I've just submitted my consultation response and I need a lie down

[SoulSaver]

Warning: Rant in progress...

I'm very new to all this. I have lurked for a long time on mumsnet (eldest is nearing end of primary school now) but I have never really felt the need to post.

The recent discussions on self id caught my eye and I have now become entrenched. I have attended two WPUK meetings, written to my MP and have now submitted my GRA consultation response.

BUT I now feel enraged! I don't understand how we have got here and truly wish i'd come to this debate years ago - if more women did, we wouldn't be finding ourselves in this mess!

I was watching Top of the Pops 1986 the other night and I was in despair (and not just about the quality of the music ). Men were in silver spangly catsuits with make up and long hair and women were in power suits with quiffs - however, THEY WERE STILL MEN AND WOMEN. When did gender identity take over? When did it start to supersede sex, and why? Gender identity is a phase, a fad, constantly changing over time whereas sex is a biological reality that has hasn't changed over millennia!

When did it get to a point when 'identities' and 'feelings' become enshrined in law over facts? It's all arse over tit, quite frankly.

Why abolish sex and embrace gender when you could work to abolish harmful gender constructs and embrace sex?? I DON'T GET IT!!!

Apologies to to everyone who reached this conclusion in ages past and have to witness rants like this from women who should have pulled their finger out a long time ago

And now i do need a lie down...

here you are.

I was watching Top of the Pops 1986 the other night and I was in despair (and not just about the quality of the music grin)

YABU. The 80s ROCKED.

We all go through it.
We have days when it seems hopeless and other days when we have a win. Karen White means millions more will know about this issue and wonder what the heck is going on.

I’m doing the consultation on Sunday so I can have a lie down/walk/drink when I’ve finished it!

arse over tit

... That could be the new slogan

Hello, similar here. Have been lurking for a few weeks.

I hadn't really given it much thought beyond 'we need to support and understand trans people' (which I still think). Then one day I saw Monroe Bergdork telling women off for talking about reproductive issues on a women's march. It was so outlandish that it troubled me and I looked into it further, found Transgender Trend, Woman's Place, FPFW, a few prominent tweeters, read and read and read

Thank goodness for some heroic journalists and the community on this board

Once you see this you can't unsee it - the misogyny, the utter contempt for women's safety and dignity, the muddled politicians, the strange attitudes of the BBC and Guardian, the peculiar linguistic tropes (front holes, cervix owners, womxn and the rest), the vicious abuse and silencing, the sheer oddness of some of the leading AWAs. (I didn't sleep well the night after I happened to click on the screenshots of JB's blog, yeugh)

In order to keep fighting this, we need:

Brains
Bandwidth
Budget
Bravery

We all have something to contribute, however small. What's that Dalai Lama quote - "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito"

Be the mosquito

Be the mosquito

We are - we're a bloody swarm. Whether we're big enough and annoying enough to make the changes needed, only time will tell ......

I just went with the fair play for women pre filled one. I read it through and they said so perfectly and concisely all that I wanted to say.

I just hope it makes a difference.

Thank you FPFW.

Totally agree OP. I grew up in the 80's and we are just....so far away from that time and all the progress that was made, so much further backward. And what annoys me particularly, about myself, is that I DIDN'T NOTICE. I am so glad I stumbled across a few threads on here that made me think "eh?!" and made me dive in and start learning.

Someone on the AIBU thread said there had only been 6,000 responses as at yesterday?! Come on FWR - given how many people say they read these threads, that is pathetic!

The FPFW site makes it very very easy. We have all got to walk the walk here or history will forgive those who stood by passively as little as those who actively supported self I'D.

I'm with you OP. Every day there's something new to send me spluttering with rage and incredulity. How have we got to where we have in such a short space of time? 10, even 5 years ago all this would have seemed preposterous and yet here we are....

Just done mine. Finally.

It’s hard going and doing it makes you feel horrible because oh my god the misogyny so well done OP and well done everyone who’s filled it in!