The Mary Beard Appreciation Society

[ArcheryAnnie]

Professor Mary Beard was one of about 130+ people who signed a letter to the Guardian this weekend, saying broadly that universities should be a place of discussion and debate, and the current habit of "no-platforming" women (it's almost always women) some students disagree with was inimical to the very purpose of education.

Out of these 130+ signatories, Mary Beard was the one the usual suspects piled on to, and she dealt with the barrage with such grace. The attacks were mostly divided between the "OMG transphobe" type" and the "very sad to see this nice old dear who didn't understand what she was signing" type, which is breathtakingly patronising when referring to one of the most brilliant academics we have. Most of the other signatories weren't attacked at all in the same way or in the same volume, although some signatories who are PoC were labelled "tokens" by the usual suspects, which is also amazingly patronising and dismissive of their choices and their expertise.

When I grow up, I want to be Professor Mary Beard. (But I would probably have to grow an extra couple of brains to do it.)

I read that Jeanne, not in a stalkery way, it was just on my tl. I don't think the women who said that is really interested in discussion to be fair, she seems quite.... entrenched?

Ah - to be fair, I think what you are thinking of isn't what I am thinking of.

I had a twitter conversation with someone who thinks Moran is whorephobic, but I didn't see her claiming Moran is lying. OTOH, someone in my RL has just told me she is.

Which is why we have We Believe You, I guess.

Oh, poor you!

Not poor me. Poor a lot of other people, though.

Woah. I wish I was surprised about the way Rachel Moran has been treated, but after the "Kate Smurthwaite is whorephobic for spending her time and energy supporting survivors" debacle, I suppose I'm not.

I Believe Her - exactly, Jeanne.

It seems to be anyone who supports the Nordic model = whorephobic

I'm actually astonished at the lack of self-awareness of some of those attacking MB/PT for signing this letter. Some of these are the same people who get up in arms about phrases such as 'women menstruate', or 'women have vaginas', yet are now tweeting things like 'Having people tell you on Twitter that you're wrong is not in fact the same as being beaten up by Red Guards in Mao's China.' No shit. Neither is having someone sign a letter you disagree with.

I agree completely with Jeanne about Mumsnet being a space of reason (the FWR boards at least.) When I come into contact with feminism irl, it's always the kind promulgated by those criticising Mary Beard. I'm a student, and I know a lot of other feminist students are growing increasingly tired of this faction's utter domination of feminist student politics. Yet no-one feels they can say anything, because if they do, they face a reaction like Mary Beard's had. Surely we're heading towards some sort of tipping point where the majority of feminists realise how ridiculous this constant tiptoeing around is? I hope so, anyway.

The whole thing is crackers. I'm furious, but depressingly not surprised, at the way she has been treated.

tropic I've been tiptoeing around on other social media, because I'm nervous - I don't want to be doxxed, and I don't want to lose the friendship of people I really like - but lately I've come out of my shell just because I can't stand it any more.

tropic I'm a student at Goldsmiths. I keep my head down and my feminist opinions to myself. I'd probably be criticised as a whorephobic TERF for my views. Thank feck for FWR indeed.

Sign me up.

God, Sunshine, I was just reading that response by Natascha wotsit, who is at Goldsmiths, and thinking I hope my DS doesn't go there.

My sympathies - that must be really horrible and isolating.

Just read Mary B's response. Measured and sane, as always.

Jeanne, I became aware of that letter via your blog. I read it and thought it sounded entirely reasonable.

Annie I haven't read it. I used to follow her on Twitter but gave up for obvious reasons.

I'm a mature student so it's not as isolating as it might be if I were a younger student. I used to think GS was really open to ideas, but it seems they have to be the right ideas.

I'm level 2 must try harder.

I don't think MB or PT are on it but Nick Cohen is on there for his article about Kate Smurthwaite.

tropic it's interesting to hear that a lot of students disagree but are afraid to say anything. My view is that a lot of the transactivists don't believe them and are pretending so they'll appear compassionate and on message. A number of people say things that are inconsistent with the current dogma. If they get noticed, there's usually a pile on which there is no coming back from even after the compulsory repentance.

There is a blockbot checker but it's hosted by a TA so it might disclose your IP address. You can search your username and blockbot and see if you are added. Also see if you are blocked from Sarah Brown's TL.

What blog Buffy?

Sorry Buffy I can't see what the link is. I'm careful what sites I visit as I don't want my IP address tracked. Could you tell me who posted it?

Blockbot is a program you can use that has an administered list of people who are blocked. If you use it, everyone on the list is automatically blocked. That might sound unbelievably dumb, because it is.