RAD FEM 12! Booking for the London conference is now open!

[DaisyHayes]

How exciting! The website looks like it is accepting bookings.

Are any of you planning on coming? I am fully expecting the FWR Mumsnetters to take over the open mic section of the evening do

kim147 I have a friend who had her transition in her teens. She identifies as a woman, faces the same discrimination other women do, and doesn't introduce herself as trans to people who don't know her past. If I didn't know it, I would have no idea she was trans.

I'd find it weird if she was asked to give up that detail of her personal/medical history. (Fwiw, I've no idea whether she went through with surgery, and I haven't asked, but she takes hormones)

Eats - my question was how the "non-woman born women" are identified. And how xy-women who have masculine visual traits, and possibly even beard growth (which can be caused by hormonal imbalances) are treated? Will they be asked whether they had their foof from birth?

Widow - I would hope that anyone who is a feminist - and this conference is for feminists - would have the decency and ethics not to lie

I think it is a good thing that there are feminist events where everyone can go. I also think it is a good thing that men have feminist events (like the Minnesota ones), transwomen have them, liberal feminists have them and so on.

I could also see it as possible that women who consider themselves transgender or cisgender might want to organise an event together where they talk particularly about how misogyny has an impact on people whose gender is feminine. They may then feel that women who don't identify as cis or trans are perhaps not helpful in that space.

Thank you Kim! I always say on threads likethis that some transexuals do think as you do, but I am rarely believed.

Good point about anti patriarchy issues. Yes there's loads of common ground. But transwomen have their own specific issues that they, their own spaces and their own voices are loudest there. Rightly so. It would be wrong for bio women to enter those spaces, and takes up space and airtime in those gatherings . Bio women aren't the authorityon transwomens particular struggles. And vice versa, surely.

It's just Bad Manners

I'm kind of divided on this, as someone who has a fair few trans friends. I've seen and read and heard a lot of bigoted spite from feminists towards transpeople, and FWIW I think a lot of the objections to RadFem2012 are not so much about the exclusion of transpeople from the actual event, but are because one of the invited speakers is a trans-hater. I'm generally in agreement with the fact that gender isn't binary (FFS it is a biological FACT that a percentage of people are born intersex or hermaphrodite).
On the other hand, I do rather support the right of people who are organising a small-scale, one-off event without much funding behind it, to be able to choose who is and is not allowed to attend. Just like, if you are having a party in your house (or indeed in hired premises like a club or a community centre) you get to write the guest list and don't have to admit anyone you don't like the look of.

If you're referring to Sheila Jeffreys as I presume you are, she is not a 'trans hater'. She is critical of transgenderism. It's a political analysis of transgenderism which is in no way motivated by hatred or fear of people who identify as trans.

I am only vaguely aware of the whole thing due to FB friends Prolesworth. But I have no time at all for Sheila Jeffreys.

I'd love to go but can't afford it. :(

I'm really shocked at the level of vitriol and threats on twitter aimed at some of the organisers. Someone's attacked a member of Object [who is currently on mat leave and only tweeted a link to the conference] and demanded that Object make a formal response. Considering the woman in question was tweeting from her personal account and not her Object account, I can't imagine why the attacker thought Object should get an opinion on it. Frankly, some of the anti-radfemmers are making similar comments that F4J made about MN. I can't believe how rude people are being.

SGM - You know there is a hardship fund? You can register and say on the registration form you are applying to this. Yes I am shocked at the level of vitriol and threats and very nervous about braving the demonstration outside that I know is planned.

Considering how the rad fems comment on fun fems on here don't think there is any surprise really that those of us who are not rad question the opinions of those who are. Happily not going nor are any women I know. Sorry but the attitude I have seen of the rads on here make me really happy to avoid it.

SGM, I share your sentiments entirely. I've refrained from posting my opinions on it for a number of reasons. But the abuse towards those who've stated their intention to go has been horrible.

I hope you do make it down. I'll be trying to make a couple of Fem events this year. Again, it's a "try", not a definite. :)

What other events are happening then?

I'm assuming Reclaim The Night will be happening again; that's an annual event. Not sure about any else, but keeping an eye out for local events, too. :)

Of course, thanks

UKFeminista's Summer School is pretty good and their Conference in November. London Feminist Network's conference is back on for November 2013.

There are lots of little feminist things around. Worth googling your area to see. Women's Aid and other women's charities have had training days and campaign activism days near here. Unis are worth checking too.

Thanks SGM. Haven't went to anything for years so I am not networked in at all

Hi, Eatsbrains, I do indeed... (it's linked in the Q & A with Rape Crisis thread) There's not too much on there atm; most of my previous rants have been reserved for my RL identity, but I have a few posts in the line up. :)

I've also found out locally that my uni's Feminist group is run by someone who, very openly complained about people "whatabouttehmenz"ing... As soon as I read that, I wondered if she'd infiltrated MN. Might have to join up when I return...

Yes please do join up ....and tell us more!

Oh, I will do.

any luck with anything in your area eats?

I know a couple of people who are setting up something near me in E Anglia but it is for young'uns not women of my advanced age - if you are under 25 it might be of interest?