To think political discussion does belong on Mumsnet

[HermioneWeasley]

At the protest for the Scottish gender reform bill last night. We silly women are only permitted to talk about prams and weaning don’t you know?

Of course. We do politics, otherwise politics will do us.

I’m not aligned with most people on here when it comes to politics, especially regarding trans rights, but political debate is part of a healthy society, and of course should be discussed here.

Imagine campaigning to keep a certain group out of politics. Shouldn't we campaign to include more people in politics, given the current level of disengagement in the population?

Idiots.

Yes pipe down women and let the men speak

I think it’s ok to include politics on this forum. But things will get get up.

The issue is that ‘trans’ is not necessarily politics as it can deeply offend feelings etc which is not in the spirit of the website as they say

So if you want a specific political trans debate then you need to lay out the paper which parliament was presented with

What is mumsnet? It is not a website - it is a collection of women conversing with each other.

Keep women’s conversation out of politics? - how convenient.

There's even a Topic

www.mumsnet.com/talk/politics

Given the context of the protest, it looks like they're referring to the deeply anti-trans side of Mumsnet. I think you know that too, so your aibu is pretty disingenuous.

They're not saying "keep politics off Mumsnet" anyway - it's "keep Mumsnetters' anti-trans beliefs out of political policymaking".

This with bells on.

@NowDoYouBelieveMe it says “keep mumsnet out of politics” - so the 12 million unique users of MN shouldn’t be able to get involved in political debate. Even if it were as specific as you claim, why should none of the millions of users here get involved in that debate?

its old fashioned misogyny and it’s blatant

I'm also in favour of having political debate everywhere. And I find the anti-trans vibe on MN distasteful.

Some prominent TRAs were horrified to find that Mumsnetters discuss politics and women’s rights instead of just focusing on lipstick and pushchairs.

I think the debate about trans rights is of course of keen interest to women and therefore one of the few websites where the majority of users are women. If we are talking about womens sport, womens spaces (domestic violence shelters, womens prisons etc) I think women have a perfect right to take an interest.

There is a difference between bigotry towards trans people and acknowledging empirical, material differences between women and transwomen.

It’s just old fashioned misogyny.

The personal is political.

Politics isn't just about MPs and passing legislation.

And Mumsnet isn't anti-trans. It's pro-women.

It's pretty obvious what the placard is referring too.

No I'm pretty sure they're just horrified at the anti-trans posters on here who want to deny their right to exist.

It's the one thing that really, really sucks about Mumsnet.

I find the anti-trans opinions on here abhorrent. I'm not offended that someone decided to express that on a placard. I agree with the sentiment. That does not make me a misogynist.

I am on several other forums that have strict rules around the discussion and as a result there isn't the combative undertone that MN has.

I've seen it time and time again, they (tetfs) just refuse to engage in a rational manner. It's all nitpicking and imaginary slights.... Exhausting really.

Right. Like how anti-abortionists aren't anti-women, they're pro-life. Including the ones that some anti-trans people on here want to team up with.

I'm also in favour of having political debate everywhere. And I find the anti trans vibe on MN distasteful.

Pointythings do you think the discussions in the Brexit topic are ‘debate’? It seems to me anyone who didn’t go along with views of the majority on those threads were pretty much hounded off it until it became an echo chamber.

This. 👏👏👏

Deny their right to exist? Can I suggest you really really read FWR. It is not a debate on their right to exist, it is a debate if womens services, sports and facilities such as prisons are segregated from mens based on people's gender feelings or based on their biological sex.

It could all be resolved if male trans people would just be respectful and stay out of those things meant for female women. Especially the ones that do not even have gender dypshoria and medically transition. Which is about 95% of all male trans people...

I’m anti no platforming people. Sure way to entrench people’s opinions and move them to the right. I couldn’t care less about anyone’s sexual preferences or how they wish to present to the world. My issue is the shutting down of debate and I will continue to defend the right to be offended and carry on anyway.

Why should mumsnetters (or anyone) with anti trans views be kept out of policy making? That's like saying people that vote a way you don't like don't need to be considered and what's wrong with the entire splintered debate and lack of reasonable compromise.