I came across an old Glosswitch article about Mumsnet

[EmpressWitchDoesntBurn]

It’s brilliant. ‘Whether you grasp the politics behind [Mumsnet] or not, its very existence as a modern-day spinning circle/witches’ coven reminds us of female resistance to marginalisation and of the fear this provokes in others.’

www.newstatesman.com/politics/feminism/2018/05/demonisation-mumsnet-just-latest-incarnation-witch-hunting

How interesting! I only joined earlier this year and had definitely believed it was inhabited with yummy mummies from Nappy Valley. How wrong I was! I sometimes feel a bit despairing that women are in so much more trouble than I'd thought before I joined, but fantastic to find I'm not alone.......

I wonder why there's been so much effort into misrepresenting MN and preventing women from being in touch with other women and talking with them and exchanging perspectives.

The danger of women with pockets and conversation…

"The danger of women with pockets and conversation…"

So true. Supposedly all just frills and frippery, but look at the huge and consistent focus on labelling it silly. If it really didn't matter, they wouldn't bother.

@EmbarrassingAdmissions

I wonder why there's been so much effort into misrepresenting MN and preventing women from being in touch with other women and talking with them and exchanging perspectives.

The danger of women with pockets and conversation…

That was what led me to lurk and then join - there was so much clear prejudice, the butt of jokes. I used to see the 'Mumsnet Madness' tweets and it led me to look at the actual boards and realised all human life was here, and, particularly, a lot of politics, and to start thinking about why Mumsnet was being characterised in this way (Boden, wine o'clock) to non-users. I was a child in the era of 'Irishman' and other racist and sexist jokes and could see that women, especially adult/older women were becoming the replacement hate targets by men who could no longer keep their jobs if they used the former.

It's also worth reading Sarah Pederson's book, The Politicization of Mumsnet - really interesting, an smooth read & funny in places. She's a bona fide proper researchers, but also obviously has great affection for & knowledge of MN (I often wonder what her user name is ...)

I was once told by a gp to stay away from Mumsnet. I was not indoctrinated at the time.

Male GP might I add.

@SorrynotWorry

I was once told by a gp to stay away from Mumsnet. I was not indoctrinated at the time.

I was told that by a female GP.

She had horrendous views on maternity care. My midwife (very senior) did not like her.

Glosswitch IS brilliant. Sign up to her missives here: tinyletter.com/Glosswitch