A corpus-assisted discourse analysis of linguistic transphobia on Mumsnet

[IwantToRetire]

By Aston Institute for Forensic Linguistics

It has been suggested that the forum-style parenting website Mumsnet is a hub for ‘gender-critical’ feminism, which directly opposes transgender rights, to be practised with little moderation (Livingston, 2018). This presentation reports on the initial stages of a project aiming to investigate that the potential intensification of linguistic transphobia on Mumsnet may lead to further marginalisation of transgender people offline (Powys Maurice, 2021). Though studies of non-linguistic transphobic rhetoric on Mumsnet (e.g., Pedersen, 2022; Mackenzie, 2019), and discourse analyses of other radical online communities (e.g., Krendel, 2020) have both occurred, this project is the first to analyse linguistic transphobia on Mumsnet. It also contributes to existing literature surrounding UK-based ‘gender-critical’ feminism; linguistic transphobia; and radical online community discourses.

The presentation explores the rise of potentially ‘gender-critical’ linguistic transphobia on Mumsnet over time through the corpus linguistic (CL) analysis of the ‘Feminism: Sex & Gender Discussions’ board, using three corpora comprising a fifteen-year timeframe: 2008-2013; 2013-2018; and 2018-2023. As the project is still ongoing, preliminary findings will be presented, namely a comparative overview of trends yielded in frequency analyses. Overall, this presentation provides insights into the growing commonality of potentially ‘gender-critical’ feminist rhetoric on Mumsnet and its effect on increasing transphobic discourse on the site.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-corpus-assisted-discourse-analysis-of-linguistic-transphobia-on-mumsnet-tickets-880795271367?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

(I had just finished my favourite tea time treat of catching up on FWR and was going to get back to the grindstone when this popped up on my feed. So have come back as it is too good not to be shared. Enjoy!)

Looks like it’s unravelling. Well spotted op

I feel a bit sorry for Eden - I’m sure it never occurred to them that real life consequences might follow their actions. I suspect it’s been all academic conversations and theory within the university bubble. I expect this has been an uncomfortable reality check

If the phD student is by chance reading this thread, I think it would be possibly really useful and valuable for you to make an account, and talk to women here directly.

I'm sure many of us would be happy to engage in a good faith discussion.

I did get the bigly letters though so I’m happy

This is one aspect of the course (as much as any individual) that was raised in the thread yesterday and confirmed as an issue by this statement:

JustineMumsnet · Today 16:31
Thanks for the heads up about this - we had no knowledge our site was being scraped (against our T&Cs) and the data used in this way. We contacted Aston University today and though they've yet to respond, as you've noted they've now taken the page down. We'll let you know what their response is as and when.

(I forget to copy the link for this but 99.9% certain it is from a thread on site stuff.)

I think that as the publicly advertised event is not by a random individual or self promoting activists, I would suggest that the problem is as much with the university as the individual student (who has already completed a foundation year).

If we knew who the supervisor was it would be great to send them the video of the US teacher prodding his students to justify a statement about JKR being a transphobe.

Seems like the teaching staff are as much of an issue as any student.

Apart from, according to Justine of Mumsnet, engaging in illegal activity!

me too please!

The student's supervisor:

'I am available for consultancy and expert advice in the areas of authorship analysis, determining meaning, and forensic discourse analysis. I have provided expert reports to a number of UK Police forces, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, The Independent Police Complaints Commission, defence teams and private individuals in over 60 criminal and civil cases. I have appeared as an expert witness in the Crown Court of England & Wales, and both the Sherriff's Court and High Court of Justiciary in Scotland. I am listed on the National Crime Agency's Expert Advisors Database. '

Also the student's supervisor as a Twitter banner... FFS

And supervising students whose agreed PhD title refers to expressions of a protected as harmful. An example of ideological capture.

I'll wear my Lilo and Stitch t shirt.

In the interests of equality among FWRers would it be thought to be breaking forum etiquette to post a link to a web page that will show anyone who wants to how to have big letters?

I'm imagining mnhq legal team this afternoon on the phone to Ashton University. Oh to be a fly on the wall!

😱 sacrilege!

Although I do wish I knew how Arabella does different fonts!

I feel a little bit sorry for Eden if there turns out to be consequences for her research, but only the smallest bit. Presumably it's her supervisor and ethics committee (if one was even involved) who've chucked her under this bus, but her own failure to consider whether a bunch of women talking about their rights on the internets could be anything but terrible, terrible 'phobes is what had her standing on the curb.

I would still be very interested in hearing about her research though and am willing (egregious rights infringements aside) to give the benefit of the doubt until then that it's maybe not as irredeemably biased as it sounds from her own statements.

To be honest, beetle, I think it's mostly been by accident.

Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest!

You’ve just reminded me of something that happened last year: I got a PM claiming to be from a research student. It said:

Hi, I'm a student at the University of Birmingham doing a research project on mums opinion on feminism and how feminism is discussed on MumsNet. I saw you posted in feminism:sex and gender and I was wondering if you could answer a couple of questions regarding this topic.
Thank you!

I ignored it because I wasn’t sure about the request, but at least the student was seeking to engage with FWR posters. It also shows this nest of vipers is [adopts Hyacinth Bucket naice voice] of interest to the academy.

Oh dear, sacrilege seems a worse crime than breaking forum etiquette.

A young TRA seemed put out once that they were getting bigly letters thrown at them but no one seemed willing to share how so the poor soul was left with no choice but to go and Google! Its probably a good job I can't work out which words you need to search to find out how to do other things with the text, as I'd be a complete nightmare with fancy fonts!

a project aiming to investigate that the potential intensification of linguistic transphobia on Mumsnet may lead to further marginalisation of transgender people offline

And if (a) you find that ‘linguistic transphobia’ on Mumsnet does intensify, and if (b) transgender people are ‘further marginalised’, how do you intend to prove that (a) has led to (b)?

Or do you just need a cross face emoji?

Seconded.

😉

😁