Could Mumsnet clarify the purpose of the sex and gender forum?

[Lexibletheflexible]

Can we get some clarification on the actual "purpose" of the sex and gender forum, please?

Many members on there seem to allude to it being for GC people rather than to discuss issues related to gender and sex. They make posts like this one:

"and the overall purpose of the sub forum."

What is this "overall purpose" that some members seem to be privy to and isn't outlined in the group title?

I can show various other posts by regular members who seem sure of the same thing. I think it would help all of us if we understood what the site/staff intended its purpose to be.

If you want to communicate with MNHQ privately, better to email them.

There's no reason to post a public thread other than to gather attention and comments from forum members.

So instead of messaging HQ, you are continuing to post on a public forum while berating those who also contribute?

As a newcomer you are probably unaware that a few years back a MN paid intern who was a TRA doxxed MN forum contributors on Twitter.

www.theguardian.com/media/2018/apr/19/mumsnet-reports-itself-data-regulator-transgender-rights-row-ip-addresses-posted-twitter

So? What's that got to do with attacking the moderation team, now?

So? What's that got to do with attacking the moderation team, now?

I see there's a transmaiden/TRA on the MN mod team again.

This statement isn't attacking the moderation team. It's an ironic joke referencing the MN intern who was a TRA doxxing MN members on Twitter back in the day.

As a Johnny Come Lately you obviously aren't aware of the background.

I was perfectly aware of the background. It's part of the infamous history of the site.

Gosh! You are very knowledgable about the history of MN for someone who only joined 3 months ago.

It was in national newspapers at the time and comes up if you Google the site. Did you think it was a secret?

I'm surprised you didn't get the joke what with you being so knowledgable about the history of MN.

I don't think accusing staff of being "TRAs" or "Transmaidens" with the insinuation that they will do what intern did is a joke. YMMV.

I think it's a joke & I'm sure the author intended it as a joke. Nobody honestly thinks that MN mods are "TRAs" or "Transmaidens" it's just exaggeration for comic effect. I'm sorry you cannot see the humour although your po-faced misinterpretation is in itself amusing.

Ok

Why are people choosing to claim that calling people who advocate for trans rights 'trans rights advocates' (abbreviated to TRAs) is a bad thing?

My understanding is that TRA stands for "trans rights activist" which is a much less neutral term.

It is and much more accurate. If people were just advocating for trans rights, and not trying to bully women into giving up their rights, the term would have more positive connotations.

And Mumsnet replied here over a week ago.

It means advocate when I use it, always has.

It means arseholes when I use it….

If people shill for “trans rights” with no regard for women’s sex based rights then people will call them TRAs. I tend to only use TRA for people who do this who identify as the opposite sex. I call others “TRA allies”.

I mostly try to use Genderist, which speaks to a belief in Gender, support of replacing sex with gender in language that hiterto was sex-specific, and support of Gender aligned laws and social provisions over sex-based ones, without implying a person is actively campaigning for these things.

I don't see "activist" as a negative term. I'm surprised about that. If you are actively campaigning for (or against) something, you are an activist, no?

However, "transmaidens" is a bit insulting.

I assume the issue is that someone who is not actively doing anything in IRL other than Being Kind may well think of their engagement on FWR as an outshoot of Being Kind and Explaining Why It Matters to People Who Will Surely Get It If It's Just Explained Properly rather than activism.

It is why some people get so upset I think, because in their heads they are doing the equivalent of trying to explain why nice manners cost nothing and they don't see why anyone would be against that. Not being activists, they haven't really considered what they are actually asking for is for women to negate ourselves, our own rights and our own interests to provide this nice kind support.

Which is not an unusual expectation of women, to be fair.

Indeed, posting on a public message board is a form of activism, but if they want to comfort themselves by calling it advocacy, let them away with it. In either case they are allies. Pretending they aren't by getting huffy about the TRA abbreviation is puzzling.

Nothing offensive about it - unlike the anatomical insult.

Yes I tend to use ”genderists” for the entire group of people who prioritise the gender identity ideology viewpoint.