Solidarity in Aldi today!

[JaneyHenderson]

This is my first thread in a very long time but I wanted to share the uplifting and fabulous experience I had today in Aldi😂

I reached 'peak' during the last lockdown and lurk regularly on here while trying to make sense of the madness.
DH is supportive to a degree but very nervous of me being vocal about my GC views as we are both teachers. I am a middle leader in a secondary school and he worries about me getting sacked
So I can't discuss this much IRL.

Anyway, queing outside Aldi today and saw a woman a few people ahead of me with a 'Woman
Noun
adult human female' tote bag. I was thrilled and as soon as there was an opportunity (by the fruit and veg) I told her I liked her bag and that I knew what it meant.
She said I had made her day; I replied I she had made mine. Then she said 'Solidarity sister and see you on the next march'
We went on our separate ways but bloody hell it was brilliant. To vocalise it and be recognised. Felt a bit emotional and even now re-writing it, am a bit teary.

Just wanted to share. It was wonderful.

She's brave! I live in Brighton - If I wore that bag I'd be stoned to death with avocados.

@TinselAngel

Also, I have the Leeds Spinners "Wrong Side of History, my Arse" tote bag, which is a thing of beauty.

I’ve got a Wrong Side of History, My Arse T-shirt

Aw I love this story, thanks for sharing OP!!

I actually wanted to get the I ❤️ JK Rowling tote as my way signalling solidarity to other GC's. Out of stock though. But I'm inspired to get something, anything else just to get my message out there. 😉

A friend who used to live in Hackney went into a cafe in her AHF T-shirt & a couple of women said “We find your T-shirt offensive.”

She wasn’t sure what to say so she just said “Thank you” & that was apparently that

@Downunderduchess

Just came on to say I have learnt so much from reading these types of posts. Turns out I am GC also, I just never realised. I support facts & science. I’m not sure this issue has the same coverage in Australia as I don’t hear too much about it other than people who like to show how woke they are.

Sadly, it probably doesn’t get the coverage it should with the state government’s quietly voting in laws like the conversion therapy laws now in ACT, QLD and Vic.

However, senator Claire Chandler has been vocal on this. And journo Bernard Lane is consistent in keeping it in the news.

Love it Empress! I am inspired by this thread to add to my T shirt with a book and bag as well.

Birdy Rose does some beautiful GC art work as well. I have a picture and quote from Keira Bell.

@EmpressWitchDoesntBurn

A friend who used to live in Hackney went into a cafe in her AHF T-shirt & a couple of women said “We find your T-shirt offensive.”

She wasn’t sure what to say so she just said “Thank you” & that was apparently that

That’s the only way to answer people who are that far up their own arses.

Wow so many repossess while I was gone!
Thank you to

@MoleSmokes @TalkingtoLangClegintheDark
@Wearywithteens
@Highwind
for their excellent summaries and everyone else who linked/explained to new posters.

You have all made me brave enough to buy the bag! And do some discreet stickering when the world re-opens.

As for GC teachers, there’s probably lots of us tucked away. My experience is the younger teachers (am an ex ITT & NQT co-ordinator) are much more likely to be TWAW and vocal about it. I typed out an example of a young teacher ‘helping a student transition’ but deleted. I wouldn’t want to out the student in the example however unlikely that is. But suffice to say that the pervading narrative that living as the opposite sex means you become that sex is alive and kicking. And that it cures young people of any and all other mental health/behavioural issues which I find the most troubling.

I won’t respond directly to Mocklate (although that’s a Friends reference is ever I saw one so we do have some common ground 😉) except to say I didn’t understand your point really. When you are silenced in RL from discussing something which you feel strongly about, recognition and connection with a like minded person feels good for your soul.

Solidarity sisters 👊🏻😍

She'll explain it to dogs, whistlers and serial name changers. She's a bloody marvel.

Particularly those who whistle for dogs with nothing to offer of substance. It is like they read about dog whistling, but don’t know how to handle what results. Just delivers the ‘bad dog’ lecture while knowing that they themselves are conflicted on some issues and can hear that whistle clearly themselves, they just developed earmuffs telling them they are ‘righteous’ to filter it out.

3 foldable shopping bags just ordered by this school worker.

Agree with everyone - but haven't read enough to be secure in how I answer people IRL

I have a question.

So if I say that I am an adult human female and that is my sex.

What is somebody then asks - what if a man has had a medical sex change. What are they?

What is somebody then asks - what if a man has had a medical sex change. What are they?

They are a male who has had some surgery.

@EmpressWitchDoesntBurn
Brilliant response by your friend. I would have been tempted to channel Stephen Fry there!
And I would love a ‘Wrong side of history’ t shirt. And not just because I love the Royle Family 😀

What is somebody then asks - what if a man has had a medical sex change. What are they?

They're transwomen. There's no such thing as a 'sex change' - that is an old fashioned term for an impossibility. It's generally called gender confirmation nowadays. These men have changed to a 'feminine' gender, and most won't want to be called men, but they are still male.

I bought some stickers ages ago and put one on a small backpack. Had three women ask me about it and all were very interested and knowledgeable about the subject. That was a few months ago and in Waitrose which seems very woke. Well done Op.

What is somebody then asks - what if a man has had a medical sex change. What are they?

You can turn the question back to them and ask how they have changed sex? Sex is coded at cellular level and it is not possible. It is possible to cosmetically change parts of the body and to enact minor changes through hormones.

It does not erase male socialization. We see this with some posters on these threads. That male perspective just doesn’t seem to disappear.

It does not change the need women have for protections due to their biology which no male has or needs. So, why do they believe making these changes should allow them to access women’s rights?

Whoops, thought thread was only on page 1, so posted without have RTFT. Sorry if this is really out of sync

It does not erase male socialization. We see this with some posters on these threads. That male perspective just doesn’t seem to disappear.

Clarifying MNHQ.
That male perspective just doesn’t seem to disappear with ‘SOME of these male posters.

Of course, there are male posters here who identify as women who understand women’s oppression and they support women.

@highame No, not out of sync at all, we're sharing stories of GC conversations with strangers on this thread

Interesting point about Waitrose, I see Waitrose as full of people my age (40 next month ) with a bit of cash to spare due to their age/job. I wouldn't be entirely surprised to see a few GC women filling their plastic cereal tubs

I am crying reading this.

I am going to buy a bag, even though I'm very very scared.

If you see me, please smile and thumbs up!!

@12frogsincoats

Sounds very Hitler youthy

Only if you're a bloody idiot

My GC colleague recently left and we both bought each other a little gift. I got her an AHF badge and she got me a Magdalen Berns t shirt (which I darent wear outside). With my order, I got a load of stickers so have been stealthily plastering them on lampposts. I smile every time I pick my DS up from nursery and see the one I did outside!

@Winesalot

I am quite sure that only people who genuinely ❤️ Joanne Rowling will have a tote or a shirt that states that.

It is like wearing a AC/DC tshirt and having people come up and discuss their favourite songs. Of course people ‘get’ you.

There are different reasons to love Joanne Rowling and each to their own. I doubt everyone has the same reason but why would you wear a shirt like that if you did not.

Only people set on shaming women for discussing the impact of other groups rights uses terms like dog whistle. If you feel there is no conflict in rights, please discuss this rather than seeking to shame others. There are plenty here who are interested in learning more so open discussion is great.

Spot on Winesalot

There are many posters new to the debate on this thread > waves < so rather than sneering at those of us pushing back where we can why not engage and debate the reasons why?

Unless you've just got a problem with women not getting in their box?

What I’d really like is a Sandy Draws Badly T-shirt but I don’t think they exist.

tellmewhentheLangshiplandscoz

Because of course, that poster never does. And will tell us they have posted all their discussion points in the past under different names.

Their intentions now seems to fall into the pattern of to chide, sneer and shame women discussing the impacts of the rights of other groups on our rights. from the side line. They seem to never post links or resources or engage in any meaningful way.