I believe The Spectator is in danger of folding.

[Battleax]

Perhaps we could show some support for them and their commitment to free and balanced journalism?

They have an excellent 12 issues for £12 offer at the moment.

www.spectator.co.uk/2018/03/transgender-activists-and-the-real-war-on-women/

The OP is suggesting people actively pay to support The Spectator. This is a bit different from reading a variety of sources, left and right, which I imagine most people interested in self-ID do anyway since left-leaning publications (The New Statesman excepted) tend to be a bit lax about covering this.

As I said before, I don’t agree with self-ID. There is so, so much wrong with it, in theory and in practice. But trans people simply are not the biggest threat to the women’s services that make a real difference. The Conservatives are. It’s just crazy that posters such as TERF are implying they would vote conservative out of some kind of feminist principle.

"What is the spectator?"

The conservative version of The New Statesman

If we rigidly observe left/right politics and only read tribally, a) we’ll all be in lively little echo chambers, and b) some of our (journalistically) best publications will go to the wall.

I’m happy to support both TS and TNS.

Yes, far better to support The New Statesman.

Why would that be an either/or choice? (Assuming disposable income to pay for journalism.)

Everything is always a choice. Why not support Breitbart too? Why not the Morning Star? Why not support absolutely everything across the spectrum, if your own political affiliations are neither here nor there? The New Statesman publishes an array of feminist voices on different subjects. The Spectator is not feminist but publishes one or two journalists who are opposed to self-ID. But who you give your money to is up to you.

But since queer/gender identity theory is a right wing, individualistic, neoliberal ideology, the same surely could be said of giving money to the Grauniad, which supports it for all its worth, despite purporting to be a left wing publication?

Sloth you’re sounding dreadfully goady.

Yes, far better to support The New Statesman.

Why would that be an either/or choice? (Assuming disposable income to pay for journalism.)

Exactly, read around the subject, and use critical thinking skills, which seem lacking in so many people atm. I'll happily pay £12 to keep them going.
I'm a newpaper tart. I utterly despise Owen Jones, but I still read his stuff, and buy the Guardian now and again. I also buy the Times, Telegraph, Private Eye, etc, read Socialist worker online..

I'm with Nye Bevan on this;

"I read the newspapers avidly. It is my one form of continuous fiction."

LangCleg this is what I mean about establishing priorities though. I agree that at its root trans ideology is incredibly right-wing and it’s insane this fact seems invisible to so many. But it’s not as simple as that because as you note, supposedly left-wing organisations like Labour or The Guardian support it, while extremely right-wing organisations like Breitbart tend to oppose it (though for very different reasons to feminists). The point I’m trying to make is that X political party/publication being sceptical about self-ID should not be considered a reason for support in itself, when the overall picture is often that X political party/organisation supports policies or ideas that are far more tangibly damaging to women. Take the Republican Party, for example. They hate trans but they also hate women. Some posters here would probably vote for them, given the chance.

I loath being told what to do, as a grown woman I think I'm capable of making up my mind what or whom I support/subscribe too. I am now seriously considering buying a subscription to The Spectator which I wasn't before.

I read the newspapers avidly. It is my one form of continuous fiction." grin

Hopefully more libraries will soon offer online access to newspapers etc in the way North Lincolnshire does.

www.northlincs.gov.uk/your-council/about-your-council/news/latest-news/read-top-newspapers-and-magazines-online-anywhere/

You are free to do what you want with your own money, spontaneous.

Some posters here would probably vote for them, given the chance.

Well, people are allowed to vote for whoever they want - you do know that don't you?

I'd vote for anyone doing something to avoid against this - no matter what the other policies.

Really? You’d fuck the NHS, single mothers, the disabled, the poor etc etc over self-ID? That’s the most short sighted and depressing thing I’ve ever heard.

Indeed, people are allowed to vote for whoever they want, and other people are allowed to point out the hypocrisy of claiming to hold a feminist position while voting for parties that are, overall, appalling for women.

You’d fuck the NHS, single mothers, the disabled, the poor etc etc over self-ID? That’s the most short sighted and depressing thing I’ve ever heard.

They are fucked already. If you think Labour are going to solve any of these issues, particularly for women, then you are the short sighted one.

deathgrip THANK YOU. Much more succinct than me.

Indeed, people are allowed to vote for whoever they want, and other people are allowed to point out the hypocrisy of claiming to hold a feminist position while voting for parties that are, overall, appalling for women.

They are all appalling for women. That is the point.

I planned on voting Conservative in the local elections, we ended up with an independent so I voted for them instead. What a wicked woman to even consider voting Tory. Labour are a shambles and laughing stock at the moment.

TERF I actually agree that all options are appalling but there are degrees. You can’t honestly think that all parties are equally bad for women. Is there no difference then between, say, the DUP and Labour?

Spontaneous, I would be interested to hear what other feminist issues apart from self-ID you consider important.

You can’t honestly think that all parties are equally bad for women. Is there no difference then between, say, the DUP and Labour?

Honestly, I will spoil my vote unless one of them actually stands up for women. Never done that before. They are all as bad as each other.

SlothSlothSloth Interesting you pick on me because I don't agree with your hectoring of people on this thread. I want equality for women in pay, jobs, childcare and in society as a whole. I want to see women in top jobs, not relegated to carers, cleaners, housewives and nursemaids.

My daughter phoned me today, I've posted about it, she was called into work today, her supposed day off, her husband works full time too. She is overwhelmed with childcare, housework, laundry and having to operate at full strength at work. I want women to be able to make the choices that suit them and have help and support in doing it not just left to get on with it. Her hubby helps but long hours and commute don't leave much time. Fairness, equality, justice and support is what I want.

How does your feminism stack up Sloth seeing as you asked me.

I will also be spoiling my ballot paper since there is no viable alternative for feminists.

FWIW - I pay for the FT because it actually concentrates on data-driven journalism, despite it being a right of centre publication and me being a left wing voter. I've also donated to the Morning Star on a couple of occasions!

As I would think this goes without saying but just incase I'm jumped on. I want women to have free autonomy over their bodies, free from violence and fear. I want to see a society where women and girls are safe to walk the streets, use leisure facilities all in complete safety.