Please don't put a rainbow in your window!

[RuffleCrow]

For the past few years the rainbow has sadly becomea symbol of silencing, sexual stereotyping and oppression for a lot of women and those in the LGB community. If you're thinking of putting one up, please think about how that may make women feel - many of whom have already experienced death threats and lost their friends and jobs thanks to those who wield the rainbow flag as a weapon.

I just saw two on my walk just now and it made me feel like shit. Not the intended effect I'm sure. Please consider something else: the sun coming out from a cloud, or a simple landscape. Thanks.

I would say get out more but................

@bream - exactly what I was thinking!

Totally agree @Cardiff76

Fair enough if people were asking their kids to draw the trans flag, but surely the rainbow as a 'political' thing is more associated with people who are gay/lesbian, not trans? I've never really seen a trans person using the LGBT rainbow to identify themselves. I'm sure my gay stepdaughter (who is extremely feminist) would love to know she's oppressing women by using the rainbow

I'll help put off a few atheist mumsnetters OP...

This started in Italy. The teachers in each class sent a story saying the Coronavirus was like Noah's ark where a terrible thing had happened and we had to stay safe in our house like Noah in his ark (it was taught to them in nursery last year) and when the rain was over, just like in the story of the ark, a beautiful rainbow would appear.

So basically if it has any significance, that is it!

That is not what a rainbow means to me, nor millions of other people. It is a sign of hope.

Is that a female-only group @cardiff76? Don't you follow Stonewall guidelines like the others?

I was raised to think the rainbow as a message from god, anyone who grabbed the credit for it after that was secondary.

Does the OP get offended at Skittles and songs sung by Judy Garland? I feel very strongly about womens equality and what is happening to our place in society recently but cannot get triggered by a a child's colouring stuck up in a window.

This is the most PATHETIC thread I’ve read. You need to cop yourself on, OP. Children love drawing rainbows because they are colorful and simple to draw. (Ten years of teaching infants had taught me that much.) How DARE you imply there’s something sinister about them! In Ireland we have the traditional story about the leprechaun’s crock of gold at the end of the rainbow, ie HOPE; bible story-rainbow in the sky as a promise that the earth would never again suffer such a flood , ie HOPE. Get over yourself and your delicate sensibilities and stop trying to ruin a symbol of hope for people. Absolutely PATHETIC!

Yes, I used to feel the same @willowpatterns. Sadly a lot of women have been threatened with death and torture by males covered in rainbows since then.

Oh ffs

I feel like rainbows have also been taken over by the ‘rainbow baby’ phrase, those babies born after the loss of another / others.
Which is obviously really sad and I totally understand the sentiment.
So which is it - pregnancy loss or women’s rights erosion?

My point being is that a symbol can be many things to many people and sometimes they can just be exactly what they are. In this case a colourful picture that kids like to draw and paint

Naah, Judy Garland should be fine. She’s talking about over the rainbow. 🌈

🎶 “Up above the streets and houses 🌈 climbing high...” 🎶

Wait.

Are you all telling me that all the rainbows I see are NOT a symbol of solidarity with Care Bears?

Mind. Blown.

What a reasoned argument @lampostdog. You really won me over

Sunflowers were adopted by hospices, they are not offended by children growing them.

Oh my Christ Mick.

It’s the rainblow flag which some now see as oppressive. Not actual rainbows.

most people are not bloody obsessed with sexuality and the trans movement and everything does NOT relate back to it

Well said.
OP why can't you just live your life instead of looking for offence in something that most people don't find offensive.

And please can you link to some proper evidence that the rainbow symbolises oppression for women and science-denial and experimenting on children with untested drugs. I don't believe for one minute that the latter is true at all.

Grumpos Mon 23-Mar-20 14:05:25
I feel like rainbows have also been taken over by the ‘rainbow baby’ phrase, those babies born after the loss of another / others.
Which is obviously really sad and I totally understand the sentiment.
So which is it - pregnancy loss or women’s rights erosion?

My point being is that a symbol can be many things to many people and sometimes they can just be exactly what they are. In this case a colourful picture that kids like to draw and paint
....
I thought the same, didn't occur to me that it would be a symbol of downtrodden women. However I do not see the reason for putting a rainbow picture up in your window.

Will no one think of the leprechauns?

Oh my good god 🙄

About as daft as your argument op, here have two

I'll just inform my 4yo that we have to take his picture down because a grown woman might feel a bit sad then, shall I... or not.

Oh, and to the poster suggesting reading the FWR boards... I used to, a lot. But after that disgusting silver lining thread the other day, I've hidden the whole damn board and i won't be back.