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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Original poster

Solidarity in Aldi today!

583 replies

JaneyHenderson · 13/02/2021 18:08

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 sackedConfused
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 vegWink) 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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Libraryghost · 13/02/2021 19:54

@HeronLanyon the first time I heard of preferred pronouns was in a meeting I attended last year. I was genuinely bewildered as to what the frig they were on about and said something ‘Well I am a woman obviously, are you saying I look like a man, I’m not a bloody he am I’ They gave up and looked at me aghast. I looked it up online after and I could not believe what I reading! I bet I will be on diversity training soon..

CranberriesChoccyAgain · 13/02/2021 19:59

Sorry if this has been posted already. Just another example of how a simple declaration is deemed transphobic by a small minority.

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/uk-england-merseyside-51708961

Very happy for you, OP. 😊

As others have said, it often feels dangerous to be openly GC, especially at work.

musicalfrog · 13/02/2021 20:00

So, if I believe my son and my daughter should have equal access to both football and sewing (and wish for society to expect them equally to partake), does that make me GC? Or is it deeper than that? 🤔

rednsparkley · 13/02/2021 20:03

I have the "I ❤️ JK Rowling" tote bag and use it daily. It has a number of lovely GC badges on it too. Would love to spot a fellow realist out and about.

I am openly GC at work, I work in a primary school and have encouraged a lot of my colleagues to question the current dogma. So far all those who have expressed a preference have agreed with my thoughts and have been horrified by how far things have been pushed.

Shmithecat2 · 13/02/2021 20:03

Former secondary teacher here [waves]. What a glorious moment!

Loved watching that video with Posie and Dr Harrop. She's fucking awesome.

Goawayquickly · 13/02/2021 20:04

Yay! As a side note I've managed to make my teenager understand that this is not simply a 'be kind' issue. I saw the penny drop, the 'oh' and she gets it. Tbh at 15 with little experience of the world I'd have accepted almost anything I was told, I'm sure most of us would. I've been trying to explain all her life that being kind shouldn't mean accepting bad treatment to spare the perpetrators feelings. Teenagers are so untested, they have a huge world to navigate and learn about.

ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2021 20:04

@musicalfrog

So, if I believe my son and my daughter should have equal access to both football and sewing (and wish for society to expect them equally to partake), does that make me GC? Or is it deeper than that? 🤔
More or less. And that if your son likes sewing and ballet, that doesn't make him in any way, shape or form anything other than a boy who likes sewing and ballet.
BolloxtoGender · 13/02/2021 20:04

Love it.

musicalfrog · 13/02/2021 20:08

Thanks @ErrolTheDragon I'm completely on board then.

ArabellaScott · 13/02/2021 20:09

That's a sound grounding, musicalfrog.

Personally, I think all feminism is 'gender critical' by default, as it's about investigating and challenging stereotypes and norms imposed on people because of their sex.

In the past few years, though, it's been coming up against what some people may call 'genderism', which posits that we choose our 'gender' and sex is 'a construct'.

GC feminists acknowledge the inescapable reality of biological sex (males and females), and challenge stereotypes. Gender theorists claim that we choose our 'gender' out of an almost infinite possible number of genders, and seem see sex as secondary to our 'gender expression' (how we dress, cut our hair, etc). (See Judith Butler, queer theory, etc).

I hope I'm not misrepresenting the latter view, it does seem so removed from reality I find it quite hard to formulate. And I'm not a scholar or very clued up on theories. Smile

ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2021 20:12

See Judith Butler, queer theory, etc

(Personally I'd rather eat ground glass)

PamDenick · 13/02/2021 20:15

This thread is warming the cockles of my heart.

Hatia · 13/02/2021 20:16

I was genuinely bewildered as to what the frig they were on about and said something ‘Well I am a woman obviously, are you saying I look like a man, I’m not a bloody he am I’

Grin
Highwind · 13/02/2021 20:21

Love this! It shows that we are out there, even if some of us can’t afford to be as openly visible as others.

There are so many of us. The tide will turn soon, I just know it.

Solidarity sisters. X

Greenmarmalade · 13/02/2021 20:22

I’m a middle leader teacher too and I’m so relieved I haven’t had to cover It in pshe type lessons so far. I would really push the tolerance and everyone having rights aspects, I think- and say that our rights don’t mean we can take away those of others.

Horizons83 · 13/02/2021 20:23

Great OP, I'm glad you saw it and I'm glad you felt able to mention it to the owner!

By the way, I don't know if it has been mentioned elsewhere.. I was watching an interview with Jackie Weaver (I think it was on Sky) and the interviewer asked her if she felt that her gender had anything to do with the way she was treated... Jackie was very careful to use the word 'sex', not gender, in her response!

AnyOldPrion · 13/02/2021 20:27

Mine too! Just watched Posie and Mr Harrop again. What a joy! Now I’m going to have a glass of wine and toast them both!

IsThePopeCatholic · 13/02/2021 20:29

Lovely anecdote. How perverse and sad that women have to hide the fact that they are GC. Safe spaces for women are vital.

persistentwoman · 13/02/2021 20:29

@Highwind

Love this! It shows that we are out there, even if some of us can’t afford to be as openly visible as others.

There are so many of us. The tide will turn soon, I just know it.

Solidarity sisters. X

So much this!

The overreach and bullying is so extensive that women everywhere are seeing what is happening. It's impossible to ignore.

LizzieSiddal · 13/02/2021 20:45

Oh I love hearing stories like this. Gives me hope.

littlbrowndog · 13/02/2021 20:49

💪💪💪💪🥰

averylongtimeago · 13/02/2021 20:51

Lovely OP, step by step we can resist.

I have my ManFriday bag and a selection of stickers in my bag ready for use.

12frogsincoats · 13/02/2021 20:53

Sounds very Hitler youthy

SophocIestheFox · 13/02/2021 20:58

@12frogsincoats

Sounds very Hitler youthy
Eh? Confused
Mrsmorton · 13/02/2021 20:58

@12frogsincoats I think you might need to do a bit more research my friend.

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