Tell MNHQ why you use Mumsnet

[EllieMumsnet]

Here at MNHQ we would really like to get to know our users better and would therefore love to know why you use Mumsnet and if Mumsnet has managed to help you in any way.

Is the main reason you use Mumsnet for the advice from other users? And if so, what advice do you look for in particular or is it on everything and anything? Do you use Mumsnet as a place to browse the funny threads and have a bit of ‘you’ time? Is it more the product/service reviews and recommendations that you use Mumsnet for? Has the support of fellow Mumsnet users helped you get through a tough time? Or maybe you have created long-term friendships with other users and come on to chat to them.

Whatever the reasons you use Mumsnet and any stories you have on how Mumsnet has helped you, we would love to hear them so please share them on the thread below.

Thanks
MNHQ

I should add I also started on AIBU but spend most of my time on feminism chat nowadays. I have learned so much from the amazing women on there.

AIBU and FWR!

I am on Gransnet and post there occasionally. Assumed I was too old for Mumsnet being in my 70s, but found it more aligned with me somehow than GN.

Love to rummage through Classics when insomnia hits. Enjoy Chat and AIBU and lots of threads as a lurker. Pick up lots of tips from Housekeeping.

But FWR is where it's at really. It felt like coming home. Women fighting for women and speaking up. Yes, the trans gender thing is big at the moment but that's because it has been made big by trans activists, Government consultations etc. etc. and the move to chuck women under a bus in the rush to be woke. It's a bloody great battle that needs to be fought right now - and MN FWR seems to be the only place where we can - to a limited degree admittedly - speak openly and organise against this insanity.

I stumbled upon MN just after the SWMNBN debacle, and wandered off again because it seemed like everyone was married and loaded, and I was neither.
Found my way back looking for toddler advice and discovered that there were some very funny women on here, so stayed for the craic.
Now I surf Active and lurk in S and B, Telly In the News and Westminstenders.
I used to pop into FWR, but it seemed like you had to be an academic to post and it was a bit scary! . It's MUCH better now that a wider range of women post in there.
A lot of my friends arent really interested in how much the structure of our society disadvantages women, but I think about it a lot and in FWR it's seen as a given so I feel less like I'm going mad.
The thing I like most about MN is that it's a (sometimes bonkers) window into the lives of people you might never otherwise meet. There's doctors, lorry drivers, millionaires and people living on disability benefits. I think it's made me less judgmental and given me an appreciation for the way women can discuss things, even when they don't agree.

P.s BoF I remember you

Came for the breastfeeding and no sleep advice (they still don’t sleep ) over a decade ago (wtf!) seen regular names come and go, laughed and cried and got angry and informed at many a thread but I now definitely stay for the FWR threads (which hearteningly enough seems to be the reason for a lot of posters on here)

Which reminds me I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the amazing, intelligent and funny as fuck women on those boards - I thought I was a feminist before but they’ve put the fire in my belly.

Ditto! IfNotNowThenWhen1

BiologyIsReal you’re a perfect age for the feminist boards as you’ve seen so much of the fight to liberate women from patriarchy. You will have seen laws changed and the treatment of sexual assault victims and how ‘he was only having a laugh’ abuse defenders. Unfortunately we seem to be being pulled back to that attitude. I’m 50 BTY. The thing I love about Mumsnet is the huge differences in ages, from 18 to 80, there’s something for everyone.

It is brilliant how sometimes a poster I recognise will go "I'm 70" or "I'm 20" and I do that mental double take and have to admit to myself that I have daft preconceptions about age.
Love that.

Warmth, wit, solidarity, gender politics.

I came to Mumsnet nearly 12 years ago to get help with parenting babies, toddlers and young children.

I also think as the teenage years are looming and I might need more help then !

The most important section of Mumsnet is the feminist boards and the limited freedom of speech we have there. To talk about all the issues affecting women and girls.

Mumsnet is a rare website which allows a limited amount of freedom of speech for women and if this board was to be limited further, Mumsnet will lose a vast amount of their female members.

Conversely, if Mumsnet increased the amount of freedom to speech women had on the boards (aka allowed us to use pronoun and terms which we feel reflect reality and our truths) then Mumsnet membership will rocket (minus babies attached to them, lol)

Strong feminist women is Mumsnet's greatest treasure.

My main ports of call initially were diets and doghouse. Then I found my way to feminism chat and that's the thing that keeps me coming back.

I feel I've learnt so much on FWR it's been life changing. I get withdrawal symptoms if I miss a day now

I posted after 10pm last night but through active convos - hadn’t seen the FWR post.

Sorry I know we’ve moved on, but it has been on active a lot.

I came many years ago to look for advice and stayed as am a single mother of 4 children. Previously to this year I appreciated all of the boards but I look less and less as the blatant transphobia that is running through the Feminism board, where a number of people congratulate themselves daily about how witty and intelligent they are, is now starting to come onto the other boards particularly AIBU.

It is clear to me, as I'm sure to others, that there are a few voices working very hard to peddle misinformation about the proposed changes to the GRA and the present equality act - and the piling on and bullying in the name of 'debate' is pretty disgusting. Also the number of parents on here who seem to think that safeguarding means knowing everything about other peoples children is just bizarre.

No doubt now there will be a number of 'what about' questions from the so-called gender critical feminists piling on so that they look like the majority. All very depressing really.

Kate, I'm sure if there is a gulf between how people are using MN and what is being shown on this thread then mnhq's own statistics will demonstrate that.

It would be interesting to see that information though. I lurk on FWR, although once in a blue moon I may post, and it's really surprising that I am one of many, silently reading and nodding.

FWR is the main thing I come for these days, though I have a browse around other interesting or funny posts too and sometimes ask (or give) advice on other topics/recommendations. We owe MN a lot, even with the current restrictions, for allowing a relative freedom of speech that was rarely found elsewhere (though I hope the tide is gradually starting to turn elsewhere as well now!).

I started out, like many, mostly on the baby/parenting sections, then started to get drawn into threads on Relationships, and it was actually the posts there, and seeing the struggles so many women were going through, that drew me into FWR eventually and brought out my feminist streak.

Came here initially through Gransnet and liked the younger feel of it. Now have had my eyes opened completely about modern feminist issues (particularly the transgender situation) and have rediscovered my feminist self. Thanks so much for providing this space.

I joined for advice with my first baby, coming up for 9 years ago I think. The breastfeeding advice was great and it was the first time I was signposted to great resources like Kellymom.

Also the sense of humour and intelligence of the posters seemed a lot different to other 'baby' sites I'd posted on.

I've spent a lot more time the last few months on the Feminism chat board. The ability to discuss the gender critical viewpoint is still very appreciated and important.

Aside from that there's a lot of other interesting stuff in FWR that's causing me to buy a lot of books to read up on women's issues...

I literally cannot believe the number of people referring to FWR on this thread, it's incredible! I honestly thought I was just one of a small number, there are so many others out there, it makes me feel quite emotional really!

Me too Elephant

It's wonderful, isn't it. So many women, just talking together.

These days, FWR 90% of the time, browsing Active 9% and product reviews / searching for name of thing I am considering buying 1%.

FWR is the heart of Mumsnet. Without it we may as well be on Netmums. (The horror!)

Books, education, religion and the odd silly aibu/chat. Sometimes I try and help someone who has a problem I know something about. Occasionally to find product reviews or complete marketing quizzes.I have yet to win anything though!

It is. Feminism beats throughout the whole site, influencing pro woman behaviour everywhere; from LTB relationship support, to women's health (inc miscarriage, birth, pregnancy and breastfeeding), to carers, housekeeping and employment. Everything has a slant that you don't get elsewhere, brought from the intelligent and bloody funny women here. If we don't mention the apparent "problem" in FWR at the moment, I'm sure the complainers here can't disagree with that?

And of course Let toys be toys and no more page three were both supported heavily from here.