To be hurt and angry that DD told her prof her mum is a TERF and he sympathised

[Dahliadaily]

My DD is at a Russell group uni studying a masters following a 1st in humanities. I’m really proud of her obviously.
We were always really close. She cried for me throughout freshers’ week, relied on my tough love.

We differ respectfully on the trans issue. I am a feminist and a biology grad and believe in the reality of sex and the importance of single sex spaces, the rule of law.

We negotiate this ok and do keep talking. I’m sure that more unites us than separates us. We agree on prostitution for example. But not on the medicalisation of gender.

She is a lesbian. Has lots of gay non binary and trans friends. Her flatmate is a trans man. I’d never make a personal remark about any of them.

My other DD told me that uni DD has got close to a prof (male and gay - nothing sleazy) and told him I was a TERF. He responded “that must be really difficult for you”.

She’s an intelligent young woman, capable of forming her own views. But I can’t help being hurt by her comment and angry with the prof for siding with this idea that I’m difficult or even evil / unkind. It feels a bit like grooming.

Why wouldn't her home be positive? Are people not allowed to hold different opinions anymore?

Yes I know. My point was to question why so many women are seemingly identifying as radical feminists now when, as we know, feminism in the third wave moved away from that more radical ideology. I was interested on whether this was actually a phenomenon - and if so why now? - or just a new use of the term "radical feminist", in which case what does this new meaning entail? What do people mean when they call themselves radical feminists?
I just picked a couple of points from the entire concept as a talking point rather than to suggest that radical feminism is solely about one thing or another.

I'm don't think many people identify as radical feminists exactly. The TERF term was thrust upon people who don't want men in women's spaces, it doesn't necessarily mean that these women come from a radical feminist position.

The vast vast majority of us are in no way 'radical feminists'

The Terven are women who know that no mammal can change sex
and we are
The women who woudn't wheesht
and we are
Telling Everybody Real Facts
its not philosophy
its biology

I'm proud to be a TERF

Telling Everyone Real Facts. Women dont have penises, men cannot have periods. It's quite simple really.

You don’t think that women are oppressed by men for their bodies, for sex and for reproduction? And that “gender roles” (what women are allowed, or told they can or should do and be) are a way of enforcing that?

What do you disagree with in this?

Are you replying to the right person? Because I haven't expressed any kind of view on oppression or gender roles. I was interested in why we're seeing a resurgence in identification with radical feminism and wondering what people mean by it. Just out of interest.

No more than its difficult for OP

Oh ok. I wonder why radical feminism was chosen and by whom? I'm quite interested in looking at whether aspects of feminism have been co-opted by certain groups who wouldn't normally be associated with women's rights. I guess radical feminism has particular connotations to particular people - are campaigners for women's rights being in some way characterised in ways they haven't intended?

They’re interested in radical feminism because of its analysis of sex and oppression. Including its analysis of pornography, reproductive labour, and sexism. Third wave feminism promised “leaning in” at work and being “sex positive” would offer liberation for women. Instead we’re surrounded by ever more and more pornography, less and less of a female-friendly culture, and regimes across the globe that oppress women more and more. Is it any wonder that women aren’t persuaded by it?

Who do you think has 'co-opted' radical feminism?

Used for the ones that deal in biological reality and facts. Trans identified men can never be women they are a sub set of men. University is a place where many are captured by the ideology that is opposite to biological facts yet apparently they are intelligent people 😀 so many contradictions.

So simple, yet some supposedly intelligent people are willing to believe the opposite, thats cult behaviour that the ideology spreads. Poor daughter is captured by lies.

Well that's the hopeful interpretation anyway.

You seemed to think that being a radical feminist is all about lesbian separatism and establishing a “separate”matriarchy. It isn’t: it’s about a specific type of analysis of social structures, which looks at the root causes of patriarchal dominance over women, in which male violence is used to control women’s bodies and reproduction, and then “naturalised” by the social performance of gender roles and societal structures and institutions to keep that power in place.

Indeed.

The "radical" in 'radical feminism' doesn't mean radical as in revolutionary ie turning everything over. It means "radical" as in going back to the root of things.

In this case, radical feminism argues that it is women's roles in production & reproduction which are at the root of the oppression of women. Ie that women have babies (reproduction).

Thus, radical feminists are very clear about female biology, and the ways in which "gender roles" - not gender as thing - are sex-based stereotypes, which are historically & culturally constructed, but all tend back to the same point: the sexual difference between male &female, and the way that women's reproductivity is at the root of our oppression by patriarchy.

Because men can never be sure they're the father of their child, and if property is passed from father to child, women - the reproducers - must be controlled so that there is no "miscegenation."

That's what I'm interested in discussing. There's some crossover between far-right actors and a sudden, renewed attention to some of the rights of some women that doesn't seem to be replicated in other areas - such as abortion rights.

I think I mentioned roots earlier? I'm not really here for the explanations.

You should go read up on radical feminism.

If you think that it is a fertile ground for infiltration from the far right you need your head examined.

Personally this issue has highlighted for me how women still have so much to fight for and that liberal/“intersectional” feminism is often centred around men and what suits men.

Could it not be that women actually agree with radical feminism? You haven’t considered this possibility?

You think that somehow we’re all being brainwashed by the US media to think that, for example, pornography and prostitution are social evils rather than exciting liberation opportunities for women?

You think left wing women are somehow stupid in not going along with the idea that porn and kink are fantastic for women and men who put on dresses are actually female?

This.

I'm not really here for the explanations.

Just trying to help you understand something you might need to learn about.

For those who are interested in learning about radical feminism, can I recommend the Radical Feminist webinars (women only) run every Sunday morning (10am GMT) by WDI (Women's Declaration International). They're recorded & uploaded to YouTube.

Really interesting topics covered each week: generally around an expert discussing a foundational feminist text. Great stuff & lots of discussion!

“I want to discuss” but “I’m not here for the explanations”. Rightyo.

Indeed @Ereshkigalangcleg <strokes chin>

Brilliant example of how young women are standing up. https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5434092-new-female-single-sex-student-society-launched-at-cambridge-university?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=app_share