Why is Mumsnet so GC?

[ireallycantthinkofaname]

Maybe an odd question but I've never come across another space, online or otherwise, where being GC is the norm. IRL I only ever discuss GC views openly with one family member, whose stance on it is similar to my own, though, so I'm not saying it's unwelcome.... Just curious how/why it's come about. Any thoughts or theories?

A different angle (warning - do not expect such a level of intelligence as pp!); we as women experience on a daily basis the problems our country is going through as we battle with schools, gp's, care for elderly, cost of living etc. This fixation on trans 'needs' (such a tiny proportion of our population) by our government etc. has taken so much brainpower and money from the very basic provisions needed by its population; they are fiddling while Rome burns. In the majority of cases being trans does not supersede your needs as a human being so they and their families are also suffering. There is no time or money to devote to them; it is a luxury when people are cold, hungry, in pain, I could go on. As MN is a space for women of course we will be gc and thank God we are allowed to be and to educate ourselves. A bastion of common sense.

The reason put forward for Britain being dubbed "Terf island" is due to having a very strong feminist history/tradition, which is probably why it is the most vociferous (and freest in being able to speak) on this topic. Mumsnet being largely made up of Brits will thus reflect that.

Kellie Jay Keen is the modern (watered down) version of Pankhurst..."Votes for women" banners..now read "Adult human female".

While america has "the Karen" (the latest incarnation there of the protected white woman who terrorises non white people or demands to "speak to the manager"), Britain has the radical feminist. Britain is used to female leaders so it's second nature to be outspoken on social/political issues.

I’d say mumsnet is probably in line with the population but like many things it is the silent majority.
the vast majority of people do not believe that humans can change sex, that wearing pink means a boy is actually a girl or that blokes who state they are women should be able to undress in women’s changing rooms or compete in their sports.
the only people who think otherwise are thick, perverted, in thrall to wokeism or think they are being kind.
people don’t speak out becuae they are scared of censure or being sacked.

Because everyone is GC bar a few people who haven't thought it through yet.

I agree that an intersectional lens can be helpful to feminism when looking at the layers of oppression a woman may experience that include poverty, race , religion, education etc. I don't see Rad feminism being in opposition to intersectional feminism. Both focus on helping women, IME.

That.

Radfem may not work very well with libfem ideas. But it certainly can and does include intersectional ideas. In my experience - I'm not an academic or very well versed in feminist history/theory etc.

Anyway. Why are we all gc here? It's a woman-owned, women-led, women-focussed site. Which is very, very rare. You may want to have a look at Ovarit, or Lipstick Alley, to see how other women-led sites feel.

In my experience 'gc' views are the views of the huge but largely silent majority. Most people have been successfully scared into not discussing these issues, but polls show that the public's views reflect those of women on here.

The opposite of radical Feminism is not intersectionality. Intersectionality is just about considering how different axes of oppression can interact.

Some people use the term intersectional Feminism to give weight to their idea that Feminism should not be about women's rights.

The opposite of radical Feminism is liberal Feminism. That is not to say that many libfems are not critical of gender too but generally its more vulnerable to Genderism because of it's emphasis on working with society and the fact that it's more palatable to those in power.

In my experience 'gc' views are the views of the huge but largely silent majority.

GC Feminist views are not the majority. Most people know that humans have two sexes but being critical of gender means something specific.

I know MN have had a lot of flack over the years but I think GC views could take root here and it be a place for women to find solidarity precisely because it was Mumsnet. Activism and discussion flew under the radar for a while because people assumed it was just a bunch of mummies talking about potty training and mastitis and we couldn’t possibly be being subversive and radical. They assumed wrong

Kudos to MNHQ for allowing debate, they took a lot of heat.

But as for why here, I think the MN tradition of robust debate (aka AIBU bunfights) set a tradition and an approach that allowed Mods to hold the line that disagreement is ok, and shouldn’t be shut down on the basis that we should all be nice.

Elsewhere, being upset by someone’s post was reason to delete it. Here, it was more ‘either put your big girl pants on or walk away if this is too upsetting’.

Because Mumsnet is the ONLY place online where we are allowed to discuss it.
I don't care how crap the Mumsnet app is, I admire that we have this space.

There is male there is female, there are people who dress as what is 'socially agreed too' ie women wear dresses/skirts and, men trousers/shorts or chose to dress the opposite, and yes in reality people do wear different items normally

Then there are people who think if they have an operation it turns them into the opposite of what they biologically are

What else is there to say, sex exists gender is made up

Apart from most women finding out why women's rights are needed as soon as they become mums, if they haven't already prior to this, It also, and I think this is significant, reads easily. Like an article.

None of the annoying like buttons and up votes etc. you can have a good conversation/ debate and read it clearly.

Also a lot of humour.

Is lipstick alley still GC @Delphinium20 ?

The women on here have a grip on reality, sadly missing in so many aspects of life at the moment.
Anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows the reality but seem to bury their intelligence.
I work in a male dominant environment, they discuss it quite often and utterly baffled by it.

There is a book that I think covers this - it's called something like The Radicalisation of Mumsnet. I haven't read it but want to!

All the other places to talk were shut down by TRA activists.

Because excellent posters articulate simply and clearly why it’s better for women

And more learn and join in, I did

And mnhq (mainly Justine I expect) is brilliant on it and fought off people trying to shut it down

Speaking personally, I had lost interest in feminist theory a long time ago, but I knew there was something very strange going on and I heard this board was just about the only place where you could talk about it. And then when I found it, I saw for myself not only the facts and the arguments but also the lengths our opponents would go to in their attempt to shut us up, so obviously I thought, fuck you, I'm staying.

It's a forum of women (mostly) who find other like-minded women to talk to. Its very difficult to discuss matters to do with our biological sex without fear of being harassed, ostracised or verbally abused. That's why I'm here and I hope more women across the age span will join us.

This.
I wasn't TWAW but happy to let them do as they pleased because it didn't affect me (I don't play sport, I probably won't go to prison, and I pretty much never use public toilets!) but then I realised, thanks to MN, it's not just about me. It's about keeping all women safe and equal. Why would I want my daughter growing up in a world where a man can climb all over her rights?

Just because it's anonymous. People can't speak out in real life.

Because I don’t know a single woman over the age of 25 who wants to share a hospital ward, prison cell or changing room with a man she doesn’t know, and no woman over 35 who doesn’t feel the same about loos. The last because it is having to leave the door open while you manipulate a toddler and baby in a pram, or a miscarriage or menopausal flooding that illustrate the advantage of safety and privacy in the ladies loo, but also having a supportive stranger of the same sex on hand in emergency.
Because no one sees threats to and protects kids like a mum. Because I don’t know any mum who tells her kid to look for a strange man to help if they’re lost instead of another mum with kids.
Is the issue trans people ( which includes natal born women) which would be outright transphobia? No. The issue is and always is the significant minority of the male sex who pose a danger and threat. Do men really understand the constant almost unconscious risk assessment that women do every day, especially with their kids?
Not just danger either - privacy and dignity. From time immemorial woman and men have kept apart from strangers of the opposite sex when in a state of undress and because on occasion, we need our own sex spaces. My uncle Dave is no threat whatsoever to man nor beast, but I won’t share a changing room with him!

I think 99% of people understand it's impossible to change your sex, but many are too woke/scared/ignorant/bullied into not being able to say so out loud.

I know a fair few in real life who toe the woke line (mostly to keep their jobs!) but honestly deep down don't think for a moment humans can change sex!

Good point about mothers above. No man has ever given birth. Only women can be mothers!

@EvelynBeatrice awesome comment! This 100x over!!! 👏

Great answers.

Also, women on this site are the ones who are dealing with many of the impacts of the ideological drive of gender identity. It impacts our loved ones, particularly our children. It impacts us.

Of course, despite being told we are the minority, people believing that sex is immutable and that while people who have claimed trans identities need protections from unlawful discrimination, that the rights of women and children also are just as important. And conflicts need equitable solutions. We are the majority.

Of course we are the majority. It was always an absurd refrain being repeated here occasionally that we were the minority. That people sharing our beliefs were dying out.