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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Is this really a feminist board?

619 replies

GaspingShark · 21/05/2018 17:11

I am a crap feminist. I haven't read a single book on the subject. Not De Beauvoir, not Greer, not Butler. The reasons for that are to do with a disability that I'd rather not go into, but I am a woman with a brain, and the Republic of Ireland is having a referendum on repealing the 8th this week. There it is, look, thirty threads down. And this "Feminism and Women's Rights" board's primary concern seems to be "What it will really take the peak trans the world?"

So I'm asking you, because I genuinely, honestly, cross my heart and hope to die, believe you are all better read and/or have more experience and/or more knowledge of being a woman than I do.

Doesn't that bother you? Doesn't it bother you that, four days away from the repeal vote, there's one thread on that in the bottom third of a fifty-thread page, and two or three dozen trans-related threads covering everything from Amnesty International to Jordan Peterson to exactly what Munroe Bergdorf told Venice Allan? Does it give you any pause for thought?

OP posts:
Elendon · 21/05/2018 17:39

I've never read Butler but I have read Greer. I've also campaigned in the early 80s against the 8th amendment. If that helps.

Wishing you all the very best for Friday. Here's hoping the 8th amendment is quashed.

poopsqueak · 21/05/2018 17:40

But then you get accused of pushing certain issues down the pile?

TERFragetteCity · 21/05/2018 17:40

Here here. New to mumsnet and this whole trans thing has been a massive turn off. Nothing more than a bunch of schoolyard bullies imo

So start a thread if you have issues you want to discuss.

I agree OP. I feel other aspects of feminism are drowned out and shouted down on this board by a few loud voices.

So start a thread if you have issues you want to discuss.

It is that easy. Hope that helps.

TERFragetteCity · 21/05/2018 17:41

But then you get accused of pushing certain issues down the pile?

do you? when has this happened? which of your threads have people accused you of pushing down the pile?

TheLastMermaid · 21/05/2018 17:41

Where's your post about it, OP?

Not this post, which is intended to criticise 'us' but the one of the kind you think should be here.

You too are one of us, yet you haven't even done it yourself - or link to where you have if I've misunderstood.

All is not lost. Why not post about it now? Not on this thread, which is just an argument, but a new thread. What do you want to say? What should we know? I know it's happening but I'm not in Ireland so I don't know the details.

AssassinatedBeauty · 21/05/2018 17:41

When does that ever happen @poopsqueak? Really?

Go on, start a thread now about a topic that is important to you wrt feminism.

TransplantsArePlants · 21/05/2018 17:41

I really don't recognise this 'shouting down' idea. I post widely on MN (under another name) and FWR is where the most healthy, detailed discussion happens.

ToeToToe · 21/05/2018 17:41

This is the feminist board - feel free to start any thread, or post on any thread you like.

We will do likewise.

poopsqueak · 21/05/2018 17:42

OP, within one page, someone is trying to steer the agenda away from Repealing the 8th again.

I stand with the women of Ireland and I hope the result is a positive one.

poopsqueak · 21/05/2018 17:43

like literally yesterday? someone accused the OP of 'sealioning' or 'sealing' or something like that. As in the act of starting up new thread to push their threads down the board.

spontaneousgiventime · 21/05/2018 17:44

The day I listen to someone telling me what I should or shouldn't post on a forum message board will be the day the sun falls out of the sky. #freewill

TransplantsArePlants · 21/05/2018 17:47

GaspingShark

Have you posted on the Real The 8th thread?

It seems you care but I don't see your name. That's a bit like me

Forgive me if I've overlooked it

TransplantsArePlants · 21/05/2018 17:47

^^ Sorry, that was meant to be RepealThe 8th thread

Wanderabout · 21/05/2018 17:48

The OP doesn't seem to want to discuss the repeal vote. It would be a good topic for discussion and I'm sure pretty much everyone here is aware of it and has their fingers crossed too. If you want to discuss it start a thread with a title referring to it and what you want to discuss about it.

AssassinatedBeauty · 21/05/2018 17:49

Sealioning isn't about starting threads, it's about posting repeatedly on a thread task for a response about their questions which could be easily answered if they read and engaged. It's not about starting lots of threads.

I didn't notice lots of threads on other feminist topics being started yesterday - can you give an example of the ones you mean? They should still be fairly recent on the list.

VoleClock · 21/05/2018 17:49

No it doesn't bother me because I would have thought most posters on here would be in favour of the repeal of the amendment and I would not expect those able to vote but as yet undecided which way to vote to look for further information here.

NotTerfNorCis · 21/05/2018 17:49

Thinking about why this board focuses so much on trans issues.

A vicious circle has been created. TRAs invented the 'cotton ceiling', got Michfest shut down and told feminists on the Women's March that they shouldn't wear 'pussy hats'. Mainstream feminists started trying to talk about it. They organised meetings. TRAs responded by phoning venues to get the meetings shut down. Feminists wanted to talk about it even more. TRAs responded with violence (Hyde Park) and physical obstruction (Bristol). Hundreds of feminists who might have concentrated on other issues were now focused on the trans issue. Then TRAs started trying to get Mumsnet shut down and reported gender critical feminists for 'terrorism'. The cycle just goes on and on, consuming ever more time and energy.

TransplantsArePlants · 21/05/2018 17:50

weird. I don't see your name on the Repeal The 8th thread either poopsqueak

Maybe you were just lurking too?

TERFragetteCity · 21/05/2018 17:54

So we will tell you off for not talking about something whilst also not talking about it ourselves.

Right. Got it.

loveyouradvice · 21/05/2018 17:56

NotTerf agree... but also it is THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE facing women.... i.e. we are about to cease to exist as a group if they are successful...

and they seem to be moving successfully forward with things I would have thought inconceivable ....like primary schools celebrating trans kids, and seeing it as progress rather than reinforcing stereotypes and NOT allowing all kids to experiment with whatever identities they want.... like the Girl Guides prioritising transgender boys over girls, especially those frorm different cultures....

If interested, do read the threads ... I do not believe any feminist who understands the issues would NOT be interested in trying to stop this.....it is SO important

Pywife2 · 21/05/2018 17:57

The issue of self ID is British law, the abortion issue is about Irish law and I think other posters have made it clear that British feminist opinions are not universally welcome. It seems obvious that a UK feminist movement or platform would discuss issues they can do something about now. I don't think there's any conspiracy or problem with that.

It's also about how our identity as women is described in law, and has serious practical consequences. So one of the most important issues to confront feminists for decades.

TERFragetteCity · 21/05/2018 17:58

A vicious circle has been created.

I would love to go back to the days of not worrying about gender, not worrying about men in women's toilets and changing rooms, not worrying about men in women's prisons and refuges. I would love to go back to gardening and music on twitter. I would love to think 'fuck it'. As to be honest, it is very unlikely to ever affect me as a woman.

However, the thought of women and girls having to face this because I just thought Fuck It - tears me up inside. I don't think any woman or girls should be thrown to the dogs just because of some men and their wafty feelings.

NotMyFirstRodeo · 21/05/2018 17:58

I think that's accurate notterfnorcis but also the fact that many see starting numerous threads - esp if placed on YABU/Chat as a way of 'educating' the masses.

FirstShinyRobe · 21/05/2018 18:00

These boards are not a magazine.

It always puzzles me that posters think that other posters should be supplying content that they want to read without being part of that process.

TransplantsArePlants · 21/05/2018 18:01

If you cannot define woman; you have no women's rights

That is why I find this self-Id thing so worrying

I hope this thread was started in good faith. I found myself feeling that twinge of defensiveness and then realised that no actually, no-one can tell me what I must find most pressing to post about