Cocoron :sunbeam:
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
🇳🇴 Thor — backup account
@cocoron What you say about British feminism is also extremely true of Scandinavia. Feminism is establishment politics, female prime ministers are the new normal, and half the parliament are women. Also, some teenagers are saying very sexist things because they know it'll provoke their parents. Immigration/religion also gets a say, but it's always the same people, typically descendents of Pakistanis who have joined the political establishment and are so moderate as to be Muslims in name only.
Cocoron :sunbeam:
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.
Cocoron :sunbeam:
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.
Cocoron :sunbeam:
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.
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