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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Thank you MNHQ

315 replies

Blistory · 16/04/2025 15:20

I don't post much on here anymore but just wanted to take a moment today to thank Mumsnet @MNHQ and Justine in particular for standing strong over a considerable number of years.

I fully appreciate that not all Mumsnet members or employees held the same beliefs but in the fury of doxing, banning, and insults, MNHQ held the line to enable this space where women were able to have a discussion.

I know the arguments and concerns over the years but the fact is that this was the only public space for a considerable number of years where a conversation was allowed about what came to be known as gender critical concerns.

This was where women came to gather, to discuss, to learn, to be heard, to form new spaces, to support and to stand strong. It wasn't always a pleasant place to be but it was always a place that was allowed to exist. It stood against the pressure groups, the hate, the doxxing, the pressure of advertisers, Stonewall law and it did so by simply being allowed to exist. The women on here and in the wider world did the rest. It's easy to forget just how difficult it was for MNHQ to hold the line especially when being attacked by all sides.

Thank you.

OP posts:
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Paddingtonsmarmaladesandwiches · 18/04/2025 13:00

SusanSmithFWS · 18/04/2025 11:35

Dear @JustineMumsnet,
Thank you so very much for everything. But for Mumsnet, we would never have come together. I'm not on so much these days, but the women here gave me courage and focus in those early days. They have also been some of our fiercest supporters, morally and financially. I hope you feel vindicated and I hope you get some well deserved apologies (and more ad revenue!)
Lots of Love from all at FWS x

Show quote history

@SusanSmithFWS @JustineMumsnet I have been so emotional since the judgement. I too don’t think I’d ever see the tide turn. I’m so immensely grateful for your courage and determination. Thank you. Never been so proud to be a Scottish woman. The press coverage has been mixed at best but I’m stunned at how many women and men were oblivious to all this. They can’t say that now. Ocado delivers M&S food orders and I bloody can’t wait to see if they’ll still allow men in women’s changing rooms. Jobs not done. #womenwontwheest

MrsMappFlint · 18/04/2025 13:04

Just emailed them asking them to delete my account.

Thank you, Mumsnet.

MrsMappFlint · 18/04/2025 13:07

SidewaysOtter · 18/04/2025 12:40

They have indeed apologised. It’s all a bit weaselly and begrudging (and I don’t buy the “a rogue contractor did it”) but it’s an apology nonetheless:

x.com/ocado/status/1913185791271903512?s=46

If they mean their apology, let's see their apology to Mumsnet and let's see them enter into an advertising contract. @JustineMumsnet will you let us know if they approach you, cap in hand.

Until I see that, they won't get one more penny out of me.

FatherFrosty · 18/04/2025 13:29

I cannot write anything more profound than has already been written. @JustineMumsnet and @SusanSmithFWS

thank you for your tenacity and sheer courage

on behalf of me and my daughter.

truly. Thank you

MrsPeterHarris · 18/04/2025 13:35

GetDressedYouMerryGentlemen · 18/04/2025 11:44

@SusanSmithFWS a massive thank you to all that has been achieved by FWS. You are mighty warriors and I want to thank you with every fibre of my being for fighting this fight. We are women, thanks to our biology; no more, no less and thanks to FWS we can define who we are which means we can secure our rights. You made me weep with relief when I heard the judgement. Boring old biology trumps all the feelz. Thank you and thanks again @JustineMumsnet for giving us a space to talk about our rights and our needs.

Completely agree - I also wept, especially when the singing was so loud! Massive massive thank you @SusanSmithFWS and your brave warrior ladies. You are all amazing. A million trillion thank yous! There are no words to say to each of you how grateful I am. xx

BottleBlondeMachiavelli · 18/04/2025 13:40

theilltemperedqueenofspacetime · 16/04/2025 22:34

I recently found out that Justine is the only person in the UK to have been 'SWATTED'. Respect.

I’m pretty sure SolidGoldBrass (??) was too on the same occasion, but yes it’s been a fun few years for Justine.

Pluvia · 18/04/2025 13:56

I only used Ocado a couple of occasions during lockdown but they continue to email me and I have just phoned them and asked to close my account and delete all my details and explained why.

BiologicalRobot · 18/04/2025 14:06

Another person who came from Google about cats, stayed for the AIBU arguments, joined in the Relationship abuse ltb before actually realising I was also in an abusive marriage, now on the pathway to freedom, all before finding the "hidden" Feminism board. I was very confused as my reality was different to what they were saying, surely TWAW because otherwise they were liars, backed by bigger lying organisations. Then I had a light bulb moment. Women were being gaslit and abused physically, mentally, emotionally by (mostly) men on a massive, global, scale. Thank you Justine for having that board. I have learnt so much from all the wise women who post there, past and present ❤Flowers

Nightingalenight · 18/04/2025 14:30

Thank you @JustineMumsnet and all the FWR posters who have made the last few years less grindingly lonely. I have fled to the FWR board so many times, to find company and the arguments which helped me understand I wasn’t going mad.

I wish I’d realised how difficult it must have been to keep advertisers onside - the FWR segregation and the deletions and the language checks were worth it, because now, thanks to all the women who could continue to gather here, who could support each other and raise money for the seemingly endless court cases (truly, an extra tax on women), my sex category is protected in law - I know it’s absurd that it needed to happen but I feel secure, for the first time in years, now MY OWN rights have been confirmed.

Thank you for holding the line.

Leafstamp · 18/04/2025 14:35

I just want to add my thanks to @mnhq and @JustineMumsnet

It was here that I learnt what was going on - about 5 years ago. Without mumsnet I'm not sure I would have gone on to get properly involved in fighting for women's rights and safeguarding of children.

Thank you also to the wise MNetters themselves who freely give their advice and support to women here.

Motnight · 18/04/2025 14:42

Thank you @JustineMumsnet and Mumsnet and all the amazing women posting on this site about women's rights.

arethereanyleftatall · 18/04/2025 14:45

Totally agree. Thank you Mumsnet. With this whole debacle over the past few years, in the face of what seemed at first like no one else agreeing with me, I kept second guessing myself ‘maybe I’m wrong and sex doesn’t matter’ but mumsnet, with it’s so many articulate, intelligent posters, kept me sane. And, now it seems, everybody was always on the same page, but just didn’t dare voice it. Bonkers times.

lifeinthelastlane · 18/04/2025 14:56

Agreed
has been a great place to share knowledge, learn more and develop opinions.

DarkForces · 18/04/2025 14:57

Thank you. I've learnt so much on this site. You've been amazing

teksquad · 18/04/2025 15:05

JustineMumsnet · 17/04/2025 07:51

Thanks all – I really appreciate the appreciation. It’s been severely testing at times – there were moments I genuinely thought we might never see the tide turn, or at least not in our generation. And in the meantime, Mumsnet risked being permanently labelled as bigoted, vicious, and ‘on the wrong side of history’.

A fair number of organisations pulled their advertising under pressure from activists – both internal and external. I’m sure there were many more we never heard from who simply steered clear. Commercial partnerships became noticeably harder to secure. The low point was discovering we’d been blacklisted on instruction from the top brass at Barclays – just weeks before their CEO resigned over concealing ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

When we included a call to clarify the definition of sex in the Equality Act in our 2024 Mumsnet Manifesto, Ocado – who had been excited about a partnership – abruptly pulled out, citing Mumsnet’s “hateful political views”. Despite repeated attempts to explain our position – as a platform committed to amplifying women’s voices – they’ve refused to speak to us ever since.

Nonetheless, even in the darkest moments, when I feared the site might not survive, we never considered banning discussion of this issue altogether. That would have been completely contrary to what Mumsnet is about: a space for mothers to talk about what matters to them. We’ve always believed in the power of respectful, open discussion – especially on difficult topics. And again and again, users have told us that Mumsnet has helped them change their minds, or at least understand a different point of view.

That spirit is what inspired our This Is My Child campaign back in 2013, prompted by a thread where a mother described her own child’s disruptive behaviour – and then explained he had additional needs, and what it was like to parent under constant public judgment. The discussion that followed was one of the most powerful we’ve hosted – and helped many people see things differently.

On the issue of women’s rights, I know some felt we policed conversations too tightly at times. But please remember the pressure we were under. A single sentence, taken out of context and amplified by activists on social media, could result in advertisers – already jittery, particularly during Covid – disappearing overnight and without the advertising we simply cannot cover our running costs and the site would have folded. We were also aware that some activists, posing as users, were deliberately trying to bait others into saying something that could be used to damage us.

So a big well done to everyone on here who played a part in securing what I think most would agree is much-needed clarity in the Equality Act. As ever, we’re in awe of the intelligence, tenacity and resilience of Mumsnet users.

Thankyou for now speaking so openly and honestly Justine, and respect for how difficult it has been.

maximalistmaximus · 18/04/2025 15:14

Yes, thank you

FuzzyPuffling · 18/04/2025 15:14

I have read. I have learnt. I have been very grateful for the women here who are so articulate and knowledgeable.

Thank you MN.
Thank you women.

RoyalCorgi · 18/04/2025 15:17

Another thank you to @JustineMumsnet from me. Mumsnet has been a beacon of hope and sanity over the past few years. You didn't have to do the right thing – and it would have been a lot easier to do the wrong thing – but you did it anyway.

And @SusanSmithFWS: wow! Completely in awe of what you and your Scottish sisters have achieved. We owe you a huge debt of gratitude.

IGuessIllbetheFirst · 18/04/2025 15:39

Thank you Mumsnet and thank you to all the brave women who stood up and stood firm until sanity prevailed.

Lolapusht · 18/04/2025 15:42

@JustineMumsnet thanks to all at Mumsnet for persevering.

NotNowFGS · 18/04/2025 15:45

I bloody love Mumsnet. My babies are 21 and 23 but like many I have stayed for the feminism. Thank you Mumsnet and @JustineMumsnet and well done FWS, queens the lot of you 😘

placemats · 18/04/2025 16:08

TanteRose · 18/04/2025 12:18

Thanks @JustineMumsnet
and thanks @SusanSmithFWS

by the way, re: Ocado, Sonia Sodha just contacted them and got this reply

https://x.com/soniasodha/status/1913182381101510985?s=46&t=DYMVYhEoGD6kTaKmo-0O8Q

That's quite the non reserved apology reserved apology.

To add my thanks to all. About This Is My Child campaign was fantastic.

Needapadlockonmyfridge · 18/04/2025 16:41

I have to say, I love the logo's party hat!!

frenchnoodle · 18/04/2025 16:52

Needapadlockonmyfridge · 18/04/2025 16:41

I have to say, I love the logo's party hat!!

That's because the site is 25, but it's very fitting considering.

ElBandito · 18/04/2025 16:56

Thank you mumsnet.

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