I was in a twitter convo with Stella Duffy when she decided to leave twitter. Here is what I tweeted to her:
"You clearly define womanhood as the feminine gender, & beyond the sexism + misogyny of that, you are saying that 'women' includes feminine men, & thus that your sexuality has revolved around stereotypes. But do you understand most lesbians' sexuality doesn't? Can you accept that?" (To which she replied how would I know that most don't define their lesbian sexuality this way, and she then criticised me for being anonymous online, and called it 'very telling' - I can't quote her because her tweet is gone).
I replied: "Yes Stella, I am anonymous online as many women are. I first went anonymous as it is my only way to safely engage & talk about my experience of rape & domestic violence. Many women are in the same position, how on earth can you found a women's equality party & not understand the barriers to women re participation in public life? Perhaps especially for working class women like me? Also, trans activists in Edinburgh, where I live, have called for women like me to be beaten up on sight. Do you think I should put myself in danger in order to have a voice? Do you understand that what is telling about my anonymity is that I have been subject to violent misogyny, including from trans activists? And re lesbian sexuality, surveys show that most lesbians define their sexuality based on sex & will not date those of the opposite sex even if they believe in lady brains & think they have one. If you were fine with that you would not attack them for fighting against the homophobia that says their sexuality is inherently objectionable/transphobic; you would instead be fighting against that homophobia yourself".
Then she said she felt bullied and wanted to deactivate her account.
The thing is she was just getting reasonable tweets like mines, challenging her position, a position she could not defend, and they were not great in number either, but I didn't push anything with her as she then said she has MH issues so I just told her to take care of herself. But time and again we see with those who write/sign their names to letters like this that they don't have a clue about the implications of their position. The fact that Stella doesn't even understand the need for anonymity online for many women was just another sign that women can say they stand for equality and liberation and even start political parties for this purpose and still not actually be feminist.
Also let's not forget ATH Edinburgh says that violence against feminist women is proportionate & necessary. They actually promote VAW. This letter is a thorough embarrassment. No wonder no-one has stuck around to defend it.