This is my second letter in my exchange with Julie Bindel, in response to the question: "Can feminist causes be furthered by working with right wing or religious people and groups?
"What does it mean to “ally” with someone?" This is such an important question. I've rarely seen the vaguely-defined idea of allyship used for anything but silencing women. It's not only happening with women who make up their own minds about with whom they will associate but with women who will not adhere to the notion that anyone deemed an "ally" is not to be criticised, publicly or otherwise. Women are now instantly and enthusiastically censored for "attacking allies" even when our concerns are not only justified but painfully obvious. We're told to be discreet and bide our time even as the "allies" tear down the basics queer theory style before our very eyes and replace them with enforced hero worship. I've watched from a small and utterly captured country as people who are supposedly fighting for women and girls exploit this idea to raise their own public image to cult like proportions while the women on the ground, pointing to the danger of creating another sacred caste, are framed as villains and lunatics. It's a dire situation. I hope you will write more about the ally question.
Thank you Meghan, I understand you. But I am repelled by men like Carlson and most all US Republican men, and women. I won’t share a good gender critical article on social media when it’s promoting an anti-woman, anti-choice, patriarchal publication or viewpoint.
Maybe it’s good that you can. Hopefully you can shed some Feminist cells!
"What does it mean to “ally” with someone?" This is such an important question. I've rarely seen the vaguely-defined idea of allyship used for anything but silencing women. It's not only happening with women who make up their own minds about with whom they will associate but with women who will not adhere to the notion that anyone deemed an "ally" is not to be criticised, publicly or otherwise. Women are now instantly and enthusiastically censored for "attacking allies" even when our concerns are not only justified but painfully obvious. We're told to be discreet and bide our time even as the "allies" tear down the basics queer theory style before our very eyes and replace them with enforced hero worship. I've watched from a small and utterly captured country as people who are supposedly fighting for women and girls exploit this idea to raise their own public image to cult like proportions while the women on the ground, pointing to the danger of creating another sacred caste, are framed as villains and lunatics. It's a dire situation. I hope you will write more about the ally question.
Thank you Meghan, I understand you. But I am repelled by men like Carlson and most all US Republican men, and women. I won’t share a good gender critical article on social media when it’s promoting an anti-woman, anti-choice, patriarchal publication or viewpoint.
Maybe it’s good that you can. Hopefully you can shed some Feminist cells!