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MNHQ

Naomi Wolf: live webchat TODAY, Thursday 6 September, 12pm to 1pm

8 replies

RachelMumsnet · 04/09/2012 15:22

Naomi Wolf is joining us for a live webchat on Thursday 6 September at 12 noon. Naomi's latest book, Vagina - A New Biography, has attracted major media attention this month and we're delighted she's joining us to tell us more about the book and answer your questions.

Described as 'exhilarating and groundbreaking', Vagina combines cultural history, physiology and personal memoir to explore the role of female desire and how it affects female identity, creativity and confidence.

Naomi Wolf is author of seven books including the bestseller, The Beauty Myth. She travels regularly to speak about gender equality and social justice. She lives in New York and is working towards a doctorate at New College, Oxford University.

Please post your question to Naomi in advance, or set the date in your diary to join us this Thursday at midday to chat to Naomi 'live'.

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MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 06/09/2012 10:45

@StewieGriffinsMom

I'm finding it very difficult to understand how Ms Wolf's participation in a webchat does not invalidate the We Believe You campaign since Ms Wolf has spent the better part of the past 2 years spreading rape myths about a case she clearly does not understand since she has consistently made fallacious remarks about what constitutes rape under Swedish law and fails to understand the legal process in Sweden.

Hi there,
From what I've gathered in the last week (and I may well be wrong) Naomi's position isn't this wasn't rape, it's that Assange's deportation is politically motivated and that under normal circumstances a case like this wouldn't be prosecuted. But far better for her to speak for herself, I'd say.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 06/09/2012 10:48

@ComradeJing

I'd also like a response to the issues raised on this thread regarding the Assange case and one from MNHQ regarding the We Believe you Campaign.

Hi ComradeJing - see answer to SGM below. Think it makes sense to us to ask Naomi where she stands and have a reasoned debate don't you? After all she's an extremely influential writer and leading feminist, as evidenced by the enormous about of publicity her book has generated this week.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 06/09/2012 11:26

@TunipTheVegemal

Justine, I dunno about Naomi being a 'leading feminist' - the media treat her as such but I don't know a lot of feminists who are in any sense led by her - not since The Beauty Myth, at any rate.

Well, OK, clearly not everyone would use that description but I think you'd have to concede something like: influential voice on feminist issues - and as such I think she's an obvious webchat guest for Mumsnet.

(And an aside I think we'd probably would be inclined to have George Galloway on MN - we've had Nigel Farage - who better to take him to task than Mumsnetters?)

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 06/09/2012 13:31

@chaya5738

JustineMumsnet You wrote:

"Naomi's position isn't this wasn't rape, it's that Assange's deportation is politically motivated and that under normal circumstances a case like this wouldn't be prosecuted. But far better for her to speak for herself, I'd say."

Well saying that it was politically motivated is the equivalent of saying that it shouldn't be taken as seriously as it is ie: all rape victims should be treated badly. Apparently, if you are raped by a left-wing celebrity the police should not prosecute your case because, well, there are worse rapes to worry about. Utterly appalling.

And that wasn't all that Naomi said. You should read exactly what she said on it. She definitely falls into the this wasn't rape-rape camp.

And the conspiracy theories she has bought into are an embarrassment too.

This definitely doesn't fit with the WeBelieveHer campaign. I accept that Assange hasn't been convicted but at least let his accusers/victims have their day in court. He has had many, many, many days in court and the best legal counsel that could be bought. I don't know of many other people accused of rape who have had such fantastic access to due process and excellent legal counsel!

I really wish Mumsnet had done some research on this before supporting Ms Wolf in this way.

I merely outlined Naomi's position - one that's she's put forward anywhere and everywhere this week and that she reiterated here. I didn't say I agree with it it and I'm not sure providing a platform on Mumsnet counts as "supporting Ms Wolf" tbh. But I do think it's useful to give people a chance to explain their statements and I thought it was an interesting webchat. Hope others did too.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 06/09/2012 13:33

@chaya5738

Apparently it is ok to talk about the Beauty Myth but not to ask her about her writings on Assange. What fcking bullsh*t, Mumsnet HQ.

Who said it was not ok to ask about Assange? There's lots of questions about Assange on this thread Confused.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 06/09/2012 13:41

@TunipTheVegemal

It was an interesting webchat Justine. Haven't seen the Mumsnet feminists so united since early 2011.

You're not wrong there.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 06/09/2012 13:56

@chaya5738

But, Justine, she didn't explain her position properly. She was disingenuous and prevaricated. She said her "phrasing" was wrong. Please.

I don't think we should promote an author whose views are so inconsistent with the WeBelieveHer campaign.

But agree that it was an interesting chat only because it gave us all a chance to tell Naomi Wolf exactly what we thought of her position/s.

My comments about not being allowed to talk about Assange, referred to the comments made by Naomi that she was here to discuss her latest book. These were echoed by Mumsnet.

Her book - and promoting it - is certainly what prompted the chat - I think that's all we meant by the introduction to the thread but nowhere did we limit the scope of the chat (we're not complete nitwits!) and to be fair she did address questions on Assange and her initial response to the Assange case.

MNHQ

JustineMumsnet · 06/09/2012 13:57

@TwelveLeggedWalk

AH, missed it! Interesting read though...

You know us so well. Any chance we could leave George Galloway for a bit [pleading eyes]?

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