Eton College has a Feminism society

[GabrielleNelson]

... and they had an outing recently to a girls' school to explain gender theory to them. Not a joke, it seems.

www.etoncollege.com/newsarticle/etons-feminism-society-meets-with-students-at-st-marys-ascot

Glosswitch has a good thread building on Twitter about this. Julie Bindel says she is going to use it for the start of her next book.

Every day more utter nonsense.

I'm not sure I can get overly irate about this.

Is it wrong that Eton has a Feminism Society - that's great surely? It's not that boys went to a girls school to talk at them. It was two groups talking on 2 topics, with the girls happening to host. I assume they alternate.

The text says that Eton boys spoke "gender theory, and how one’s gender can act as their identity, with the perception of transgenderism gradually being more widely and positively perceived in today’s society."

We can't see what was said but phrases such as 'can act as their identity', 'the perception of transgenderism' give room for a diverse discussion. I'd also like to think that the girls picked them up on any relevant points.

Glosswitchs's thread is just a study in inverse snobbery - as is Julie's predictable comment. You can only be a feminist if you're a woman and working class/socialist... apparently.

I expect it will be useful to them when they grow up to be women.

The text says that Eton boys spoke "gender theory, and how one’s gender can act as their identity, with the perception of transgenderism gradually being more widely and positively perceived in today’s society."

We can't see what was said but phrases such as 'can act as their identity', 'the perception of transgenderism' give room for a diverse discussion. I'd also like to think that the girls picked them up on any relevant points.

Its Queer Theory not feminism.

Do look aout for Selina Todd's recent speech from WPUK London when is released.

Its very relevent.

I am not sure I think it is a bad idea for kids at that age to discuss and think about these things. And I'd not expect adults to be telling them which viewpoints they need to take or talk about, and I'd not expect the kids to always get things right.

How many transboys at Eton?

How many transboys at Eton?

I doubt you can identify into Eton - like peerages.

2013 Guardian article by Jinan Younis

"What happened when I started a feminist society at school
We wanted to challenge sexist behaviour – but we unleashed a flood of abuse from our male peers"
www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2013/jun/20/why-i-started-a-feminist-society

"Is it wrong that Eton has a Feminism Society - that's great surely?"

This is a group of biological males and as such they are Feminist Allies but not Feminists. That they would like to see all FemSocs eradicated by 2118 is a red flag. I get the (childish) sentiment but women don't just come together to fight oppression, we come together for community and support and if biological women want Feminist groups, then boys and men, from Eton College or elsewhere, can mind their own business.

City London School for boys and girls ( 2 separate single sex schools on 2 sites ) also have a Feminist Society - they meet at one or the other school so Eton is not unique in this

I am really sceptical about this. Who have they received training from? Mumsnet faves Bishtrianing.com have testimonials from Kings College school and Westminster school. They are both extremely posh schools in London. Fuck all to do with inverse snobbery (although I am not immune to that) but a huge concern because these kids are literally taught that they are the countries future leaders. And they will be, through politics, media, banking and business. Indoctrinating these future wielders of power and influence in Queer Theory is really bad news for society's vulnerable people. Especially bad as these are the most privileged boys in the country who really won't have a clue about sex based discrimination.

Just to remind that Bish teaches: FGM is on a scale of body modification with shaving at the other end; many women enjoy street harassment; clitorises and penises are the same and some clits look more like dicks than other clits and vice versa; Bish also asks children to draw their sexual fantasies to share with the adult trainer, which is of course grooming.

The culture at Eaton has really gone down hill since their latest appointment of headmaster. I don’t think we’ll bother when it’s time for our sons to sit 13+.

Eton would theoretically allow MTF trans pupils to remain at the school; but has not yet faced that issue. It has no plans to admit females.

This blog astutely observes that:

"If Eton has no plans to admit girls, but would permit a transgender ‘girl’ to remain at the school, then clearly he considers them to be really boys. Or at least not girls."

"Trans women seem keen to assert their womanhood in order to insert themselves into women’s changing rooms and other sex-segregated places, but considerably more reluctant to accept a post-transition exclusion from spaces where natal women would not be admitted."

"Where is the outrage at this rampant transphobia? Trans activists should be picketing Eton College, Sherwood Country Club and the Savile Club to demand that they treat their transgender members as real women and exclude them."

sparrowsandnightingales.com/2017/11/14/master-of-eton-trans-girls-are-not-really-girls/

How come its ok for Eton to have that policy but not, say, a domestic violence shelter?

It’s only sensible that boys are taught to ‘splain things to girls as soon as possible.

It prepares them for doing it as adults.

Eton would theoretically allow MTF trans pupils to remain at the school; but has not yet faced that issue. It has no plans to admit females.

A very similar situation to the Freemasons (interestingly!)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3323475-Surprise-The-Masons-now-welcome-Transwomen-but-not-women

"This is a group of biological males and as such they are Feminist Allies but not Feminists".

I disagree with this. To me a feminist is someone who believes in equality of the sexes.. It has nothing to do with one's genitals or lived experience.

This is yet again, someone saying who can or cannot be a feminist. At this rate there will be very few people 'allowed' to be feminists. And bizarrely, this divides and rules - and it's not the women ending up ruling if only 1 woman and a few of her mates are allowed in the gang.

"That they would like to see all FemSocs eradicated by 2118 is a red flag".

It was the girls that said this, not the boys.

Just to remind that Bish teaches: FGM is on a scale of body modification with shaving at the other end; many women enjoy street harassment; clitorises and penises are the same and some clits look more like dicks than other clits and vice versa; Bish also asks children to draw their sexual fantasies to share with the adult trainer, which is of course grooming.

thread discussing BISH resources for eenagers and schools:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3357713-BISH-proudly-supported-by

Is it a Feminism society or a Feminist society? A significant difference.

"It was the girls that said this, not the boys"

Well then they all need to have a re-think.

Yes, women can be feminists. That a nice big category of 50% of the population. There's no hierarchy or gate keeping about what kind of woman, you just have to be a woman. I think that's plenty inclusive enough.

“This is yet again, someone saying who can or cannot be a feminist. At this rate there will be very few people 'allowed' to be feminists”

Really? Isn’t it about 52% of the adult population?

Secondly, the girls of St Mary’s Ascot briefly speculated about the different types of feminism, and what they can do to make sure that by 2118, there are no FemSocs in schools. After all, the successful outcome of feminism would make the societies redundant - and that is their aim.

Isn't this part of the problem in Canada? Many feminist groups have disappeared and there was no one left to notice women's rights been taken away.

I'm laughing at the idea that excluding men would mean that there would be no one left to be s feminist.

Men and boys can be feminists as much as women and girls - but not if they don’t acknowledge the existence of women and girls. A basic minimum for a belief in equality of the sexes is recognition that sexed exist.