Author: Maya Forstater

Categories
Education survivor trans familiy

If we cannot name our oppression, we cannot fight it

This feels like such an important issue for me for several reasons.

I have personally experienced the ways in which trans identifying males entering female only spaces completely changes the dynamic, effectively silencing female voices, even when the purpose of the space has been designed precisely to elevate women’s voices.

I see the violence and hostility directed at women for wanting to talk about our sex based rights as yet another iteration of male aggression, entitlement and dominance. Furthermore, I can foresee the long-term consequences of allowing gender ideology to supplant biological sex as effectively undoing all of the work of the women’s movement of the last century. If we cannot name our oppression, we cannot fight it.

Initially, I started posting articles and my own opinions on this issue on social media. I have also attended several events and protests that have sought to highlight or discuss this issue. I have also attended meetings for women only with a similar purpose. I have had private discussions offline with friends and family. And finally, I chaired a meeting on the sex based rights of women and girls.

Personally, I have lost several friends over this issue, or experienced others distancing themselves from me over it. I have also had disagreements with family members.

It has been scary, as a survivor of male violence including family violence, and having ptsd symptoms associated with it, to be confronted with shouting and aggressive posturing from masked individuals at the protests and meetings I have attended.

It has made me feel incredibly ‘unsafe’. It has also been unpleasant to be accused of bigotry, transphobia or branded a terf in online spaces. Lastly, my teenage niece is talking about her desire to transition, and this has adversely affected my relationship with her, and caused deep grief and stress to herself and other members of my family at a very uncertain time.

Jo , Concerned auntie, educator and advocate for women and girls

Categories
Education

Self id worries me immensely

This matters to me for ethical and religious reasons.  Being a woman is a physical reality and that reality has led to women being discriminated against for centuries. Self ID worries me immensely because it feeds in the idea that the physical reality of sex no longer matters and could lead to exclusion of women from work and sports especially in minority communities.  In a word it is not progress.

I have discussed this issue with friends and colleagues and spoken to my line manager in confidence.

I haven’t had any consequences, but there might be if I decided to go more public on the issue.

A. A.

Categories
Education Healthcare

Almost everyone I’ve spoken to has been in agreement

At first it was astonishment that something so obviously real and true – that there are two sexes, male and female, which cannot be changed – was being denied. As I found out more it was fear of the damage to women’s rights, the damage to children and adolescents and then outrage and fury that we cannot speak the truth anymore without fear for our jobs.

I have spoken about it to friends and family, cautiously to colleagues at work. I spoke out in an LGBT training session at work to query the suicide statistics.  Written to my MP, posted on twitter and Facebook, attended a meeting, contributed to lots of fundraisers, bought books by gender critical feminists.

I haven’t had any consequences so far – almost everyone I’ve spoken to  has been in agreement.

I have a couple of  friends who obviously think I’ve got a strange bee in my bonnet and am an anti trans bigot but they still talk to me!! However I’m training to be a counsellor and therefore have to be v careful not to say anything on social media which could prevent me from qualifying. I was looking at volunteering for an organisation yesterday but put off because they were seeking people “who identify as male”.

C, Gender critical truth seeker radicalised by Mumsnet

Categories
Education Healthcare

I am absolutely appalled at the thought of a male child undressing with female children

I care because I am appalled at the debate being shut down.

There is a child at the school I teach who presents as the opposite sex, and I do not know which way round or who they are.

I am absolutely appalled at the thought of a male child undressing with female children, and those female children not even knowing.

The idea that medically changing children’s bodies is a good thing to upload outdated gender and sex stereotypes is abhorrent.

As soon as you express any doubt, there is no allowances, you are just wrong.

I have spoken to my colleagues

I have not had any consequences yet, but I have been quiet. I’ve been blocked by some twitter accounts so I must be on some list somewhere.

E, Teacher

Categories
Education Lesbians Parent

I was banned from a Facebook lesbian group

As a same-sex attracted lesbian I feel threatened by those who were born biological males and who are now claiming to be lesbians and who are trying to shame, coerce and threaten lesbians into sexual relationships.

I joined Twitter to both read articles and to post about gender issues.

I was banned from a Facebook lesbian group (Older Lesbians UK) that I had been a member of for many years for posting about the Women’s Liberation 50th anniversary as it was deemed transphobic for not centering transwomen.   

Susie, Women, mother, lesbian, teacher

Categories
Parent

I do not want to be told to shut up

I am a woman, who is also a Mother and I think meaningful discussion is better achieved when the other side actually listens. I do not want to be told to shut up when it comes to speaking about very real concerns that face Women’s rights today. I have recently become aware of the mass gaslighting of malicious individuals disguised in what was once a cause I supported fully.

I have only recently begun posting to twitter to try and raise awareness of the issues that face women – I have been watching the subject for a while and didn’t have the courage to speak up in defence of why being Gender Critical is not a crime nor is it hateful. I hope to add to what seems to positive momentum.

I haven’t had any consequences yet, but I have seen scores of examples, which were filled with more hate and violence than anything I’ve seen from those who are Gender Critical, so I am at least aware of what kind of things to expect should I receive any negative reply. I am worried however that doxxing may occur following the recent burst in GC and Radical Feminist accounts.

Kelly

Categories
Men Parent

My mission is to get as many men as I can to see the truth and value behind feminism

A friend asked me this ages ago. “Why do you care so much?” I told her it was because I had grown up in an atmosphere that valued civil rights, equality between the sexes (not genders) and social justice. In the intervening years, I have had the good fortune to meet and befriend many remarkable women and understand their concerns. My mission is to get as many men as I can to see the truth and value behind feminism.

I am writing a book called “We Are So Not There Yet”. It’s slow going; I’m nowhere near there yet!

I am constantly slagged off on social media, but since I am retired and a man, I don’t give a damn and give as good as I get.

Paul Milnes, Feminist ally; proud father of a daughter; grandfather

Categories
Parent

I am fucking exhausted

I care (deeply) because I am fucking exhausted. I’ve fought for the rights of women since I realised what those rights were at the age of 13. I am now 49 and I am still watching women being told that we do not ‘deserve’ safe spaces, equality, freedom… and still by men.

That I may have to watch this happen to my daughter too makes me feel levels of rage that cannot be described. These men may be wearing lipstick and too much nylon but they are still men and I’ve had enough.

I’ve been active on social media albeit with a pseudonym and while using a VPN because I personally know too many women who have been threatened. I also run my own business which is rooted in feminism so I routinely raise the issue there too with my customers but that is a delicate balacing act which I know could shut me down. I have to chose carefully what I say and when but I’m not stopping. I also talk about this a lot on my personal social media channels which are only accessed by friends and family. Every time I say something, wherever I say it, I have to sum up the consequences.

Have I had any consequences? God, yes.

I’ve seen plenty of threats of assault but I know that’s the last resort of a desperate ideologue so don’t take a lot of notice.

I have lost friends though, amazingly friends who until this point were committed feminists. We only diverged on feminist issues when it came to this issue and it was always my friends who decided they could not be friends with me because their support of men in skirts meant more to them than any defence of women. I have not mourned their moving on in any way but I remain staggered that they think any of this was necessary.

Categories
Healthcare Parent

My children have no idea how much campaigning I have done

This matters to me as I cannot stay silent while women’s sex based rights are removed along with our voices. I cannot watch children & young people being indoctrinated into a harmful cult.

I have joined two women’s group fighting against self ID. Ideally repealing the GRA. I have written to my MP and others, I have met with my MP.  I have ‘collared’ another MP at unrelated event & sent him emails. I have spoken out at a mayoral candidate meeting and had email exchanges with said mayoral candidate. I have emailed a Baroness and had meaningful dialogue with her. I have stickered. A lot. I have attended WPUK meetings, (5 or 6) and a further meeting organised by ‘Posie Parker’. I talk to people all the time & they ‘get it’. I attended FILIA.

I have had to be extremely careful as my adult children have been taken in and think I’m needing to educate myself.  They have no idea how much campaigning I have done. I’ve been ‘doxxed’ once and am on the cusp of a second doxxing. I don’t work so the ‘only’ damage will be with the relationship I have with my children. It breaks my heart but it won’t stop me fighting.

Categories
Healthcare Parent

The future scandal…will be similar to that of thalidomide

I care because I believe the future scandal over the grievous lack of care for children & young adults who will have suffered permanent physical damage will be similar to that of thalidomide.

I care especially about the thousands of young girls, many of them likely to be lesbian, who have been drawn in via social media grooming, in the context of a society that renders potential female role models invisible.

I care because throughout the world women and girls are discriminated and oppressed on the basis of their sex. They cannot identify out of it. They need safe, specialised, single sex services and spaces.

I have shared & commented on gender critical articles and opinions on twitter. But not before removing all links to my political party from my bio. Not for fear for myself, as I have no political ambition, but in order not to damage by association other women. I do not post about my local party, or my activity within it. I have attended Woman’s Place meetings & posted about them.

I have raised numerous times with my political party, so far to no avail, my dismay that they no longer collect data on sex, a protected characteristic in the 2010 Equality Act. Worse, if members consult the individual data held by the Labour Party, previous data given years ago on sex has been converted without permission to ‘gender identity’, with the entirely false claim that this data has been provided to them by me. It has not!

I am regarded by most party activists as transphobic, as is anyone who speaks up for women’s sex based rights. I am retired, so have no concerns about my employer being pursued. I suspect official complaints will have been made about me.

My male partner, who has a lifetime’s working experience in child protection & investigation of historic child abuse, was called transphobic and dismissed as ‘an old white man’ for daring to mention autogynephilia in a meeting.

Red Swan, Socialist feminist, mother & grandmother