Is anyone else boycotting Tesco's for giving £80,000 to Mermaids?

[loveyouradvice]

Just that really... I was shocked, especially given all the news coverage there has been about the issues recently. I would have expected them to give it to an uncontroversial charity at the very least - and ideally one that most of their customers would like to support

Same as anyone can support a decision, it doesn't mean its the right decision for that child but you can't then go an accuse a company of being at fault for what is ultimately bad parenting

And people have the right not to support businesses who support charities who support, as you put it, bad parenting.

That article is very good.

Excellent bit of whataboutery in "response" there!

Should the poster's comments only apply to transphobia and racism? I was seeking clarification. I think it's a perfectly valid question, or people might think there are some double standards at play, and I don't think you want to give that impression, do you?

Making an assumption about an entire group of people is offensive to that group.

yes. It is. And yet, the vast majority of the people posting on this thread and FWR board are well aware of the wide range of opinions within the transgender community.

And that there are people who are transgender who are also calling out the lobby groups and the aggressive activism and the particularly the pseudo science that has been used to justify regressive and reductive slogans in the name of so called progression.

@Winesalot

Do you really think the only way something can be transphobic is if an actual, literal slur was used?

So are you saying that simply the act of fighting to retain women's rights is transphobic? That making any distinction between transwomen's needs and female's (including transmen) needs is transphobic?

Because, that does seem to be the tactic used by the lobby groups to ensure 'no debate' happened. A tactic used to shut women up.

Nope not what I said at all. I'd love to know how you jumped to that massive conclusion though.

In that nature it is transphobic to refuse to address someone how they wish to identify. If you would go up to a transwoman and tell them "I refuse to awkwnowledge you as a woman because of the dictionary" that is incredibly offensive.

She doesn't refuse to acknowledge them as a woman merely because of the dictionary though.

"If you would go up to a transwoman and tell them "I refuse to awkwnowledge you as a woman because of the dictionary" that is incredibly offensive."

First of all, nobody would do that.

Second, my comment was about the words people use on MN in these discussions, as in just now when someone suggested that it was offensive to say a transwoman is male.

And it's a statement of fact. Transwomen are male, as per the definitions of both these words.

Making an assumption about an entire group of people is offensive to that group. Why is that so hard to understand?

It's hard to understand without an example, yes. What do you mean by your comment?

Do you mean the view that all transwomen represent a potential threat to females and shouldn't be allowed to access female-only spaces? It sounds unpleasant, I'll agree with you, in the same way that excluding all males from such spaces on the grounds of safety and respect might come across as unpleasant an attitude towards the majority of males who don't pose any risk at all.

Unfortunately, we are talking about laws here, about risk assessment and framing the law to enable rights and protections for people. If that means excluding a whole group then it has to be done and is not 'phobia' of any sort.

@pinkglove75318 whilst you’re in research mode you could look up another ‘charitable organisation’ called Diversity Role Models that also looks seemingly lovely, benign and ‘supportive’ at first glance but whose methods and materials are deeply questionable and potentially very harmful to children and in particular to young girls.

ASDA’s 100 grand donation (iirc) to that organisation, and their deeply flawed partnership with them, is my reason for boycotting ASDA.

Given that M&S and JL/Waitrose were already on my shit list, I am running out of supermarkets to shop in, so I hope the rest of them are sufficiently committed to carrying out due diligence in regards to safeguarding and protections of children and young people.

And now I really am going out to enjoy the sunshine! 🌞 🌞 🌞

Mermaids is going to be the Kids Company scandal of this decade when they combust which can't come soon enough with their shady safeguarding and operating methods

Second, my comment was about the words people use on MN in these discussions, as in just now when someone suggested that it was offensive to say a transwoman is male.

While acknowledging that they did indeed understand that MTF trans people "can't be biologically women. That's true, that's just basic science/biology"

My bold.

greyt I am merely seeking clarification. It has felt like here and other instances when you call out phobia that it is about the 'underlying' tone. As you say, it does not have to be 'blatant'.

So, I am trying to establish what you meant.

I am now doing further research (including isolating your posts to read up on) before i make an opinion

Wait

Is that what the see all thing means...i havent looked, thats awesome if so

Oh arse its premium 😀

@Ninkanink

Making an assumption about an entire group of people is offensive to that group. Why is that so hard to understand?

Ok now we’re getting somewhere.

If that is your definition of -phobia/offense then please, do point me to even one place on FWR where an assumption is made about an entire group of people.

Well the constant idea that all transwomen are secretly men trying to get into women's spaces to sexually assault them, that is trotted out a lot on the feminist board. Another is that every transgendered person has mental health issues and needs urgent treatment instead of being able to identify as they like, this is also mentioned frequently on there. Another is referring to them as "beared blokes in dresses" (this one I've always managed to report and get removed). Those are just to name a few.

As for racism well you may want to look at the Amy Cooper thread. Also a recent thread on feminist chat where a black woman was trying to discuss how it's difficult for BAME women to discuss their issues in feminism, that had a lot of posters shutting her and other black voices down. All the BLM posts which basically are filled with racism apologists.

Would you like more? Or do you have an excuse for all the above examples?

Oh and to add to my above post, I will wait while I'm sure a lot of posters will now say "Well I haven't seen any of that so you are lying!"

Let’s break this down

Do trans children deserve support? - YES
Is gender identity a fixed concept of boy things and girl things or more fluid - More fluid
At what age are children’s identities fixed - Teenagers brains are changing hugely due to synaptic pruning
www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-is-synaptic-pruning-important-for-the-developing-brain/
so it would be unwise to assume anything is fixed and final at a time of great change.

Should a child be taken down a medicalised route that may have irreversible consequences? - in my view no, that is an adult decision.

This is why I struggle with Mermaids.

Oh and just one more point before I forget all about it! Which organisation is the creator of the infamous instructions for harmful sexual practices dice game, does anyone know?

The Proud Trust

Re diversity role models and other such organisations.

When I look through their websites I am constantly shocked by the lack of professional qualifications and extensive experience in the field.

It would seem that a background in demonstrating, a degree in a variation of politics gets you anywhere. The education materials are identikit and the infamous ‘gender unicorn’ ubiquitous.

They are all presentation and no peer reviewed evidence or professional expertise.

Well the constant idea that all transwomen are secretly men trying to get into women's spaces to sexually assault them, that is trotted out a lot on the feminist board.

Blatant lie. You should be ashamed of yourself.

I’ll address the other comments later but that one could not be ignored.

Thanks Chaz, not seen that article before, looks interesting!

@Ereshkigalangcleg

The Proud Trust

Thanks!

@GreytExpectations
Predatory males misusing self identification to get access to women (eg Karen White) is a commentary on predatory males not on Transwomen.

No problem!