You wonderful nest of vipers

[Throwawayusername3]

Just a quick note of appreciation regarding this little corner of mumsnet.

I came on here today initially to start a thread to help me unpick my feelings regarding an Instagram account for an individual I’d stumbled upon.

I won’t name the individual but the entire content is a male bodied individual dressed as a tall statuesque woman wearing very little on nights out. Initially I started with ‘as long as he’s not claiming to be female and using female bathrooms, then that’s better than the alternative’. Part of my thinking being that while he is clearly very slim, he would still be an intimidating presence in single sex spaces due to the possibility of male aggression.

I then discovered that they are a drag performer and had previously been on a TV competition regarding drag which reminded me that I actually have quite an issue with characterise of women, though apparently less than men in women's bathrooms based on my initial reaction to the Instagram post.

But what do I discover on opening this forum? A thoroughly interesting thread already discussing similar themes.

There is also a thread regarding porn; I was thinking about the possible connection between porn, incest and whether genetic sexual attraction is a thing or a label used by abusers to hide behind the other day!

So thank you fellow vipers of this corner for a) reading my mind and b) helping me navigate the rabbit warrens that my gender critical feminist brain darts down!

Isn't it a relief to find intelligent and thoughtful commentary - along with the humour and at times fury - that navigating all this entails? Lovely post OP

Agree. And my 2 issues at the moment are drag and men invading our spaces, particularly toilets and changing rooms. I've suffered SA in the past from a man in a girls' changing room (he wasn't pretending to be anything other than a man) and do NOT want to again.

I also really appreciate this board. It helps me articulate ideas and objections that were previously in my head as garbled rage.

I need some help with all of this.
I have so many complicated thoughts about so many things

It truly is a wonderful corner @Throwawayusername3!

@sodrab you may find this thread helpful

Break it down for me? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3145470-Break-it-down-for-me

Welcome @Throwawayusername3 . There's lots of interesting posts on this board, hopefully you'll feel at home

I've been here since it was fields and still hang around here every day, though I don't post much anymore. Loads of new, brilliant voices. It's a lovely place and created the pioneering community that became Terf Island.

Nice to see you, Prawn!

Lovely to see you too @ArabellaScott

I think many of us have felt this and it's a direct result of the corruption of language. It makes it hard to articulate the issues clearly sometimes even to ourselves.

I spend a lot of time refining and challenging my own thoughts to find clarity. I find our various ploppers and trolls invaluable here in providing plenty of opportunities to review, refine and restate the core arguments.

It is very complicated, sodrab, it's not just you
Hope you find some useful points in these discussions that help you make your way through the maze.

I love this place. I don't post often but I read absolutely loads. I visit everyday for the sanity, the humour, the wisdom, and the truth! I love the regular posters. Coming here after reading other social media is like a long cool drink of water on a hot summer's day.

That’s exactly how I feel, Un! It’s like a deep breath of fresh clean air. Also my main source of feminist news and events.

I would have turned up for the ‘Women’s march’ in January, all eager in my ‘Hands off women’s spaces’ T-shirt, if I hadn’t read here that women were being thrown off the organising committee for questioning the inclusion of men who identify as women.

Me too Hairy! I love the well informed women here and the fascinating facts. I too remember when all this was fields. Well done to the vipers for living long, speaking truth and taking no shit.

Me too , OP . I've been unwell and housebound for years ; Mumsnet (and its intelligent , educated contributors especially in the FWR corner) has kept me sane and helpd me organise my troubled thoughts into a coherent rebuttal of men's assertion that they can be women if they say so .
These threads provide handy teaching moments for my sons and grandchildren too , e.g. ' Look , just look at this bloke who has won the women's running race while this woman on the third-place podium is breastfeeding her baby . Do you think this is fair? '.
There's an excellent pub too .