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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Statement from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

259 replies

Immunetypegoblin · 16/06/2021 07:10

www.chimamanda.com/, published yesterday.

She is angry. One can understand why. One to watch I think.

OP posts:
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6
WinterTrees · 17/06/2021 16:54

The past four or five years of involvement in gender-critical feminism has led me to one obvious conclusion: lots of people are very stupid. Even people you previously thought were clever are often stupid. People you imagined were capable of critical thought follow the crowd, just as much as the sort of people who voted Trump or who think Bill Gates has put a chip in the Covid vaccine. The only difference is the crowd being followed: what's fashionable amongst the supposedly educated middle-class is different from what's fashionable amongst the uneducated and unskilled.

I agree with this, but I'd add that it's not your classic old-skool stupidity, but a sort of new version which is based on laziness rather than lack of intelligence. It's like they've sort of outsourced their thinking to a few blue tick twitter voices and social media commentators and they don't see the need to unpick things for themselves because the verdict on x, y, z matter is already in. The gavel has come down. Transwomen are women. T**fs are evil. Those are the facts, hadn't you heard?

It's stupidity of a more pernicious sort. No one should ever be denigrated for their intelligence level, but actively choosing to suspend your critical thinking ability to go along with the prevailing narrative is pretty indefensible.

RoyalCorgi · 17/06/2021 17:12

No one should ever be denigrated for their intelligence level, but actively choosing to suspend your critical thinking ability to go along with the prevailing narrative is pretty indefensible.

Yes - I think it's a kind of wilful stupidity. A refusal to face the facts or look at the evidence for fear that you might find yourself on the wrong side, and that would be really uncomfortable.

WarOnWoman · 17/06/2021 17:13

https://www.mailplus.co.uk/edition/comment/76454?utmsource=twitter&utmmmedium=social&utmcampaign=shareddlink

Julie Bindel has written about CNA and the other witches who don't burn.

So, here’s my advice to those attacking Chimamanda, Martina, JK and the legions of other women whose names you don’t know. Until you can present your feminist CV that shows you have actually got up off your backside and done some work to fight for women’s liberation, keep quiet. Your opinion will only matter when you can show the good you have done. Right now, all you do is cause distress and humiliation to those you should be looking up to, not down at.

donquixotedelamancha · 17/06/2021 17:14

No one should ever be denigrated for their intelligence level

Are you familiar with Sally Hines.

SirSamuelVimes · 17/06/2021 17:18

@donquixotedelamancha

No one should ever be denigrated for their intelligence level

Are you familiar with Sally Hines.

GrinGrinGrinGrinGrin
MareofBeasttown · 17/06/2021 17:22

Sorry, haven't read the whole thread, but as a person involved in publishing, I find the demand that authors have perfect politics quite ridiculous. Most of the ones I see who are on the politically correct side of everything and always say the right thing are terrible writers. Personally I don't care all that much what an author thinks of Brexit; I care how they write.

WinterTrees · 17/06/2021 17:26

@donquixotedelamancha

No one should ever be denigrated for their intelligence level

Are you familiar with Sally Hines.

Ah yes. Sally Hines, a Professor who just can't fathom how to distinguish a male human from a female one because it's JUST SO COMPLICATED. I'll make an exception for her. Grin
Floisme · 17/06/2021 17:36

@MareofBeasttown

Sorry, haven't read the whole thread, but as a person involved in publishing, I find the demand that authors have perfect politics quite ridiculous. Most of the ones I see who are on the politically correct side of everything and always say the right thing are terrible writers. Personally I don't care all that much what an author thinks of Brexit; I care how they write.
I suggest you go and read the whole thread. The criticism is not so much about her writing skills but about how she sits on the board of one of our most prestigious women's charities, has avoided speaking up and now pats herself on the back for not speaking up.
Floisme · 17/06/2021 17:57

Many apologies to you MareofBeasttown. I thought I was on a different thread Blush
Which is pretty funny seeing I advised you to read the whole thread first but I guess the laugh's on me!

MareofBeasttown · 17/06/2021 18:01

@floisme :) Just blame it on pandemic brain.

Zeugma · 17/06/2021 19:50

Chimamanda is on Channel 4 news right now (19:50) - and it seems will be mentioning this later. Available on catch-up eventually.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 17/06/2021 20:10

Full circle!

MareofBeasttown · 17/06/2021 20:20

The discourse on Twitter amongst the more aggressive transpeople is that Emezi's call for JKR and CA to be attacked with machetes was a metaphor. And CA deliberately 'gaslighted'- everyone's fave word-and misinterpreted.

I really cannot understand the world anymore.

newrubylane · 17/06/2021 21:54

@HeirloomTomato

I can’t help noticing how many intelligent women over the age of 40 are speaking their minds on trans issues and getting abuse for it now. It’s a real generational divide. Younger people are so fixated on the issue of trans rights they have forgotten about women’s rights and take them for granted.

Personally, I think it’s because those of us who are over 40 (I’m the same age as Adichie) have experienced real sexism and oppression on the basis of our sex. We’re old enough to remember a society where male superiority was unquestioned and we recognize the supremacist attitude of trans rights activists for what it is: male entitlement & a desire to silence women.

I'm 35 and I'm with you!
MoonlightApple · 17/06/2021 22:50

Me too and I’m under 30. For me I had never really questioned TWAW until becoming a mother then I had a sort of epiphany that the two sexes are very different and sexism still very much exists!

Ereshkigalangcleg · 18/06/2021 09:42

twitter.com/moira_robin/status/1405300581472911370?s=20

Oh dear. Robin posted in support of Ayesha, I imagine recognising the clear anti-GC slant of the piece. Now Robin is being accused of "both sidesing" not caring about "trans rights" and memorably being called a T*RF by one TRA.

donquixotedelamancha · 18/06/2021 12:31

Now Robin is being accused of "both sidesing" not caring about "trans rights" and memorably being called a TRF by one TRA.*

I love it when they eat their own.

LizzieSiddal · 18/06/2021 12:53

Julie Bindel Until you can present your feminist CV that shows you have actually got up off your backside and done some work to fight for women’s liberation, keep quiet.

Can’t agree with this more and we shouldn’t be afraid to say it.

ScreamingMeMe · 18/06/2021 13:11

@Ereshkigalangcleg

https://twitter.com/moira_robin/status/1405300581472911370?s=20

Oh dear. Robin posted in support of Ayesha, I imagine recognising the clear anti-GC slant of the piece. Now Robin is being accused of "both sidesing" not caring about "trans rights" and memorably being called a T*RF by one TRA.

And cis and a Karen.
OldTurtleNewShell · 18/06/2021 14:58

@Ereshkigalangcleg

https://twitter.com/moira_robin/status/1405300581472911370?s=20

Oh dear. Robin posted in support of Ayesha, I imagine recognising the clear anti-GC slant of the piece. Now Robin is being accused of "both sidesing" not caring about "trans rights" and memorably being called a T*RF by one TRA.

Oh that's funny. It's full condemnation, fire and brimstone or automatic terfdom. There's no middle ground.
MrsBunHat · 18/06/2021 15:04

Wonder if MRW will see the light and JOOOOIIINNNN USSSSS :o

MrsBunHat · 18/06/2021 15:10

Oops RMW I am useless today Blush

Paralithic · 18/06/2021 19:32

BBC2 now (Friday 7.30pm) Mary Beard interviewing Chimamanda.

Clymene · 18/06/2021 20:33

I enjoyed that (Mary and chimamanda)

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