Practical suggestions please – where can we donate time/resources to help women’s rights???

[Datafan55]

(I’ve joined Mumsnet only recently, and – whilst today’s issues of feminism and trans people and the overlap between them/degradation of one for the other dismay me – I am so GLAD to be seeing some of the posts on this forum as I really was feeling rather alone in my standpoint. Thank you for the sanity, people!)

I don’t want to throw stones at trans people, I don’t hate them because I am a feminist. They are welcome to do what they want.

I do however feel passionately about women’s rights and equality. Always have. I try and further them every day, for example by watching my pronouns and expectations etc etc.

I also currently have time and skills and even the occasional tenner and want to do something extra and constructive.

Where can I direct my efforts? Any suggestions on organisations?

I’d like a women’s rights organisation that doesn’t also further trans rights as part of their umbrella –as we know, many seem to lump them both in together.

Appreciate it’s a fluid situation, and that there are many other threads on this forum that I haven’t yet read. However thanks if anyone has any pointers.

I do some things quietly, behind the scenes, with old contacts from previous jobs. This can be putting people in touch with each other, offering 'political' advice, or doing some pro bono research for a colleague or former colleague who's swamped.

@SpindleWorld If I hadn't been out of the workplace for a decade (injury time) I would so do this. Quiet support of others is key.

[quote Datafan55]**@ElizaDarcysDeeds* @SpindleWorld*
Pronouns - I meant with regards to someone mentioning a doctor or engineer, not saying 'did he ...?' With regards to someone mentioning a nurse or hairdresser, not saying 'did she...?'
However changed things are superficially, so many people have those deeply ingrained attitudes of what genders can do, and even worse mention them naturally in front of little kids.

Same principle of not talking about football/girls football, the tennis/the women's tennis. Same principle of streaming eg all games of women's football to make the point that the demand/support is there and that tv should show it (more) (thus the country supports it more).

(before injury) I used to work in data analysis. These days I belong to a group in my town and make a point of doing the tech support instead of helping with the kids' clubs. I love both tech and kids, and we all know that supervising kids takes definite skills, but it's good to drive the point home that women can do things like as projection/sounddesks.

etc etc etc - sure we all have things we do[/quote]
I've been around this debate for a long time so I'm always a little suspicious when a brand new poster shows up and asks for lists. I appreciate it can be perfectly innocent but it can also be a way of compiling lists of organisations to target and complain about.

@littlbrowndog
women's justice centre
Thanks, might have a look. An old friend of mine is involved with violence-against-women activism so I have definitely donated to odd charities (poss not this one) before in support of her.

@ElizaDarcysDeeds
I've been around this debate for a long time so I'm always a little suspicious when a brand new poster shows up and asks for lists. I appreciate it can be perfectly innocent but it can also be a way of compiling lists of organisations to target and complain about.
Or maybe said poster has watched the trans v feminism media with horror for a long time and signed up specially to Mumsnet today to get some idea of where to target her energies for the good of women.

It's about trust either way. I could have been/could be opening myself to horrible how-dare-you-don't-want-to-campaign-for-trans-people responses, too!

I don't think we've had fairplayforwomen.com
And ForWomen Scotland

Save some of your £ for the legal crowdfunders that come up that are so important

@Sillydoggy Fairplay looks good, thank you.

I do keep an eye out for crowdfunders, although to be honest, I have much more time and energy than money these days!!

Why has my post been hidden? For linking to a crowdfunder? Seriously MN, get a grip.

"I've been around this debate for a long time so I'm always a little suspicious when a brand new poster shows up and asks for lists. I appreciate it can be perfectly innocent but it can also be a way of compiling lists of organisations to target and complain about."
(I would quote, but for some reason there is no quote button, though I could swear I've seen one on other threads - am I going mad?)

That's actually quite a chilling thought. It hadn't occured to me that this might be true. Eeeeeek.

Anyway, I'm grateful to all who posted though, because I'm definitely at the stage where I want to do something to help. So this thread is a great resource, thanks to everybody who contributed, and to @Datafan55 for starting it.

I'm definitely at the stage where I want to do something to help. So this thread is a great resource, thanks to everybody who contributed, and to @Datafan55 for starting it

My pleasure, @ComprehensiveTea. I have been feeling so dismayed for a long time, so to have some practical suggestions of WHERE to get stuck in (instead of vaguely poking around and only finding organisations that are frankly a let-down) is flipping brilliant. Some of the things mentioned feel like a good fit.

LET'S DO THIS :-)

(@ComprehensiveTea There is normally a quote button, or you can copy and paste (smaller) bits and change to italics (using the ^ tags each side)).

@TatoAndBeans We will continue to wait with bated breath for your message to be unveiled :-)

@Datafan55

I'm definitely at the stage where I want to do something to help. So this thread is a great resource, thanks to everybody who contributed, and to *@Datafan55* for starting it

My pleasure, @ComprehensiveTea. I have been feeling so dismayed for a long time, so to have some practical suggestions of WHERE to get stuck in (instead of vaguely poking around and only finding organisations that are frankly a let-down) is flipping brilliant. Some of the things mentioned feel like a good fit.

LET'S DO THIS :-)

OH YES!

David Lammy says that this is not an issue that comes up on the doorstep when he is campaining. We know that's not true. Anyway, how about sending him an email/letter/tweet saying that it's something you are worried about. Whilst your at it write to your MP and anyone else who is relevant.

Obviously not hundreds of responses on the thread (yet :-) ). That could be because I'm new... or more likely because it's such a changing, fluid situation and/or people were supporting organisations that they are now having to withdraw support for and are struggling to find non TWAW alternatives. The whole issue is a work in progress so it's really good to share viable options.

Big thanks to everyone who's answered .

David Lammy says that this is not an issue that comes up on the doorstep when he is campaining. We know that's not true. Anyway, how about sending him an email/letter/tweet saying that it's something you are worried about. Whilst your at it write to your MP and anyone else who is relevant.

@Acatcalledcharlie I will certainly do so.

Although actually maybe it sometimes DOESN'T come up as people are struggling to articulate such a fast moving and important issue. A few years ago it wasn't a thing. And you might just assume that women's rights orgs were for women ... until you look and realise they're so often not. And the proportion of pro-trans representation is - as we know - bonkers and skews the whole perception of reality. I imagine some people would simply not be AWARE of the issues.

I know I am not going to comment on my fb until I've worked out how to articulate my thoughts (ha, a certain number of fb friends will be defriending me when I do, I predict).