Anonymity- should we all come out together?

[Xanthangum]

In last night's The Mess We're In youtube show, Graham L made a suggestion, namely that the GC community have a day when we all collectively come out on our various social media platforms.

A hashtag, maybe a simple one-page website, maybe one of those frames for your picture.

I'm not sure. One of the real strengths of the mumsnet community imo is that we are all fairly anonymous.

And anyone who might lose friends, or income, or cause a family rift will obviously think twice before joining in.

But on the other hand, safety in numbers? And it might 'wake up' the wokey politicians who need to know that their views are losing them voters?

I'd rather go to a big rally once lockdown restrictions are removed than any social media stuff. We need to grab the attention of the general public.

It would be great to have simultaneous rallys across the UK. I think we need grassroot groups and at a local level our issues are different but a united reclaiming (and celebration) of the word woman. The last 12 months have been hard for many women who have been disproportionately effected by school closures, hospitality and retail job cuts etc. I didn't identify into being a woman (and I can't identify out) I was born this way ☺️.

It would be great to have simultaneous rallys across the UK.

Yes! Not everyone can make it to London or Edinburgh etc.

I can see why it would be a good idea but I can’t risk my job

I couldn’t care less if i lost friends and family over it, but not my job. I have two small children and I need the income. Jobs around here aren’t common unless you’re happy to work in fields which is not ideal for me due to back problems

I agree that safety in numbers as a principle only works in a physical setting. We can show weight in numbers by getting together in one place.

Doing it on social media is still standing alone as an individual and we would all still be putting our personal and professional heads above the parapet to be shot at.

I am too frightened to air my opinions on Facebook where I am not anonymous. I wouldn't feel any better doing it if other were on the same day.

Sorry I'm such a coward. I just worked really hard for my dream job and don't want to ruin my reputation already.

I just worked really hard for my dream job and don't want to ruin my reputation already/ I couldn’t care less if i lost friends and family over it, but not my job. I have two small children and I need the income.

This is very sad really isn't it. I mean, I get it of course. But it's sad that we feel our employers will punish us for siding with the truth.

@Soubriquet

I can see why it would be a good idea but I can’t risk my job

I couldn’t care less if i lost friends and family over it, but not my job. I have two small children and I need the income. Jobs around here aren’t common unless you’re happy to work in fields which is not ideal for me due to back problems

Same here. I'm a single parent with little savings and no family in this country. If I lost my job, I'd be in big trouble. I work for a small business with big name clients. We'd be hugely susceptible to malicious complaints and if there's one thing I've seen from TRAs, is that those complaints would be guaranteed. I'd not be risking just my income but my colleagues too. It enrages me that women can't talk openly about women's rights without risking our jobs.

Bumping to see if there are any different viewpoints from the Friday afternoon crowd.

Another thing that occurred to me is that actually many people are already out on their social media. I think the observation that prompted this was around the high proportion of anonymous donors to the FPFW ONS action, compared to other crowdfunders - which this wouldn't really remedy.