Trans by Helen Joyce 99p on Kindle. AIBU...

[HereticFanjo]

... To suggest you read it if you still think Mumsnet is full of meanie transphobes? If you hide any thread that mentions gender identity? If you're politically homeless because politicians like Keir Starmer are too busy arguing about 'cervix havers' to actually lead the opposition against this shitshow government?

This is not the time for ostriching or #BeKind. It's the time to wake up to the harm gender identity politics is doing to our society, democracy and free speech and to so many vulnerable individuals. Especially children with autism and dysphoria and vulnerable women and children who are being browbeaten into allowing men to access their previously semi-safe spaces.

Stop relegating this stuff to FWR. The opposition parties are devouring themselves over this and losing women voters by the thousand. Meanwhile the Tories are merrily destroying our public services.

I haven't heard of this book and I don't even know what FWR means so I have ordered the book so I can learn.
Thanks

@OhGiveUp FWR is the feminism and women's rights board on Mumsnet (under topics). The book is about gender identity ideology and attempts to explain how topics such as the right to 'self-identify' as a man or woman have gained such a vocal place in society and politics - and the harms that can be caused by this, ironically including to trans identified people, especially young people. If you are interested the book is only 99p on Kindle today. It's a worthwhile read.

Ah, so it's about trans people?

I hide every thread mentioning gender identity because I don’t want to read what transphobes have to say, so not sure your advice is any good to me.

I hope it's not too much of a crushing blow to be told AIBU posters don't start threads with you in mind.

@Gorl there is nothing transphobic in the book and I would humbly suggest you read the book before labeling it 'transphobic'. It is a serious and incredibly well-researched book by a well-respected investigative journalist and for 99p it is frankly a steal. Mumsnet did a web chat with the author and I was in awe of how she was able to summarise the whole complex debate very clearly.

It really is a complex issue and that's why labeling intelligent discussions of it as transphobic is unhelpful as well as misleading. Ditto the #NoDebate thing - it is an issue that needs clear-eyed study and discussion.

Thanks for posting OP. Have ordered it.

@OhGiveUp no it's about identity politics and lobbying, the pharmaceutical industry and many other things. It's not about trans people, perhaps ironically given the title. Feel free to read it for 99p and you will see what it's about.

I've just ordered. Thank you for the heads up. I have Trans (or transed) children in my life and am very concerned for their well-being and for the
well-being of women and girls whose rights are being insidiously dismantled. And indeed of gay people. The number of lesbians I know, many of them now mothers, who may well have been transed had they been children now is alarming.

Oh jog on. I can support women's rights and support trans people at the same time. Trans women are not eroding my rights, the Tories are doing that.

If you're more bothered about trans women than you are the effect of austerity on women (yes, all women), then think yourself incredibly fortunate.

Thanks.

Ordered, thanks. Been meaning to get it for a while!

It’s an excellent book which looks at how we got to where we are now with issues around gender identity

@CorrBlimeyGG it is possible to care about more than one thing at a time, you know...

Don't you care about the vulnerable members of society such as female prisoners, rape victims and those experiencing domestic violence (who are primarily from lower socio-economic sections of society) being forced to share female spaces with any men who says they are a woman, including male sex offenders?

Thanks for the heads up OP. I've ordered it. I loved the Helen Joyce webinar and her take on this in The Economist has been brilliant. Compassionate, informative and thoughtful. I just wish those posters who condemn this out of hand would read it. We need a thoughtful balance of rights. Any cause that insists on #NoDebate is a concern

@CorrBlimeyGG I'm extremely concerned about austerity, which is one reason why I posted this thread. The opposition parties are so busy devouring themselves over identity politics that they are not actually providing any opposition to the government.

I've spent my career working with some of the most vulnerable and underprivileged women and children you could ever meet. These are the women who will be most likely to be harmed by extreme ideologies that take away their right to safe spaces because they can't afford alternatives. The Tories are taking these spaces with austerity; the opposition parties are taking them by refusing to accept the reality that women have a need for the Equality Act in all sorts of ways. Because of this many women can no longer vote for them.

It's actually only the most privileged of people who can afford to be dismissive of these issues. Labour is just one party ripping itself to pieces over this issue when we need a poverty-focused opposition party more than ever.

So for anyone interested in knowing more the book is 99p today and highly recommended.

Thanks OP. I've just bought it. If anyone is having problems finding the kindle version click on the book and you can select the kindle version.

Have bought it, interesting to see what it's all about.

Thanks for the heads up OP, I’ve been wanting to read this for a while.

It really is worth a read.

I saw this as I passed a bookshop the other day. Initially misread the title and was quite sad when I saw it wasn't actually about trains after all.

Thanks for the heads up, bought!

One of the most interesting things is how it shows how political lobbying can be very effective when issues 'piggyback' on other issues. Helen Joyce is Irish and observed how the right to self-ID was piggybacked on other issues such as gay rights and abortion rights - these meant that it was able to sneak in under people's radars. By associating itself with other, more widely debated issues, it was able to claim solidarity from people who then adopted self-ID as a default position without questioning the wider implications. Ironically, extreme trans activism can be harmful to women's rights and to gay people, especially lesbians, as well as young people.

It's interesting seeing how ideas go viral.

@Scirocco

I saw this as I passed a bookshop the other day. Initially misread the title and was quite sad when I saw it wasn't actually about trains after all.

Mallard ftw