AIBU to say how much I love you all?

[Destinysdaughter]

I’ve been reflecting about this a lot recently and I wanted to say that although this trans madness is deeply concerning and a huge threat to women’s rights, I’ve never been so heartened by the courage, intelligence, clarity, supportiveness, persistence, commitment, creativity and I want to say sheer fucking balls, but I know that’s the wrong metaphor to use in this debate ?

When I feel disheartened and defeated I just think of all the truly amazing women putting themselves on the line and it gives me so much strength.

I was in tears today reading about Magdalen Berns having cancer, and how much she’s done to move this debate forward and all the women she’s influenced. About the bravery of ManFriday, about Stickerwoman, PosieParker, DrRadFem, and everyone who’s braved the onslaught of TRAs online and in real life. I feel both humbled and empowered by them and by all of you who have given your time and your energy to fighting this. I’ve done my bit but there is still so much to do. When it seems like everything is against us I just have to remember that we are united and that we have both truth and numbers on our side, every day I see more people waking up to this.

And we will win, we have to.

YANBU. And your reasons are exactly why the machine hates this place. Because it's quite important to them that women are shut down, shamed and sent away.

The voice MN gives us - the way you feel lifted and encouraged by the fabulous women who keep on keeping on, that is unacceptable to the machine. If they can grind down morale that's half the battle (and a nice bonus for some).

♥️

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Oh yes indeedy! all round.

I really feel the same OP. ❤️

We will win this. Defeat is not an option.

❤

I wanted to post a similar thread earlier but couldn't figure out how to phrase it. It's said that when you educate a woman, you educate a family (and sometimes a nation). That's certainly true for me, not just with the trans stuff, important as it is. Every one of you that's taken the time to explain things like gaslighting, coercive control, narcissism and how you've come out of those relationships; when you've mentioned Women's Aid and the Freedom Project: I can't thank you enough. I thought I knew a lot about this sort of thing, but I feel like I've been on a crash course since I arrived here.

I am not exaggerating when I tell you that knowledge has helped to free a woman and her child just before things escalated to violence, and I thank you for giving me the wisdom and steel spine to face down this man alongside her so she could throw him out.

I agree too. Thank you so much fearless women of Mumsnet.

courage, intelligence, clarity, supportiveness, persistence, commitment, creativity

^This.

And it all counts, whether you've been posting here and other places for many years (as usual, massive apology for not 'getting it' for so long whilst you were doing so) or you're new to the issue, just finding your feet and feeling nervous, but still speaking out. Voices matter.

There are too many women to name here, on twitter, in real life (and the odd man popping their head above the parapet, usually to discover they don't seem to cop the same sort of flak as women do). All awesome.

And Magdalen is particularly close to my heart, as her videos helped me really see what was going on.

Anyone who asks me who my heroes are, I will point them to Magdalen and say 'this woman - listen to her'.

And today has been a particularly difficult day to watch conversations unfold in twitter-land.

It always makes me think about the amazing relationships board here, and how women preparing to leave abusive relationships are always warned that abusive behaviour ramps up just at that point.

Abusive behaviour is ramping up,

These things: courage, intelligence, clarity, supportiveness, persistence, commitment, creativity are vital right now.

👄❤

I've met so many amazing women in the last couple of years, both online and irl.

YANBU, this place keeps me sane!

It's truly amazing and inspiring here!
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YANBU. This is the best forum on the internet.

❣️❣️😍

Yes, the flip side of the trans madness is rediscovering how amazing women are when we are well pissed off with patriarchy!

I am not exaggerating when I tell you that knowledge has helped to free a woman and her child just before things escalated to violence, and I thank you for giving me the wisdom and steel spine to face down this man alongside her so she could throw him out.

Same here. The discussions and support on here have given me the tools to help support a woman close to me who is in an abusive relationship. I shared the link to the PDF of Lundy Bancroft’s book with her parents & they said it was uncanny, as they could see so much of what Lundy described in his (the BF’s) behaviour. We now have the information and insight we need to support her until she feels strong enough to leave.

Totally! I'm right back in to my rad fem roots! This forum has given me a new lease of life.

You are also very funny, very often which brightens my day!

I’m so glad I discovered this part of the forum back when I was pregnant. It’s put me back in touch with my feminism which had got a bit lost.
Interestingly, I was a young woman just as the 90s ‘sex positive’, ‘empowering’ version of feminism was being pushed. I didn’t buy it then either. At heart I’ve also been a radical feminist even though I didn’t have a word for it.

It’s the humour that helps lift the spirits too. Such a witty bunch of women!

Me too Theinconstantgardener and the same can be said for so many other women.

"Courage calls to courage everywhere" Millicent Fawcett

Never a truer word was spoken.

YANBU! We love you right back.