Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that not all Conservative MP's are a total disaster when it comes to biological reality?

90 replies

AnotherDayAnotherView · 27/04/2022 22:29

Good evening all,

Today I joined Mumsnet as it has been featured in the news for various reasons, most noticeably that it allows a free flow of views and opinions with regard to todays most "controversial" hot topics. I have on occasion dipped into some of the conversations (as a non-participant observer), such as the threads on Ukraine and some within the feminist forum, however I have not felt the need to join the forum until today.

The reason I joined today is due to a response I received from my local Conservative MP which I would like to share with you.

Over the last few months in particular I have noticed a disturbing theme from some politicians with regard to what constitutes a man or a woman, in light of this I wrote to my MP to ask his definition of a woman and if he thought that women could have a penis as this notion seems to be pushed within the media.

For some time now I have been watching various news items with regard to the new trend of " transgenderism" - I place this word advisedly in inverted commas as there seems to be some dissent as to what this word actually means. In my world view, there used to be transsexuals and transvestites, these words seem to have been combined into an overarching definition which seems to confuse the issue.

Anyhow suffice to say this new trend has caused me some concern particularly when it comes to the apparent safeguarding issues with regard to children and young adults. I attach the response from my MP

AIBU to think that not all Conservative politicians are a total disaster when it comes to biological reality?

AIBU to think that not all Conservative MP's are a total disaster when it comes to biological reality?
OP posts:
RagingRagingAndMoreRaging · 27/04/2022 22:38

The above is ‘biological reality’ not always as clear cut as it seems.

Liz1tummypain · 27/04/2022 22:41

I know it seems to be a major issue in the world but I must be living under a rock so it hasn't come up in my life. If a person feels they have to identify as being a different gender than their biological one then it's no concern of mine. Nobody takes that decision lightly. The only time I could see it affecting me was if I were having some intimate treatment, conversation etc from a person I thought was a woman but who wasn't. Like a cervical smear maybe. Hard to imagine how I'd feel then.

PurpleDaisies · 27/04/2022 22:42

An actual letter. How very retro.

MPs don’t all have one hive mind. It’s not that surprising that there are different views.

PonyPatter44 · 27/04/2022 22:43

They may not be total disasters when it comes to biological reality, but an awful lot of them seem to have no moral compass and no ability to empathise with societal problems.

Did your MP mention anything about policing, education or the state of the NHS, or was it just penises?

Ereshkigalangcleg · 27/04/2022 22:45

The above is ‘biological reality’ not always as clear cut as it seems.

In what sense? Yes, disorders of sex development sometimes occur. No it doesn't mean that biological sex doesn't exist, or that those people are not one or the other sex.

Thedogscollar · 27/04/2022 22:46

They might be able to recognise a woman but that doesn't make up for the million and one other shit decisions they have made and continue to make.
They are corrupt and immoral. Defend that.

PurpleDaisies · 27/04/2022 22:46

Maybe they learnt what a woman is from watching porn in the House of Commons.

TooBigForMyBoots · 27/04/2022 22:48

They're a fucking disaster when it comes to running the country properly but some folk are easily impressed. Not all MPs in any political party are a disaster when it comes to biological reality.Hmm

TheKeatingFive · 27/04/2022 22:50

No it doesn't mean that biological sex doesn't exist, or that those people are not one or the other sex.

or that it is possible to change sex

HairyBum · 27/04/2022 22:54

when I hear the word ‘gender’ I automatically think ‘gender stereotypes’. Oddly the focus seems solely on looking like a woman rather then traditional female issues - childcare, caring for elderly family, lower pay, sexual harassment. Despite trying to minimise the differences between biological women and trans women, the differences are substantial. Intersex people are few and far between and do not consider the trans debate relative to them.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 27/04/2022 22:55

Nobody takes that decision lightly.

How do you know? literally all they have to do is announce that they identify as women/men?

RagingRagingAndMoreRaging · 27/04/2022 22:56

Ereshkigalangcleg

Did you read it? For most people it’s is clear cut. For some it’s not. Read the full statement. Biological sex is nuanced. What a man or woman is less clear cut than we think. Even genitalia, which you would think is clear - sometimes isn’t. That’s biological reality. ‘those people’ - you know the ‘disordered ones’ (your use of language betrays your lack of empathy) - are not ‘one or the other’ and the ‘one or the other’ of which you speak are not always binary - but multiple things that fall on a continuum - even genitalia isn’t always clear cut.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 27/04/2022 22:56

or that it is possible to change sex

Quite.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 27/04/2022 22:57

Did you read it?

I skimmed. Nothing I haven't seen before.

axolotlfloof · 27/04/2022 22:59

Liz1tummypain · 27/04/2022 22:41

I know it seems to be a major issue in the world but I must be living under a rock so it hasn't come up in my life. If a person feels they have to identify as being a different gender than their biological one then it's no concern of mine. Nobody takes that decision lightly. The only time I could see it affecting me was if I were having some intimate treatment, conversation etc from a person I thought was a woman but who wasn't. Like a cervical smear maybe. Hard to imagine how I'd feel then.

It may not affect your life but it does affect vulnerable people or others who may need you to speak up for them:
Girl Guides taking in boys but not telling parents because they are "transgirls" .
Female prisons admitting male prisoners.
Women's sports and protected categories (eg women's awards or short lists) places being taken by males.
Women's refuges not being single sex.
Girls toilets (especially in schools etc).
Sometimes things don't need to directly affect us for it to matter.
Also the denial of biological reality gets my goat!

DdraigGoch · 27/04/2022 22:59

RagingRagingAndMoreRaging · 27/04/2022 22:38

The above is ‘biological reality’ not always as clear cut as it seems.

People with DSDs are not merely a convenient trojan horse for getting males into women's safe spaces you know.

axolotlfloof · 27/04/2022 23:00

That was to @Liz1tummypain
But the quote feature didn't work.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 27/04/2022 23:01

you know the ‘disordered ones’ (your use of language betrays your lack of empathy) - are not ‘one or the other’

They really are one or the other. Biological sex exists, whatever sophistry you employ. Yes, unfortunately some people are affected by disorders, congenital or otherwise. Many people with DSDs have significant health problems based on their condition. They don't necessarily want it used to prop up gender identity ideology, so maybe don't do that. I guess your Facebook guy didn't think about that either.

TheKeatingFive · 27/04/2022 23:03

Biological sex is nuanced.

No it isn't. Ones biological sex is easily determined, regardless of the existence of DSD. It is not always about genitalia in the case of DSD, but in terms of genes it's clear.

Blossomtoes · 27/04/2022 23:03

Thedogscollar · 27/04/2022 22:46

They might be able to recognise a woman but that doesn't make up for the million and one other shit decisions they have made and continue to make.
They are corrupt and immoral. Defend that.

This. You have to know what a woman is in order to exploit and abuse her.

This OP is the most obvious Tory Central Office post I’ve ever seen. It’s so transparent it’s utterly shameless.

RagingRagingAndMoreRaging · 27/04/2022 23:04

DdraigGoch

well, of course, that’s my aim. I’m hell bent on getting men into female spaces. 🙄

my point is that what is ‘a man’ and what is ‘a woman’ is not nearly as binary and clear cut as we think. That’s just fact.

PurassicJark · 27/04/2022 23:05

You asked your mp a question that was pretty obvious on what response you wanted. They gave you it to keep you happy.

Try sending another email from a different email address, asking their opinion on the opposite side. See what kind of response you get then.

Original poster
AnotherDayAnotherView · 27/04/2022 23:05

PonyPatter44 · 27/04/2022 22:43

They may not be total disasters when it comes to biological reality, but an awful lot of them seem to have no moral compass and no ability to empathise with societal problems.

Did your MP mention anything about policing, education or the state of the NHS, or was it just penises?

Luckily my MP mentions a lot of issues and does a fantastic job of representing his constituency

OP posts:
Ereshkigalangcleg · 27/04/2022 23:06

Sex is binary. There are only two. It's based on gametes. Male/female. As I said, it's sophistry with the intention of pushing gender identity ideas.