"TERF Island" - Pondering why we're so "TERFy"

[WitchyWitcherson]

I was pondering this morning, what do you think it is about the UK that makes us so critical of gender ideology in comparison to other English-speaking western cultures?

Is it that Scottish Gov have gone full gender-woo and we're able to see it happening on a smaller scale?
Is it the setup of our medical system that has put hurdles in the way of pharmaceutical orgs pushing medical transition?
Is it a culture of critical thinking, a history of good educational outcomes for girls?
A high number of people who don't follow mainstream religion, or at least aren't really radically religious?
The attrition of traditional gender roles over the last 50 years (although gender woo is reversing this trend)?

I think it's an interesting discussion anyway? Obviously it's incredibly complex!

The history of feminism in Britain dates to the very beginnings of feminism itself, as many of the earliest feminist writers and activists—such as Mary Wollstonecraft, Barbara Bodichon, and Lydia Becker—were British.

This gender crap is highly SEXIST!

Exactly.

Yes, and anyone who doesn't see how the two aims are compatible hasn't been paying attention, or doesn't actually understand the issue.

Mumsnet!
The Californian tech Bro's platforms were completely captured in the early days and there was a blockade on discussing anything that wasn't pro trans at the BBC and media.
British feminists got organised earlier than some other countries.
The Labour Party were not in power, although the Conservatives introduced self ID they did backtrack over it.
The right wing press started reporting it and that is how we have slowed it down but I think it is in danger of re-surfacing when Labour get in- that is the real test.

I agree re Labour.

I personally will not vote for a party that cannot define what a woman is.

But you can't speak for the whole population and you're making a point of Lazer pointing trans people and picking them out . Some people don't even notice.

It doesn't remotely surprise me that 30% of the girls in a school year identify as trans. If you tell them that being a girl means 'having a girl identity totally separate from your sex', then what that says is that at least 30% of girls don't have this supposed inner feeling of girlyness.

So much for 'everyone has a gender identity...'

Sure. Yet, when polled, the overwhelming majority of women report that they not fully accepting of male people in female single sex spaces. This is across numerous polls from numerous sources.

So, yes. Some people 'don't even notice'.

However, any assertion that 'most' people are not concerned is false. When sex matters, people are most definitely concerned. The majority of the UK can be said to be concerned when the sex category of a person matters.

I don't want men in female spaces and I did not say that that people are not concerned . Most people are more than aware what a man is and what a woman is. Some of us don't let trans ideology affect our lives and when I say most I mean the the people I know and work with , don't let it take hold in our lives .

ok. Lucky that you are in a situation where you don't have to worry about it then.

Others have it variously impacting on their lives, particularly as parents of teenagers who are involved in sports and are LGB etc. I have a high proportion of friends and even work colleagues who are currently dealing with various aspects where it impacts them, just as I am. I am also very conscious of how it will impact on my child's future.

That you don't feel that it affects your life is great. In the meantime, those of us who are impacted, or who can see benefit in adding their efforts too, will work to have guidance, policies and laws created or refined.

Mumsnet!
The Californian tech Bro's platforms were completely captured in the early days and there was a blockade on discussing anything that wasn't pro trans at the BBC and media.
British feminists got organised earlier than some other countries.

Mumsnet did play a huge role in how the resistance developed in this country. This issue has been discussed on the feminist board here since at least the early 2010s. Mumsnetters attended some of the earliest GC public meetings around the country in 2017/18 (WNTT and then WPUK, then SFW and others) and met up together at other events such as FiLiA.

No you are assuming I don't have a life & family it doesn't affect. I do , I don't let trans ideology affect it and it really isn't that hard to do . Many people on MN are soaked in this topic constantly and being influenced by false information. up thread someone stated that Boots have erased the word woman and have used the term people with vaginas , it's absolute crap , they haven't . I shop at boots regularly , have their app and loyalty card was in there this morning and this "term" is nowhere and asked a member of staff if they are removing the word woman and was told " absolutely not " . But if repeated enough becomes fact . The more air time this CRAP gets the stronger it will becomes . In my place of work the attitude to trans trying to push their agenda is "woopdie shit , who cares " and just get on our jobs . They soon stop pushing when they don't get the attention they crave .

It was changed BECAUSE the women on that thread all emailed and complained. But having not read the thread to deliver your fly-by scolding, I can’t expect you to appreciate that.

Here is the offending Boots wording from yesterday the 8th November 2023

No, more assumption , I read it and there was a separate thread on the subject as well . You can't expect anything from me because you don't know me . I won't be told what to do by queer ideologists , I also won't be told what to do by other women .

I take it you don't live in Scotland?

It's imbedded into our Government. We can't get away from it. Scottish women are fighting tooth and nail so it's quite insulting to be told that you yourself 'don't let it take hold in our lives' particularly when you have focused almost entirely on quite superficial things rather than say, rape crisis centres or prisons. Both of which are directly affecting myself and women I know.

You read the thread and STILL announced we were all wrong, there were no such words as “people with vaginas” on the website and Boots are great because you have an Advantage card?

Gosh.

Boots did indeed use the term. And as I said, great for you that you don’t feel inclined to do anything about the impacts on others. And you obviously are not dealing with teens who are heavily impacted or you wouldn’t be so breezy about this.

Scold all you want, we have seen it all before.

You all see nothing else .

How wonderful that you that you feel so little about it but you still came and scolded women having a discussion about something that they feel is important to them. On a feminist board.

You all see nothing else

That's up to us, no? We have to challenge this shit when it happens. Every time.

I'm curious, was this meant to be a clever riposte?

"I shop at boots regularly , have their app and loyalty card was in there this morning and this "term" is nowhere and asked a member of staff if they are removing the word woman and was told " absolutely not ""

Oh gosh! Well look at that boudiccathecat. Did you photoshop this? Because this poster lettingitallhangout states confidently that it was NOWHERE and they even read the thread. How about that? They read that thread supposedly yet missed that by around 12.30 yesterday it had been changed. They are telling us it never happened and so your image must be a fake.

Thanks lettingitallhangout for pointing out that obviously many women are just fucking liars. Or maybe it is you who was mistaken perhaps? And that boudicca is merely posting the evidence that you so obviously missed.

Boots changed their menopause page only just yesterday, after many of us complained, replacing "people with a vagina" to "women". Here is the proof: web.archive.org/web/diff/20231026074341/20231108124236/www.boots.com/health-pharmacy/womenshealth/menopause-support

Gosh.... more of that pesky evidence. Thanks cat. I looked in the wrong archive site.