Not depressing - Statement by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party

[Apileofballyhoo]

Best thing I've read in ages. It's a thing of beauty.

Statement by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party on Sex-Based Rights and “Theories Which Erase Women”

“Dear comrades,

As you know, there is a growing polemic regarding the use and confusion, sometimes with a hidden agenda, of some fundamental feminist concepts, such as sex and gender. There are some theories (specifically queer theory) which are gaining ground around the academic and activist world, and which deny the existence of biological sex, given that they blur and obscure the material realities of women. If we deny the existence of sex, we deny the inequality which is measured and constructed on the basis of this biological fact.

Which is why we have created this document in which we have synthetised the arguments and our position, as a political party. We hope you find it useful.”

"If gender replaces sex, then the situation of structural inequality of women with respect to men is blurred. It is a category of analysis which implicitly carries the oppression, the inequality and the subordination of women compared to men. This is why us feminist socialists seek its abolition in order to achieve the emancipation of the women."

womansplaceuk.org/2020/07/16/statement-spanish-socialist-party-sex-based-rights/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Sorry, it's not clear there that's I've only copied bits, and it's well worth clicking the link and reading it all just for the pleasure of it.

It's so refreshing to see that. It's just common sense, there is nothing controversial, and yet I feel slightly amazed to see a political party just come out and say it rather than the usual TWAW or, at best, "this is a sensitive debate" spiel.

Wow! It’s like they understand!! 😮🏆

I believe there is quite a push back in Spain. This is very cheering as DD who has just graduated with lashings of koolaid is heading to Spain in September to down a year working as a language teaching assistant. Let's hope her colleagues are influential.

Perhaps I will just send her the Spanish Version and let her work it out....

At last some sense.

WHY didn't the Labour party come out with a statement like this? I just don't get it?

Wow!!

Gracias a Díos!

This is how to tell if someone has left wing politics, or if they are actually social libertarians paradoxically attracted to authoritarianism.

SSWP are clearly left wing.

For the benefit of those here unfamiliar with Spanish politics, it should be pointed out that despite its name, the party isn't far left (it has no relationship to the British SWP) - rather, it is a mainstream centre-left party and is the sister-party of our Labour Party. In the most recent Spanish GE, the PSOE topped the poll with 28% of the vote, and it currently leads Spain's coalition government.

The problem is that they rely on Podemos/ Izquierda Unida left parties who are much harder line full on self ID. There is a consultation which has closed this week but results will be interesting . Spain is very proud of its tolerance, but as this also includes tolerance of prostitution, I wonder how far this will be resisted. But yes this document is very encouraging.

Can someone send it to Keir?

It is really good of Raquel Rosario Sanchez to translate this for WPUK. It's a mostly excellent translation. I think "interested manipulation" should read either "opportunistic manipulation" or "self-serving manipulation", and "LGBTQI collective" should read "LGBTQI community".
Anyway, yes, someone should send it to Keir

That is explained perfectly. I fail to see how anyone could disagree with these points. Go Spanish feminism!

Somebody send it to the Labour Party!

It will of course be discredited by interested cicles as 'communist'.

Excellent statement.

And thankyou transdimensional and Angryresister for giving the context of Spanish politics.

Another vote for "someone send it to Keir."

@ContentiousOne

This is how to tell if someone has left wing politics, or if they are actually social libertarians paradoxically attracted to authoritarianism.

SSWP are clearly left wing.

Exactly what I thought.

Have sent it to Marsha Decordova asking "if the Spanish Socialist Workers' Parties gets it, why doesn't Labour"

[email protected]

Sent to my labour mp, who has been thinking about the issue for over a year

Not so great

I'd been avoiding this thread out of fear the title was sarcastic and it would be about something very depressing indeed. Glad to see that it was about people being sensible instead, but it's shit that they've signed up for a political compromise that throws women under the bus anyway. Women need to start holding the feet of male comrades to the fire about this, because as long as we let them treat us as a "well we know it's not right but we had no choice really" afterthought this will keep happening. I'm leaning towards a "either you back us on this or we withdraw support from whatever else you're working on, or even take an actively obstructionist role, until our concerns are properly addressed".

The wording was good, still think Labour needs to hear it

The problem is once self ID is written into law it won't be undone.

They're voting for self-ID, while loudly declaring that self-ID is an assault on women's rights? Is that true?

Depressing, if so. As usual, women's rights are being sent to the back of the queue, and will be addressed just as soon as they sort all the really important issues.

I wonder what the new law is. According to that Twitter thread there's some kind of differentiation between changing your gender and changing your sex in Spanish law currently.