Just a note that I’ll be away from Substack next week, unless I really can’t help myself. When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban for the second time, I was traveling across Central Europe. The contrast between the life that I was free to live and the lives of women under such a repressive regime could not have been more striking. I was free to travel alone. No one chaperoned me or curtailed me in any way. No one even knew where I was. I spent my own money that I had earned. I had one educational degree to my name and was about to embark on another.
"Sisterhood is powerful". Take away the specificity from language, replace it with "Siblinghood is powerful" and you have removed all of the significance and the meaning of the phrase. Why fight for something if you cannot name it? The mere act of naming confers significance, provides a handle upon which to move the energy. Thank you for this thoughtful essay. Have a wonderful holiday season, Sister!
I appreciate all of this essay. As the ex-wife of a man, the father of our children, who now claims he's also "mother," I know the experience of erasure. Vaishnavi Sundar, auteur of the 4 part series, Dysphoria, partly autobiographical, broadly documenting girls who translate trauma into wanting out of the female category, is finishing a documentary on trans widows. A trailer for Behind the Looking Glass is now up at Lime Soda Films YouTube channel.
Exulansic, another female desister who had a "trans-masc" phase in early adulthood discusses Fallacies of Cross-Dressing on my channel, Ute Heggen (transcript at uteheggengrasswidow.wordpress.com)
Eliza, I think you need to decide whether you want to get your message out, or whether you want to make money on Substack. I understand that everyone needs money, but when you limit some of your advocacy to a small group that can afford to pay for it, you limit your effectiveness. Advocacy is not and should never be a money-making thing. I think you should get yourself a job, and then help to liberate women as your avocation. Frankly, I am never sure of how much of your writing I am getting and how much I am missing. Sorry to be blunt.
On Substack, I recommend giving your articles away and asking for donations.
I'm a graduate student and research assistant, so I do have a job, just one that pays an incredibly low wage. What I put behind a paywall is stuff that is more niche, less urgent (e.g., a funny book review of Whipping Girl, email exchanges with a doofus ex about gender, the post yesterday was 70% free/available, with comments on a few specific stories behind the paywall) and lets me spend a considerable amount of time writing things that I post for free for public consumption, so I'm not too worried about limiting my effectiveness.
Dec 22, 2022·edited Dec 22, 2022Liked by Eliza Mondegreen
Such a polite, mature, and intelligent answer to a question that I first saw as a bit entitled. I am a paid subscriber to support you, not for the stuff behind paywall. As a mom of trans identifying teen I am incredibly grateful to you.
Yup, Eliza is a level-headed person, which is why I knew I could say that to her and not offend her. I'm starting my own Substack site on this issue. I just can't figure out how to do it.
I am glad you wrote this as well. I hope you can pry your child away from this cult. My sons do not talk to me these days, because I stopped with the compelled speech of referring to my ex-husband as a "woman."
The interviews Jonathan Streeter did with detransitioner Michelle Alleva on his YT channel, Thoughts on Things and Stuff, are quite revealing. He's divided them up into segments of his survey "Is it Culty?" Here's a link to one segment:
I am, of course, Caleb Murdock. I've decided to rant against trans ideology using a pen name I've used before, Perry James. I mean, these trans activists are so aggressive that I am try to forestall being permanently cancelled. (If they find out, I don't think it will actually matter.) But Substack didn't ask for my name, just my c.c. no., security code and zip code. It would seem they don't need names any more. The payment went through.
I appreciate that you've allowed me to comment and be a free subscriber. I allow myself one new subscription a month, and this one will be my January 2023 splurge. You are doing important work, just giving your readers the language to discuss the dangers of the cross-sex ideation ideology when it comes up with friends & family. Thanks from Ute
How dare you define the parameters of Elizabeth's decision to charge/not charge for her work forcing her to defend her choices and decisions about what she should do with her work. This is the ultimate arrogance of patriarchy. Telling women what they should do with their work. You don't get to judge and direct anyone on how to run his/her blog, much less a woman who's navigating the most misogynist global culture our species has ever created.
At the end of the day, Elizabeth can be as generous, or not, with her time and effort as she decides. That is not for you to judge or question. If you really cared so much about her work, you would simply pay for a subscription and support her work which is what I've done. Her writing is exceptional and well worth it. Better still, gift a subscription to all the men you know so that she can pay her bills and remain productive. But I'm willing to bet you won't do that.
How dare I? I'll read your comment and [maybe] answer it when I finish laughing. I was satisfied by Eliza's answer and just became a paid subscriber. Have you paid her any money?
Added later:
Signme Uplease, I suspect that Eliza agrees with me in principle. If you are devoted to a cause, reaching as many people as possible is your first priority. If it isn't, you aren't a very good advocate.
I think about that a lot, too, and totally think it's related to the navel-gazing brand of feminism we've 'graduated' to in the West. In a way, the story of what do with our freedoms as women stops the moment those freedoms are won, the way so many marriage-plot stories end with the wedding... what's next?
"Sisterhood is powerful". Take away the specificity from language, replace it with "Siblinghood is powerful" and you have removed all of the significance and the meaning of the phrase. Why fight for something if you cannot name it? The mere act of naming confers significance, provides a handle upon which to move the energy. Thank you for this thoughtful essay. Have a wonderful holiday season, Sister!
I appreciate all of this essay. As the ex-wife of a man, the father of our children, who now claims he's also "mother," I know the experience of erasure. Vaishnavi Sundar, auteur of the 4 part series, Dysphoria, partly autobiographical, broadly documenting girls who translate trauma into wanting out of the female category, is finishing a documentary on trans widows. A trailer for Behind the Looking Glass is now up at Lime Soda Films YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhAlvw_kAHs
Exulansic, another female desister who had a "trans-masc" phase in early adulthood discusses Fallacies of Cross-Dressing on my channel, Ute Heggen (transcript at uteheggengrasswidow.wordpress.com)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rhmYp2Wq2E&t=1s
Cross-sex ideation ideology is an assault on women, motherhood and childhood.
Here is another wonderful essay about the current gender ideology takeover:
https://itsmyroom.substack.com/p/scotland-when-farce-becomes-horror
I'm moved and chilled, I'm saddened and furious, I'm overwhelmed and strengthened. Thank you for such a beautiful, profound piece. Kathryn.
What a great piece. As always.
Well said! A beautiful piece of writing as always.
Eliza, I think you need to decide whether you want to get your message out, or whether you want to make money on Substack. I understand that everyone needs money, but when you limit some of your advocacy to a small group that can afford to pay for it, you limit your effectiveness. Advocacy is not and should never be a money-making thing. I think you should get yourself a job, and then help to liberate women as your avocation. Frankly, I am never sure of how much of your writing I am getting and how much I am missing. Sorry to be blunt.
On Substack, I recommend giving your articles away and asking for donations.
I'm a graduate student and research assistant, so I do have a job, just one that pays an incredibly low wage. What I put behind a paywall is stuff that is more niche, less urgent (e.g., a funny book review of Whipping Girl, email exchanges with a doofus ex about gender, the post yesterday was 70% free/available, with comments on a few specific stories behind the paywall) and lets me spend a considerable amount of time writing things that I post for free for public consumption, so I'm not too worried about limiting my effectiveness.
Such a polite, mature, and intelligent answer to a question that I first saw as a bit entitled. I am a paid subscriber to support you, not for the stuff behind paywall. As a mom of trans identifying teen I am incredibly grateful to you.
Yup, Eliza is a level-headed person, which is why I knew I could say that to her and not offend her. I'm starting my own Substack site on this issue. I just can't figure out how to do it.
I am glad you wrote this as well. I hope you can pry your child away from this cult. My sons do not talk to me these days, because I stopped with the compelled speech of referring to my ex-husband as a "woman."
The interviews Jonathan Streeter did with detransitioner Michelle Alleva on his YT channel, Thoughts on Things and Stuff, are quite revealing. He's divided them up into segments of his survey "Is it Culty?" Here's a link to one segment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXS5urnHvNY&list=PLevx2DAlF-YCdMOY2rxvE3e0_CYIziq7G
Okay, I'm convinced. It's time for me to send you a contribution. How is the best way to do that? (The way which will result in the lowest fee.)
I just became a paid subscriber, but I'm worried they used my display name when charging my card, and not my actual name. We'll see what happens.
Thank you. Not sure about the credit card thing!
I am, of course, Caleb Murdock. I've decided to rant against trans ideology using a pen name I've used before, Perry James. I mean, these trans activists are so aggressive that I am try to forestall being permanently cancelled. (If they find out, I don't think it will actually matter.) But Substack didn't ask for my name, just my c.c. no., security code and zip code. It would seem they don't need names any more. The payment went through.
I appreciate that you've allowed me to comment and be a free subscriber. I allow myself one new subscription a month, and this one will be my January 2023 splurge. You are doing important work, just giving your readers the language to discuss the dangers of the cross-sex ideation ideology when it comes up with friends & family. Thanks from Ute
How dare you define the parameters of Elizabeth's decision to charge/not charge for her work forcing her to defend her choices and decisions about what she should do with her work. This is the ultimate arrogance of patriarchy. Telling women what they should do with their work. You don't get to judge and direct anyone on how to run his/her blog, much less a woman who's navigating the most misogynist global culture our species has ever created.
At the end of the day, Elizabeth can be as generous, or not, with her time and effort as she decides. That is not for you to judge or question. If you really cared so much about her work, you would simply pay for a subscription and support her work which is what I've done. Her writing is exceptional and well worth it. Better still, gift a subscription to all the men you know so that she can pay her bills and remain productive. But I'm willing to bet you won't do that.
I think it's fair play to ask and he accepted my answer.
How dare I? I'll read your comment and [maybe] answer it when I finish laughing. I was satisfied by Eliza's answer and just became a paid subscriber. Have you paid her any money?
Added later:
Signme Uplease, I suspect that Eliza agrees with me in principle. If you are devoted to a cause, reaching as many people as possible is your first priority. If it isn't, you aren't a very good advocate.
I think about that a lot, too, and totally think it's related to the navel-gazing brand of feminism we've 'graduated' to in the West. In a way, the story of what do with our freedoms as women stops the moment those freedoms are won, the way so many marriage-plot stories end with the wedding... what's next?