Gender Critical 'Lurkers'

[BadasIwannaB]

I’ve been reading the Gender Critical threads on Mumsnet for a few months now and I’m ‘delurking’ to say THANK YOU! To all the intelligent, articulate gender critical feminists here - you are my absolute heroes, and you’re really giving me hope!

I’ve thought for a long time that many aspects of the supposedly right-on rhetoric about gender is deeply misogynist, and I was unsettled and annoyed at how much pressure there is on women not to challenge it, and how much supposed ‘feminists’ enforce that pressure. But for a long time I felt like I must be the only person who thought this, because I wasn’t seeing anyone speaking out, and on the v few occasions where I mentioned any of this to friends, it didn’t go down well. So it’s been hugely inspiring and reassuring to see that there’s this growing community here standing up for women against the bullshit. I’ve literally been reading the discussions here every day for the last few months, and it cheers me up so much! I’ve become such a fan of so many of you: LangCleg, Datun, Bowlofbabelfish, Ereshkigal, Angry Attack Kittens, I could go on and on…

So I started wondering, how many people like me are there reading these threads and cheering silently from the sidelines? I’m hoping there are lots of us. I think it’s easy to think we’re a tiny minority because of all the fear surrounding joining the discussion, but maybe if we all delurked we’d see that that’s not the case.

So any other lurkers wanna delurk?

I’m delurking as well. I’ve tried discussing the issues with my real life friends but nobody seems interested in talking about them. The responses are usually along the lines of what’s the problem or live and let live.

If lurkers would like to take action, please donate to the Fair Play for Women crowdfunder?

Thanks Beamur Langcleg and BofW for the explanations. I have yet to come across the swarm of bees but if I do, I'll know what they're up to.

I’m a lurker. Thanks to all for the consciousness raising, information, debate and swearing.
I used to work in a field where I had the misfortune to meet too many politicians. All they care about is their public image, and it can be a terrifying shock to them when they come out of the ‘stakeholder bubble’ and realise that in the real world their policies will go down like a lead balloon.
If every lurker responds to the consultation, and more than that, if every lurker also tries to persuade 3 friends to do so, it will make a difference. Which is the reason for all the panic now. Stakeholders like Stonewall are utterly terrified of ‘ordinary people’ - the unwashed masses- responding to consultations.

Hello lurkers I just want to say thank you!

Prawn - it wasn’t intended as a criticism of posters. More that the new rules have stifled debate and driven some good posters away. I find it hard to post - I’m worried about breaching the rules if I use the wrong language and getting a strike by accident.

Sunny I think MN have allowed for accidental breeches. A deletion doesn't neccesarily mean a strike.
It can be difficult though.

I’ve posted a few times, mostly when something is written that really is beyond the pale but mostly I lurk because I’m still learning. I agree that most people are not bothered by stuff that doesn’t affect them personally but those working in caring environments (as I do) can understand how the vulnerable would be affected even if they’re not and see a wider picture.
I’m more and more horrified by what I read on Twitter though and the sooner it breaks into the mainstream the better I think, so that parents can protect their children from the grooming that is clearly happening out there.

those working in caring environments (as I do) can understand how the vulnerable would be affected even if they’re not and see a wider picture

This is the context the extremist activists are blind to. You're absolutely right to trust your gut when it comes to this.

see segments with children and young people on Victoria Derbyshire this morning:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3294478-Victoria-Derbyshire-show-today-transgender-children-buying-time-by-delaying-puberty

Thanks Empress - I've just donated to the Fair Play For Women crowdfunder and hope it gives them a good bump towards their goal.

Well I seem to have thoroughly delurked on my personal social media. I just shared the petition but immediately got jumped on and called transphobic. On the plus side it started a discussion. And some gender critical friends made themselves known to me. Still feels like we've accidentally wandered into a different universe. I can't believe how naive some people are.

This is such a fantastic thread, it's great to know just how many women are reading and taking on board the important info on here. I read FWR every day. I don't post a lot but when I've found something on Twitter that especially enrages me, I'll post it on here for others to read and debate.

I read this today on another thread, written by a lesbian and I think it's relevant to what we're discussing here. One thing to remember is that not only do we have facts and truth on our side, we also have numbers!

I remember many years ago when these men said they weren’t bothered about lesbians opposing them, or the small group of radical feminists around at the time, as both lesbians and radical feminists are a small number of people and without any power. However, they said they were bothered if heterosexual women stated to oppose them, as they realised that women as a group outnumber them and could put a halt to their crap. This is why they are going after sites like this in my opinion, they are frightened that if more women become aware of what they are about, and oppose them, they won’t be able to get away with it any longer. What pisses me off even more is the way this site is enabling these men, by shutting down and banning lesbians who speak out about this.

I do post a bit elsewhere on MN and have been reading these threads for months.

The regulars are all very self deprecating and modest but they really should take a lot of credit for what they've done/are doing.

The determination, tenacity and patience are humbling.

This thread is only the tip of the iceberg of your achievements.

You've prompted me to donate money, sign petitions, write to MPs and bang on endlessly to other people until they get it.

I have to suppress a smile sometimes when I answer all the inevitable "yes buts" and "what abouts" with what I've absorbed here by osmosis.

I would never have been able to remember and articulate without you.

This really is a very valuable and important part of MumsNet.

Just had to delurk to join the chorus of Thank yous to the marvellous, awe-inspiring women who post here tirelessly on a regular basis. I don't post as I couldn't hope to compete with the brilliance of those that do, but I nod along vigorously and try to do my bit in real life. My family constitute 7 out of the 9 signatures from my constituency on the petition and have recently introduced DD14 to the work of Magdalene Bernes (sp?). She loves her and had shared her work with a very woke (brainwashed? Naive?) friend who also got it .
So just to let all you wonderful women (those already name-checked and more) know, that your work is not in vain. We are listening and spreading the message in our own ways. Thank you thank you thank you .

Brilliant, thanks Xiaoxiong!

And everybody. We need all the voices we can get.

Belated "I'm Lurkacus!" from me too.

I like your nickname so much VforVienetta that need to post to say so. 👌

Hello all, brilliant thread.

Not read the full thread but also a lurker, I have learned so much from the women here. And the GC position makes so much sense to me I genuinely don’t understand anyone who doesn’t get it! Especially when we’re talking about transing kids, it’s just all kinds of fucked up.

Keep up the good work, it’s invaluable.

Shameless place marking here, as a gender critical lurker myself (granted I post from time to time, but I usually just lurk) :)

current thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3295603-A-woman-is-an-adult-female-human

Thanks you Lurkacus wims.

It's you who gave me renewed vigour to tackle the thread that Ro has linked above.

Delurking too. I found FWR through Active threads. It was a worry when MNHQ took it off active for a while. Lurking in relationships helped me leave an abusive relationship. FWR means I won't fall into another one. And the GC threads have been an informative if not terrifying eyeopener. Thank you

I am Lurkacus.

Feel so much better now I’ve said it!

Like PP I was amazed a few months back to be told I’m a radical feminist. I feel like a very ordinary grandmother and businesswoman. Still, I wear the badge with pride now! I am a radical feminist