Heya all!
Yep, they’re letting me guest blog here again…can ya believe it? First off, I want to thank the Feministe crew for inviting me back after the chaos and mayhem of last time. This time, I plan to leave the chaos and mayhem in my other pants.
Anyway, I’m Ren, I blog here, and you can read other musings by me at Naked City (nsfw) and occasionally over at Bound, Not Gagged. I’m a sex worker and sex workers rights activist, and get accused of having feminist moments from time to time.
So now that the introductions are out of the way, I want to point you in a really cool and interesting direction. Have y’all been reading “Womanist Musings”? No? Oh really, you should be. It’s absolutely fantastic, and I encourage you to check it out.
So yeah, here I am, and I’ll be back later!
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Hey Ren. Welcome back Stir some shit up here. Hope the healing on the burns is going well.
Why look, it’s the Ren de Sade! ((((big huggies!!)))))
Thanks for the shout out Ren! Tear it up, I cannot wait to see what you have to say.
*waves* Hi Ren! xx
Hi Ren, looking forward to your stuff. Do it up!
Yay! Hi Ren!
I’ll be waiting with bated breath for your posts.
Welcome, Ren! :)
I read Ren’s blog, and I find her interesting…but I’m curious why someone who said,”for me, cunt is far less offensive these days” than “feminist”, is guest-blogging on a feminist site.
Snowe- You know, I wondered the same thing when I was asked to blog here again, even pretty much said, you know Feministe crew, people are going to wonder *why* you’re letting a gal like me blog at a blog like this….but I guess maybe even with my personal strife with the feminist word, the folk here might figure I have something interesting to say…
Who knows? Perhaps they will explain their reasoning to you more clearly.
I don’t have anything against you personally, and I like your writings (except the recent wank with radfems, it’s kinda boring). I guess I’m just curious why someone who openly and loudly disavows the feminist label is guest blogging on one of the biggest feminist sites. *shrugs*
well, that I cannot answer.
Hi, Ren. Glad you are back here blogging.
Snowe, I can’t answer for the feministe crew. I can say that Ren has been a staunch supporter of individual women and women in gen eral that our society tries to stereotype and demean. She helps me to stretch my own definition of women and sisterhood in ways that make me a better feminist.
:D
And Snowe… well, I wonder why men blog at Feministe, so I guess we’ve all got questions, eh?
Because while Ren does not identify as a feminist anymore, Ren does feminist work. Or rather, she does work to help women, and pretending that work doesn’t happen or isn’t important because she’s expressed frustration with the way many women who describe themselves as feminists have ruthlessly and relentlessly attacked both her and women who link to her is kinda cynical, don’t you think?
At least, that’s what I say now when someone implies that my feminism is tainted by the presence of links to Ren’s blogs. I don’t speak for Feministe in any way.
Did I say she was a bad person, or that her sex work activism wasn’t important? No.
I just think that a feminist blog should highlight feminist bloggers.
Snowe – I’ve been asked that before because I always include Ren in ‘The Feminist Carnival of Sexual Freedom and Autonomy’ when she’s adament that she’s not a feminist. Fact is, I think she’s had a major influence on the way “my” feminism is shaped. I said once before in a post rejecting “Feminism” she became my feminist icon. Fact is, she’s got a hell of a lot of important stuff to say about sex work (among other things); sex work is obviously a feminist issue (whether you’re ‘for’ or ‘against’), and her passion and determination to support sex workers rights is very infectious. A part of supporting sex workers rights is also defending them, hence the “wanks” over radfems.
I’m really pleased to see her here, in short.
Plus, she may not self-identify as a feminist, but feminists can still learn a hell of a lot from here.
“I just think that a feminist blog should highlight feminist bloggers.”
The simplest answer is that the name is not the thing. Have you seen Magritte’s pipe picture? In this case it’s a bit like that, only reversed. Her work can be (and quite often is) considered feminist because it helps and enriches women’s lives, regardless of how she identifies.
i’m no expert on this, but didn’t ren explicitly identify as a feminist until she kept getting attacked and told “nuh uh, are not.” i thought that was pretty much the gist of the chaos and mayhem she left in her other pants from last time she blogged here.
plus, there are lots of assholes who call themselves feminists who i would not want to read, like that skeezy dude who assaulted the sleeping girl, you kno, the one where ren was a major player in getting the word out about him.
Wait…so, Snowe, I’m not understanding…Ren does work, a lot of work, that benefits marginalized women, but because she does not identify as a feminist she’s not allowed to post here? Are you saying that if she sat on her ass all day but had “feminist” stamped on her forehead, that that would be BETTER?
Are you saying that solely because she does not identify as a feminist, that women on this blog have nothing to learn from her?
B/c I have learned a hell of a lot from Ren, and I don’t care what labels she does or does not use for herself.
Snowe, I certainly didn’t say you said she was a bad person – I said that Ren does work that by any standard can be measured as good feminist work. And I personally think (as I have told Ren in the past) that this supercedes any words she has said about her identification as a feminist.
Ren has a valuable perspective on sex work – one that often appears to be silenced or discredited in certain brands of feminism because it does not follow the only acceptable narrative for sex workers.
Ren said,
”for me, cunt is far less offensive these days” than “feminist”
That is much more than just not identifying as a feminist.
I respect her right to self-identify, and I even understand why she’s distanced herself from feminism. I admire her activism. But someone who thinks that feminist is a vile, offensive term is not, in my mind, an appropriate guest blogger for a feminist blog. That doesn’t mean I think she should be de-blogrolled, or run out of town, or that I think she’s awful. Surely there are other pro-sex workers’ rights activists who are also feminists.
Yay, it’s Ren! I read your blog all the time.
i need context before i jump her shit for ”for me, cunt is far less offensive these days” than “feminist” becos honestly during the whole ugly brouhaha in the feminist blogosphere about race that went down earlier this year, you probably could have caught me saying the same thing.
snowe, if we’re gonna drag out every harsh, vile or offensive thing I’ve ever said, we’re gonna be here all night…I admit freely I use a whole lot of foul language…especially when surly.
The only people who can answer why I was asked are the feministe folk themselves.
Snowe, the fact that you keep repeating that gotcha quote without linking to the original post where it came from (“I’ve had things I’ve said taken out of context and distorted”–oh, teh irony) tends to raise some doubts (at least, in my eyes) re: whether your ‘concern’ really is in good faith.
I was the one who suggested we invite Ren again (at least if I’m remembering correclty…) for many of the reasons already mentioned. I don’t particularly care if she calls herself a feminist or not. I’ve had my own problems with the word “feminist” as well. I don’t see much of a contradiction between the title of this blog and many of the women who have taken issue with the word “feminist” and everything that it’s come to represent over many decades. In fact, I’d like to invite discussion of why many activist women who believe in ending sexism and misogyny find problems in a word, and how we deal with that.
Although I can’t speak for everyone, I’m happy to have Feministe play a role in what I think is a quite important feminist mission: troubling the concept of feminism from the inside. Maybe that makes me a saboteur? After all, that IS the purpose of people like me, according to some feminist authors. But I tend to think ideas grow stronger through challenge and controversy, and weaker through lockstep, so that can’t quite be right. ;)
Should we also avoid inviting people who use the term “womanist” instead of feminist?
Her comment translates to something along the lines of being fed up with what other people who call themselves feminist drag/drug her name and work through mud while simultaneously declaring that she’s no feminist, while calling and insinuating many more negative things about her person besides. Beset from all sides, like. I don’t blame her that she dislikes the word.
Fortunately, though, it – is – just a word, amiright? And it’s the work people do that’s supposed to be associated with the term that matters more? Cuz see, that’s always been – my – assumption, there, that it matters more what you do than what title you give it. Since you don’t think it’s alright that she guests blogs here, fine. But s’far as I know, her stint here is – not – up to vote, guest bloggers can’t be boo’d off because they dislike applying particular words to themselves and don’t identify as such. So!
Back to square one, with the welcome. Welcome Ren, happy to read you here.
I grew up in rural Mississippi, where feminist WAS a worse insult than cunt. It’s a word that means a lot to me. So Mattbastard, fuck off…I do not need a man questioning whether my presence on a feminist blog is in good faith.
Ren, I don’t mind harsh language. I just think that maybe this is having it both ways; you can slag off on feminism at your place, and still get invited to feminist blogs as a guest. However, it’s not up to me, obviously, and I wasn’t trying to get you “boo’d off” as A.W. said.
Holly’s answer, as one of the Feministe crew, was really the only one I was interested in reading. Thank you for answering some of my concerns.
Seems to me it boils down to this – Ren looks at what people who insist they are the only Real Feminists are like, and says, “if that’s feminism, I’m a million miles from that!
It might be noted that the term “womanist” (as I understand the history, anyway) was coined by women (women of colour, if I recall correctly) who felt that “traditional” feminism was marginalising them and therefore those women did not want to identify with a movement that didn’t want them in it. By analogy, is it any wonder that Ren herself would identify as a “feminist ex-pat” when so many feminists have made it clear they don’t want her in their movement?
Word Holly. And though Ren was on Holly’s list, all of us had the chance to issue a veto to any suggested blogger for any reason, and clearly none of us chose to exercise that right in this case. I didn’t because 1. I saw no good reason to even though I knew she might be controversial 2. I like Ren, and I like her blog and read it regularly, and 3. even when I don’t agree with her, she makes her arguments in interesting ways, and I think that’s important. I’m unsurprised but still kind of rolling my eyes here and feeling like any guest blogger we pick, someone is going to take issue with. (Same with any guest-blogger we don’t pick.)
Anyway, welcome Ren! I look forward to your posts.
Ren, this is gonna be fucking great!
And don’t let the vocal whiny-ass whiners bug you. They pulled the same shit on me: “Why is this dude PhysioProf blogging here? He is so angry and shrill! And he said ‘motherfucker’! He’s blogging incorrectly! Waah! Waah! Waah!”
You know what, the motherfucking whiners are vocal in the comments, but small in number. Traffic at my place has increased to a new steady-state of about twice what it was before I blogged here, and I have received a bunch of e-mails from Feministe readers telling me that they have become readers of my blog based on my guest stint here.
Geeeeez. You think if we complain enough that SHE’S here, she’ll get the message and go away?
;)
Welcome, Ren! I’m looking forward to your posts.
Snowe,
If I said you were the one trying to boo her off, I would’ve put your name in the statement. I didn’t, so let’s be clear. What I did was state, with a relatively dry amount of sarcasm (also not aimed at you, it’s my default state) that there isn’t a vote so there’s no reason to continue the ..whatever we’re calling this thing that has derailed her introduction, since – now – we know where people stand from what they’ve already stated.
[quote]Ren said,
”for me, cunt is far less offensive these days” than “feminist”
That is much more than just not identifying as a feminist.
I respect her right to self-identify, and I even understand why she’s distanced herself from feminism. I admire her activism. But someone who thinks that feminist is a vile, offensive term[/quote]
… what’s vile and offensive about a cunt, anyway. I have one. I’m a fan.
I fail at quotes.
”for me, cunt is far less offensive these days” than “feminist”
That doesn’t necessarily mean she finds it very offensive to be called a feminist. Maybe she’s very unoffended at “cunt”. I don’t find the word that offensive either. It’s hilarious, actually, because it’s such a feeble attempt at at being offensive that there’s no possible response except a good laugh. Or maybe, “Why yes, I do have a vagina! How astute of you to notice! GOLD STAR!” But when people use “feminist” as an insult, it makes me a little sad, because I know they’re discounting what I say by relating me to female misanthropists who use the term for their dastardly evildoings. (They may be a myth or a mostly-myth, but that doesn’t stop them from thinking that I am one.)
But then I probably haven’t earned my feminist badge yet either.
“what’s vile and offensive about a cunt, anyway. I have one. I’m a fan.”
Well, I like mine, too. I don’t find the word itself offensive when women use it for their ladyparts, or in erotica, or various other contexts.
@Snowe…mainstream feminism has given many women reason to disavow it. I consider myself to be a womanist because feminism has time and time again shown a disinterest in issues of WOC as well as othering us to benefit white women. Yet I still work to improve the lives of women, Just as Ren does. Is it really important what the work is called as long as it gets done? Many women who call themselves feminist are more than happy to own the label and do nothing in their daily lives that could be considered remotely feminist. Many women who speak up and own the feminist label tarnish it daily. I’ll take Ren’s “unfeminist” work anyday over many women who pollute a theory that I used to love.
wow. all this controversy and just on an introduction. Super excited to read your posts, Ren. I’ve already glanced at your blog and just like PhysioProf, your ability to put together a profanity laced post that still manages to make a point has me pretty fucking excited.
Also, I come across women who were involved in sex work in my full-time job and I always and working on understanding more about their life and their decisions. They have told me so often that whenever they mention their past work they automatically get the sympathetic, you poor girl treatment or the horrified look.
PysioProf: Fuckin’ thanks!
Hey, Ren – glad to have ya here. I hope that most of us who do still identify with the f-word will leave our sanctimoniousness in our other pants (too much sanctimoniousness always makes me itchy down there anyway) and get ready for what looks like a guest-blogging stint sure to provoke some awesome conversations about how real solidarity actually works. I’m looking forward to reading your posts.
Damn, though, this introduction can’t be beat for the excitement it has caused – and all you said is “Hello, I heart Renee.” (We all do!)
Yay! More Ren! Welcome, I look forward to reading what you post here.
And am impressed that this much controversy can get started just by having you say “hey there”, Ren.
I’m looking forward to Ren kicking some bootay here as well. It’s good to see sex worker activists blogging on feminist sites. ;-)
Welcome back Ren! Ever since last time you guestblogged here I’ve been a regular reader of yours. I’m excited to see what deliciously controversial topics you will discuss this time.
Are we concerned with labels or acts?
With some of the hoopla surrounding the nasty bits of the feminist blogosphere lately, I think we need to be less concerned with who calls herself a feminist and who is enacting feminist work in her works, writing, consciousness-raising, and life. I’ve been disillusioned lately and I started this whole she-bang. What’s important is the discussion and the perspective-changing possibilities of the discussion, not the self-identification of the person starting it.
So, fuck it. Welcome, Ren, and enjoy the platform!
Lauren, why thank you. I promise not to cause mass chaos until at least tuesday!
“who is enacting feminist work in her works, writing, consciousness-raising”
I suppose I fail to see the feminist consciousness-raising potential in telling other women they should get fucked with tire irons . Must be all the sanctimoniousness in my pants.
Wow Snowe, ever heard of context?
What kind of context makes sexually violent imagery cool? I felt physically ill the first time I read that sentence.
snowe, now you are making a bit much of it, really. If you don’t want to read what I write here because I use highly volatile language, don’t read me. I tend to use volatile language, that statement is a harsher expression of “go screw yourself”, and when taken in context, well gee, that’s evident. Nor was it said here, and in no way is anyone here responsible for what I say anywhere. Oh yeah, and when I see someone utterly, consistantly, and always DISMISSING the work of sex worker rights advocates, i get pissy. The feministe folk have explained their reasoning, and now you’re going for drama. Don’t like what I say? No one is forcing you to read it. Directly above this one is a post all about praising women, are you commenting there? No. You’re making major issue of my HI GUYS, READ RENEE post…
So I have to ask at this point…what’s your motivation?
Oh, yeah, that was totally out of line for Ren to say something like…
…wait, what? Activism = woman? Did Feministe just turn into an Emily Litella sketch?
YAY REN!
@Snowe: I’m a regular reader of Ren’s, and I have to say I’ve never seen her “slag off feminism”. Care to provide some links, in context this time?
QoT: I have slagged off some radical feminists or anti porn activists, I admit to doing so, as for proof, hell, I have tags for it at my place, so when Snowe says I have done such, she is correct, I have.
I understood why you were angry in that post, and dedicating a porny scene to the radfems was quite funny. But the whole tire iron thing (No kiss, no lube, no reach around.) was just gross and vile. I expect that kind of language from 4chan creeps….not from other women. And that’s on your blog, your space, so that’s cool, you can obviously say what you want.
I just really don’t want to see that kind of thing on a feminist blog, which is why I most likely won’t be reading your posts here.
I blame the pornoiarchy.
Yes, but Snowe referred to you as slagging off feminISM, not feminISTS.
Damnit, hit post too soon:
I blame the pornoiarchy.
APRFs say they want to help women who want out of sex work to get out of sex work. Ren does activisim to do this. Except for the fact that apparently pornography is the mark of Satan, there shouldn’t be a reason for all this fighting, except…
too many APRFs are focused on the idea that pornography, a willing sex worker, or even association with pornography or a willing sex worker is sign that anyone is the enemy, no nuance possible. I also do believe that – despite what Maggie says – that there’s a huge amount of denial of women’s agency involved.
I may be biased, but I think that an agency-friendly approach would find common ground with Ren, not attack her relentlessly, threaten her with blackmail, and characterize her in extremely offensive and misogynist ways.
I also find it strange that it’s okay to constantly rain down abuse on Ren, but when she says “stop fucking doing that” she becomes the monster.
To me, the whole thing seems incredibly othering toward women who are voluntarily in sex work.
Snowe, well, I absolutely have gross and vile moments and moods. and you know, I’m not the one who brought the gross and vile language of my blog here, that was you. I tend to put on my semi-civilized shoes when in someone else’s house…so yeah, something to take note of and all.
Good grief, Ren, all you’ve done is say “hello” and it’s caused trouble already!
:-D
Debs, I cause trouble merely by getting out of bed in the morning. It’s a gift and a curse. Hell, I even promised no chaos until at least tuesday, and I left both it AND the mayhem in my other pants…alas, my vile language is already gettin’ me in serious trouble.
Ren, I’m pretty sure if you just said “The…” a bunch of people would come storming in saying “REAL feminists start their sentences with AND! You are a tool of the patriarchy!”
Lol.
Don’t throw me in the briar patch!
Good to see you here, Ren.
Vanessa, I am almost tempted to test that theory…
“I expect that kind of language from 4chan creeps….not from other women.”
- urgh, is this ANOTHER Ren has a potty mouth discussion. Shit, we’re not going to get very far if all we’re doing is debating labels and telling her off for swearing, are we?
Damn, this shit is like motherfucking deja vu!
Can’t you whiny-ass whiners “not read” a little more fucking quietly? When you go to a library and see some book that bugs the shit out of you, do you go pestering all the other patrons who are trying to read and blather on and on and on about how the book shouldn’t be in the library and there is no way you are going to read it?
I just want to say: Snowe, you are not the only one confused here.
This shouldn’t be a witch hunt…against Ren OR Snowe.
I think Feministe has made our position on pottymouths abundantly clear in the last few months. After all, nobody wants to marry one.
Ren, I’m glad to see you here again. Really glad, since I’ll be guest blogging after you—you inspire my thinking!
And I’m still waiting for someone who can define what feminism is, or feminist blogging is, in a way that neatly explains why some of the guest bloggers here (like Renee, PhysioProf, or Ren) aren’t sufficiently feminist to be here. Can’t recall a time in the past when so many guest bloggers have been raked over the coals for…what? having something to say? not saying it nicely enough? (that one really kills me, the “not saying it nicely enough” bah.)
I don’t really care how many times someone says ‘fuck’ or ’shit’ or ‘goddam’ as I’m a pottymouth myself. That’s not what struck me as anti-feminist about Ren’s post.
Ren is welcome here. Ren´s language is welcome here. It´s a done deal: she´s guest posting for the second time. She won´t be driven away, and the feministe editorial cabal may invite her back a third time next summer. Complaints, however persnickety, are always welcome. But Ren is not on probation, and she is not some sort of Feministe brand dilution.
I can’t fucking believe this. (Okay, yes, I can.)
Go Ren!!
Hey, glad to see you here, Ren! Loking forward to your posts!
And, um, highly amused by the drama this has provoked.
You know what, I agree! Renee is an amazing writer. I only wish my stream of consciousness were as clear and insightful as hers.
Ren, I’ve seen you around but I haven’t followed your blog regularly yet. I’m looking forward to your time here :)
Is Ren on double-secret probation? Is Jill Dean Wormer? Does PhysioProf have a grade-point average?
Is that a pledge pin on your uniform?
Welcome Ren!!!!
Glad to have you here! I sometimes comment as Nonny Mouse at other blogs so you may recognise that moniker better. I can’t believe how certain people refuse to read into the history and context of certain sentiments you have expressed – I mean, I feel like some people are just purposely obtuse.
Look forward to your posts here!!!
Didi
Welcome, Ren! I’m looking forward very much to your posts.
—Myca
I’ve just realised – the period last year when Feministe had two male guest bloggers at the same time (myself one of them) caused less controversy than the act of inviting Ren back has! I didn’t get any of this shit for being a man, so what is it with Ren that is so controversial!?
Ren, so glad to see you here. Looking forward to your controversial presence, as always.
This may be a stupid question (and off-topic), but I’ve been wondering about it for a while…what do posts like #78 mean? Is it just to link to another page? It just seems a little weird to me – just wondering!
Snowe said: “I don’t really care how many times someone says ‘fuck’ or ’shit’ or ‘goddam’ as I’m a pottymouth myself. That’s not what struck me as anti-feminist about Ren’s post.”
That´s a fair point–some of the people complaining about Physioprof really were complaining about the profanity, but I understand that you aren´t. I´ve argued with people who´ve conflated complaints about “you shithead” with complaints about “you cunt,” so I know it´s annoying.
All she did was say hello and this is the fucking welcome she gets…God dammit some of you women are so busy policing what is and isn’t appropriate you can’t take a minute to realize that you just might learn something from her. REN is a FUCKING INSPIRATION. When I read her posts I get fired up with a real passion which is a lot more than I can see for some of the drivel filled blogs that are out there. So if you can’t handle it tune into the Young and Restless for two weeks and give the rest of us that love reading her work a chance to enjoy it.. Really enough is enough.
I read Ren’s blog. I (usually) like it a lot. However, I still feel that feminist blogs should highlight feminist bloggers…I don’t see what’s so awful about that! I’m the only one on this thread who expressed dismay; everyone else seemed happy about her guest spot. I’m pretty sure she can handle one person not thinking she was a good choice for the blog…it isn’t as if I’ll be calling her names on every post she makes for the next two weeks. Geez.
snowe, it’s cool…other folk don’t get it either.
Right there with you Snowe, as I expressed on another Ren post. I don’t see how “feminist blogs should highlight feminist bloggers” is being transformed into a campaign of terror from narrow minded prudes.
ahem, I’ve never called anyone a prude.
I’m really glad you have a guest blogging stint here, Ren. I’m a quiet lurker fan of your blog. I really admire your outspokenness and you have made me think about what it means to be a feminist. I don’t always agree with what you have to say or how you go about things, but you’ve got guts. You’re aspiring.
Sorry for the double post, but I think people are being a little too harsh with Snowe. It’s not needed. Granted, I’ve only read the first 40 or so posts in this thread so I don’t know how things have progressed since then. Snowe has a dissenting opinion but it seems like it’s been done in a respectful and polite way and it does have merit. Calling her a a “motherfucking whiner” is a bit out there? Oh well. Well, that’s my opinion anywho.
@ confused – it’s a trackback. If this post is linked elsewhere (on another blog, or in this case another post on the same blog) then it shows up as a comment. :)
Ahem, carry on everyone…
I’m with you, Snowe. I found the tire iron imagery in that post pretty disturbing as well, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with questioning why particular guest bloggers are brought on board with reference to their past history as bloggers. It’s too bad that others here couldn’t disagree as politely with you as you did with Ren.
That said, while I don’t necessarily agree with the way Ren chooses to say some things, I am interested in reading her posts here and learning from her perspective.
Snowe, I think you are missing an important difference here.
You are correct that Ren does not call herself a feminist.
Nevertheless, Ren’s posts and her activism benefit women directly. She adds to the feminist project, even if that might not be her goal. My feminist practice has become more effective and more responsive because of what I’ve learned from reading Ren.
If we limit our experience in feminist venues to people who agree with us about the word feminist, won’t we will miss out on the writings of the majority of the women in the world?
Snowe writes: “However, I still feel that feminist blogs should highlight feminist bloggers…I don’t see what’s so awful about that!”
It’s not awful. It’s simply limiting.
Can you explain the benefit of excluding all those who don’t claim the word “feminist”?
You have repeated your statement, but you haven’t given any reason for it and I don’t understand your point of view on this.
This thread was entertaining, and I learned a lot from it.
Lowest effort pot stirring EvAR!
Snowe: I consider Ren as good an e-friend as I’ve got, and guess what? I was more bothered by the “dedicating a porn scene to Maggie Hays” than I was by the tire iron thing. Most people there weren’t offended at either.
What might that mean? Perhaps, gee, that different people have different boundaries and notions of what’s appropriate response to insult?
Say it ain’t so!
I think that a lot of this effort would be better spent in taking a close look at why Ren was driven away from the label, because she is far from the only woman who, while working for feminist goals, can’t comfortably wear the word. The very ugly abuse that’s been targeted at her by pseudo-radicals like Ginmar, Heart, and Twisty has never caused as much vociferous debate as Ren simply putting her foot in the door here. On the contrary, they’re considered legitimate voices in the feminist communities, despite repeatedly engaging in naked bigotry against sex workers and transfolk. Ren is in a difficult position: she’s been condemned for wearing the label, and now she’s being condemned for not wearing it. Instead of micro-analysing her posts, I think that this effort would be a lot better spent directed towards looking at why some women can have their voices so easily de-legitimized by feminists at large.
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