Why aren’t we using our democratic right to protest?

[WhiteVelvet]

We have a democratic right to protest in the UK.

We have the right to publicly protest for our biological sex rights to be upheld.

Other than a small but dedicated group of people under KJKs movement, women have not taken to the streets. In numbers, there is safety.

So why aren’t we?

I've been to LWS events - which are brilliant and proper grassroots activism, though obviously the mainstream media won't admit that or report much on it. Just because we don't hear about this doesn't mean it's not happening. It's part of the misogyny of the media.

But, like many women who know what a man is, i am middle aged with children and caring responsibilities. Some days I barely make it through the long list of things I absolutely need to get done or something dreadful will happen.

I need to arrange childcare / child transport somehow if it's a weekend because DH can't do all the clubs on his own as each child is in different places at the same time. OK, they can miss the odd club, but it's not realistic for me to be doing it regularly. It costs money. I don't have pots of money (sadly) - I have to decide whether to pay into a crowdfunder or for a ticket to London (or wherever) to protest.

For women with small children, who are breastfeeding, it's even harder. Women who are caring for elderly relatives without sufficient support - there are lots of women in this position - ditto.

Older women with infirmities or disabilities or modest incomes can find it difficult to travel too.

The young transactivists have none of these issues because they're not the ones propping up the economy with unpaid caring work. A feature of the transwidows threads is how little the men wanting to be 'women' do of all the unpaid caring work that falls overwhelmingly to XX women.

Also, having been to LWS events there is no fucking way in hell I'd bring a child there. Some of the masked men trying to shut women up look as if they'd like nothing more than beating up a woman. It can be scary, and the policing of these events has been variable - sometimes good, but sometimes they've let women be attacked. We all saw what happened to Kellie Jay in New Zealand, and the elderly woman punched in the head by a young misogynist man. I think some women put their physical health first.

So I think the reasons why more women aren't on the streets are varied and complex.

Part of it is undoubtedly that women don't feel supported by the police to do so safely though.

also on a practical level having been involved in other campaigns- what is the clear simple ‘ask’ that we would be asking people to march for?

I agree with @Theeyeballsinthesky I think that, for a march to be effective, you need to be able to explain why you're there in 3 or 4 words to a local reporter or sceptical passer by. So 'Votes for women!' would have worked but 'Protect women's sex based rights' needs too much unpacking - they'll have walked away before you've finished.

But marches aren't the only way to protest and I prefer the idea of more focussed gatherings and street stalls like @PogueMahoneRishi has described. They can take place in any town or city e.g. outside a BBC building to protest the Justin Webb decision or the law courts (referring to Scarlet Blake as 'she') or a local department store that lets men use women's changing rooms.

Where's 'Any Questions' being broadcast from tonight for example? Just a thought.

I don't buy the arguments that it's due to caring responsibilities or work or whatever. Women had the same, or even more responsibilities in the 80s and yet the Greenham Common camp managed to attract 70,000 at its highest. Marches from the Countryside Alliance to the Brexit protests to the current Israel-Palestine war protest marches have had very high proportions of women participants.

I agree with PPs that it's the fact that the fight to defend sex-based rights takes place primarily on the internet that has resulted in an inability to make the move from the armchair to the street. OP talks about being "not political" - the inability to see that this is absolutely about politics, and that political changes takes place on the street, not on twitter, is part of the problem.

Yes agreed.

Publicly protesting can act as an effective agent to raise awareness amongst the general public.

The truth is women and girls are not currently safe. Our rights are under wholesale attack.

I agree any march/protest/rally needs to have a message that is so simple it doesn't need an explanation. The trouble with this issue is that it affects so many aspects of life and people who haven't really thought about it are confused by and about the terminology.

I like the idea of small protests about specific issues. The London Bridge station flags for example. But I'd worry about my safety from counter protesters at a small event like that and that would put me off from going. Joining a big march with thousands of women in London or wherever feels safer. Even if it actually isn't.

Hi there

I’m just going to respond to a few points.

I’ve been in this fight since 2020 and done everything that was asked of me and more. I imagine i’m not that different to most of us. Had a break from it and have come back in to see if much has changed and what the appetite is for a different tack.

A woman is a biologically sexed adult human female. I’m only interested in defending the rights of biological women and girls.

I’m not a feminist. I hold some feminist values. I’m not interested in doctrines. I’m not party political. I’m not an activist.

Bringing women together to protest for their rights is a way of galvanising us all from out of our armchairs and the digital realm and into the real world. I believe raising awareness of our plight in the general population is critical to advancing the aim of getting our rights back.

i think though that the digital world is also part of the real world - they are intertwined now. Is FWR not ‘real’ because it’s a virtual space rather than a physical space? I only know about things like Forstater, Jo Phoenix, Rachel Meade, Alison Bailey because of FWR & I only knew how to contribute to petitions & crowd fundsrs to support them because of FWR. FWR maybe virtual but the actions it drives are real

also TRA didn’t get what they got marching & taking to the streets. They got it by piggybacking onto LGB right at a time when stonewall needed a new cause and by positioning themselves very strategically in places where they could influence. They don’t scream at MPs do they? Instead they’ve had many cosy Cups of tea in the House of Commons tea rooms . It’s taken them years to get where they are & it all happened behind the scenes very deliberately

The women's rights groups in the fight, that I know of (I think there are others but off the top of my head):

Sex Matters
Fairplay For Women
Women’s Rights Network
For Women Scotland
Let Women Speak

There are also many individual activists in their own right, not tied to one particular group or another. Julie Bindel for example.

The suffragist tack (Forstater) is great. I’m interested in the suffragette tack of this fight, raising awareness through direct action and in this case peaceful protest.

What do you think the ‘tipping point’ is? What are you waiting to happen?

What would mobilise you onto the street to fight for your rights?

Yes sadly this happened. However, I am pleased to say that it didn’t and hasn’t stopped Maria from continuing on in the fight for Women’s Rights.

I think discussing a march is the first step

I don't know about that - that historically, women had the same/more responsibilities. They may well have done, but there wasn't the threat of simmering (and actual) violence that accompanies the TRAs.

You could safely take your children to most protests - but would you risk them at anything where there was a real possibility of aggression?

Just think of that vile TRA who was shouting aggressively in the face of a baby fairly recently.

I see two paths in this fight:

The suffragist path (which is well underway):

1. Lobbying via letter writing to MPs, orgs and officials. Signing petitions. Funding court cases and GC women’s groups. Buying merch and books whether feminist or GC. Talking to other likeminded people online in forums.

The suffragette path (currently very small):

2. Using your democratic right to publicly protest for your rights.

Women can do both or either.

I’m interested in the suffragette path.

I think that the lesbian and bisexual women in LGB Alliance would be another strong network to tap into.

Is there a way on these boards to make contact with GC women in my area without disclosing publicly where I live? In the 80s, so much activism, Greenham included, seemed possible because I didn't ever feel on my own. We had each other's backs. There's going to be a lot happening this year in the UK and local support groups - whether for protest and marches, for fundraising, or for working out the key stuff to write and research - will be hugely helpful imo.

Also been to LWS.

I would say KJK’s movement is one of the very few doing what I would term suffragette work and that is to raise public awareness in public. I think WRN and FWS do some too.

There are lots of women and men to be fair , fighting this fight, but there hasn’t been a big rally in England on the scale i’m thinking and talking about.

Yes.

We want all of our rights back. All of them. Every. Single. One. Every single right women and girls had before the definition of female, woman and girl became bastardised.

We want the negation and persecution of what it is to be female stopped. Wholesale.

What are others thoughts?

PurpleBugz I can relate re elderly care. Best of luck.

Agreed. I hope this thread will serve that purpose for us.

Write to your MP

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/

One email, from everyone, keep writing them. It's not hard, you just need to express your views to them and often

Most people never bother to write to their MPs, every letter they get they read and generally respond to - keep doing it. You can be sure the mental TRAs are doing it so so should you.

Sample letter or email

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Postcode]
[Date]
[MP’s Name]
[MP’s Address]
[City, Postcode]
Dear [MP’s Name],
I hope this letter finds you well and thriving in your crucial work representing our community. I am writing to you as a constituent who values your commitment to public service and your capacity to voice the concerns of those you represent. My letter today focuses on a matter of deep personal and societal importance: the discourse surrounding gender, sex, and the implications of gender-critical positions. I trust in your understanding and consideration as I express my support for these perspectives, with the hope that you will stand up for these beliefs in your parliamentary role.
The conversation about gender and sex is complex and nuanced, touching upon the fabric of our social, legal, and personal lives. At its heart, the gender-critical viewpoint respects the diversity of human experiences while also advocating for the importance of acknowledging biological sex in certain contexts, such as safeguarding, sport, and the collection of statistical data. This position supports the rights and dignities of all individuals, including those who are transgender, but it also underscores the necessity of sex-based rights to protect the safety, privacy, and equality of women.
As someone deeply invested in the well-being of the women in my life and in our broader community, I find the gender-critical perspective to be grounded in a desire to maintain a balanced and fair approach to policy-making. This approach does not seek to diminish the rights or identities of others but rather to ensure that the rights of women, based on sex, are not eroded in the pursuit of inclusivity. It is a call for dialogue, understanding, and policy that reflect the realities and needs of all, without compromising the hard-won rights of any group.
In our rapidly evolving society, it is essential that our laws and policies are developed with a clear understanding of the distinctions between sex and gender identity. This clarity is crucial in areas such as healthcare, where biological differences can significantly impact treatment and outcomes. It is also vital in ensuring the integrity of single-sex spaces designed to provide safety and privacy.
I am aware that these discussions can be polarizing and that finding a path forward that respects and protects the rights and dignities of everyone involved is challenging. However, I believe that through constructive dialogue and a commitment to fairness, we can achieve solutions that uphold the values of equality and respect for all.
Therefore, I respectfully urge you to consider the gender-critical perspective in your work. I hope you will advocate for policies that recognize the importance of sex-based rights alongside the rights of gender-diverse individuals. It is through such balanced and compassionate leadership that we can build a more inclusive and understanding society.
Thank you for taking the time to consider my views. I appreciate your dedication to serving our community and look forward to your response on this matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]

Women are frightened of violence and dont trust the police to protect them - and with good reason. Many were also scared for their work, although WORIADS has helped with that. I've also been to a Let Women speak event, one where the police actually were present and made sure protestors were not too close. It was non violent. I'd consider attending other LWS events further away from me. The more people who turn out the more other women feel empowered to attend. There were a few men there in support too, dont feel you have to go unsupported.

I email a far bit (my MP barely bothers to respond, very much TWAW), respond to consultations and get OH to do the same, boycott a lot of the firms on the boycott list and I'm working on finding alternatives to some of the others.

Puberty blockers harm children is a good sign. womens rights will get fewer people on the streets than children's rights. No-one can change sex is another. Protect free speech a third.

More local networks would help, if you know others are going you are braver.

Good shout.

Don’t know about these boards as new here but if you look at (WRN) Women’s Rights Network, they have small start up groups in and around the country, find one that is as close to where you live as possible as there may not be one directly in your town/city. Another option is to go to Let Women Speak events and meet others to start making contact.

I think you’ve perfectly exercised the main problem within this movement... women in this fight don’t know each other.

I’ve done all this.

Please read my other posts to get a flavour of what I am about and trying to work towards.

"Only Women Are Women"

You have. 95% of people on this thread have not.