Your Mum Does The Washing

[BeaAndBen]

TERFism gets a namecheck in daft wee song Your Mum Does The Washing by Joshua Idehen.

I was listening to 6 Music and it came on. Amongst Capitalism, Communism and Colonialsm, I was surprised to hear it in the isms, and I thought it might amuse anyone who hadn't come accross it yet. (Which is probably no one, as I am always late to the party)

Third verse -

Mansplaining, your mum does the washing, you tell her how best
To do the washing, you have never done the washing
Same-sex marriage, your mums do the washing
Patriarchy, your mum doesn't exist, your washing is mysteriously done
TERFism, your mum doesn't want your other mum doing the washing
Because of like, genitals and stuff
Polling, there is a seventy perfect chance
You will do the washing on Saturday night, come Sunday morning
It was one-hundred percent done by your mum...

Look at us stroppy buggers, making it into pop songs!

Yes, I found some of it really uncomfortable. Interesting, witty, but full of the same preconceptions and bias that he was poking fun at.

But now I feel po faced for disliking something entertaining.

The bit about antisemitism in the first was seemed a bit victim blamey. Not surprised he's a RSOH bloke.

Shit I've listened to that tune before and somehow missed that lyric. Not sure how!

That's made me feel pretty fucking glum. I get it that the arts is captured and I'm fairly sure 90% of my favourite musicians are "be kind". I don't need to agree to love the music. But. But to stick that actual phrase in...... I've friends asking me to go and see him live and now I'm not sure I can. I don't want to be surrounded by people cheering that phrase. Its fucking triggering. Ugh.

The version I listened to didn’t contain the TMAM etc lines. I’ve just listened again and nope, they’re definitely not there. Perhaps they were removed at a later stage? Maybe he doesn’t go along with this any more?

I find it very witty and original. I don’t think you need to side politically with every line he says to enjoy it and I don’t think artists have to tick every politically correct box to be appreciated.

The TWAW lyrics are from this song/poem:

We're all susceptible to lazy thinking to one degree or another, and it's a shame because this man seems quite thoughtful in some of his framing, and shows some insight at times.

Yes, it's well-made, slick, and entertaining. And appears to be bold, while also being non-threatening. That kind of faux-riskiness is quite common in lots of contemporary work. A pretend railing that isn't really threatening to rock any boats.

That said, the point of the song in the OP is that it's always the mum who does the fucking washing, and that unfortunately holds true. He's noticed that women are at the bottom of the heap and remain so, but he's still commenting on how women are doing it wrong.

Absolutely. It's a catchy song. It's mildly irritating that it's presented as deep and impactful political comment, is all.

I agree really. And I'm looking forward to a gig in the summer where I know for certain the artist has TRA views. But their music isn't social / political commentary in the way Idehen's is. Maybe that's what I struggle with. I don't want to be in a crowd of people and hear that phrase. I'm scared of how I'll feel. I know that sounds overly dramatic!

I mean, it's a man performing a song about women's subjugation.

To be clear, I can take how he doesn't really get it in "Your mum...". And I appreciate that there are other lines in that song which may resonate with me but not with others.

It's the literal "TWAW ' phrase being trotted out in "Learning to swim " which crossed a line for me.

And yeah maybe shouldn't expect better from a man.

Oh right. The TWAW line comes from a different poem / song - I assumed you were referring to the poem in the title of this thread. I understand the confusion now.

Ok so artist has a moment of lazy thinking / wanting to go along with the crowd. That doesn’t stop me from appreciating his Washing poem. That said I wouldn’t be able to stomach hearing the TWAW line from a different poem trotted out at a live event I’d paid to see, so note to self: don’t see this man perform live.

I think it is presented as comedy, not deep. Wit rather than analysis.

This is brilliant! The whole thing is really funny. And true.

He doesn’t seem to mind too much that your mum does the washing. He sees it, acknowledges it, smiled wryly and moves on.

It’s just how it is. Natural law, innit.

For all its faults, I think the constant reminder of who ends up doing the washing is effective. And a lot of his audience probably think of themselves as out-there and edgy and street and rebellious and cool and guess what?...
their mum does their washing😆

Meh, he sounds a bit of a dick to me. We don't have to set the bar so low that we fawn over every man who makes a vague observation about sexism. He doesn't understand why women object to men being called women. Because he's not actually that open to what women think.

Very funny 😁

I quite like that he has no fucking clue why the TERF has a problem with the man-mum.

The rest of his 'observations' are fairly well expressed.

Terfism 'genitals or something' - it's like.... he doesn't actually know how to express why it's 'bad'.

Ok so it says TWAW. I didn't notice that part?

Ummmmmm...... given songs are being posted here, I'd like to submit an entry by Newport's finest. Goldie Looking Chain - Your Mother's Got a Penis.

Warning, much crudeness and vulgarity, quite a good little beat, very funny as long as you are not offended. Click the tiny link under the YT preview.

I'll get my coat......

n

That’s in Learn To Swim, a different one.

@BeaAndBen sorry, yeah I clocked that just after I posted. Thank you.

This was my reaction too - lionising some bloke over vague references to ‘terfs’ that are open to interpretation? And a few other lazy political assertions? I’ll pass, thanks 🙄

Exactly.

Can women please get off their knees for every two-bit so-called feministing chump?