The Gender Dissidents SurveyI work with women and children, have a safeguarding role, I’m a survivor of sexual abuse and domestic violence.
I have spoken up to my work colleagues about my concerns re self ID, puberty blockers and stated I’m shocked our profession isn’t more informed.
I’ve been cautious, but find colleagues interested and in agreement.
A, Health Visitor
As a victim of male domestic violence and misogyny in the workplace it is essential to me in personal and public life that sex based rights are not diminished.
I was subject to sexual abuse because I was a girl, it’s that simple.
I’ve supported others who have spoken out, shared info on social media etc.
I’ve experienced negative reaction from family members and friends
C, Feminist without a voice
As a nurse I wish to safeguard children and maintain single sex wards for women
I have tried to discuss the issue with the Equality Diversity and inclusion lead at work.
I’ve been accused of transphobia by the aforementioned person.
Christine
As a woman I care about this because women’s hard won rights are being eroded. We need single sex spaces and sports to ensure safety, dignity and equality. I’m worried that children are being pushed into irreversible medical procedures without the knowledge or maturity to make a wise decision. Men are still telling women what to think, in fact what we are, it’s the same old misogyny as ever.
I have attended Woman’s Place UK meetings. I submitted evidence to the GRA consultation. I’ve written to my MP about my concerns. I’ve spoken to friends and family about the issue.
I’ve been very careful about who I speak to and what I say so I haven’t personally experienced negative consequences.
As a 63 year old woman I have a lot of older friends, all the women I know in this age bracket are very concerned about this issue, especially about children being pushed into irreversible medical procedures.
I’ve heard a lot of stories from other women about the abuse they’ve experienced in the past which makes them particularly anxious to maintain single sex spaces for girls and women as an urgent issue.
Maggie, Woman
I care because I saw a person with severe learning disability develop mental health problems after one of their live-in carers transitioned MtF (male to female), and not being able to discuss it because “be kind”.
I work with people with learning disability. I was working with a man with severe learning disability who was suddenly suffering from anxiety. Met with staff team (24 hour support) – one of them was clearly a late-transitioning TIM (trans-identifying male) – had previously worked there as “Charles”, now referring to himself as “Charlotte”. I was discouraged from mentioning this as part of the psychological formulation.
I also work with women and girls with learning disabilities, and elderly people with dementia, who are reliant on personal support with hygiene etc – always have same sex support. I am horrified at implications of it becoming same gender under self id.
I’ve been to Women’s Place meetings, posted on Twitter, tried to start conversations at work, but fear professional consequences. I have successfully had conversations with family and friends where I can be more explicit.
I have had death threats on social media, and the usual abuse, in horrible sexual language.
S, Supporting People with LD and Autism
I was bought up knowing that I should have the same opportunities as men, although my sex meant I was more vulnerable in some ways.
When I first started going out to pubs my brother would be dispatched to walk me home, when I moved away to uni my parents sat me down and told me what to do if I was attacked and gave me a rape alarm.
In the last few years it has seemed more and more as though my biological sex is not the reason for my vulnerability or oppression, but a societally-constructed feeling is.
I can only explain what being a woman is in biological terms and shared experiences, not by how I feel.
Following JK Rowling’s tweets this week I have finally got round to setting up an anonymous Twitter account so I can educate myself more. I have spoken to my parents about my views but so may of my friends are woke and I work for the NHS, which has completely fallen for Stonewall’s opinions, so anything further at this stage would ruin my career and thus prevent me working in an area I love.
Despite having an anonymous account, within the first 30 minutes of setting up my Twitter I kept getting redirected to verify my identity, over and over again! Hmmm, could that be because I was following GC accounts?
K, Frustrated 30-something
I was a teenager in the 90s and grew up with 2nd wave feminism. I am big on female anatomy and biology. I have always supported women and children.
I got the head of my kids’ primary school to implement the Transgender Trend guidance. At work I have changed forms which conflated sex and gender. I have been in meetings with the Baroness Nicholson.
I have been writing endlessly to my local MP ( has never replied). I have been to Women’s Place meetings (sometimes with friends). I have radicalised my mother in law. I have lost friends (good, close real life friends) over the GRA (Gender Recognition Act) debate and cannot speak out completely at work.
C
This matters to me as a mother of both sexes and as a domestic violence survivor.
Maintaining single sex spaces is important for my sense of dignity and safety. As a parent, it matters that my children, both male and female, are able to use single sex spaces for their privacy and dignity, but especially to protect my daughters from sexual harassment.
I am deeply concerned that children are allowed to make decisions that can have serious long term consequences and that we as adults allow them, when as adults we should be collectively protecting them from harm.
I have discussed at work, with friends and on various social media platforms. But I have to be careful, because of my work and my volunteering. I believe I can equally raise my voice in giving girls confidence to question the stereotypes society presents and to remain true to their own beliefs. I have a few friends, ironically one with two pre-teen daughters.
I know the consequences if i spoke up to the wrong people, and i have to be careful, which makes me very cross.
FR, Mother of 3
I’m a woman and a feminist. I have studied social science and social theory. I have personal experience of misogyny, sexual harassment, rape, miscarriage, abortion, childhood abuse, mental ill health, IVF and infertility. Those experiences have been embodied.
My instincts are to welcome gender non conforming ideas and folk because the world needs more kindness and less constraining gender roles.
That said, I have experienced being told that using the words woman and mother at a breastfeeding support group is transphobic and I find this ludicrous and offensive.
Non binary and trans folk are of course entitled to use words such as chestfeeding parent etc but the idea that talking about breastfeeding and mothers is transphobic when these are experiences that women (not all women of course) have had forever is ludicrous. Social constructionism in meaningful as a critique but we cannot disembody ourselves even if our dysphoria makes this an attractive option.
I’ve talked to friends. I don’t talk much on social media about this.
Kittycat
I care because human rights are important for everyone. It has become very personal as I now have a daughter, my dad recently identified as trans, I work in mental health which includes young people who identify as trans and females who have been victims of male violence. All of these people have rights – how do we balance them and not sacrifice one excessively for the sake of another group?
I care because I am part of the me too generation. Because I was so socialised to gender roles I allowed my ex to convince me it wasn’t rape. This socialising started before I even recognised my own gender. There has to be a space to think about this – but that space seems to be disappearing. Trans women do experience misogyny but do they have the same internalised misogyny from early childhood? This is not to diminish the massive internalised stigma and dysphoria that they experience – but these are different experiences.
I have discussed with people I trust. I have tried to educate myself – understanding all sides of the argument.
My biggest struggle has been explaining to my 3-year old daughter where grandad has gone and why she had to become gran. All books written for that age group on the topic refer to boys not liking pink (or similar) which goes against everything I try to teach her!
I have occasionally made attempts to discuss aspects at work.
I have been aggressively challenged when reflecting on my feelings about my personal situation (apparently it is not ok for me to have any difficult feelings about my dad identifying as trans – I am 41). I have been accused of misgendering by referring to her as “dad” (this was something I discussed with her and agreed I would do.
I feel this is a hugely important topic but do not dare raise it as the trans lobby is so powerful I worry I would be putting my professional registration at risk. One trans person raising concerns could be all it would take. Even though my experience would suggest most trans people would not share the view that my attempts to balance all needs are transphobic.
D.R., Mental health worker
The Gender Dissidents Survey