Feminism in News and Popular Media

[Kobi]

Originally Posted by Allison W

Sheila Jeffreys, for starters. As someone who has never descended upon TERF space or threatened a woman with death or rape--and I will say right now, I wholeheartedly condemn the threats of violence, rape, and death being alleged and would not stand for anyone I associate with, trans or ally or otherwise, sending them--and who has been pushing back against Gamergate in no small part because of its campaign of exactly that kind of behaviour--I nonetheless get upset when accused of being the second coming of Hitler, particularly when I'm already in a vulnerable population frequently under attack by the mainstream. It's not the idea that sometimes FAB-only space is important and justified. It's not even her just being angry and lashing out at trans people; if that were something she did on the spur of the moment under stress, I could understand it in the context of getting defensive and angry when under attack. It's the part where she actively attacks the identities and rights of all trans people, and where this is going to be an hour-long rant about how trans people are the Devil and the worst thing in the world today and laws need to be passed banning them right now because she's decided her politics should be put before actual medical knowledge. That is what I take exception to, and what she does that I condemn.

Sometimes, I think it is a matter of perspective.

I didnt hear Jeffreys lashing out at anyone. I heard a well spoken, soft spoken, well informed academic, theorist, lesbian and feminist dealing with overall issues.

I heard someone speaking to a different point of view. I saw someone being very clear that others wish and do use questionable methods including threats of violence and rape to stop points of view from being brought to the forefront and to stop any form of debate or examination.

I found it to be very informative. And given the behavior radical lesbian feminists have to endure, I thought it was very civilized. No threats. No name calling. No calls for physical violence. No calls for rape. Just the facts and the theories.