Post 943699 by cocoron@sunbeam.city
(DIR) More posts by cocoron@sunbeam.city
(DIR) Post #943698 by cocoron@sunbeam.city
2018-11-03T13:11:24Z
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The difference between the US Guardian and the UK Guardian editors on trans rights is reflective of the difference between American and British Feminism at this moment in time.*Feminism in the US seems to be (sometimes) moving towards an intersectional perspective that incorporates voices across the range on issues like class, race, and ecology.British Feminism is extremely institutional, and is dominated by privileged women like Germaine Greer and JK Rowling.*Generalising
(DIR) Post #943699 by cocoron@sunbeam.city
2018-11-03T13:18:57Z
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I am 100% certain that a large part of the TERF attitudes that seems to characterise a lot of mainstream Feminism comes from British (English) fixations on class.Compared to other countries Britain experiences next to no social movements which are grassroots. Social progress in the United Kingdom is expected to be spearheaded by the upper class and their cultural institutions. Platforms for Feminist discourse in the UK is almost entirely given to wealthy, privileged white cis women.
(DIR) Post #943700 by cocoron@sunbeam.city
2018-11-03T13:22:14Z
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This obviously is not to deny the existence of the many good Feminist movements and individuals who don't fit into this elite group, but this is the problem: They are very rarely given a voice in the UK. Trans, queer, black and brown and especially working class Feminist voices in the UK are very rarely given a platform. The face of Feminism in the UK is white, middle class, middle aged and cishet.
(DIR) Post #943701 by cocoron@sunbeam.city
2018-11-03T13:28:10Z
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This doesn't just stop at Feminism, either. Other areas of social justice such as race, ecology, disability, health and even economic issues are overwhelmingly represented by voices in them which are well off, educated and au fait with British cultural institutions (newspapers, television, universities, etc).Classist attitudes spreads through every aspect of political and social life in the UK like a disease.
(DIR) Post #943702 by cocoron@sunbeam.city
2018-11-03T13:32:38Z
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The Grenfell Massacre was the first time since at least the 80s where the British media (the Guardian included) had to face grievances voiced by people who were of colour, who were immigrants, and who were poor.The British media didn't know how to react to this... So it didn't. For all of the coverage around the fire, relatively little was given to airing the grievances of families and neighbours around the social and economic factors which lead up to it.
(DIR) Post #943703 by cocoron@sunbeam.city
2018-11-03T13:45:47Z
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The Guardian UK, despite its Leftist trappings, is absolutely at the top rung of cultural institutions in the United Kingdom. Its flavour of Feminism is is composed of women who are firmly within the socio-economic elite and who are invited to write for them: baronesses, MPs, party leaders, top selling authors, major journalists. I don't know many British trans women who fit into this category (yet).
(DIR) Post #943704 by cocoron@sunbeam.city
2018-11-03T13:49:44Z
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People might disagree with this but that's just my two cents. Intersectionality is important and different social dynamics (in this case class and gender) can interact in unexpected ways. There is no doubt in my mind that the resistance to trans rights in the Guardian UK is a result of the paternalistic class snobbery going on in their offices.
(DIR) Post #943811 by UnclearFuture@mastodon.starrevolution.org
2018-11-03T13:50:31Z
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@cocoron serious question then, since I have though the guardian (uk) was good, where can I go for news that actually is progressive and gives space to more voices? Thank you.
(DIR) Post #943812 by cocoron@sunbeam.city
2018-11-03T13:51:58Z
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@UnclearFuture There are simply no major news sources in the UK that are actually left wing. British media is heavily dominated by old money. Democracy Now in the US is good though.