Justine stands up for FWR in The Times

[SwearyG]

Justine is quoted in The Times today saying that TRAs are pressuring advertisers to withdraw from the site but they’re willing to take the hit to keep the discussion open. It’s very heartening after the threads of the last few days re FWR being hidden and the worries about this space being censored.

to @JustineMumsnet - thank you.

Thank you Justine

Thank you Justine. Women's rights matter. Free speech matters to everyone.

I will be buying from mumsnet advertisers and boycotting anyone who pulls out. If a company doesn't value women's rights and free speech I am not prepared to give them my business.

Thanks Justine. And yes, I too promise as a result to ensure I consciously support companies who advertise on Mumsnet to thank both Mumsnet and them for allowing free speech. I direct almost all of our family’s spending after all.

The concept of a consumer boycott is troubling to me, as it seems to be using the same tactics as TRAs. But in the other hand I grew up in the age when we all boycotted Barclays for its role in South Africa which was seen to be supporting apartheid, so I do see its value. I still have a frisson of guiltiness when I see my Barclays Bank statement come in. I would be happy to boycott any brand doing active harm...so yes, am going off to see who is unwisely supporting Mermaids who I view as such a dangerous organisation and will let them know why I am removing my business from them.

Thank you Justine and MNHQ. It's good to have the clarification of where the pressure is coming from and brave of you to speak up in the press

Excellent. I am more than happy to support advertisers who continue to support the right of women to discuss issues that affect them.
I know how much flak you will be getting for this, but just know there are thousands of women grateful for the space you allow us and we have your back

Thankyou Justine, this is such a welcome read this morning.
I've been reading reviews of a place in Bristol which is hosting a talk soon, the comments from the TAs have been nothing short of disgusting, I can honestly say I have never read any hate coming from the women who are asking to be heard on this issue, snippy sometimes for sure but not the vulgar and hateful things the TAs say.

Thanks Justine.

Thank you JustineMumsnet

Also thanks @Justine

However, surely we're more than a "significant minority"?

But, by the by in the grand scheme of things. Free speech MUST be protected and I will also willingly boycott any company who withdraws.

Thank you also to the Feminist boards for persisting. I happily admit that I was ignorant of the true meaning of self ID and would have defaulted to a "Meh, live and let live stance" had it not been for these threads.

Now I've signed the petition, follow progress on Twitter and try and educate most people I come in contact with now I've ran out of family and friends

Nice one Justine!
I was threatened this week via my business about my GC views and had spoken to MNHQ about getting my account deleted but this makes me feel like I shouldn’t back down.

The significant minority will probably be because they will be using provable stats - so they have to go off unique users of FWR because you can't count lurkers.

Thank you Justine, I will never use ad blocker on mumsnet and will boycott any advertiser that pulls out over this issue. I will try to actively support companies that do advertise here.

So, so delighted to read this article this morning. Want to add my thank you to all the rest.

Women are entitled to discuss legislative and social changes that affect them. The fact that Mumsnet is prepared to hold her ground in the face of huge pressure and intimidation fills me with hope.

Our M&S boycott is only in the clothing department, for safety reasons. We still go to the foodhall. I will stop the foodhall also if M&S further support men over women by bullying advertisements here.

I would write in support of MN if I knew the three advertisers.

Thank you Justine

I’ll never moan about the adverts again!
I’ll be thankful they’ve got the balls to not give in to bullies.

Thank you Justine.

Any advertiser who withdraws their advertising from Mumsnet is nailing their colours firmly to the mast as anti women and anti free speech. Not beacons if equality and diversity and progress, as they might think. They need to be called out as such if they stop advertising with Mumsnet and I’ll happily help to do so and to coordinate a mass boycott.

It’s basic business sense if you’re an advertiser. Who would you rather piss off? 12m women? Or a small but extremely loud group of baying transactivists and their immature handmaiden followers and lefty male virtue signalling supporters, half of whom are very young with little spending power anyway?

Our M&S boycott is only in the clothing department, for safety reasons

M&S have always let transwomen in to their clothing department.

Has anything changed?

This is really refreshing. I have never had any truck with this being about taking away anyone else's rights (show me the third spaces for dignity barricade and I'm on it!) but I can have the term 'woman' expanded to be unrecognisable. Thanks to MN for keeping this reasoned, fair, and open.
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