Anyone else experiencing cognitive dissonance right now?

[Destinysdaughter]

I am

I've been a lifelong Labour supporter, pro LGBT rights and also a feminist but I feel so conflicted right now. For standing up for women's rights online I've been called a bigot, transphobic, a fascist, an abuser just for stating facts. I've been suspended from Twitter for 'hateful conduct' simply for saying someone who is biologically male is a man. And had my Twitter account hacked as a result.

I sometimes read the Twitter feeds of TW and as a lefty, I agree with much of what they're saying about economic or social issues. I really want a Labour Gvt but I cannot agree with their position on TWAW and having TW on all women shortlists. I hate the fact that I am currently agreeing more with the Daily Mail or the Times or Spectator than the Guardian. I've had Trans friends and been v accepting and supportive of them, but none of them have ever espoused the views that I'm seeing now.

I see biological males on Twitter saying they can have periods and getting lots of 'likes', I see lesbians being told it's not ok to say they are only attracted to women, I see GC women being doxxed and having photos of their children posted online and Twitter does nothing about it. I feel like I ( and many other women ) are screaming into a void and NO ONE is listening!

We don't have powerful organisations behind us, we don't have Gvt funding, I simply can't believe we are where we are in terms of women's rights in 2018. Sometimes I just want to shut it all out and pretend it isn't happening. But I can't as every day there's something else happening that just makes me want to scream NO!

Sorry, ( not sorry ), I know this is a bit of a rant but just wanted to express this and would love to know how other women are feeling right now? 💜

Similar to you. I despair of politics at the moment and can't avoid seeing the misogyny in everything. I have never been so conscious of it in my life. Culturally, structurally, institutionally.

Everyone feels like you. Believe me.

The movement just seems to attract misogynists and arses.

And people are worried because it feels as though you are criticising marginalised group.

But you're not. No one criticises men with gender dysphoria.

Only the idiots who hijack them for their own ends.

Yup. Deep breath, keep tirelessly fighting it every chance you get.

I’ve never felt so strongly about any political or social issue in my life.

You are not alone.

I can't believe you got suspended for stating the truth.

Op I could have written your post myself. I rarely speak about it all in RL because I have a lot of lefty friends whose opinions on this subject I don't know, and Darenth ask for fear of it turning into a huge debate. They're all feminists too, so I would hope they'd be in agreement.

As a side note, I've just (probably unwisely) joined twitter. Any voice of reason type people I should be following? And on the flip side, any Transactivists I should follow, just to keep abreast of their arguments?

Daren't*

Absolutely. I was contemplating running away earlier. How far to a safe zone?

You've reached the stage many of reached a while ago- in my case a few years ago.

It's the gradual revealing of the true nature of TRA methodology, and how closely it aligns with other MRA agencies that marks the huge betrayal you may be feeling. Because it is a betrayal.

I could have written everything you've written. How good Labour women like Jess Phillips stand it I don't know.

Cognitive dissonance is talking to my dad about the trans debate and finding my strongest supporter yet. Then going on to have a chat about the historic misogyny of the Left (he's been a communist agitator all my life) before he tells you about his favourite feminist Andrea Dwokin. Then you remember his lifetime of abusive behavior against myself and my mum. That's cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is the new black...

I also feel like you do much of the time OP, it's scary and infuriating in equal measure and it just does not seem to stop - every day there's yet another example of the bs fuckwittery that makes you go

And as Eresh says, once you then notice the rampant fully leaded misogyny that goes along with it the despair really kicks in.

However finding likeminded women here and in RL to discuss things with and to know that you're not the only one who feels like this is really important...as is a supply of and and a sense of humour...

Yes, listen to the last line.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=6NXnxTNIWkc

Twitter people to follow
@PankhurstEM
@Little_Terfy
@glosswitch
@boodleoops
@Docstockk
@ThrupennyBit
@doormatt134
@JeanHatchet
@SandyDrawsBadly
@Lippy_inc

Thanks DJ

Miranda Yardley is a transwoman who understands the issues that women are worried about and talks about it a lot. Might help to read.

Some more:

@FeministRoar
@MeghanEMurphy
@criticalsisters
@sargesalute

And loads more!

TRAs to keep an eye on:

Paris Lees
Shon Faye
Jane Fae
Lily Madigan
Zinnia Jones
Kaitlyn Burns

Aw thank you so much for your fantastic replies, I was really nervous about posting this, I feel so weary trying to debate this sensibly on Twitter as all I get is a load of abuse. I find it abhorrent the names I’ve been called on there when I’ve been
A lifelong socialist, collected money for the miners’ strike in the 80s, been anti apartheid, against Clause 28 etc and now being told I’m ‘on the wrong side of history’, it’s really distressing!

Sadly Miranda got permanently suspended from Twitter though as have many amazing women.

Same here.

I used to be an extremely politically correct SJW: pro self-identification, TWAW, more than 2 genders, biology is transphobic etc (mostly influenced by the changing attitudes of those around me).

Then I was told by someone that transsexuals have no place with the "modern trans community" because our dysphoria results in a regressive society...
This, in addition to seeing lesbian kids being picked on, and me stumbling across this talk topic, made me realise that the LGBT community is a mess right now.

The current movement is a toxic, misogynistic and homophobic ideology which will do a great deal of harm if not spoken out against more. It seems intent on erasing women (especially, but not only, lesbians) and transsexuals, and setting children up for a life full of harmful medical intervention.

I'm not old enough to vote, however I'd always seen myself voting Labour - until I discovered their stance on trans issues.

Sorry for the long post, by the way.

Also, I wouldn't dare venture on to Twitter.

We get branded "truscum" and are constantly insulted and berated.

Have you seen the "TSRaincrew" group of tweeters, TT?

Started by @SevenHex I think

Obvs a reference to the trans umbrella

Twitter is brutal Destinys, I found it extremely detrimental to my anxiety levels & MH and I don't think I'm alone in that.

I doff my cap to all the amazing GC women on there who were the ones to open my eyes to all this and who keep going despite the horrific abuse, rape & death threats.