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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Sonia Sodha' last Observer column.

51 replies

Lovelyview · 20/04/2025 08:46

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/20/the-supreme-court-has-carefully-ringfenced-protections-for-women-thats-all-we-wanted Sonia Sodha being the clear voice of common sense as usual.

'Can you imagine angry leftwing men railing against any other group that’s managed to secure their rights? Chastising them for not being gracious enough in victory? Me neither.'

The supreme court has carefully ringfenced protections for women. That’s all we wanted | Sonia Sodha

Last week’s ruling clarified the legal safeguards of the Equality Act. However, it was a travesty that the battle needed to be fought at all

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/20/the-supreme-court-has-carefully-ringfenced-protections-for-women-thats-all-we-wanted

OP posts:
LizzieSiddal · 20/04/2025 08:48

Thanks for posting. Sonia has been so brave.

theweirdthings · 20/04/2025 08:58

Fantastic. I’ve been on the brink of tears ever since the ruling because I am so horribly outraged that it even had to take place. I feel so weak for never talking about this in real life (I am seriously conflict averse). I wonder if that will be my biggest regret when I look back on my life! Maybe I’ll be braver one day.

WandaSiri · 20/04/2025 08:58

Great article. Spot on as always.

Sonia Sodha also got a "gold star" from Audrey Ludwig as the best journalist she had ever trained when it comes to understanding equalities law.

Freda69 · 20/04/2025 09:01

Sonia deserves thanks from all of us for sticking up for women so eloquently for so long, in very difficult circumstances. Wishing her well for the future.

ItisntOver · 20/04/2025 09:01

It the last regular column, I hope that we see more writing there and elsewhere.

fabricstash · 20/04/2025 10:41

I will definitely be following her progress! Wonderful writer

ArchibaldBoyd · 20/04/2025 10:42

Brilliant column

theilltemperedqueenofspacetime · 20/04/2025 10:47

Such a clear description. Will still be reviled as transphobia.

Moonshinerso · 20/04/2025 10:47

Such a clear and beautifully written article.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 20/04/2025 10:52

What a lovely article - and perfect that it's been published in the Observer so that all the Guardian readers can see it.

guinnessguzzler · 20/04/2025 10:53

Fabulous. Great piece and thanks to Sonia for championing the cause so well for so long.

highame · 20/04/2025 10:59

A great read. Good luck Sonia

love her appearances on TV. She used to seem so young but with such a fantastic level of knowledge and understanding. Never one for the hyperbole

MarieDeGournay · 20/04/2025 10:59

Part of being a grownup is understanding that the world cannot always be structured around your own wants and needs. It’s not kind, compassionate or healthy to indulge a failure to accept that.
So well said! Brava Sonia!

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 20/04/2025 11:07

Wonderful article, thank you for posting

CatietteX · 20/04/2025 11:08

She says just what I’m thinking, but better than I could. And it’s always such a relief to see it out there in black and white, as it were. I’m finding the backlash really quite upsetting, so this was a breath of fresh air.

StanfreyPock · 20/04/2025 11:12

Great article, sums it all up so well, and what a brave woman to have stood her ground in these times. Brava Sonia 👏

SnoopyPajamas · 20/04/2025 11:15

This is currently at the top of the most read articles list, with the "dignified compromise" one at number four. I am enjoying that.

The Guardian have done their level best to control the conversation on this. I'm sure they'll have tried to bury the article, if they couldn't stop Sonia writing it. And I bet there were plenty of the scolding lefty men she references in the article in her own workplace. Good on her for holding her ground! Do we know why this is her last article for the Observer? Was she always stepping down, or have things come to a head over the Supreme Court judgement in recent days?

TheNumberfaker · 20/04/2025 11:19

The Guardian have sold off their sister paper The Observer and Sonia has chosen to leave after 10 years rather than stay on.

letsallchant · 20/04/2025 11:23

'Our culture remains dead set against women who say no to men'. THIS.

TheNumberfaker · 20/04/2025 11:23

I’ve been a massive fan of Sonia for several years. She is so rational and well researched. I think she was an advisor to Ed Miliband when he was in first in government with Blair/Brown so she’s definitely not right wing!
I first heard of her during the Brexit years when she argued for a Citizens’ Assembly approach to solving the deadlock. I also totally agree with her views on Assisted Dying.

strangeandfamiliar · 20/04/2025 11:27

Another great article. I didn't realise she was leaving The Observer.

Merrymouse · 20/04/2025 11:29

strangeandfamiliar · 20/04/2025 11:27

Another great article. I didn't realise she was leaving The Observer.

Pretty much everyone is - the Guardian have sold the Observer toTortoise media and most of the staff are sceptical that it has a future there.

ZeldaFighter · 20/04/2025 11:32

Can't read it - used up my free articles 😞

Fitzcarraldo353 · 20/04/2025 11:35

Will be interesting to see what line the Observer takes on this, and other issues, going forwards under Tortoise.

Merrymouse · 20/04/2025 11:45

Do they double down and try to argue that MPs must respond by dismantling women’s legal protections? Or do they put a stop to an ideological crusade that’s harmed not just women and lesbians, but the many trans people who aren’t dogmatic about gender ideology, and instead advocate for gender-neutral third spaces, open and female categories in sports, and specialist services for trans people, and against discrimination based on gender non-conformity? If they pick the latter path, they’ll find willing allies in women like me.

I don't think the first option is possible - too much light has been shed on the issue, particularly by men taking advantage of 'TWAW' policies. The Conservatives had Karen White, the SNP had Isla Bryson, and now every week there seems to be a local news story about a 'woman' in court who is very obviously male. And that's before you consider the implications of the Cass report. Any politician who has been guided by pragmatism rather than belief can see this - the ideology just doesn't survive contact with reality.

The question is whether people will be prepared to abandon the ideology and realise this.