I support the Mumsnet Bounty Campaign.
I wouldn't have bothered writing this since I assumed most people were against capitalist intrusions on new vulnerable mothers. But, it turns out, the anti-Mumsnet whiners who have to complain about absolutely every freaking thing Mumsnet does have been whinging about the Bounty campaign. I've had some serious differences opinions with MNHQ. Who hasn't? You can't have a community of a couple of hundred thousand people without having the occasional difference of opinion. Or, barney. Really, both words work there.
There comes a point, however, when the phrase "grow the fuck up" becomes necessary. Not liking Mumsnet talk boards or a group of Mumsnetters or Justine's hair or Helen's taste in beverages or whatever the hell it is that gets up your nose is not excuse to belittle an entire campaign to help other women. Yes, I get that once upon a time someone on Mumsnet was rude to you so you feel justified in slating absolutely everything they do. But, come on, nothing shouts "I'm a nincompoop" more than continually dredging up the same thing over and over again as evidence that Mumsnet is a harem of Satan-worshippers.
Sometimes, when a group of people suggest you are behaving like a buckethead, well, you might just be acting like a buckethead.
Equally, you could have wound up on a thread full of bucketheads. That's not outside the realm of possibility either.
The thing is, it's not normal to hold a grudge for so long that you feel the need to whine and complain about every single campaign Mumsnet runs to try to make the world a better place for women [and don't think I didn't notice those of you who attacked the We Believe You campaign. That was just pathetic]. Yeah, Mumsnet doesn't get everything right but slating a campaign because some woman was mean to you once upon a time is mostly evidence that you need to deal with your anger issues.
The Mumsnet Bounty Mutiny is a small campaign that will only help a limited number of mothers but that is no reason to slate it. The commodification of childbirth is a serious problem that needs to be addressed. Preventing Bounty, and it's rather unfortunate inability to hire people with some basic empathy skills, from accessing vulnerable new mothers, including ones with seriously ill babies or whose babies have died is an important feminist campaign. The systemic and cumulative effects of misogynistic practises means we need to support all feminist activism, regardless of whether or not one specific issue impacts on you personally. Bounty has continued to violate women's boundaries despite years of complaints. It needs to stop.
I don't care if that's Bounty, Mumsnet or Gove trying to sell his dignity. No one should be allowed to sell any product to a patient when they are in their hospital bed either ill or recovering.
Bounty does not belong in a hospital ward.
Bounty has continually made it clear that they are uninterested in the welfare of patients by continuing to allow bad practise. They had a chance to fix this years ago. They chose not. Their choice: they need to suck up the consequences.
