We need an organised strategy rather than just complaining

submitted by Esseteee from self.GenderCritical

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[–]ArthnoldManacatsaman 49 insightful - 1 fun49 insightful - 0 fun50 insightful - 1 fun -  (17 children)

I definitely agree, it absolutely is time to start winning, but the question is how?

I won't be alone in believing that it's all well and good for JK Rowling to publicly have gender critical views (and thank God she has!) because she is rich and influential enough that a few Twitter trolls aren't going to ruin her life in a concrete way. The abuse Rowling has suffered on Twitter is abhorrent, certainly, but I doubt she will be worrying about paying the rent next month.

If we're being honest with ourselves, most of us here are comparative nobodies. There is a real risk that if we are public about our views and attach our names to them there will be real-world consequences from which we don't have JK's ability to insulate ourselves. My company is increasingly genuflecting to the Woke Inquisition as of late, and I have no doubt that before long the trans nonsense will start arriving too, but I'm worried I can't speak out without being branded a racist transphobe and losing my job. It's fine to say 'it's okay to have these views' but support and affirmation doesn't pay the rent (despite trans ideologues claiming it's the be all and end all of everything).

If nothing else, my peak-awokening has got me more interested in politics and 'activism' (even though I would never call myself an activist personally) and in recent weeks I've donated to important causes, signed petitions, wrote letters to elected representatives etc. I know that's probably the minimum standard for 'living in a society' and don't necessarily want a gold star, but if other people are peaking and getting more involved, then that's a little progress after all.

[–]jet199 31 insightful - 1 fun31 insightful - 0 fun32 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Look at what we're doing in the UK and copy.

Shine a light, speak in plain english not TRA chosen euphemisms, explain the consequences of policies in a cold matter of fact way, use stats and verifiable evidence, go to your political representatives directly and individually, work cross party, have trans and male allies, etc, etc.

[–]black_sheep 25 insightful - 1 fun25 insightful - 0 fun26 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

I go to one of the most elite universities in the world and basically have chosen to leave academia after getting my Ph.D. because I am not allowed to express any of my real philosophical views. Even if I made it to tenure that wouldn't be until I was middle-aged and after I endured countless years of ideological submission to make it in an intensely competitive job-market that rewards groupthink masked as critical thinking through impenetrable jargon. Even assuming I got tenure and then came out with my real beliefs, there are many ways to fire someone or pressure them to resign (e.g. withdrawing research funds or ostracism, which is especially deadly if the school you work at is in the middle of nowhere). You won't be published if your ideas go against the establishment so the only way to get hired is to produce the propaganda that academic journals want for YEARS. I feel like the model I live under in academia, which is increasing spreading outside the academy, is that of Eastern Europe post WWII.

[–]ArthnoldManacatsaman 11 insightful - 1 fun11 insightful - 0 fun12 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

I'm in a similar boat. I've been thinking about returning to university to pursue a PhD, not because I have any ambitions around being a professional academic, but for love of my subject area, and also there's something of the video game completionist about me. I haven't 100%-ed higher education yet.

But then again, I don't want to spend thousands on another degree (I'm not a gifted enough academic to get funding, unfortunately) to be bombarded with woke nonsense for a couple of years.

[–]Esseteee[S] 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Academia is going to end up being full of fools this is a threat to knowledge in general

[–]black_sheep 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I can tell you that getting the degree will probably do more to harm your love of your subject than help. The social isolation is also not worth it. Most of the secondary literature on the authors I study is incoherent postmodern rants about why those authors are evil and truth doesn't exist except for the supertruth of Marxist materialism and transgenderism and everything else the contemporary academy demands you agree with.

[–]Esseteee[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Maybe there should be some kind of new independent academic research organisation which could be funded by donation and support relevant studies by talented women like you, it would be wrong for your academic talents should go to waste and you could potentially contribute a great deal to knowledge given that you are able to think outside of the gender box, there is much that needs to be studied and explored and explained

[–]Archie 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

In what field are you?

[–]black_sheep 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Humanities is all I can say. Don't want to put too much identifying info.

[–][deleted] 18 insightful - 2 fun18 insightful - 1 fun19 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

I think we are going to have to do this the old fashion way. By actually meeting people in real life. Even though there is a pandemic, you can still politically gather as is your first amendment rights. They can’t stop people meeting in a private home. As long as your views don’t have a social media presence, they can’t fire you.

[–]RevengeOfTheCis 19 insightful - 1 fun19 insightful - 0 fun20 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

While this sounds great, there is no way on earth I would try to invite other GC women into my home when I have no way of knowing whether they are legit or not. Any TRA psychopath can pretend to be GC online.

The few women I know IRL who I feel comfortable trying to talk to about this either don't really care, are total TRAs/libfems, or live in other time zones (the US is massive).

[–][deleted] 10 insightful - 1 fun10 insightful - 0 fun11 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I was thinking more that we should get to know our neighbors? A lot of politics is local and who gets voted is determined at a local level. Us talking to someone from UK and befriending them isn’t going to change policies locally for us here in the US for example. Vote for people who don’t push or support this agenda and you can only do that by educating those around you.

[–]Esseteee[S] 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

There are probably some similar women in your area whatever area you are in, maybe make a project of trying to find them, maybe go to feminist events and ask subtle questions to the women you meet there to test the waters as to what their view may be

[–]RevengeOfTheCis 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

maybe go to feminist events and ask subtle questions

Hmm, that's a good idea I haven't actually tried. I generally avoid feminist events these days since every single one I've seen advertised for the last 5 years has a whole paragraph about supporting trans women in the description.

Are you recommending to just go to those events anyway, and see if there are any other crypto-TERFs there? Do you have any advice on what kind of subtle questions I can safely ask?

This is all hypothetical for now since I'm in the US and pretty much can't go anywhere due to the pandemic, but I'd like to have some ideas on what to do when this is all over.

[–]PassionateIntensity 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

We need a US or North American version of Women's Place UK. We need in-person meetings and routine press releases countering the trans-bullshit. There also desperately needs to be a gay rights org that actually stands up for gay people. Even fucking Lambda Legal is pushing gay conversion therapy on kids now.