The (literal) end of the Women's Equality Party

[WomanDaresTo]

Proposing to close themselves: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/26/womens-equality-party-to-vote-on-closing

Shame it didn't work out - i was excited when they launched.

I wonder if part of it for people like Sandy, who has earned her place in a very male-dominated blokey misogynistic industry, that she's worked hard to be basically accepted as "one of the lads" (rather than as a woman), so has kind of a transbloke identity herself?

I don't know, just a thing I've noticed sometimes in women who have succeeded in for example mining or the military. They sometimes seem to end up out-bloking the blokes to gain respect and acceptance.

I don't think that's specific to masculine lesbians (and I don't see Toksvig as especially masculine anyway, does she see herself like that?)

Many kinds of women have little loyalty to women as a group, or they can easily be convinced that anyone else's needs are more important. "Weaponised empathy".

Yes, but i'm just speculating as to why; what motivates that.

Really? This person? The article is from November 9 this year and no mention of a split.
https://ibizbytes.com/debbie-toksvig-an-inspiring-psychotherapist-and-advocate/
Or are you thinking of her previous partner perhaps - Peta Stewart - the children's Mum?

Oh yes, I was!

How would Toksvig feel about a trans identified male on a lesbian dating site telling her to get over herself for not wanting his you know what?

@YourAmplePlumPoster she would not do something as common as mixing with plebe lesbians, so doubt she would have a clue.

Helen Joyce has written an obituary

https://thecritic.co.uk/the-party-that-fell-for-a-lie/

The Women's Equality Party
2015 - 2024
RIPenis

Great article, thanks for linking.

think Helen is bang on the money (again) when she describes the leading lights of the WEP as dilettantes -these are just b list celebs who want to score woke brownie points-the idea of doing the kind of tedious boring graft to get results is not for the likes of them. When this lunatic religion evaporates like the morning dew the only ones left will be the complete headbangers like Himdia, Fred, Willets, Comerford, Sophie et al. everyone else will deny they ever had anything to do with it. However, we still have the receipts.

When this lunatic religion evaporates like the morning dew the only ones left will be the complete headbangers like Himdia, Fred, Willets, Comerford, Sophie et al.

I strongly suspect that Sally Hines, Alice Roberts et al. will keep the ideological flame alive. There's a belief that they are ushering in a new age and that opposition will literally die out.

Rachel Rosario Sánchez is in the Critic as the acting coroner

https://thecritic.co.uk/who-killed-the-womens-equality-party/

After reading that I've got no time at all for Toksvig's protestations about the issues caused by twaw. She's lying, delusional or arrogant. I'm suspecting a bit of a mixture.

There seems to be a zombie corpse, the Equality Party.

Thanks for this. So much energy and expertise harvested from women by privileged women playing with power. The irony that they've started another male centred party while claimning to be feminists.

The irony that they've started another male centred party while claimning to be feminists.

I wonder if they've retained the same main funder and hope to attract more comparable money now that the agenda is explicit.

Are they now to be the official arbiters of the equality pyramid with the apex reserved for one sex with a plethora of gender identities?

I googled the Equality Party and all that came up was links to the now defunct WEP.

The pictures have them standing there with WE on the leaflets 🧐

I know this is an old thread...but I wanted to comment on this as I really don't think this is accurate at all about masculine lesbians, (who have always got a lot of unfair stick....) I have quite a lot of experience of the community irl & online (I'm bi) & I've got the impression they see women as 'just men w different bits', don't understand the risk men pose, & don't feel empathy or alignment w women.
Lesbians are actually more likely to face sexual assault from men, and this applies to masculine as well as feminine lesbians. From what I know, physical assault may be more likely for masculine lesbians as a way of punishing their non-conformity. Studies also suggest this..

Not feeling empathy? Masculine women (not just lesbians) may have difficulties w more average women as they may have different interests broadly, may be bullied as kids for not conforming, as adults (if lesbian) may automatically seen as predators & assumed to be identical mentally & emotionally to men. But that doesn't mean they don't empathise w women. Butch lesbians traditionally played the role of protectors of the community (esp as bars were often harassed by men, nothing new there) & many have been active in feminism & helping women generally. Look at someone like Pauli Murray, or Harriet Wistrich for a more modern example. Or Allison Bailey. Many of the women speaking out now are lesbians on the more masculine side.

'Detached, Centred in the head rather than the body'...masculine lesbians may have different dressing styles etc but it doesn't mean they're not in touch w their bodies. Certainly the sporty ones I know or see in forums are v aware of the physical differences & why trans women in sport are an abomination.

In fact, quite a number of masculine lesbians give birth to children, or support partners who do. They will certainly be aware of how this impacts women's lives.

I would draw a separate line tho at people who transition. I've noticed a lot of trans men on podcasts etc denigrating women & implying they're now one of the smart, logical boys etc 🙄

There certainly are butch lesbians who act like a sexist 'woman too smart for other women'. But that kind of cool girl behaviour isn't specific to them. A lot of powerful women in history have shored up their status by diminishing women. Catherine the Great springs to mind : to her, other women were a 'weak, frivolous, whining species!'. Bit ofc there's lots of examples.

Sorry, I meant that say that I'd never got that impression.

Why in earth did they post in support of this man? Bonkers.

Bandwagon jumping. They never stopped to think.

It may have helped if you'd linked my post to the larger discussion it stemmed from. Taken out of context it may not make as much sense, as a response, as it might if it had been interpreted in the light of the posts that preceeded it.

The references to 'detachment' and much else referred more to those on the autistic spectrum..... of course.

I think AliasGrace47's post is thoughtful enough to stand on its own, but maybe linking to a previous post would add to its value.
Still a very insightful post, as is often the case with AliasGrace47's interesting contributions

If it had been linked to what proceeded it then it would have been evident that we were discussing Sandi Toksvig, who is, I suspect, on the autistic spectrum, and quite cerebral, as well as being a lesbian.....and who seems to have little empathy for the situation of women as a group given her comments regarding single sex spaces etc.

Also it was purely speculative, on what it is that motivates or moves those women who are full on trans rights, and dismissive of women's rights.

I see that autistic could apply to Sandi : I was a bit confused about the reference to her being masculine, as she has short hair & wears fairly unisex clothes but no more than a lot of non-masculine women, wherher lesbian or not. Masculine would be someone like Ruth Davidson more.

But yes, I definitely agree that, whatever the cause, Sandi fits that description. Autism may be reason, or it could just be the lack of empathy of someone wealthy & well-connected who lives in a bubble.