The Gender Dissidents

In the summer of 2020 I asked people concerned about the replacement of sex by “gender identity” three questions:

• Why does it matter to you?
• What have you done?
• Have you faced any consequences?

Over 700 people replied to the online survey over the course of a couple of weeks. They wrote movingly, passionately and rationally about their concern for freedom of speech, women’s rights, for children and young people, and about their ability to do their jobs.

They wrote about personal concerns and experiences, as women (mainly), parents, lesbians, families of transitioners and survivors of male violence.

Many wrote from perspectives as professionals; at work in education, health and social care, academia, law, media and arts, the public sector, the voluntary sector, business and other areas.

You can read their stories by clicking the icons above. Or read the highlights and the data.

The most frequently raised issues were:

1. Children
2. Feminism/women’s rights
3. Single sex spaces
4. Lesbians
5. Sport

They did not express hatred, and many wrote about the need to recognise everyone’s human rights. Many wrote about the consequences they had faced for speaking up, or why they were afraid to speak up.

Many talked about the new constellation of new self-organised groups through which they are taking collective action, in the face of the cowardice and capture of established organisations.

What next?

I will submit a summary of the findings to the Women and Equality Select Committee as evidence for why they have made a mistake in ignoring women’s concerns over gender self ID (again!).

I hope this data and these voices will help some more people see that saying that “sex matters” is neither radical nor rare, and that there are many people who want open discussion of the issues.

Maya