Bridging the Gap Facebook page.

[mynamefor2025]

Anyone follow the page 'bridging the gap' on Facebook?

I feel I am going to have to unfollow it now. Just seen a post in regards to breastfeeding. Opening line 'breastfeeding isn't just for cis gendered women ' ill detail the rest below..

'Admin Post: Stop Gatekeeping Feeding
Breastfeeding isn’t just for cis women. Trans men and non-binary parents can and do breastfeed or chestfeed.

Using “mums” as the default excludes people. It’s gatekeeping care work, and it doesn’t reflect the reality of who feeds and cares for babies.

Use whatever terms feel right for you — but when we’re talking generally or shaping public spaces, inclusive language matters.

This group centres marginalised genders. That means using language that includes everyone.

It makes me so angry. I am a woman. Not a cis woman. I have breasts. I did not chestfeed my child. I breastfed them. If there is a transman that finds themselves in the position of wanting to breastfeeding their child, go ahead and do so and I hope they get all the support they need to do that. I hope people are respectful in the language they use.

However, why cant people see that by making sure they dont offend the few, they are offending/marginalising the majority of people it applies to. 😡

There's also a post titled 'if you aren't for trans women then you are against all women'

Wtf?

I'm on that page, and so disappointed. They do so much to help women, then smash it to smithereens in one go. I wouldn't even mind as much if they were inclusive and said "mums and..." but they are hell bent on this. They are very much 'no debate' and get support for it, so I've come to terms with ignoring those posts to try and get what I want/need from the page. But it's getting more and more difficult.

Do unfollow. What is the point of a breastfeeding group that can be as nonsensical as that?
And if possible write a message explaining why - as measured a message as possible so that the admin truly feels their hypocrisy and authoritarianism when they delete it.

@LemonSqueezy0 thats exactly how I feel. Its such a good place for women to share their experiences and offer advice but the the attitude of Admin and no debate is very militant.

Its not a breastfeeding support group specifically. Its a page for women to share their experiences and get advice about the gender gap. A lot of what I see are posts from women looking for advice as they are in abusive relationships and dont know what to do. It really is (was) a page where women supported women.

Don’t follow. En masse make a polite clear easy to understand fuss and back each other up in public

this is the emperors new clothes and it only works until people
notice it’s bullshit.

That's very very sad, @mynamefor2025. That such a valuable resource is being trashed.

I'd write multiple posts urging them to come over to MN where they can get the same support without the authoritarian gaslighting.

(I'm not on Facebook so I don't really know how these pages work, and may not be understanding the options available to you)

They literally force you to give pronouns to joint he group...

"This group is a safe space for marginalised genders, including women (cis and trans), AFAB individuals, non-binary folks, and trans men. Do you identify with one of these groups? Please specify your gender identity and/or pronouns."

They sound pretty one sided....

I answered:

"Absolutely, yes! I’m a non-binary, trans-masculine demiboy (AFAB) who joyfully answers to he/they—though if you shout “oi, magnificent rainbow-friend!” I’ll probably spin round and wave too. Trans rights are fundamental human rights, and I’m here to sling glitter-powered solidarity wherever it’s needed, dismantle the patriarchy one wholesome meme at a time, and make sure every marginalised-gender pal feels as safe as a cat in a sun-beam."

They must have changed that as I never had to answer any questions to do with pronouns but I think i've followed the page for quite a few years now.

I like your response though 🤣

https://www.facebook.com/groups/410364763121879

I encourage others to join

I love you 🥰

They let me in 🥸🥸

Has anyone ever seen the advice that Stonewall gives to groups like this?

Is it all over the phone, with no paper trail, or is there some sort of starter pack that they send?

It would be interesting to try to see if there is a direct correlation from these sort of statements back to Stonewall advice. I guess that they might equally be caused by social contagion or a well placed true believer.

Miserable when it takes hold

"this group centers marginalised genders"

I do not know this group, though I can assume you are a person who does not acknowledge marginalised genders so what do you expect? Next time, keep to groups which share your exclusionary politics if you don't want to interact with groups of people you don't like.

Isn't the group in question the one being exclusionary?

Which genders are marginalised by the way?

Not at all.

How people choose to live their life has no consequence to me, if it makes them happy. Im happy to use whatever pronouns they wish.

I do take issue with ideology being forced on me. Saying that terminology such as 'chestfeeding ' is exclusionary.

Im a woman and i breastfed my child. I find it offensive to be told otherwise. Dont get me started with 'cis woman' either.