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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Labour party just came to my door...

62 replies

Terfnserf · 19/09/2019 19:06

My labour party candidate just came to my door. I asked her to describe a woman and apparently it all depends 'how you are socialised' sputtered something about intersex and violence against trans She appeared not to know about TW on all women short lists, or TW being women's officers. I suggested she watches a few Magdalene Berns videos on YouTube. Unfortunately I am not very eloquent so not sure how I came across.

OP posts:
EmpressLesbianInChair · 19/09/2019 19:07

You said it, that’s the important thing! Wine

HeadintheiClouds · 19/09/2019 19:16

It depends how you’re socialised?? Shock. I’d have been tempted to turn the frigging hosepipe on them.

AncientLights · 19/09/2019 19:17

You challenged her, gave her something to chew on.

Well done.

Campervan69 · 19/09/2019 19:17

fairplayforwomen.com/factsheets/

Print some of these off and have them by the front door.

ChangeOfTides · 19/09/2019 19:19

Please remember the people who knock on your doors for Labour are volunteers spending their own time trying to get a government they think will make the country better. They won’t know all the same things as you know.

Bezalelle · 19/09/2019 19:23

They won’t know all the same things as you know.

So then we must tell them. No?

BarbaraStrozzi · 19/09/2019 19:24

Fair point, Change, but given that the canvasser's immediate response was a half-hearted waffle about socialisation, I'd say it's a pretty good guess that they were aware of the issue, just had decided the "be nice and inclusive" viewpoint was the one to plump for.

truthisarevolutionaryact · 19/09/2019 19:25

Campervan69
That's an excellent idea. That 2nd one - the Guide to the Law & Single sex spaces is excellent. It could just be handed over to any political callers with the comment that I will vote for any party who recognises these rights for women. (not true about voting for any party but they don't need to know that) Grin

TinklyLittleLaugh · 19/09/2019 19:28

I had a couple of labour canvassers at the last election. We had a bit of a chat about all woman shortlists and they were absolutely appalled.

If not peak trans, I definitely got them into the foothills.

StillWeRise · 19/09/2019 19:32

it may depend on age
a few months back I got a man in his 40s, he looked shifty and said, more or less, yes, awful isn't it
last week I got a lad in his 20s, and to give him his due he listened respectfully, and put his points politely, so I hope we gave him food for thought

JoyceJeffries · 19/09/2019 19:32

I’ve not had anyone canvassing yet but I will be asking “do you think women have penises”. If they answer yes I’ll just tell them to fuck off.

HumberElla · 19/09/2019 19:33

Last time I had a (beardy bloke) labour bod come knocking, I asked what the party was doing for Women. He was extremely proud to inform me about all women shortlists and happily burbled at me how they were most progressive party on the issue of advancing women’s interests.

Right up until the point where I asked why they allowed men who self identify on them, and thus made the concept pointless. And as a life long labour supporter that I was very disappointed and would no longer vote for them.

He told me he would have to agree to differ on our definition of ‘woman’ and stalked off. He knew exactly what my beef was and didn’t give a shit.

TinaBarrow · 19/09/2019 19:34

Well done OP, I hope to do similar if they come knocking at my door. I fully expect the bullshit responses, so it will be interesting.

It could just be handed over to any political callers with the comment that I will vote for any party who recognises these rights for women. (not true about voting for any party but they don't need to know that)

This is the way forward for me.

HumberElla · 19/09/2019 19:36

V good idea re FP leaflets

Inebriati · 19/09/2019 19:47

If your response to 'what is a woman' is to splutter platitudes then how the fuck are you going to represent your constituents?

TheAlternativeTentacle · 19/09/2019 19:57

They won’t know all the same things as you know

What, they need advance notice of what a woman is?

Everyone knows what a woman is. We all came out of one.

ScreamingBeans · 19/09/2019 20:04

LOL, the idea that these poor sheltered volunteers don't know what a woman is... they know what a woman is when they want a shag.

JoyceJeffries · 19/09/2019 20:06

How on earth could I possibly vote for someone who doesn’t know what a woman is? A 3 year old could answer the question.

leghairdontcare · 19/09/2019 20:08

I'm a Labour party activist. The main problem when knocking on doors is that you never know where the person is coming from, and there are a lot of people with a lot of different opinions. So if I knock on someone's door and they say "I'm annoyed about brexit" it could be because they're a leaver or a remainer. And if someone asked me how I would define a woman, that could be because they're GC or a TRA. That uncertainty may have led to her spluttered response. Although I agree with pp that if she was actually the candidate rather than a volunteer then she doesn't sound very well suited to life as an elected representative.

Ultimately, that doorstep conversation isn't likely to lead to either of you changing your position. If you'd said "I'm not going to vote labour as I disagree with your policy on self identification for transpeople" then that's fine and she would've wished you well and been on her way.

Who are you going to vote for though? That's the dilemma for GC people.

Dangerfloof · 19/09/2019 20:20

Who are you going to vote for though? That's the dilemma for GC people

No dilemma, I am not going to vote, unless and until a party believes women have cunts, not neo vaginas, women are in fact a class in their own right, and men cannot opt into that class, places that were once sex segregated should still be sex segregated. Etc etc etc

TemporaryPermanent · 19/09/2019 20:23

I'm damn well going to vote. I'm not going to disenfranchise myself on this. I will vote and I will write letters and make a fuss. If I have to I'll spoil my ballot with 'sex is a protected characteristic' now that I know they have to read all the spoiled ones.

leghairdontcare · 19/09/2019 20:24

Not being able to exercise my democratic right to vote would be quite a big dilemma for me.

testing987654321 · 19/09/2019 20:29

And if someone asked me how I would define a woman, that could be because they're GC or a TRA. That uncertainty may have led to her spluttered response.

That suggests you want to give the response the voter wants to hear, rather than your (or your party's) actual opinion. I don't want to be lied to, I want a party to represent me who has the courage to tell the truth.

Somerville · 19/09/2019 20:37

I have a file of doom on the windowsill beside my front door. Inside is a print out of various tweets where party candidates have been abusive bastards to women online - some of them directly to me.
When they come knocking I will open the file to the section on their party and tell them all about it.

It won’t help me with who to vote for but at least I can register my displeasure at the wee gobshites who are so abusive online in the name of their party.

leghairdontcare · 19/09/2019 20:39

I'm more than happy to give the party's policy on a particular subject. And more than happy for people to disagree. I just want it to be a polite and respectful conversation and the other person being clear about their position helps me do that. In that regard, I'm sure you can see the difference between "What is labour's policy on self id?" and "Describe a woman". The latter not being said in good faith as the OP is already well aware of the Labour party's position.

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