#manbox Manchester

[BlytheSpiritsSpirit]

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-man-box-the-dysfunctional-home-of-gender-identity-and-why-men-need-to-demolish-it-tickets-51209604305

"A chance to meet and discuss how boys and men can resist and lessen restrictive influences within masculinity (A.K.A. The Man-Box), making life better - in the process - for women and girls, other men and themselves."

It looks really interesting. DH and I are both going.

That's a cracking line-up of speakers - and I like that they've listed some of the talks they're riffing off (like Jackson Katz):

Michael Conroy michaelconroy68 - 14 years in Secondary Education, trainer/facilitator in 'understanding social influences on boys and young men' www.menatworkorganisation.org menatworkorg Dad and uncle

Jonathan Best JonnyBest, campaigner and writer, former director of Queer Up North International Festival

Gemma Aitchison, Gemma_Brett , Campaigner, YesMattersUK
Nina, Survivor, Trainer & Helpline worker for the Freedom Programme, Nina works with women and children who have experienced trauma through violence. Mum of a 10 year old boy.

I'd love to go. It will be fascinating to hear GC arguments from a male POV. Particularly as a mum of boys.

Unfortunately, I think the 'man box' itself would stop the majority of men attending

i wonder if they will get bomb threats and masked protesters outside like WPUK, LAWS and FPFW do?

will [they] get bomb threats and masked protesters outside

We didn't for the London one; even though it did end up being more dominated by GC issues than manbox ones. At the London one we had a speaker whose stepdaughter was - at the last moment - stepping away from transitioning. It was quite an upsetting story and difficult to listen to.

It was nice to meet Sweary & partner in person, and I got pleasantly pissed with Miranda Yardley in a local pub before trundling off to a 30th birthday bash, where I met a bunch of vocal GC folks who are known to/are mumsnetters. I occasionally got a generally well-intentioned grilling as to why a man who looks like a grizzly bear
(me) was there.

Lots of good conversations, and I would attend another.

I think that, like with feminism events going forward, the GC issues will be less prominent as we can all start talking about other things now the consultation is over.

I like these events because the men there really get it. I spoke at the first London one too - though left them to it for the rest of the event to allow male space. I really think there is a huge amount of need and space for events like this.

Hi Rolls - it was lovely to meet you too!

Almost sold out!

twitter.com/MichaelConroy68/status/1060918281421361162?s=09

Gemma is amazing and I would urge anyone who has the opportunity to hear her speak, to take advantage and do so! She's passionate and so articulate.

too far away for me - I'd have loved to go. please do post again if you hear that they're coming darn sarf

So pleased to see some men doing their bit.

I just wish women were allowed to meet and talk about issues that concern them in the way that men are able to do so.

More of this kind of thing!
Great speakers all.
Johnathan Best

i wonder if they will get bomb threats and masked protesters outside like WPUK, LAWS and FPFW do? hmm

Dunno. Is there another loner in America with no links to the transgender community to make one? Then you can dishonestly blame it on trans folk forever after.

Then you can dishonestly blame it on trans folk forever after. Who's doing that?

As if the bomb threat was wildly out of place next to the physical assaults, rape threats, doxxing and reporting to employers

And the masked protesters at Bristol, the people protesting outside the WPUK London event and all those people who threatened Millwall FC as well as rang up and complained to David Davis's office.

There's quite a line up... fits right in with bomb threat mentality.

Two days and tumbleweed. Amazing how posters make things up then disappear into the sunset? Is it delusion, is it a wind up, who knows? We should be used to it by now, I suppose.

Why are trans people always referred to as bloody “folk”? Are we supposed to mix them up with hobbits, or something, and just think how lovely everything is in Middle Earth?

Rhymes with joke? Oops, maybe shouldn't have said that? Is it as bad as saying t---fs should die? Probably classed as worse.

Why are trans people always referred to as bloody “folk”?

I find the utter tweeness of social media activism incredibly irritating. But with many TRAs on social media this cutesy language is juxtaposed with violent and sexually violent misogynistic threats to women. Then pictures of cuddly animals. Some anime. Then some more "fuck T**RFs". Very jarring.