Radfem 2013 and the MRAs

(861 Posts)
MooncupGoddess Mon 22-Apr-13 17:05:46

As many of you will remember, the Radfem 2012 conference in London was explicitly open only to born women and consequently attracted lots of condemnation and anger from people who saw this as transphobic. It was kicked out of its original venue at Conway Hall and went underground (very successfully in the end).

This year Radfem 2013 has not explicitly banned transwomen... but instead it's come under attack from Men's Rights Activists, who have staged a demo at the planned venue, the London Irish Centre, while making lots of unpleasant and ridiculous claims about how radical feminists want to murder small boys and the like. As a result the venue is threatening to cancel the booking.



I have mixed feelings about the whole trans issue but have no hesitation in declaring the MRAs utter misogynist knobbers and am disappointed the London Irish Centre has seemingly caved into them.

You haven't read any of the links have you Laz?

Or you are wilfully misunderstanding them.

The point of the IPCC report into Sapphire was that they weren't even believed in the interview room.

Nor were Jimmy Saville's victims. And many others. Care to check into Operation Yewtree? And how so many historical rapes are now being prosecuted?

runningforthebusinheels Sun 12-May-13 22:11:26

John Worbouys wasn't famous, but his victims weren't believed. He was left to carry on raping with impunity, because the Met told one victim "a licensed black cab driver wouldn't do that..."

LazerussLozenge Sun 12-May-13 22:29:47

Not misunderstanding willfully, Sabrina.

I've re-looked at Sapphire, and have now found the reports that I assume you are referring to. Oddly, the met's own website didn't advertise any problems.

Yes, it appears that even the specialist unit the Met set up is full of problems. Especially given the number of officers disciplined.

Yep, I've been reading about Yewtree. I also read the bits where some of the victims themselves said that his fame put them off at the time. I wasn't commenting on the Police actions of the time.

What's your point Laz?

grimbletart Tue 14-May-13 16:44:38

Was interested to see this story today on the BBC website following rebuttal on this thread (think it was this thread though I haven't trawled back) that doubted that any army officer would have said prostitution was necessary in relation to soldiers.


We've all heard of the Korean comfort women in World War II but the fact that even today it is still being semi justified by a prominent Japanese politician (Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto) is interesting.

Extract from his comments:




BubblesOfBliss Tue 14-May-13 18:05:26
BubblesOfBliss Wed 15-May-13 10:10:57

PlentyOfPubeGardens Sun 12-May-13 18:30:40
Nice name change though LazEruss, that 'e' really suits you

SabrinaMulhollandJjones Sun 12-May-13 18:14:02
Funny how Laz "I've never even heard of an MRA before this thread" Lozenge is suddenly such an expert on rape, isn't it?

Is that how the MRE trolls operate on mumsnet- a tag team, when one gets worn down by facts and logic that expose the pesky unarguable truth- MRE 2 comes in to keep up the work of suppression? Its incredibly organised for such a time-consuming and futile activity.

What I don't understand is how they come on and go 'bla bla bla ... false rape allegations ... terrible ...' and they get told how rare false rape allegations are but they don't seem at all pleased or relieved to learn this.

If I was worrying about something and someone pointed out how rare and unlikely it was to happen, I'd go 'oh phew!' and devote my energies to something else.


BubblesOfBliss Thu 16-May-13 18:00:02

I agree POPG

It gives the impression they are personally invested in propagating the myth that women, children and other vulnerable groups are unreliable witnesses, best disbelieved, when they disclose being raped by men.

Contemplating any possible motive for this personal investment is incredibly dark..
I know we make sport of their stupidity, but it really is dark....

BasilBabyEater Thu 16-May-13 21:32:49

There isn't a reasonable motive for continuing to insist that false allegations are a serious problem when confronted with the statistics, or for denying those stats even though they are accepted by governments and police forces, none of whom are known for their feminism.

I always suspect a man who insists on doing so, is either already a rapist or wants to keep the door open to becoming one without being held accountable. I don't mean they spend their time in dark alleys waiting to pounce on women - just that they want to be able to rape women they know without it being recognised and acknowledged as rape. Hence their unreasonable support for rape culture - they've got a vested interest in maintaining it.

BubblesOfBliss Fri 17-May-13 13:45:43

I agree Basil and I think their creepy loitering around in areas where women want to talk to each other online -and they aren't welcome- by trolling and derailing with such a deep level of commitment, and working in tandem with those who harass and intimidate venues to prevent women wanting to meet face-to-face at the at the Irish Centre, just shows, rape aside, how much they love to violate and control- women in particular.

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