"The answer Is Mumsnet, I believe"

[EmbarrassingHadrosaurus]

This is a good thread with contributions from Suzanne Moore and Hadley Freeman in response to 3 men who are perplexed by the level of "TERF representation in the UK elite".

It's a strong argument for the importance of MN's campaign about the Online Harms Bill. I hope Justine and MNHQ are proud.

Sarah Pedersen identified MN as a subaltern counterpublic in a recent paper (riffing off Nancy Fraser)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4478528-theyve-got-an-absolute-army-behind-them-womens-cooperative-constellation-in-Scotland

The term subaltern counterpublic was conceptualized by Nancy Fraser (1997) as

“parallel discursive arenas where members of subordinated social groups invent and circulate counterdiscourses, which in turn permit them to formulate oppositional interpretations of their identities, interests, and needs” (p. 81).

counterpublic.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/an-introduction-to-counterpublics/

Yes to mumsnet. But we are also advantaged in having Kellie-Jay Keen, a passionate little firebrand of a woman and a great charismatic leader. She's fucking ace.

I want that on a t-shirt now

I think it's because trans people already had equal rights in the UK, so the argument is very different than in the US where there was still open discrimination. In the US they are fighting for rights, in the UK we are discussing the fine print. Unfortunately, twitter groups all the social justice people together and detail is lost.

@BraveBananaBadge

I want that on a t-shirt now

@MNHQ is missing a T-shirt opportunity here.

''a co-ordination point''

Men slapping themselves on the forehead for allowing more than 3 women to meet.

@CatSpeakForDummies

I think it's because trans people already had equal rights in the UK, so the argument is very different than in the US where there was still open discrimination. In the US they are fighting for rights, in the UK we are discussing the fine print. Unfortunately, twitter groups all the social justice people together and detail is lost.

This tends to be what's so irritating about discussions when people in the US have no understanding of the stark difference between the UK and US on these matters.

What's tends to be intriguing is that they have no understanding of the legislative debates and processes that have already happened here such as the debates in the House of Lords before GRA 2004.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4026964-Hansard-Record-Transgender-debate

So perplexed that UK women don't shut up, think what they're told by male people and instead want their own rights and say so.

It's baffling, guys, isn't it? #theservicehumansarerevolting

@Thelnebriati

''a co-ordination point''

Men slapping themselves on the forehead for allowing more than 3 women to meet.

That's us on MN, being allowed to gather in a virtual space and discuss things that allow us to organise and do things. No wonder Sarah Pedersen described it like this.

‘They've got an absolute army of women behind them’: The Formation of a Women's Cooperative Constellation in Contemporary Scotland

@Artichokeleaves

So perplexed that UK women don't shut up, think what they're told by male people and instead want their own rights and say so.

It's baffling, guys, isn't it? #theservicehumansarerevolting

I saw this recently which captured some current passing moods.

I started reading mumsnet because of fat balls.

There, I said it, I won't be shamed anymore!

I want that on a mug too!

@doublemonkey

I started reading mumsnet because of fat balls.

There, I said it, I won't be shamed anymore!

Did your hubby eat a fat ball? Its ok, you can tell us.

@doublemonkey

I started reading mumsnet because of fat balls.

There, I said it, I won't be shamed anymore!

Eek...think I misunderstood that to mean swollen testicles!

@CatSpeakForDummies

I think it's because trans people already had equal rights in the UK, so the argument is very different than in the US where there was still open discrimination. In the US they are fighting for rights, in the UK we are discussing the fine print. Unfortunately, twitter groups all the social justice people together and detail is lost.

I agree with this. Its coming from a completely different culture, albeit the same language. I wouldnt want trans identifying people to have the same sort of shit in the uk as they do in the US, and they dont, so we are actually not debating the same things

Fat balls are (deservedly) in Classics.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_classics/2017083-He-has-eaten-a-fat-ball

I don’t have the mental energy for their crap at the moment, but I really value this space and thank those posters who are so knowledgeable and take the time to critically think through arguments presented by those who would silence us.

The answer is always Mumsnet.

3 beardies perplexed by women gathering and well chatting 🤣

The fucking privilege of them is disgusting. Imagine women having a place where they can discuss things??

I'm also on Reddit and constantly get 'thanks dude' 'ok bro' etc. because for men it's the norm to assume they're conversing with other men.

I'm still waiting for my extreme right funding by the way. Has anyone else received theirs yet?

@doublemonkey

I started reading mumsnet because of fat balls.

There, I said it, I won't be shamed anymore!

Me too! Instant addiction.

Came here for the fat balls, stayed for the feminism, Brexit threads, covid threads, relationship board, every intelligent discussion and argument...

THE ANSWER IS MUMSNET. Yes it bloody well is! To everything!

@doublemonkey

I'm still waiting for my extreme right funding by the way. Has anyone else received theirs yet?

I used mine to buy an artisan scotch egg from the services at Tebay but it turned out to be a fat ball.

I'll take "unfounded accusations of transphobia" for 500

I still haven't yet managed to meet a Regan funded nun either. It's been years now.

@EmbarrassingHadrosaurus "This tends to be what's so irritating about discussions when people in the US have no understanding of the stark difference between the UK and US on these matters."

The problem is, many British young people don't either. They seem to be importing their politics and ideology wholesale from the USA and have very little idea about anything that happened here, the law, political (and religious) landscape and culture before the US-based social media and streaming services colonised their minds.