How far would you go to support women's rights?

[MsTiggywinkletoyou]

A suffragette called Kitty Marion was forcefed 232 times while she was jailed for her actions in attempting to secure the vote. I learned about her at a book launch at the Museum of London this weekend. She was an actress who fought back against managers' sexual harassment, and (so?) never became a star. After the panel discussion - including a theatre director talking about #MeToo - a woman in the audience stood up and asked a question.

She was wearing an Adult Human Female tshirt and spoke about fighting for what the definition of women are, and what we need now (single-sex spaces for example), and the threats we are up against (attempts to sack academics for example). The book's author, who I believe is employed by a university, responded cautiously, saying she knew of the situation that the questioner was referring to. One of them, I forget which, listed countries where things are vile for women and particularly women's activists. Those in prison are tortured in ways that the suffragettes would recognise.

It made me think: would I submit to forcefeeding for my beliefs, or would I give in, do what the system wanted me to, say I believed, agree to comply? I don't think I'm a very strong person.

Unfortunately, its something you can only find out when it happens. I have warned my daughter that I may be arrested for saying no, and she thinks I’m joking.

I believe in 'all it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing'.

I'm familiar with this line of pondering from Christian thought. It's a question sometimes posed "Would you be able to be a martyr?"
The reality is that none of us know, and in affluent Western countries, very few of us will have to face that level of persecution.

I found the most helpful thought in this context was that, when the moment comes, you have the Grace to stand firm - but you are not less than anyone else if you do not. We each make our little stand for truth and contribute to the collection of voices for freedom. Some are required to make the bigger sacrifices - but we each walk our path and only our own.

Integrity isn't a showy thing. But it's all that matters in the end, whatever you end up doing.

I believe in 'all it takes for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing'

Me too. I will die on this hill. If at any point I give up I would be choosing for my daughters to suffer abuse instead of me.

Well said Repeal - standing strong on the hill next to you xx

"would I submit to forcefeeding for my beliefs, or would I give in, do what the system wanted me to, say I believed, agree to comply?"

I know I'm not brave enough to endure the former but am not certain the choice would be that or the latter. I am, however prepared to take part in civil disobedience, whatever the kind demanded of me. I've discussed this with my family already and have been warned not to expect any special favours from a member who's a MetPo detective. Oh dear, looks like the cells for me then! I'm old, I've had my life and don't really give a shit any more

Interesting. I think my position has changed since having children in that I probably would have been willing to get arrested etc for a cause to a greater extent before I had children and literally no-one else (except DH) to look after them. These days anything I do is tempered by the thought of the impact it will have on them. Hopefully once they are grown and independent then I'll be more willing to put myself on the line again and become a truly cantankerous old woman.

Yes - my caution is compounded by having a very unusual name, a DD at uni and a DH with a heart condition.

We saw this coming. Everyone that thought that white mauve and green were great colours. Not that I’m saying we wanted it to, just that it was there,

I don't know what I'd do. I've often said if it came to it I'd want to fight, but I don't know if I would actually follow through (this is more in line with thinking about civil war, which I don't really think is far off.) But I'd still want to fight for my rights as a woman if it ever came to it.

I dont know. I have thought about this. Its certainly made me think about historical situations in a different light - all those documentaries where you think ‘but how could normal people not SAY something?’ Well, this is how.

Our rights and protections are going to be totally removed from us. And people will accept it meekly. I guess at the end of the day we could just about live of DHs salary so yes, I would, if it comes to it, be chained to the railings.

This is already happening btw. Caroline farrow just got a knock on the door from the police for misgendering. Obviously they won’t be force feeding but the law being involved and set on women is a step too far in itself.

I also agree our general civil rights are under threat - the shooting last week in chch is already being used to infringe civil rights. Providers in Oz are domain blocking websites and police in NZ wanted KF to give up all ISPs and emails associated with comments on a thread about the shooting. Someone in Australia has been arrested for sharing the video. Police in Nz are threatening 10-14 years in jail for watching/sharing it. A man here has been arrested for tweeting in support. Now obviously he’s a hideous human for doing so but should that be illegal? No it shouldn’t. And I have no wish at all to watch the damn video, but I also would strongly oppose criminalising anyone who does.

Terrible events will be used to create precedents, and then those precedents will be used on mundane actions. Like misgendering. We need to fight this, through the courts, through the media, through public awareness and if necessary through civil disobedience.