Essentially the RW have ALWAYS played identity politics. What they dont like is that we are asking for diversity and not just pale stale male with money making the decisions.
It always pains me when intra-group conflicts hit the mainstream because normal people lack the context and history of those conflicts and explaining them is exhausting.
Like you could probably have done another 2k words on the truscum movement and it would still have left things out.
The only thing I'd add to the analysis of TERFism is that TERFs have a very strong belief in biological essentialism. One's genetics are intrinsically and irrevocably tied to one's gender and moral worth as a person.
A lot of this stuff springs from unreconstructed second wave feminism that just refused to grapple with or acknowledge 3rd/4th/intersectional feminist critiques and you can kind of see this in their biological essentialism.
Sexual abusers aren't primarily male because of the social and political climate providing a culture that justifies and excuses and covers up their actions; they're primarily male because the Y chromosome is the violence chromosome and testosterone is the violence hormone so trans women, who have the former and a puberty involving the latter, *must* be abusers, QED.
(Never mind that trans people are overwhelmingly the victims, not the perpetrators, of sexual violence; never let statistics get in the way of a hot take).
It’s ironic because the anti-men movement in feminism that is so alienating to (especially white american) males and is pushing them to the right was kept alive and fanned by radical feminists. And now they’re on the same side being mad about people breaking gender stereotypes.
The appointment of Rainbow to the HRC was like a lead weight dropping in my stomach. This roll of politically driven appointments is sickening and wholey undemocratic. Essentially Trumpist corruption. Flying in the face of decades of work to put in guardrails to protect democratic process and independent bodies. Its terrifying really. I had someone ask me why the government shouldnt make the laws instead of independent judiciary the other day.... I was just so stunned I couldnt get the words out.
Excellent piece. Thank you. Has clarified issues that have been bothering me for a while. As a woman I have never understood the lack of empathy between some oppressed groups and others. Its the same waka. And I marvel at the way certain extremism causes people to circle right across to what is anathema to equality and equity. I have pondered the TERF issue for some time. Read alot. Talked alot. Trying to get a handle on where I stand. Your discussion of current radical feminist thought is really helpful and I agree absolutely with your conclusions.
Years ago, my 6 year old moko asked me if she could be a feminist and a vegetarian. Though it may surprise some, particularly in Rainbow’s case, being gay and being a Libertarian are also not mutually exclusive.
David Seymour really is living his best life - he's found HIS rainbow connection and Luxon is the muppet under its spell 🌈 🐸
I honestly can't believe most people don't care about this one. It seems without anger fanned by certain people, Kiwis are simply apathetic.
Essentially the RW have ALWAYS played identity politics. What they dont like is that we are asking for diversity and not just pale stale male with money making the decisions.
😥 Sadly, as in the US right politics, especially Drumpf cult members, every accusation is a confession with ACT et al 😱
It always pains me when intra-group conflicts hit the mainstream because normal people lack the context and history of those conflicts and explaining them is exhausting.
Like you could probably have done another 2k words on the truscum movement and it would still have left things out.
The only thing I'd add to the analysis of TERFism is that TERFs have a very strong belief in biological essentialism. One's genetics are intrinsically and irrevocably tied to one's gender and moral worth as a person.
A lot of this stuff springs from unreconstructed second wave feminism that just refused to grapple with or acknowledge 3rd/4th/intersectional feminist critiques and you can kind of see this in their biological essentialism.
Sexual abusers aren't primarily male because of the social and political climate providing a culture that justifies and excuses and covers up their actions; they're primarily male because the Y chromosome is the violence chromosome and testosterone is the violence hormone so trans women, who have the former and a puberty involving the latter, *must* be abusers, QED.
(Never mind that trans people are overwhelmingly the victims, not the perpetrators, of sexual violence; never let statistics get in the way of a hot take).
It’s ironic because the anti-men movement in feminism that is so alienating to (especially white american) males and is pushing them to the right was kept alive and fanned by radical feminists. And now they’re on the same side being mad about people breaking gender stereotypes.
The nerve. That’s only for women!
The appointment of Rainbow to the HRC was like a lead weight dropping in my stomach. This roll of politically driven appointments is sickening and wholey undemocratic. Essentially Trumpist corruption. Flying in the face of decades of work to put in guardrails to protect democratic process and independent bodies. Its terrifying really. I had someone ask me why the government shouldnt make the laws instead of independent judiciary the other day.... I was just so stunned I couldnt get the words out.
Excellent piece. Thank you. Has clarified issues that have been bothering me for a while. As a woman I have never understood the lack of empathy between some oppressed groups and others. Its the same waka. And I marvel at the way certain extremism causes people to circle right across to what is anathema to equality and equity. I have pondered the TERF issue for some time. Read alot. Talked alot. Trying to get a handle on where I stand. Your discussion of current radical feminist thought is really helpful and I agree absolutely with your conclusions.
Years ago, my 6 year old moko asked me if she could be a feminist and a vegetarian. Though it may surprise some, particularly in Rainbow’s case, being gay and being a Libertarian are also not mutually exclusive.
That sounds more Trumpian than SeymourIan