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Anyone who ever said feminists weren’t funny has clearly never referred to them as “non-men” in an effort to be politically correct. Jokes aside, non-men are pissed as all hell to have been wholly erased in the name of “inclusivity,” as the UK’s Green Party did recently.

A few weeks ago, a representative for the Green Party suggested “non-male” members follow the Young Greens Women Twitter account. When some women challenged the use of the term, Green Party Women responded, defending their language:

INTERESTING. The FB post that started off #greenpartyfeminism has been deleted. pic.twitter.com/hDCNACDAzM — Caroline CriadoPerez (@CCriadoPerez) April 16, 2016

Unsatisfied with the notion that referring to women as “non-men” will somehow address marginalization, women took to Twitter, both by mocking the ludicrous language, as well as pointing out the incredibly sexist message that is sent by making men the default human — that which all other humans are secondary and comparable to. The Green Party is clearly unaware that this is, in fact, the entire basis of patriarchy — that is to say, the existence of a gender hierarchy, upon which men are placed at the top, and women below, always less human than men.

https://twitter.com/CCriadoPerez/status/721096687293493248

#greenpartyfeminism for the record I am not non male, not cis anything, and not daft — Beatrix Campbell (@beatrixcampbell) April 16, 2016

Erasing the language by which women address the oppression we face as a sex class is not progressive, it's misogyny. #greenpartyfeminism — (((Claire))) (@ClaireShrugged) April 16, 2016

Rebranding women as simply 'non-males' is wildly offensive. 'Women' is not a dirty word. 'Female' is not a dirty word. #greenpartyfeminism — Rebecca (@brightarrows) April 16, 2016

Maybe we could start calling feminism #nonmeninism to avoid excluding anyone? #greenpartyfeminism — ★That Big Old Moon★ (@Bigoldsupermoon) April 16, 2016

Funny how men are never accused of "erasing non-binary folks" simply by existing #greenpartyfeminism — Glosswitch (@glosswitch) April 16, 2016

Pronoun misuse constitute acts of violence equivalent to genocide, but non-men is acceptable? #greenpartyfeminism — Louise Pennington (@LeStewpot) April 16, 2016

The #greenpartyfeminism thing is not just an accident, some clumsy terminology. It's the logical conclusion of gender identity politics. — Becca Reilly-Cooper (@boodleoops) April 16, 2016

@marstrina I am not non male, not cis woman, not a non lion, not a non bicycle, not a non fish and definitely non happy #greenpartyfeminism — Beatrix Campbell (@beatrixcampbell) April 16, 2016

Getting ready for a day at the non-men's organisation where I volunteer. Non-brotherhood is powerful. #greenpartyfeminism — (((Claire))) (@ClaireShrugged) April 16, 2016

Human rights are non-men's rights, and non-men's rights are human rights. #greenpartyfeminism — Lucia Hill (@LuxeLucee) April 16, 2016

Not to mention bell hooks's seminal "Ain't I a Non-Man?" @ClaireShrugged #greenpartyfeminism — MarinaS (@marstrina) April 15, 2016

"A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of non-men and men" #greenpartyfeminism — MurderOfGoths (@MurderOfGoths) April 15, 2016

https://twitter.com/boodleoops/status/721098089205993472

I'd like to join in the #greenpartyfeminism tweets but I've got non-man troubles. It's that non-man's time of the month. — Gert (@Gert) April 15, 2016

Has anyone asked the non-King what she thinks of #greenpartyfeminism — L.Wales (@l_wales) April 16, 2016

Gutted that the Green Party refers to #twins as non-singletons, almost as though we're not real people #greenpartyfeminism — Rad Twin (@twinnywinnies) April 16, 2016

https://twitter.com/vegakoyo/status/722077720029622272

https://twitter.com/RC_Garrick/status/721231277089755136

In order to be as inclusive as possible, we should really start calling the Green Party the Non-Yellow, Non-Blue, and Non-Red Party. — Mayor Watermelon (@MayorWatermelon) April 16, 2016

Inclusion isn't inclusion when it excludes the very people is purports to make a space for. Spaces women fought for. #greenpartyfeminism — RustyCage (@cage_rusty) April 18, 2016

Not a man, not yet a non-man #greenpartyfeminism — Poppy Cocktails (@PoppyCocktails) April 16, 2016

https://twitter.com/CCriadoPerez/status/721099743494017025

A non-male's work is never done. #greenpartyfeminism — Gallus Mag (@GallusMag) April 16, 2016

One is not born, but rather becomes, a non-man. #greenpartyfeminism #greenpartynonmasculinism — Quintas Injustas (@quintasinjustas) April 16, 2016

The 'Green Party Vegans' group is for all non-red meat eaters

We've evolved beyond just representing vegans!#greenpartyfeminism — WomenCanSee (@WomenCanSee) April 16, 2016

https://twitter.com/CCriadoPerez/status/721104071009165316

https://twitter.com/ReclaimQueer/status/721268060292845568

No non man no cry #greenpartyfeminism — Hazel (@miss_scottie) April 15, 2016

If you see gender as identity, not class, how do you meaningfully challenge the exploitation of women as a class? #greenpartyfeminism — Glosswitch (@glosswitch) April 17, 2016

https://twitter.com/JoLiptrott/status/721275035533602816

Behind every successful man is a non-man #greenpartyfeminism — (((Amir Pars))) (@AmirPars_) April 16, 2016

https://twitter.com/LadyRhondda/status/721279093644374016

https://twitter.com/JoLiptrott/status/721296675944407040

I looked at the Green Party FB, shockingly a number of non-men resigning from the party. Who will make tea? #greenpartyfeminism — Louise Pennington (@LeStewpot) April 16, 2016

I do NOT want my daughter to grow up in a world where she's defined by what she's not. She's a girl, not a non anything. #greenpartyfeminism — RustyCage (@cage_rusty) April 18, 2016

' I am non-man hear me roar ' #greenpartyfeminism — moniquems (@moniquenbucky) April 16, 2016

I hate to break it to you, but women are facing the biggest backlash since the 70's. #greenpartyfeminism is part of it — Claire OT (@claireOT) April 16, 2016

After days of pointed jokes and critiques, Green Party Women offered further explanation, which failed to address the impact of erasing women in their use of “non-male” as an “umbrella term.”

I feel so sorry for feminists in @TheGreenParty. What an absolute betrayal. #greenpartyfeminism pic.twitter.com/jueI3DwQ67 — Caroline CriadoPerez (@CCriadoPerez) April 17, 2016

Also hugely disappointed that senior @TheGreenParty members are not coming out in defence of women. We are not"non-male" #greenpartyfeminism — Caroline CriadoPerez (@CCriadoPerez) April 17, 2016

My fore-sisters fought hard for #votesforwomen

its a good job I can choose to not give mine to #greenpartyfeminism

Your apology sucks — Emma Kirby (@Serem) April 17, 2016

It’s a sad day for feminism when the marginalized sex class can’t even name themselves as such.

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Meghan Murphy Founder & Editor Meghan Murphy is a freelance writer and journalist. She has been podcasting and writing about feminism since 2010 and has published work in numerous national and international publications, including The Spectator, UnHerd, the CBC, New Statesman, Vice, Al Jazeera, The Globe and Mail, and more. Meghan completed a Masters degree in the department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies at Simon Fraser University in 2012 and lives in Vancouver, B.C. with her dog.