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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Omg I did it, I talked to a canvasser

78 replies

mamas12 · 04/05/2021 11:10

The first canvasser in my area I asked her a few questions re her party etc and took a deep breathe and asked her what her stance was on women’s sex based rights
She was ok
She said it could be a contentious and emotional issue and she didn’t want to put trans people down she supports trans people but by protesting against the Womens Place event was not on
She also said the gra wasn’t going to go through now and if the torys get through in Westminster then it won’t change for another four years so there’s time to try and get a proper dialogue going
So there we are I felt reading between the lines she was supportive of women’s sex based rights so I’m going to vote for her

OP posts:
somethinginoffensive · 05/05/2021 07:15

Any of you in Hartlepool? Obviously not just this issue but it must be part of this.

Labour set for huge election defeat in Hartlepool, internal polling suggests
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/04/internal-polling-suggests-labour-heading-for-defeat-in-hartlepool-byelection?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

Sent from my iPhone

newnortherner111 · 05/05/2021 07:25

Thank you OP for raising the issue. Every challenge helps.

GAHgamel · 05/05/2021 08:37

[quote Cagedbirdsinging]@Gwenhwyfar... a canvasser . Male , young , confident whilst declaring the party 'self ID' thing but became a bit twitchy when I pressed the issue . He said it was a 'complicated issue', I replied that 'no , it's really very simple . There are men and there are women . Sex matters .'
A part of me thinks he didn't really believe it himself but Aaron Wynne was walking by as we discussed things .
He kept pointing out that they lost to the Tories by only 750 votes last time so PC was desperate for my vote . Desperate .[/quote]
Clearly not that desperate though Hmm

Congressdingo · 05/05/2021 08:57

@mamas12

I suppose my thoughts are that if every individual with any kind of influence can work from the inside’ so to speak Work Within the system to change and challenge it
A poster who's name I dont remember often espouses this let's work from the inside idea. Afaik it's been 2 years and had zero effect on the green party. And all that time they have paid subs to be effectively ignored. I will vote cons simply because they appear to see the issues and to piss off the others. Recently my labour councillor came round and I asked them if they knew what a woman was. The answer yes, so i asked why do you think differently to the party, they had no clue. Then went on to speak about roads and traffic and schools. I've nothing against all of these things and more being sorted, I just happen to think women matter as much and if you can't define a woman you can't make decisions about them. So I won't vote for them.
countrypunk · 05/05/2021 09:27

I think I'm going to spoil my ballot paper and write WOMAN = ADULT HUMAN FEMALE.

The Tories might know what a woman is but I can't vote for them on the strength of that alone.

WineByTheSea · 05/05/2021 09:41

I get frustrated at these polls and the analysis of the reduction in support for the Labour Party. Most people are not on board with TWAW, but it never seems to be suggested as a factor. It feels as if women are not considered as a powerful voting block, when we are 50% of the electorate. Like it’s just a fringe issue. But when we are losing women’s toilets, women’s rape shelters, and being expected to believe that Eddie Izzard is a woman, surely most people are going to have an issue with it. Women and lots of men are going to protest these things, there is so much sunlight on this now, why do journalists never focus on this as a possible reason for the decline in support? Is it just pure sexism?

countrypunk · 05/05/2021 09:45

Agree @WineByTheSea. The Daily Mail has been covering the issue more and more, so their articles about it are obviously getting engagement. It's not just feminists who care about this.

FlossieF · 05/05/2021 09:49

I raised it with a Labour Party canvasser a couple of weeks ago. After bending her ear for a while she conceded that she didn’t know the views of the candidate on the issue, so took my phone number so the candidate could call me to discuss. And to my surprise a week later, the candidate called.

After I was just getting started she stopped and said that she remembered me raising it when she was canvassing for our labour mp before the last GE! Which was pleasing, although could just mean i’ll be blacklisted and avoided by all LP canvassers in the future.

To her credit, she let me go on about it for ages (once you get started, there’s a lot to say), and seemed to be listening. It was clear that she hadn’t really given it much thought, beyond let’s be kind. At the end, she conceded that I had made many very good points, and it was difficult to argue against any of them. Of course, this counts for nothing if she’ll just keep quiet about it and tow the party line. But there’s probably little opportunity to do anything about it at local council level anyway.

But, as PPs have said, every little counts, hopefully.

eurochick · 05/05/2021 10:09

"She immediately launched into a diatribe about transgender people's rights (which I hadn't actually mentioned), and told me that if I didn't support them then I couldn't support women's rights either. So she managed to make a load of judgemental assumptions about what my views without addressing my original point."

How fucking dare she try to tell you what you are and aren't allowed to support!😡😡😡

MrsWooster · 05/05/2021 10:22

A canvasser for the LDs knew nothing about the issue.
I emailed all the candidates and got:
-TWAW from Labour (despite her life’s work in women’s rights)
-‘I know women are women but I know the party have Issues about this’ from Greens
-‘I support women’s single sex spaces’ from LD ( but didn’t define women..?)
-No Reply from Labour candidate for mayor.
-no email available for Tory but no chance in this area anyway.

Haven’t a clue what to do...

Bach3lorBoi · 05/05/2021 10:33

I've spoken to 4 or 5 people at the door now. All labour or lib dems (we seem to get a lot of knockers!). Every single one, without fail, has had a "oh... I hadn't thought of that" moment when I raised some pretty basic points. They've all been very "inclusive and accepting of everyone", but none seem to have actually thought about the practical implications of throwing women's spaces wide open at all.

One particularly irritating knocker (labour. Was there with the labour cllr, who was thankfully less of an utter fool) actually said "but it never happens". Oh ho ho.

I emailed the cllr that she was with afterwards, with links to the evidence that "it DOES happen", and asked for a clarification of their view in light of this, but alas, I've heard nothing back...

Gwenhwyfar · 05/05/2021 12:52

"I will vote cons simply because they appear to see the issues and to piss off the others."

The other parties won't know why you voted Cons, will they? And you'll be voting for a worse life for women overall.

countrypunk · 05/05/2021 13:37

@eurochick

"She immediately launched into a diatribe about transgender people's rights (which I hadn't actually mentioned), and told me that if I didn't support them then I couldn't support women's rights either. So she managed to make a load of judgemental assumptions about what my views without addressing my original point."

How fucking dare she try to tell you what you are and aren't allowed to support!😡😡😡

Fucking tell me about it! I don't know how I managed to retain my composure!
countrypunk · 05/05/2021 13:38

@Bach3lorBoi

I've spoken to 4 or 5 people at the door now. All labour or lib dems (we seem to get a lot of knockers!). Every single one, without fail, has had a "oh... I hadn't thought of that" moment when I raised some pretty basic points. They've all been very "inclusive and accepting of everyone", but none seem to have actually thought about the practical implications of throwing women's spaces wide open at all.

One particularly irritating knocker (labour. Was there with the labour cllr, who was thankfully less of an utter fool) actually said "but it never happens". Oh ho ho.

I emailed the cllr that she was with afterwards, with links to the evidence that "it DOES happen", and asked for a clarification of their view in light of this, but alas, I've heard nothing back...

This is so good. Even if you don't get a response from your councillor, you've made people THINK.
mamas12 · 05/05/2021 15:34

Making whoever knocks on our doors think is exactly why I did it
Whether or not they do is another thing but the more people who just asks questions the better
It’s great to hear how many of us are actually bringing this up face to face on our own doorsteps

OP posts:
ncfeminismboard · 05/05/2021 15:43

Hi... I have posted on this board a few times under different names and please excuse me if I get some things wrong. I'm a young female voter and very interested in this issue. I'd like to email or tweet local candidates about this but I'm not entirely sure what to ask? I think it would be good to ask if they are openly in support of single sex-based spaces. Is there anything else I should be asking? I want to word it correctly, and I know this late in the week they might not even reply. I'm not a transphobe I just believe in women's rights and that trans feeings and beliefs shouldn't supersede ours... I support anyone living as whatever gender they like but you can't change biology (as someone with a biology based science degree myself). I've always voted labour before but feel I just can't anymore with the comments they have made about this issue. I would support green but not sure they will get anywhere and I can't find anything on my local officials views on this online as it is, they don't seem to have Twitter and there isn't info more than a name on the local green party website. I can't bring myself to vote Tory. I could spoil my ballot but I feel I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to vote that I shouldn't and it will be my last resort. Anyone else feeling this way or have any words of wisdom please?

toffeebutterpopcorn · 05/05/2021 15:43

We never get door knockers, not even Jehovah’s witnesses. I feel left out!

I remember when i was little and they used to come to our house and mum would still the poor sods ‘and why exactly should I vote for you?’

ncfeminismboard · 05/05/2021 15:44

@ncfeminismboard

Hi... I have posted on this board a few times under different names and please excuse me if I get some things wrong. I'm a young female voter and very interested in this issue. I'd like to email or tweet local candidates about this but I'm not entirely sure what to ask? I think it would be good to ask if they are openly in support of single sex-based spaces. Is there anything else I should be asking? I want to word it correctly, and I know this late in the week they might not even reply. I'm not a transphobe I just believe in women's rights and that trans feeings and beliefs shouldn't supersede ours... I support anyone living as whatever gender they like but you can't change biology (as someone with a biology based science degree myself). I've always voted labour before but feel I just can't anymore with the comments they have made about this issue. I would support green but not sure they will get anywhere and I can't find anything on my local officials views on this online as it is, they don't seem to have Twitter and there isn't info more than a name on the local green party website. I can't bring myself to vote Tory. I could spoil my ballot but I feel I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to vote that I shouldn't and it will be my last resort. Anyone else feeling this way or have any words of wisdom please?
Sorry, meant to say for their other policies I would support green
Gwenhwyfar · 05/05/2021 16:01

@ncfeminismboard

Hi... I have posted on this board a few times under different names and please excuse me if I get some things wrong. I'm a young female voter and very interested in this issue. I'd like to email or tweet local candidates about this but I'm not entirely sure what to ask? I think it would be good to ask if they are openly in support of single sex-based spaces. Is there anything else I should be asking? I want to word it correctly, and I know this late in the week they might not even reply. I'm not a transphobe I just believe in women's rights and that trans feeings and beliefs shouldn't supersede ours... I support anyone living as whatever gender they like but you can't change biology (as someone with a biology based science degree myself). I've always voted labour before but feel I just can't anymore with the comments they have made about this issue. I would support green but not sure they will get anywhere and I can't find anything on my local officials views on this online as it is, they don't seem to have Twitter and there isn't info more than a name on the local green party website. I can't bring myself to vote Tory. I could spoil my ballot but I feel I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to vote that I shouldn't and it will be my last resort. Anyone else feeling this way or have any words of wisdom please?
All the left wing parties are against what Merched Cymru is campaigning for, but that is not a reason to vote for right wing parties or spoil your vote imo.
slug · 05/05/2021 16:12

"We never get door knockers, not even Jehovah’s witnesses. I feel left out! "

I think the local Jehovah's witnesses have a secret sign on our gate. A religious studies degree and a willingness to debate keeps them away. I've had the Mormon's take flight in the past. Wink

We don't get any canvassers round our way. I feel deprived.

Congressdingo · 05/05/2021 16:19

@Gwenhwyfar

"I will vote cons simply because they appear to see the issues and to piss off the others."

The other parties won't know why you voted Cons, will they? And you'll be voting for a worse life for women overall.

At least they will be women only spaces that get disbanded. We can always start them again when the other parties see sense. If we let any one of the other parties get anywhere near power we will have a very difficult time rowing back from mixed sex everything.
Ernmas · 05/05/2021 16:25

the mad thing is that women are losing single sex toilets, refuges etc under a Conservative government! how did that happen? I'm not in the UK nor am I politically minded but was the ground work to all this done years ago by the LibDems in Gov with the Tories?

countrypunk · 05/05/2021 16:43

Hello @ncfeminismboard. I sent this to all of my local candidates:

I live in X and I'm trying to decide who to vote for in the upcoming elections. I'd like to know what your stance is on female-only spaces, specifically spaces where women are at their most vulnerable, such as domestic violence refuges, prisons and hospital wards. Do you think that biological males who identify as women should be admitted to these spaces? Could you also tell me if your definition of the word 'woman' includes trans women and males who identify as non-binary?

I had a response today from a Lib Dem councillor who's offering to meet with me, so that's something.

I wouldn't hold your breath with the Greens. They recently kicked out the (only female) co chair of Green Party Women because she questioned the party's stance that trans women are literally females.

Good luck!

Gwenhwyfar · 05/05/2021 16:43

Well Cons will not get an overall majority anyway so it won't make that happen, it will just be registered as a right wing vote, a vote for RT Davies and Brexit and their about-turn to be against the Senedd.

ncfeminismboard · 05/05/2021 18:03

@countrypunk

Hello *@ncfeminismboard*. I sent this to all of my local candidates:

I live in X and I'm trying to decide who to vote for in the upcoming elections. I'd like to know what your stance is on female-only spaces, specifically spaces where women are at their most vulnerable, such as domestic violence refuges, prisons and hospital wards. Do you think that biological males who identify as women should be admitted to these spaces? Could you also tell me if your definition of the word 'woman' includes trans women and males who identify as non-binary?

I had a response today from a Lib Dem councillor who's offering to meet with me, so that's something.

I wouldn't hold your breath with the Greens. They recently kicked out the (only female) co chair of Green Party Women because she questioned the party's stance that trans women are literally females.

Good luck!

Thank you so much for this - great email.