The Gender Dissidents SurveyThis matters to me because I am a woman, and I feel our hard fought for rights are being taken from us, and sometimes feel we are powerless to stop it.
I have spoken up on social media, and spoken with some friends about this issue. They understood and supported me.
I was removed from a woman’s only Facebook group because I objected to a trans woman telling women not to talk about their uniquely female experiences.
Jessie, I care about women
I have benefited from single sex services as a small girl with a learning disabled mum.
I’ve mouthed off on the internet and hounded local politicians.
I have not been threatened. apparently I am intimidating. I think my age and youthful photo aid that. I’m actually very nice.
Emma M
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 about this issue because I feel that the rights of women and girls are being eroded. Women are being punished for speaking up about this issue. I would like a future in which women are able to argue in favour of their sex based rights without receiving threats of violence or being labelled transphobic.
I have spoken to family members. I have supported people who speak out on social media. I have lost friends.
Susan, Feminist
I care because laws that rely on men choosing to do the right thing rather than those which attach a penalty for doing the wrong thing do not make me feel safe. Even the latter has not kept me safe from men who have stalked me and attempted to assault me sexually.
I feel that choice and freedoms of women are under attack from all quarters at present. This is the most insidious.
I have engaged in social media debate, written an occasional blog post about the issue, engaged in discussion with those close to me.
I have been harassed on social media.
Emily
This matters to me because women’s rights, which have taken centuries to build, are being torn apart by men.
I have raised the issue with friends and family and at work.
I have been told I am not understanding the issue or am anti-trans.
Ruth
Because sex is a biological fact. Women have always been oppressed, too many people confuse sex with gender. However much someone may feel they are in the wrong body all the surgery in the world does not change your biological sex. Self ID has opened doorways for predatory men to target women.
I’ve become engaged on twitter via an anonymous account.
I have not really engaged as much as I would like yet. I have been blocked unknowingly by other people on twitter I assume because of tweets I like or have retweeted.
Ruby2shoes, Woman in her 40’s sick of being labelled CIS, menstruator and other demeaning terms
I have never understood why just because I have a female body I should have lesser opportunities than my brother, why I should be listened to less than my male bodied colleagues. After a lifetime of this I understand that women are oppressed on account of their biology.
At about age 6 I told my mum I was a boy and she should refer to me by a boys name and she should also inform my teacher. I remember the fury I felt when the teacher referred to me by my female name! I don’t really remember why I wanted to be seen as a boy. I think I had told someone i wanted to be a pilot and their response was girls can’t be pilots ( this was 1970s). I fear that if that happened now I would be on a trans pathway whereas in reality at that age I had absolutely no conception of gender but was learning about sexism.
I fight on behalf of my 6 yr old self and all other “gender non-conforming” children.
In my opinion sex based stereotypes have massively increased with social media where the most lauded women look like Kardashians.
I have spoken to friends, colleagues (although warily), have pointed out the mistake in an online training package where gender was listed as a protected characteristic but not sex. I’ve posted on social media about this.
I’ve been put on terf blocker or block terfs or whatever list. I left the Scottish Green Party. I’ve become politically homeless.
M
This matters to me as a rape victim, I don’t want people with penises in my changing rooms, in my toilets, in women’s prisons. And as for biological men (who identify as women) competing in women’s sports that makes my blood boil, I know as a female I can’t throw as far, run as fast, lift as heavy as a biological male and it makes me so mad that women, no matter how hard they try will never be able to compete.
I have also been looking into autogynophilia and it scares me, I think a large number of these men have this. I honestly have no problems with people that have fully transitioned. And the vile abuse that people get on Twitter for saying all this is scary.
I’ve liked things on Twitter. I’m too scared to even retweet. I refuse to be called cis, I’m a woman.
I have been called a transphobe by my good friends. I change the subject now because it makes me uncomfortable.
Moonface , Not cis
I care because it’s the absolute injustice of it. It’s just not fair. If men and women were truly equal then swapping between wouldn’t be an issue, but we’re not and there are a few meagre provisions we’re allowed for our safety and progression and now we’re told we’re bigots if we won’t give them up to narcissistic men with a fetish. The gender stereotypes I fight against for myself and my daughters are now being pushed as intrinsic and deviation from these is seen as a reason for mutilation.
I have posted on Mumsnet, Twitter and my personal Facebook. I have had countless conversations with friends. I am also involved with Safe Schools Alliance.
In December I called a radio phone in and asked Jo Swinson what a woman is, she struggled with the answer and I was allowed to ask further follow up questions.
It was widely reported on (appeared in newspapers and on GMB) and seemed to show the crux of the argument – you can’t have women’s rights if you don’t know what a woman is. In February this year I was fortunate enough to attend the WPUK conference and was inspired by so many wonderful speakers and to be in a room with 1000 women who ‘get it’ and would actually like to get out of the ‘cul-de-sac of identity politics’ and back to the fight against everything else women are facing.
I have had some difficult conversations with friends who feel like I’m being unkind, gay friends especially. I’m at the age where about half my friends have children and that seems to be the dividing line. Pre-kids it’s easier to believe that equality of the sexes exists but once you go through pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, maternity leave, reduced employment opportunities, mental load – the full force of the patriarchy hits home, and men donning some lipstick and claiming womanhood feels incredibly offensive.
Anna, from Warwickshire
The Gender Dissidents Survey