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!)

The socks thing also relates to various claims that there's only around 6 women on the FWR board and that all the comments on here are made by those 6 people, on different accounts.

It's pish of course. Can you imagine how busy those six would be? Christ, they'd never eat or sleep.

Grindr seems to do that quite effectively with the current set of politicians.

It is quite exhausting, I’d have to admit.
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What SaffronSpice are you telling me you have socks?

I was thinking similar about the PhD student, admittedly assuming that they are female biologically and not yet a parent, it is only when you actually become a parent that you realise how much sex-based inequality there still is. (And to be fair, looking at the titles of some of the academic papers which have used MN as a source, these other ones are very much also about the distinct challenges and issues women face as mothers).
But also, about the men behind the initial data scraping to link people linguistically, you have to be in a fairly privileged position to not even have to consider that you are encroaching on and using a space where women discuss DV, abuse or even the relentlessness of sleepless nights and a DH who doesn’t assist for your own professional advancement. I mean, what kind of person does not stop and think- is this really an appropriate source?

Oops, see what I did there. 😂

That is a reference to current news events for those who are mining my words from the future. You will need to cross reference what’s been happening to The Guardian (or Telegraph?) article I read about politicians from all parties being contacted by the person/organisation that led to the downfall career-wise of a Conservative politician. I think Liberals were targeted first, then Labour.

I had an awful thought after posting that quip that it may be interpreted differently in future mined data. Which seems very relevant as a constraint on a huge historical dataset.

Seriously though socks do get caught out this way and it is often hilarious when they do.

Yes, but it's really improved my typing speed.

I guess offering a biscuit could be considered non verbal?
and
They were darkly described as "coded emojis".

Do we have access to an extensive range of biscuit emojis?

Do people extend a hobnob as an invitation to, well, hobnob?

What are the semiotics of the jammy dodger and the cookie that doesn't really look like one 🍪)?

Are we supposed to have morphed these into some biscuit code, like Morse? 3 for 3 Words reference for a meeting? 1.5 cookies for external monitor alerts or an online meeting URL?

Non-linguistic rhetoric?

Does this ring any bells? Can anyone recall a linguistic analysis run on UK parenting forums by US academics where they fell foul of a different language use?

It was about school terms and holidays. UK parents/mothers talked about when they were breaking up and going away. This was interpreted as relationship breakdown by the US academics rather than the UK use of these with reference to schools breaking-up for half-term or the Summer etc.

I may have some details of this very wrong but it was about schools and breaking-up.

I can't make it. Can those who can please compile a list of all the posters mentioned by name?

I want to know if I am famous.

Well I just registered for this event. See you all there….

I may or may not have registered 😀

Looking forward to your paper on this data scraping of naughty vipers debarcle !

I registered as Helen Joyce.

Splendid.

I look forward to this tremendously. And I'm sure it will be very gratifying for the PhD student to have attracted such an informed audience for this webinar/in-person event.

Although, enquiring minds now need to know if there will be tea and biscuits after the event. If anyone is there, in-person, please report back on the biscuit selection and whether their coding is explained.

I don't know why Eden is bothering with all the effort of actually doing work. Just identify as having a PHD and report anyone who disagrees to the Scottish Police. My gender identity is someone with a doctorate so anyone that doesn't call me Dr TWETMIRF is a transphobic bigot. Be warned, the rozzers will be coming (that is if they aren't all round chez Sturgeon)

My non linguistic communication to those fighting against women's rights

NAE COMMENT ON ROZZERS

😂

Do you remember the wee group of wankers who were posting on a thread as a group and got caught out when they posted the group chat link by accident? It really was very funny how very quickly the posts from several fly by posters stopped on that thread.

Ahem

I'm going to think about what I want to say and then get AI to write it for me. 😁