Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere

[Uhohmummy]

As a long time lurker I want to post a positive message of thanks to the amazing women (and men) of FWR who have opened my eyes to so many important issues. The fight for women’s rights can be exhausting and there are so many brick walls but just by talking about these issues you are making a difference. I suspect there are many like me who don’t often post on here but take on board a lot of what is discussed and use it to spread the message in our own lives, educating our children, donating where we can, etc. Please keep going. And thanks.

[WarOnWomen]

@Uhohmummy

Wow so many lurkers in the same boat! I am trying to educate myself on the issues discussed here but don’t feel like I know enough to post regularly. When I do engage my posts are generally fuelled by passion rather than knowledge but, as another poster put it, “Thanks to those who say what I think without having ever met me!”

I feel like I will never know enough and never be articulate as everyone else (see failure thread) but I still post. I post even if I am ignorant of issues (see incel murderer thread) but then people put me straight or guide me to research etc. I don't post often, but I post.

[Glamflimfloogety]

Another long time FWR lurker, occasional poster here also adding thanks to the amazing and brilliantly articulate women standing up for our rights. It must be bloody exhausting but know that the silent majority of us here really appreciate it

As for the trolls over the last few days, all I can day is that they've scored a massive own goal. From what I can see most of them seem to just throw out goady and unintelligible garbage that proves what the brave FWR posters are pointing out. They've probably converted quite a few fence sitters, but not in the way they hoped!

[JoodyBlue]

the women on this board are kind and wonderful, I didn't post for many years, but read and considered. What I have become aware of if you do post, is that is takes a lot of energy and time. So to those who regularly do that I think they are amazing. To those just coming in, all voices are welcome as MNHQ keep saying. Really the more voices there are the better. So glad you are here.

[picklemewalnuts]

What a lovely thread!

One day, I hope some of the anonymous stars of this debate can tell us who they are! I know some high profile women occasionally post with their own name, I'd love to know who everyone else is, though. One day!

[MTCoffeePot]

[JaneyHenderson]

Lurker and occasional poster here too. Eyes firmly open and in awe of the amazing women who are leading the way. Thank you

[JoodyBlue]

@Toomie

I am another lurker and occasional poster. So grateful for all of the wisdom and relentless bloody calm rationality from so many posters on here. I often copy and save posts for future use. The eloquence displayed here is beyond what I can usually muster.

I have been feeling a bit down about it again since yesterday. I recently met a woman who thought could well be a GC ally. Science background, very down to earth and sound. Yesterday she posted on Facebook that she is running yoga courses for 'pregnant parents'. I checked through and she definitely means pregnant women. Sigh.

I know it's been said multiple times before but when this happens it feels just like being in a scene from Invasion of the Bodysnatchers. A sinking sense of bafflement and despair that someone you like and respect is blatantly onboard with the woo.

Will try to find a gentle way to ask about it when we can meet in person again sometime. Could be that she just hasn't thought it through 🤞

Anyway what I mean to say is that having this space and all the wonderful posters on here gives me hope and strength in the knowledge that I'm not alone. I'm learning all the time and feeling more confident to express myself in real life too. Thank you.

@Toomie, in the current climate she may have simply been protecting herself and her course. It is very difficult manouvering the public sphere at the moment. She might actually be an ally.

[MeltsAway]

The fight for women’s rights can be exhausting and there are so many brick walls but just by talking about these issues you are making a difference.

I'm a veteran of a feminist CR group (consciousness raising group) - the idea that women talking together can be a part of the political work of feminism is very powerful.

I think MN is a huge CR group!

[MenopausalCrone]

I'd like to add my gratitude to all the educators on FWR. I've learnt so much and have lost quite a bit of sleep over the knowledge you've all imparted. I've donated to all the campaigns that have been brought up and finally feel that I'm doing something positive rather than pulling my hair out and sitting around feeling frightened of the way the future seemed to be heading. Thank you so much xxx

[Doingitaloneandproud]

Big thank you to the women here, I never used your describe myself as a feminist before but I do now. Women's and girls rights are important and cannot be pushed aside. I may not always post but I do read/listen to what is said.
I've been over to Twitter and it is people who want to silence women and don't believe there should be a space for women to discuss these kind of views.
Thank you for standing up for women, this needs to continue

[nocoolnamesleft]

I used to naively think that in the west the need for feminism was dying. This board really helped open my eyes. I now proudly identify as a feminist, and have a better understanding of the challenges women face locally, nationally, and globally. Thanks for the education.

[Foxxinsoxx]

Apparently something I said wasn't allowed!?! Oh well I will carry on reading this board quietly, and speaking to people in real life.

[Joisanofthedales]

Lurker, occasional poster and ardent digger with my spade. I write letters and emails as well but it isn't enough I know.
That's why I am in awe of the women on here who take on the MRAs, TRAs and hand maidens.
BRAVA.

[Landlockedgirl]

Another lurker here. Totally agree with you OP. I found this place by accident and now it’s my, first coffee of the morning, go to place. I’ve learned so much from the wise, intelligent women who post here. My views have been challenged, I’ve learned about stuff that barely hits the mainstream media, I’ve started gardening and have laughed out loud on more than one occasion. At first I couldn’t make head nor tail of the Bunbury threads but have come to really enjoy them. Most of all, the posters here inspire me and have given me the words to be able to express my concerns more eloquently than previously. Thanks 💐

[Outwithreason]

Daily lurker here, inspired by and in awe of all the wonderful posters. Thank you.

[Wrongsideofhistorymyarse]

Brava to all the amazing women on here - whether lurking or posting.

[Over600Ecalypts]

Thanks to FWR, I do gardening and letters. I'm not as articulate as most but I add my bit. I'm also an avid reader of the links that posters provide. It all sinks in. DH is begining to get it too now because I talk to him about what I read here.

Thank you to everyone here and

[MeltsAway]

Oh well I will carry on reading this board quietly, and speaking to people in real life

@Foxxinsoxx I hope you keep posting.

We all get caught out by the special rules in the Feminism section of MN. I was deleted for saying "p* trans" (the 'P' stands for what we call the top of a mountain). Apparently the term isn't conducive to civil debate.

See it as a badge of honour!

[oricella]

Delurking to add my thanks and (and I garden when I can)

This board has given me courage to start speaking out in my organisation, challenging equality statements that fail to include the 2 protected characteristics relating to women (sex and maternity) and asking for definition of sex in new gender policies. I don't know if anything will change - but at least I have not been shot down by HR and they have indicated I am not the only one who has raised issues.

I have come to realise that not staying silent is maybe the most imporant thing to do

[ErrolTheDragon]

We all get caught out by the special rules in the Feminism section of MN. I was deleted for saying "p trans" (the 'P' stands for what we call the top of a mountain). Apparently the term isn't conducive to civil debate.
*

It seems to being regularly deleted, but it's not mentioned in the talk guidelines so it's a bit unfair on posters, especially newer ones, who are likely to be oblivious - it's really not very obvious why this is a contentious phrase.

[MedusasBadHairDay]

[ErrolTheDragon]

Anyone new who hasn't read the talk guidelines, even though they're evidently not complete it's worth having a read to avoid unnecessary issues. There's a link on the main page to the extra stuff

www.mumsnet.com/info/netiquette

[littlebillie]

I'm a lurker and this are had educated me on how to speaks about all aspects of feminism in a coherent way. I'm currently in discussion with the ONS and my MP who has raised my concerns and extracted a response which I have responded to today.

I think also MN signposting to Twitter has also made me realise that women speaking out promotes such a wave of hate, that we must continue with a thoughtful evidence based dialogue.

[MeltsAway]

It seems to being regularly deleted, but it's not mentioned in the talk guidelines so it's a bit unfair on posters, especially newer ones, who are likely to be oblivious - it's really not very obvious why this is a contentious phrase.

Yes, @ErrolTheDragon I did say this - politely - in answer to the MNHQ email telling me they'd deleted my post (but hadn't given me a 'strike'). It's their call, it's their board (I moderate elsewhere & I know it's a beast of a job sometimes) but still ...

At the time, I didn't realise that this has been a common experience for this particular term.

[Foxxinsoxx]

@MeltsAway It's telling that violent, angry men are permitted to rampage across the internet, threatening women with all kinds of graphic, hideous punishments for daring to speak about our rights, whilst we tiptoe cautiously across miles and miles of eggshells, apologetically moderating our language and forever having to check over our shoulders.

All I wanted to say was thank you to the women on this board who have taught me so much about feminism, and emboldened me to speak to family and friends and to my children about women's rights, to write to my MP twice, to respond to government consultations, and to contribute to some pertinent crowd-funded legal cases.