US, UK, CA, AU, NZ and IE that are giving tone to the worldwide debate in English.

So, if you are a British trans woman, you would do yourself a great favour if you moved to mainland Europe. You will be welcomed and cherished (for the most part).

OP posts:
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19
borntobequiet · 03/08/2026 16:21

It’s called a craftsman skirt, so confusing 😕

borntobequiet · 03/08/2026 16:18

Keeptoiletssafe · 03/08/2026 16:03

I have been plumbing in a skirt and top. My kitchen sink ubend is spotless. Children making soup for me is lovely but I have to deal with the stinky aftermath several days later. I had extra bubbly fun with baking soda and white wine vinegar.

tip: always photograph the pipe configuration before you start unscrewing.

Edited

You really really need a proper plumber’s skirt like this

UK radical feminists; what to do?
UK radical feminists; what to do?
Keeptoiletssafe · 03/08/2026 16:03

I have been plumbing in a skirt and top. My kitchen sink ubend is spotless. Children making soup for me is lovely but I have to deal with the stinky aftermath several days later. I had extra bubbly fun with baking soda and white wine vinegar.

tip: always photograph the pipe configuration before you start unscrewing.

murasaki · 03/08/2026 15:29

RedToothBrush · 03/08/2026 15:25

You identify as your Dad?!

Crikey, there's something I hadn't thought of! OK, I now am a 79 year old probably autistic man with a penchant for building model ships and skip diving.

And I will brook no argument and want my massive pension pronto, and my big house.

Saying that, he's more kind than I am, so maybe I should try it on for size.

RedToothBrush · 03/08/2026 15:27

murasaki · 03/08/2026 15:21

Fine on a beach for either sex. Not fine in suburban south London for any sex.

Those are my rules.

Fair point. Well made.

UK radical feminists; what to do?
RedToothBrush · 03/08/2026 15:25

murasaki · 03/08/2026 15:19

I still own a flannel shirt my dad had in the eighties that I stole circa 1993. I must be very confused.

You identify as your Dad?!

Hedgehogforshort · 03/08/2026 15:21

FlirtsWithRhinos · 03/08/2026 15:20

Where do we stand on sarongs?

Feels so right, but sarong....

😂😂😂

murasaki · 03/08/2026 15:21

FlirtsWithRhinos · 03/08/2026 15:20

Where do we stand on sarongs?

Feels so right, but sarong....

Fine on a beach for either sex. Not fine in suburban south London for any sex.

Those are my rules.

FlirtsWithRhinos · 03/08/2026 15:20

Where do we stand on sarongs?

Feels so right, but sarong....

murasaki · 03/08/2026 15:19

WrongKindOfFeminist · 03/08/2026 15:13

Not only that, I have just bought a flannel shirt. My nonbinary essence is revelling in it.

I still own a flannel shirt my dad had in the eighties that I stole circa 1993. I must be very confused.

WrongKindOfFeminist · 03/08/2026 15:19

Hedgehogforshort · 03/08/2026 14:30

I am in my back garden with nothing on !!!!!

I think i might be female????

Hefgehogs are notoriously difficult to sex.

WrongKindOfFeminist · 03/08/2026 15:13

nicepotoftea · 03/08/2026 14:25

I'm just going to say it and I don't care what any of you think.

I suspect that some of you are women in trousers.

Not only that, I have just bought a flannel shirt. My nonbinary essence is revelling in it.

ElenOfTheWays · 03/08/2026 15:06

nicepotoftea · 03/08/2026 14:25

I'm just going to say it and I don't care what any of you think.

I suspect that some of you are women in trousers.

How dare you? I've never been so insulted in my life.
Women in trousers are MEN!
EVERYONE knows that.

Hedgehogforshort · 03/08/2026 14:53

I am in the shade BTW

NotAtMyAge · 03/08/2026 14:52

nicepotoftea · 03/08/2026 14:25

I'm just going to say it and I don't care what any of you think.

I suspect that some of you are women in trousers.

Indeed. I am always a woman in trousers of one kind or another. I haven't worn a skirt or dress since I retired nearly 20 years ago and could stop dressing the part. 😉

murasaki · 03/08/2026 14:31

Well you are brave. Having experienced a sun burned nipple, it's not a place I choose to return to.

Hedgehogforshort · 03/08/2026 14:30

I am in my back garden with nothing on !!!!!

I think i might be female????

murasaki · 03/08/2026 14:27

If shorts count, guilty as charged.

It's hot down south.

nicepotoftea · 03/08/2026 14:25

I'm just going to say it and I don't care what any of you think.

I suspect that some of you are women in trousers.

Catiette · 03/08/2026 14:24

SingleSexSpacesInSchools · 01/08/2026 00:19

Well the power of prescience. Im sure this bullshit has cost many of you more than me but I’m getting more than fed up. It’s a bit of a high price, I’ve lost someone quite special. Quite, quite fed up.

anyway. I chose this username because I was trying to be a one-subject username. Nothing more. I understand how a guy pretending or not revealing he was male may be an issue for some women on some subjects. I don’t think I’ve ever got involved in any conversations here I should not have done. I’d be mortified to make anyone feel uncomfortable by being a guy. I’ve never pretended. I hope no one has felt lied to.

I'm constantly aware this is a primarily though not exclusively female space. Given everything I should probably step back more, can be tricky. That sense of right and wrong or justice is pretty core, sure it it with most people. Genuinely very sorry if Ive truly upset anyone.

Miles behind, skimming the thread out of curiosity (totally passed me by) but just hoping SSSIS is still around as I butt in belatedly to say, I think your work and posts are great (some bangers on this thread particularly - screenshot a few, I hope you don't mind!) and value everything you do on and off FWR. Ditto for other male posters (I will not use that awful word allies - somehow it manages to be both patronising and militant! Ugh!)

BackToLurk · 03/08/2026 14:23

Gretel346 · 03/08/2026 12:52

Yeah? Then why all the 'men in dresses' 'woman face' 'parody of women' 'cross dresser' insults that are routine on this forum & all major social media platforms?
Stop lying.

Oh but I was a fan of Bowie!!!

Lol.

More observations than insults.

MyAmpleSheep · 03/08/2026 14:17

Gretel346 · 03/08/2026 12:52

Yeah? Then why all the 'men in dresses' 'woman face' 'parody of women' 'cross dresser' insults that are routine on this forum & all major social media platforms?
Stop lying.

Oh but I was a fan of Bowie!!!

Lol.

When a man
in a dress accepts that
he is a man in a dress then
then calling him a man
in a dress will no
longer be an
insult

-Sun Tzou
The Art of Trans

5th century BC.

RedToothBrush · 03/08/2026 14:02

Gretel346 · 03/08/2026 11:39

I never suggested the desire for single sex spaces was misogynistic. On the contrary, I repeatedly stated my support for them when they met proportionality exemption criteria. What I do consider misogynistic as previously stated was femininity shaming that's in keeping with the context of this thread being the distinction between Britain & the rest of the world.

Yes you did.

You prattled on about internalised misogyny.

Every time anyone comes up with a proportionate or legitimate aim they STILL get shot down in flames as not being inclusive enough.

I am DONE with the shaming and the whatabouttery.

Males can hang out with women in mixed sex spaces. NO exceptions and no being shitty about equality and how gender neutral is better because this is ultimately in favour of men at the expense of women and all the hidden reasons as to why women developed single sex spaces in the first fucking place.

Like for the purposes that STILL sadly exist in refugee camps as well as in the UK.

1984Now · 03/08/2026 14:00

CarobBean72 · 03/08/2026 13:25

Well, I actually agree with you that colonialism & imperialism - and appropriation - are not limited to land grabs.

I see male appropriation of women’s experience, existence & the language we need to talk about these things as colonisation & appropriation.

  • Performing woman-face while mansplaining to women what woman is as so many of these men do.
  • Appropriating the (alleged) “third gender” traditions of various very different cultures & marketing them as proof that noble savages apparently endorsed the very specific 20th century consumerist ideology of “gender identity:

That’s before we reach the racism of equating the struggle of men in dresses to strip off around unconsenting women & girls with the US civil rights movement; the direct lie that black women athletes are “targeted”, based on the racist trope that black women are more like men really; the rhetorical equation of “transphobia” with “racism”…

Róisín Michaux/Peaked recent investigation nails it. The third genders are nothing of the sort. Even the men themselves know they're not women.
Those men abusing them in their own countries certainly know this.
And the men in the West abusing them also know they're not women.
Yet the progressives in the West continue to apply magical thinking.
And the likes of Gretel come on here with his accusations of colonial sexual racism from British GCs.

murasaki · 03/08/2026 13:49

Well quite, it's the equivalent of putting on a sombrero and twirly moustache and for a Mexican themed night, but going one step further and claiming to be Mexican. I seem to remember some students being rightly slammed for that, and they weren't even claiming Mexican status.