I am tired; really tired. And I think many women feel the same way. I stepped into the public discussions when it became clear that the consultations were going to open on the GRA, and when it became apparent that the law was being misrepresented by academics seeking to conflate law and gender. I stepped in whilst on my way to do field research during the summer, a time that I try to keep free of field work so that I can be around during the school holidays. I had no idea that by the time I got off the aeroplane my employer would have been contacted by many people making spurious and pernicious allegations, and that we would have to try to juggle the fallout while I was thousands of miles from home. I had no idea that by presenting a human rights based approach to the legal issues that I would immediately be vilified by some and heralded by others – I am an academic, and I like to keep my head down and do my research, writing, and human rights work. I had no idea that I would lose friends, colleagues, and work opportunities. I had no idea that I would continue to do my day-job and spend my evenings and weekends writing, speaking, talking to fellow activists, providing legal research and advice to people around the world, and the impact it would have on my health, my family, and my life. And make no mistake, even if I had known I would choose to do it all again, because I believe in fundamental rights for all people, and specific rights for vulnerable groups, and sex-based rights for females. It has been a privilege to meet so many incredible women and to learn from all of them.
Women’s activism has always worked through pooling resources – we each contribute what we can, and we work together and support one another. We are not a typical women’s rights movement – in fact, I don’t think we are a movement at all, but rather a loose collection of women who agree on the need to protect sex-based rights. Many of the women who have been involved in this did not know one another, and we still do not really know one another beyond that loose connection based on our desire to protect sex-based rights. We do not have to agree with one another. We do not have to like one another. We can stand up and criticise one another.
Finding myself (and other women) analysed and discussed on social media platforms has been increasingly difficult to understand, particularly as there is so much speculation by people who do not know us but who think that they are in a position to guess or pass judgment on our thoughts, actions, and motives. I am not public property. I am a 36 year old law professor, mother, spouse, sister, daughter, friend, country music fan, Jew, non-iphone-user, nicotine addict, Arsenal season ticket holder, terrible baker but great soup maker, and many more things besides. You do not know me, and your speculation about why I do or say things would be better informed if you had a conversation with me.
Today a TRA contacted me and sent me screenshots of someone trying to doxx me. They allege (and you can see this on many twitter accounts of TRAs) that this is coming from GC women. At the same time, women I trust have told me that this is the same type of tactic used against Posie and others by TRAs. I doubt very much that a woman with whom I might not always agree who has had these threats to her and who cares deeply about children would ever be involved in such a thing. But I don’t know whether some of the people who support her from behind anonymous accounts might behave in this way. And we all know that TRAs have behaved towards GC women. So, I don’t know what to think, but I do know that as a parent of a young child I am scared and worried. I have left Twitter because of this, and I am stepping back because of this; my employer has now stepped up security, and my local police have had to get involved. So, if you do want to keep comparing me or others to characters from Othello, or endlessly analysing me you will do so, because we all have agency and none of us owe each other anything. But I am stepping in now to let you know that this all has an impact. Of course, I now expect that every word of this will be analysed if not on here then on facebook or twitter, but I will not be on social media or here to see any fallout.