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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

#ManFriday group closing

394 replies

YesItsADebate · 28/06/2018 13:30

It gives me great sadness to write this post but we have been attacked this week, on our Facebook organising group by someone who claims to be a feminist and an ally to our cause. They chose to leak some screenshots to a Twitter troll (outing our members) and make a ridiculous allegation against us and Dr Nic in a thread on here and has slipped through our clean-up of our online group.

They are now threatening police action against high profile members of our group unless we prostrate ourselves to her bullying. @Sweary has a great response to that: the ever eloquent G F* Y! (starred to prevent deletion! ahem).

As we don't know who they are and don't know how to stop them the only option we have is to burn the group. This loses us so many allies, who have supported our actions wholeheartedly since that first day meeting wiht my local swimming pool and it breaks my heart. As we met on MN FWR I hope that most of you are still here and see this. We really didn't want to lose you - and you were as important as those of us out there getting on with the activism.

That this has happened in the run up to the consultation being launched, a time when we really should have our attentions and activities focussed elsewhere is ridiculous. This person has chosen to pursue a personal vendetta at a time when we should be pulling together and building on the success #ManFriday has had so far.

#ManFriday will keep fighting for the rights, safety, privacy and dignity of women and girls. We aren't going away but for the security of our members, we have to use alternative platforms to the Facebook group for organising our activism. Our website, Twitter feed etc. will still be up and running (come & get a t-shirt Wink)

Please keep up with the #randomactsofmanliness and keep taking up space on Fridays. Or any day come to that.

Amy, Sweary and the #ManFriday admin team x (unMumsnetty but )

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Bingpot · 28/06/2018 17:55

Huge applause to you and all you've done. It's a terrifying world these days where women are just not safe to discuss, speak, hold opinions that not acceptable to... others. It is a silencing and an vicious assault on free speech. I'll be buying a t shirt

BlackeyedSusan · 28/06/2018 17:56

@Bowlofbabelfish how amazing it would be if you caould claim to be a man on fridays with your bump. people will really look twice.

Waddlelikeapenguin · 28/06/2018 17:59

You will not be put down
You will rise 💪

Bowlofbabelfish · 28/06/2018 18:00

@Bowlofbabelfish how amazing it would be if you caould claim to be a man on fridays with your bump. people will really look twice.

I shall identify as Male tomorrow Grin

I am the size of a house so should be fun...

HerFemaleness · 28/06/2018 18:01

That must have hurt Sad

I don't see this as a mortal blow. We already have the roots of a movement. Through WPUK events I've met real life gender critical feminists. The TRAs failed to intimidate women in to silence. We are organised and we are organising.

I want to thank the #ManFriday people and all other Womens' rights activists for what they're doing. The Overton window is definitely shifting. If you think that not very long ago we couldn't even talk publicly about the impact on women and girls that the law and policy changes were having.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 28/06/2018 18:09

Can I suggest that someone edit the thread title to say 'ManFriday Facebook group closing'? It reads like Man Friday is folding altogether and you still need the support!

This^!

I'm really sorry to hear this. Man Friday has done great things. But what some folk don't seem to realise is that the "figureheads" of ManFriday are just a very small part of the what is now a mass movement with new groups popping up all over the place

Shit like that just makes people (and by extension their cause) seem a tad unhinged.

Sarahconnor1 · 28/06/2018 18:11

Fucking hell.

Know this though. You were targeted because you have been so successful raising awareness with the general public, who otherwise this would have slipped by unnoticed. The TRAs don't want awareness they want this to be unnoticed because as soon as people apply any thought, the impact becomes very clear.

You have inspired me to be braver.

YesItsADebate · 28/06/2018 18:35

Sorry I disappeared! Work and DD trying to dismantle the hamster cage rather got in the way.

Thankyou for the support. Bespin, I agree with you. We might not have the same views in the self-ID debate but it’s important that every voice has the opportunity to be heard. A debate dominated by one group or another can only lead to bad laws, resentment and further problems. Threats, violence, doxing... none of that should have a place in this debate or any other.

As Sweary said, we’re not disappearing, just closing the FB group. We’re even scheduled to be on TV at the weekend Wink Mwahahaha!

OP posts:
BlackeyedSusan · 28/06/2018 18:38

yay

sexnotgender · 28/06/2018 18:38

Ooh, a TV appearance! Excellent! Hope you manage to get your point across and they don't ambush you.

ChattyLion · 28/06/2018 18:44

Just seen this thread. Noooo.
Man Friday your work is so important. Flowers

Whatever is doing that should be fucking ashamed of themselves siding with the misogynist authoritarians.

Voice0fReason · 28/06/2018 18:45

You're doing amazing work. So angry that the FB group has been treated with such disrespect. You will continue to have my support.

ChattyLion · 28/06/2018 18:52

I was so cheered up just yesterday when i saw your outdoor swimming pics above a (bit shite) Matthew D’Ancona Evening Standard article: www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/equalities-minister-is-right-to-insist-on-civility-in-the-trans-rights-debate-a3873376.html

You’re becoming so linked to this debate for your awesome protests. It must be utterly infuriating for those brave stunners with misogyny and anger issues.

SuperDandy · 28/06/2018 18:53

I'm sorry to hear about this. Shitty tactics and a low blow. I'm rather fond of the Man Friday thing for its head-on peaceful protest style of activism.

It doesn't surprise me one tiny bit. Malicious accusation and threats of police involvement is just what I have been discussing on another thread today, where I have been thoroughly pooh poohed, accused of corecive control and scaremongering for pointing up the possibility.

Once any activist movement starts to get traction publicly they are at risk of this sort of infiltration and attack. It's a tried and tested strategy unfortunately. A loathesome one, and sadly it makes it very hard to trust newcomers to any established activist group.

Prawnofthepatriarchy · 28/06/2018 19:00

This attack only proves how successful #ManFriday is. It's witty, it's easy to understand and it's terribly, terribly British.

The fact that creeps have invaded your FB page just demonstrates their creepiness. The misogyny and authoritarianism of this group is unmistakable.

Hurray for you, and be in touch if you need another bod.

Imnobody4 · 28/06/2018 19:09

This shows not only how important this is to women, but also to democracy. Respect.

boatyardblues · 28/06/2018 19:15

As Sweary said, we’re not disappearing, just closing the FB group. We’re even scheduled to be on TV at the weekend wink Mwahahaha!

Brava Sweary & ItsADebate! You are doing really well at getting this into the public eye. My MIL is a fan too. She even saved your DM Hampstead Ponds article & brought the cutting with her on a recent visit, as she knows I’d never buy a copy. Grin

Power to your elbows! Please give us the heads up about your forthcoming appearance.

BeyondRaggydoll · 28/06/2018 19:19

My mum is a fan too boatyard. MF appears to our parents' generation Grin

MrsFogi · 28/06/2018 19:23

Such attacks prove firstly that there is something intrinsically wrong with the changes that are being sought to the law and that the campaign is working. I will continue to identify as a gay man on a Friday and will pm you to see if you're willing to let me move to your new home.

MipMipMip · 28/06/2018 19:29

I just ordered my badge. I was looking for suffragette stuff on etsy and it got me thinking of you lot.

What's the tv thing? I don't want to miss it!

Cuntysnark · 28/06/2018 19:29

So sorry this has happened. I hope you are all taking care of yourselves. The fb page was so inspirational-hope it does a Phoenix! Seems there’s no depths some people won’t sink to.

MipMipMip · 28/06/2018 19:31

Oh and any chance of some leaflets with the main points (and websites for more depth)? I'm sure I will be asked what the badge is all about and if they don't I will point at it until they do.

GenderApostate · 28/06/2018 19:38

For fucking fucks sake. What absolute bastards. I got a tellng off by Linda Bellos for saying TRAs were Fascists but that’s exactly what they are. Cowards too.

Fuck them.
You lot are Sheros Star

Doobigetta · 28/06/2018 19:40

This is disgusting. Is there no way we can out this pathetic excuse for a female, play her at her own game?

I know we can't, but I'd love to be face to face with her.

HermioneWeasley · 28/06/2018 19:42

Thank you for your brilliant activism which has been so effective at awareness raising.

Sorry you’re facing shit for standing up for women and girls.