Longish one - apologies in advance.
So several months ago we had an (online only due to restrictions at the time) event at work.
There were talks about women in the field I’m in. After the talks there was an online ‘board’ where we were invited to add the names of women we find inspiring and why.
Lots of people wrote their female family members and inspirational female public figures.
I wrote a variety of women I find inspirational and reasons why. I then wrote JK Rowling for standing up for women’s rights. I then thought ‘fuck it’ and put Kathleen Stock, Allison Bailey and Helen Joyce etc.
I thought no more about it, but then saw later that my JK Rowling had been removed (along with a JK that had been added by someone else). Helen Joyce etc weren’t removed presumably because no one knew who they were.
Even though there was nothing even vaguely contentious I’d written, i heard later that my comments on the board were deleted as they were a “transphobic dog whistle” and potentially very offensive etc etc / unsafe space etc
Apparently JK Rowling was permissible on the board only as long as her writing was referenced. Some of the organisers’ suggested inspirational women pictured on the board included the one off Orange Is The New Black and Munroe Bergdorf. I find that offensive as the latter has said some very objectionable things about gay people on the past (and the rest, which is an obvious point about womanhood I probably can’t say here).
Anyway, we will soon have a staff survey coming up where I can probably mention how ridiculous this whole thing is and how I find it sexist, offensive, 1984-esque etc. Should I bother, or let it go? With this and several other things I feel like I’m up against an impermeable wall of guano at the moment