The reach of speaking up. The ripple effect.

[Leafstamp]

Today I spoke up about something pertaining to the protection of women's sex based rights. I estimate the reach of this to be educating approx. 10 people almost immediately and very directly; in due course, to affect the training of around 80 staff in a way that will positively affect sex based rights; and after that have a lesser, but still measurable impact on up to 1500 further individuals within an organisation.

This is before any of those people then take the knowledge into other areas of their lives.

It feels good.

It would be great if anyone else wants to add their version of the reach of their feminist actions.

And, it's not just a numbers game. If just one woman is helped (saved?) by our words and actions, then that's amazing.

@Zimniy

I've started speaking up. I've reached a few people, written some emails and was feeling pretty confident that I was making a difference. Then today happened. I went to a feminist group meeting and it was awful, just awful. I raised by concerns about identity politics and transgender women having access to single sex spaces. I was on the receiving end of several looks of disgust and have been told that in their group feminism is for everyone and that it's all inclusive and anyone can be a woman if that's how they feel. I feel so miserable now and alone. Hopefully I reached someone there and sowed a seed of doubt.

I think sometimes that seed is all that's needed. I think a lot of women haven't really thought about it in a great deal of detail. A lot of us were in the same place of being unquestioningly supportive until someone else planted that first seed and we were forced to actually think about it, and found ourselves having to either defend the indefensible or finally reach that 'oh shit there's a problem' moment.

The main person who I managed to influence on this was my mum. But I think I made a young fellow I was at a beer event with think twice. He was really quite a bright young fellow in his early 20s, quite involved in the gay community, but very much an urban progressive who believed all the right things. He announced to me quite authoritatively the gender and sex were different things, and I pointed out to him that any lesbians were not all that happy with the direction of travel on this as they resented being expected to date people with penises. He was completely shocked, having assumed that of course sexuality was about sex, not gender. We didn't really discuss it more other than I suggested he might google the cotton ceiling, but he was quite pensive afterwards.

@AmandaHoldensLips

I find the hairdressers an excellent place to kick off a conversation. So many women have absolutely no idea about the attempted destruction of our hard-won sex-based rights. Once they get the gist of what's going on it's amazing to watch the rage unfold.

This is brilliant and true - the full truth is so shocking to many. I am openly GC at work (a school) and all my colleagues have been horrified by (amongst others) sport, refuges, prisons, scholarships, prizes. They are also angry about feeling duped by the "be kind" bullshit.

Now pubs are open again, talk to the regulars sat at the bar.
Men peak quickly!

I'm happy to see communications from my nhs trust employer have re-introduced the word women into communications about menopause information workshops after I emailed the head of inclusion equality and diversity, and made sure all my colleagues knew what I was doing. Let's hope a few of them are more aware how important language is.

Start very small.

Assume your friends don’t necessarily know any of this.

Most middle-aged people I’ve met, unless it affects their own family or workplace, assume ‘transwomen’ means ‘women who transition’ not ‘males/men/dads who transition’.

My parents (late 70s) knew vaguely which way round the terms went, but just assumed ‘transman’ was a new, more PC word for lesbian.

I think sometimes that seed is all that's needed. I think a lot of women haven't really thought about it in a great deal of detail

and

Assume your friends don’t necessarily know any of this

Agreed. I mentioned on another thread that I talked about this for the first time with a colleague I already knew had firm views on gender, or rather the non-existence of it. She really had no idea of the extent of what's happening. I recommended a couple of articles to read about Maya's case, and hoping I've planted the seed. It's only one person though, and it's hard, especially politically.

My grandmother (in her 90's) is a lifelong labour voter, who I'm sure has no idea of how the party are considering women - I just don't have the heart to disabuse her!
My mother is a life-long Lib Dem voter and I'm able to be a bit more direct with her, but I'm sure, that despite agreeing with everything I do re women's rights, she'll be voting Lib Dem again next week, as she feels that is her political home.

Now pubs are open again, talk to the regulars sat at the bar. Men peak quickly!

I like this!! We haven't got long though! (before next Thursday I mean!)

Feeling chirpy today. Someone who I have made newly aware of this issue has just called me up to say they bumped into their local councillor and spoke to them at length about this and other matters. They're now following up with a letter as the councillor had been totally unaware of what's happening to women's rights.

The ripple effect works.

@Zimniy

Feeling chirpy today. Someone who I have made newly aware of this issue has just called me up to say they bumped into their local councillor and spoke to them at length about this and other matters. They're now following up with a letter as the councillor had been totally unaware of what's happening to women's rights.

The ripple effect works.

Yesss! Good work Z