The Times reports that Oxfam refuses to clarify that threadbare Twitter “explanation” of its decision to erase women.
Oxfam has removed a children’s game celebrating “inspirational women” such as Marie Curie, Rosa Parks and Emmeline Pankhurst from its shops because transgender and non-binary staff complained that it did not “respect people of all genders”.
No Rosa Parks for you, bitches!
Wonder Women, a bingo game, features 48 women “who have made a mark on the world, from scientists and artists to writers, activists and beyond”.
Then it quotes Rob’s explanation on Twitter, which I think does not come across as official enough to be Oxfam’s only explanation, but it seems Oxfam doesn’t agree. We don’t even know who “Rob” is but pfffft, we should go away and play with our gender-respectful dolls.
The charity declined to clarify what was concerning about a children’s game celebrating the achievements of women also including Malala Yousafzai, Ada Lovelace, Jane Austen and Amelia Earhart.
It also refused to explain whether staff were upset by the inclusion of the authors JK Rowling and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, both of whom have been accused of transphobia for challenging trans rights campaigners’ views, or whether it was linked to the inclusion of the actor Elliot Page.
Because the game came out before Page did blah blah so it has the wrong name blah blah besides she’s not a woman after all anyway blah blah blah all of which is an excellent reason for dumping women in the nearest trash bin.
Oxfam’s decision prompted anger and dismay from some women who work for the charity, with at least one bookshop volunteer saying that she would resign in protest.
Ulrike Bullerby, 50, a mother of two with 25 years’ experience as a bookseller, said she had handed in her notice at the Oxfam shop where she had volunteered for ten years. She told The Times that the decision to ditch the game was “an affront” to all the women who fund-raise and donate to the charity.
And to all women. Good, well done Ulrike Bullerby.
Comments
18 responses to “Rob said all they’re going to say”
I know her on Twitter!
She’s tireless and relentlessly logical.
Brava!
Aha! I must seek her out immediately.
Oh I see she’s following me already.
Cue Gomer Pyle: “Surprise, surprise, surprise!”
I’m seeing claims that they will be reissuing the game, since Page was identified by her deadname. But that is only by OJ, with his ever present level of disgust over how it’s been misreported to make transactivists look bad, and a few other tweets. I haven’t been able to find any journalistic sources not a mention by Oxfam. And Rob’s tweets above indicate that this is not true.
If it were true surely “Hi there” Rob would say so.
I would like to have this game–but I can’t imagine why anyone would consider including Ellen/Elliot along with such genuine ‘wonder women’ as the others mentioned.
I tend to agree… had no idea who she was. Which isn’t to say at least a few of the others aren’t perhaps overhyped but I tend to view actors as pretty interchangeable unless they’ve got a large body of work.
I thought just that. What makes her fit with people like Marie Curie and Rosa Parks? What has she done? If they want actresses, there are many, many who are more inspiring.
Re Why Page: I agree she doesn’t quite belong, but I suspect the reason she was included was that there aren’t a lot of out lesbians among Hollywood actors with her degree of critical and commercial success. The game makers probably thought she’d be an inspiration, especially for young lesbians.
Now she’s disavowed her womanhood and her homosexuality, so too bad, baby dykes who thought you had a famous young role model.
Mike @ 6 – So I wonder how OJ knows that’s the story. You’d think “Rob” would have mentioned it, if only to get those pesky women to shut up. I wonder if OJ isn’t just making it up.
No, he has a tweet about it. Separate post.
Ah, so Twitter was abuzz with hints and allegations but only Owen has the juice on it. He needs a deerstalker hat some days, I swear.
Owen is one important dude.
Lady Mondegreen, it seems like Ellen Degenerous would be a much better choice. She is better known, for one thing.
iknklast, DeGeneres came out in 1997, a lifetime ago. And she was already famous by then.
Page is younger, a “serious” actress, and probably perceived as hipper.
Besides, looks like this game was published last year. Allegations about DeGeneres creating a toxic work environment had already reached the press by then.
The aforementioned Ulrike says that the official Oxfam memo about this cites the lack of trans women as the reason the game was withdrawn. OJ appears – and I know this will come as a fabulous surprise to each and every one of you – to be talking bollocks.