Gender critical feminism is a misnomer. There is nothing critical about what they do.

[IwantToRetire]

“Gender critical feminism is a misnomer. There is nothing critical about what they do. Critical relates to intervention. It’s not negative. Critical theory is inquiry into taken for granted presumptions in order to imagine a different world.” Judith Butler #LSEAHRCGender
https://twitter.com/hashtag/lseahrcgender

Shocked to find that the LSE didn't extend an invitation to FWR to this event that happened earlier today

Transnational anti-gender politics and resistance

As 'anti-gender' movements become more prominent globally, we ask Judith Butler and feminist activist Tooba Syed to share histories and forms of resistance.

What might feminist, queer and decolonial forms of resistance teach us about diverse forms of 'anti-gender' backlash? How can we generate political solidarity to counter 'anti-gender' mobilisations across different contexts? Our keynote speakers will reflect on political, epistemic and ethical interventions and open up for discussion with the audience.

https://www.lse.ac.uk/Events/2024/02/202402221730/politics

For those who cant wait to be (re) educated available to watch at

Genter Trouble was an interesting book. I didn't agree with much of it but there was plenty to get your teeth into. If you'd told me in the nineties Bulter would end up speaking on panels before small audiences announcing the ever-imminent trans genocide at the hands of unbridled scolds I would never have believed you.

Critical theory is inquiry into taken for granted presumptions in order to imagine a different world

Like when we ask what you mean when you say 'woman' and are told NO YOU CAN'T ASK THAT?

That sort of inquiry? MY for-granted-presumption is that woman means female, so I'm literally questioning that.

JB is the queen of dishonesty so no wonder it's woven into every single aspect of gender stuff.

Interesting how they never think to ask GC people what they actually think. Equally instructive to consider why Judith Butler eg al would rather talk to each other than engage with eg Kathleen Stock - or even here on FWR. I’d love to see a definition of ‘woman’ which can include some males, but doesn’t resort to stereotypes or feelings which so many of us (actual women) don’t subscribe to or recognise.

Interesting how they never think to ask GC people what they actually think.

This is how you know they are dishonest. They don't want to be challenged.

I only saw this late last night, and at first just thought it was worth posting for a (hollow) laugh.

Now I am thinking that it just shows the bias in universities.

But can you imagine in a meeting was organised by those with gender critical views to "share histories and forms of resistance"?

It would have been banned.

Equally instructive to consider why Judith Butler eg al would rather talk to each other than engage with eg Kathleen Stock - or even here on FWR.

Let's face it, Stock would make mincemeat of Butler. She's an infinitely superior intelligence.

As for the rather odd attack on "critical", then surely all "gender-critical" means is that we are critical of gender ideology, namely the idea that an inner sense of gender overrides biological sex. Not all of us think "gender-critical" is the best term for what we are ("sex realist" might be better), but it will do. It's a bit like calling yourself religion-critical or astrology-critical. It gets the basic idea across.

It's inspired me to dig out a previous name though...

<kicks off shoes>

I would sell my house to pay to see JB debate KJK. How about it, Judith? Do you dare?

You mean, you would queer the details of the deeds for your house.

That is a very particular definition of 'critical' that Butler is using.

I would say that critical thinking is more about being able to discriminate and differentiate between different pieces of information; evaluate them and then come to some sort of conclusion - based on an hypotheis, or on an existing theory or working assumption.

Butler seems to be suggesting that being 'critical' is a synonym for being 'progressive'.

Critical theory - which is what Butler seems to be talking about is a kind of post modernistic theory which rests on the assumption that there is no objective truth - and therefore critical theory has the function of imagining new possibilities and questioning traditional truths.

It never ceases to amaze me the sheer lengths that people will go to with their frantic wanking with words to try and disguise a reality that they don't like.

In this case, the reality they're trying to dress up and send out to walk the streets as something else, is quite simply women saying no to them.

And that's it. That's all.

Also, if it wasn't so funny it would be insulting, that JB thinks she can misdirect young students away from what gender criticall feminists are saying about women's sex based rights, by pompously pontificating about the "true" meaning of a word.

Sometimes Judith being critical is just that, being critical.

" ... To be “critical” is to analyze and evaluate ideas and evidence. The purpose is to understand the strengths and limitations of research, theory or practice for both its stated purpose and your own topic. ... "

does anyone on here actually have the faintest notion what the fuck Butler is on about with regards to anything at all? The worst example of the kind of writer who thinks waffly bullshit will be mistaken for towering brilliance. Er, no.

So when she gets all this praise, articles in the Guardian, adoting audiences as Universities, is it really just another episode of the emporer's new clothes?

Well, if 'critical' now means whatever Judith Butler says it means, then of course she must be right. At least until she redefines the term to mean something different.

The enormous problem with queering the language seems to me to be that it will ultimately come back to bite the butt of those initiating it. Because if words no longer have generally agreed-upon meanings then debating anything truly does become nothing but a power struggle, and the queer camp is not going to win that against the truly powerful people (which is not the gender critical feminists, of course).

But in the older ordinary terms 'gender critical' means 'critical of the concept of 'gender'', and it arises because of the way gender roles, norms and stereotypes are being used and have been used to keep women the subjugated sex.

I am on the LSE mailing list so did know about this event but already had plans (and also suspected it would be a load of tosh and waste of an evening).

The enormous problem with queering the language seems to me to be that it will ultimately come back to bite the butt of those initiating it. Because if words no longer have generally agreed-upon meanings then debating anything truly does become nothing but a power struggle, and the queer camp is not going to win that against the truly powerful people (which is not the gender critical feminists, of course).

Yes, @nepeta , but still they will retain influence in academia, and we're seeing how that's heading.

I reckon so. When was studying the cello at the Guildhall in the early eighties there were certain fashionable composers at the time. If you were to say about their work "this is just rubbish-a load of incoherent noise" you might as well have walked around with a sandwich board saying "I'm a completely boorish oaf". The power of groupthink is not to be underestimated.

This is a good point.

There are other academics with a habit of chaotic word salad that masquerades as brilliance of too high a level to access. But is just word salad.

I thought that I understood what 'critical thinking' meant and then I encountered this:

plato.stanford.edu/entries/critical-thinking/

Seems it don't mean shit. Which is common English for 'it means whatever you want it to mean'.

Do we have a common, agreed meaning of 'carrot'?

I only dipped into the beginning of that, but I think I'm pretty safe in assuming that the referenced Francis Bacon, John Locke, and John Stuart Mill don't have much to do with this load of old bollix.

I have to confess that the only thing that I know about John Stuart Mill is

"of his own free will,
on half a pint of cider was particularly ill ".