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!)

CHECK YOR PMS

Mumsnet, can we have your view?

HQ that is..

This bit in the event description:

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).

So she is trying to prove a link between 'transphobia' on mumsnet and the marginalisation of people offline? If so, good luck with collecting data to evidence that.

That does sound really unfair. And a failure of the uni to do the proper ethics checking.

Yes, that is why I referred it to MNHQ. I wouldn't pile on to a PhD student.

For all that it would be such fun to do a Maya Forstater and sweep in late at the head of a group of GC women and some bewildered but game researchers in corpus linguistics. I've even got a bright pink raincoat! And then - gulp! - ask polite questions at the end. 😂

I thought this was something she was doing this at the end of her PhD! Well, that's a whole different kettle of fish. That's not right at all.

You have a PM.

Absolutely no plans to pile on, but if someone is analysing us I think we have a right to see what exactly they are saying. Watch party here with drinks and snacks?

I see you beat me to it!

YOUS SNOOZE YOUS LOSE

Alternatively perhaps Eden wants the notoriety associated with her subject matter.
The phd title could be worded in a more neutral way to not arouse interest.

Ooh! A new biglier-er <excited>

I've booked my ticket.

Given there will be a lot of us I don't want to end up with 30 packets of Tunnocks but no cheese or gin. So I do think we need to decide who is supplying which snacks.

(I bought 30 Freddo bars today (don't judge they were 10p each) but can't guarantee there will be many left by the 25th)

I can do the bigly letters

thanks Eden

Where do I apply for this Bluey PhD please. I think it has legs.

But many people (including those who monitor this website, for various reasons) would state outright that that is an inherently transphobic statement and would be taken as an example of the transphobic language used on this site.

Exactly. If you don't think "talking about reality" falls into "transphobia" for these people, you don't understand this issue as much as you think you do.

Oh, eyeballs 😁

I did a little happy dance (possibly a non-linguistic hate crime, but that wasn't my intent).

'Non-linguistic hate crime' is going to become a MN thing, isn't it 🤪

Something good has come out of Eden’s research!

I've only been here since 2022 but I thought cake 🎂 meant cake 🎂????

Eden does look very young, I agree they should be better supported by the academics around them.

When I was an undergraduate student I did an assignment on Mills and Boons books. I relied on the night bus driver to wake me up at the right stop whilst I slept. I hung out with a teen who stole cars and went to goth nightclubs.

I did loads of stupid stuff. But there was no social media to amplify the shit that I did. So I kindof feel a bit sorry for Eden.

Asked my DH (academic) who has been radicalized by me droning on about Mumsnet:

His comments are -

too many 'potentialies' - how is it an original contribution to knowledge if it's all potentially and maybe?
an assumption of harm, what about benefits?
this sort of research should involve stakeholders, how are they planning to involve us apart from being swamped at this talk

Realistically I am expecting this talk to be cancelled once they realise why it is the most popular talk they have ever put on and that a quite possibly vulnerable very new PhD student shouldn't be doing this.

This thread was apparently hidden in error and is now back...

This was an interesting thread posted in site stuff. 👀

Mumsnet Corpus www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/5057903-mumsnet-corpus

Yes, the Corpus has disappeared from the Aston Website, and another page of Eden's has also evaporated on the internet, which is probably a good thing as the research was described there as being about transphobic hate crimes on Mumsnet.

Other thread here: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5058009-that-linguistics-phd?reply=134656686