Category: Private sector

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Private sector

As a woman in tech, I totally understand what being a minority is

As a woman in tech, I totally understand what being a minority is. I totally get what discrimination is, including plenty of subtle ways that women in tech experience. I know it sucks. I can only imagine how difficult it is for trans people, I feel for them, and I’d love them to be accommodated in any ways possible.

At the same time, I wish advocates of “Trans Women Are Women” opened their eyes to possible abuse if the laws and rights in this matter are not extremely carefully considered. It goes for so many potential issues, from bathrooms, changing rooms, prisons, shelters… I am all for freedoms, respect and rights for underrepresented groups – but these rights cannot come at the cost of rights and safety of another vulnerable group.

I am totally opposed to possibility of ever going to a gym changing room and suddenly seeing a dick and balls on someone next to me.

I am totally opposed to female athletes being beaten by someone who maybe weeks prior was competing in male’s sports. I cannot imagine the horror of a woman escaping to a shelter from abuser – and her getting abused in there by another male presenting as a woman.

I have not spoken out. I wish I had the courage – but I don’t.

 I have witnessed so much abuse going towards the much more powerful women out there, I simply do not want to bring this on myself.

I understand that many of the “trans activists” women have good intentions. I understand their desire to improve lives of other vulnerable groups. But I really, REALLY wish they admitted we live in a “real world”, and for every genuinely vulnerable trans woman, there will also be a man who will put on woman’s clothes only to abuse the situation. For this reason, amongst other things I am totally opposed for self-identification, for ability to just say one day “I’m a woman” and that’s it. It needs to be a proper process – we don’t just let people change nationality on a whim, and surely gender change is an even bigger part of identity than this.

I’m sure there are ways where we can find middle ground, protect trans people whilst ALSO protecting women’s (female!) rights. It’s making me really sad that TRA present this as a black-or-white issue, if you have any concerns then you are a terrible TERF.

I am grateful for your work, and thank you for speaking out for those of us who do not have the courage for this. Even following you sometimes feels like risky business.

L, Europe

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Private sector

I was fired from work

I believe that it is important that ALL human beings have rights. Women need to be united.

I explain, talk and discuss the issue with friends and family and also at work.

I have being cut off from social gathering by co-workers and I was fired from work.

ClavelVerde, Latino woman over 60 working in Tourism, Mexico

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Healthcare Private sector

I work in a field that is full of trans-identified males

I care because if I had been born 10 or 20 years later, I am 100% certain I would have “transitioned” and would most likely now be among the growing number of detransitioners. I am horrified at the glorification of mutilation of women’s and children’s bodies as a “brave” “choice.” I am terrified for my own daughter and I hope that by the time she is old enough to learn about this shameful chapter in history, it will be just that: history, relegated to the dustbin.

I have not done nearly as much as I would like to. I work in a field that is full of trans-identified males and their vocal allies, and I cannot afford the career and economic consequences if I am blacklisted in my profession due to being smeared as a “TERF.” I am active on social media, for a time under my full name, but now under just my first name.

I have been very fortunate thus far to have avoided being targeted or doxxed by trans-rights “activists.” However, I am very afraid for my and my daughter’s future if I ever am.

M, concerned single mom, Germany

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Private sector

Sex based rights matter – they keep women and girls safe.

This matters to me because sex based rights matter – they keep women and girls safe. It gives women and girls opportunities they would not otherwise have. It’s as simple as that.

I have posted on social media, I have discussed with friends, I have studied to educate myself on the subject, I’ve spoken to trans activists who also recognize sex and want to protect sex based rights. I’ve become part of feminist communities (that center women). I created new accounts when my banned account was deleted (10k followers on Twitter – lost that account for mentioning J Yaniv)

Banned from Twitter, I’m now using a pseudonym  (hiding my professional identity) on Facebook . I’ve lost two close friends who consider themselves “non binary” insist on coerced pronouns, use terms like TERF, and think males should be allowed in rape crisis centers – and that women should concede spaces.

RS, Liberal turned radical feminist, Europe

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Private sector

I used to be involved in LGBT activism and I feel lied to

I care because I’m a young woman, and have seen women in my industry and in my life disappear into the “gender” fantasy in order to escape from their problems. It is not helping them.

I am alarmed and dismayed at the rapid progress of gender ideology into law and the damaging psychological and physical consequences on young women. I care because I used to be involved in LGBT activism, and I feel lied to. When lesbians protested Pride in the UK with “Get the L Out” I was told not to research them, and that they were bigoted TERFs who wanted trans women out of public life. I took this at face value, and I’m ashamed of this now, as these women had very good reason to be upset.

I’m new to gender critical philosophy, but I have been researching as much as I can. I’ve spoken to women in my life who I feel would be receptive (luckily, they are) and I’ve just recently come out publicly on social media. Right now, I am mostly keeping my head down as I do my own research into the problem on a local level, including the number of girls being referred for transition services and what has been happening legally in the past few years. I think this will give me the best possible basis to speak out strongly for local women later on down the track.

I’ve been called a TERF, and have had friends questioning my motives. Luckily, so far I’ve avoided the worst of what many women go through. I am certain that if my employer learned what I was looking into, there would be professional repercussions.

Amy, Australia

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Private sector

Finding out that a trans-woman who had lived as a man for the first 40+ years of her life had gotten a place on the programme hit me hard

This matters to me because I have seen real world examples of trans-women taking places in positive action programmes in my workplace. The purpose of these programmes was to address the lack of women in our industry, it had always been expressly for women only.

I was unable to gain a place because I was on maternity leave and was told it was too complicated to facilitate my attendance because I would not have enough ‘keeping in touch’ days. It was suggested that I defer to the subsequent year. By the time the opportunity came again I was so busy trying to balance full time work and being a new mum that I couldn’t take the extra burden of attending this programme in addition to everything else.

Finding out that a trans-woman who had lived as a man for the first 40+ years of her life had gotten a place on the programme hit me hard. It seemed wrong, unfair. It was at that point I started to read more into gender theory and since then I think it’s fair to say I’ve become firmly gender critical. Although I have other concerns, this was my main one.

I’m too scared of the potential consequences having seen women in the public eye treated appallingly for speaking up.

Lucy

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Private sector

It’s the worst incarnation of misogyny I have ever encountered

This matters to me as it’s the worst incarnation of misogyny I have ever encountered.

I have tried to enlighten people to what Queer Theory is and what it’s ultimate aims are and how dangerous it is for women. I mostly try in conversation- most women have no idea.

I’ve been blackballed by my Union (I’m a very active shop steward in a big Union) and in so called left-wing groups.

Sue, Working class Trade Union Rep

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Private sector

As a cancer survivor in 2016 I made jokes about not feeling like a woman

As a cancer survivor in 2016 I made jokes about not feeling like a woman, especially as I wear trousers. Then I started to notice how organisations were starting to replace the word “women”, for example with respect to periods. Now as my daughter turns 17 and self Id and mixed sex toilets are more visible in news stories, I worry about whether she will avoid sex assault or whether she will have fewer rights than me. Also, if you can’t name or define things properly, how can you create legislation?

I gently mention to people at work if I get the opportunity to drop into a conversation or ask an innocent question but its difficult to be too obvious as although my employer isn’t too woke, they seem to be gradually heading that way. I can’t afford to lose my job, as a cancer survivor with health problems I feel I should stay where I am.

A couple of people have completely misunderstood what I’ve said. In general I am sympathetic to how people want to live their lives or live as if they were another sex but I have been appalled by “TRAs ” and the aggression and abuse and everything is transphobic. These colleagues questioned if my questions were transphobic, but it’s not the trans that’s the issue. It’s the aggression and push for self Id which is now feeling like it may encroach on my rights and my daughter’s rights very soon.

Mercury, Biological Geordie  

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Healthcare Private sector

As a scientist I am offended by the lie of ladybrain

As a scientist I am offended by the lie of ladybrain.  Ignoring safeguards for women and children is madness.  The education system is being changed to lie to children.  Affirmation-only ignores the issues of autism, sexual abuse, that most children would naturally desist and many would be happy gay and lesbian young people.

I have responded to the GRA consultation, I have written to my MP, and I try to support women who speak publicly.  I donate to crowd funds for legal fees.

One woman at work won’t talk to me anymore, but primarily I have to remain anonymous because I want to protect my family from the horrific threats and abuse.

Mama Bear, Concerned for autistic children

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Private sector

I wrote thoughtful, detailed letters and received responses from very few

This matters to me because the words ‘woman’ and ‘female’ need to mean something if we intend to use them as a practical and meaningful way to categorise and protect a class of people. If female also means male, it effectively means nothing at all. We need female to mean something specific because we need to be able to speak about, discuss, monitor, evaluate and address the very specific life experiences, oppressions, health issues and prejudices experienced exclusively by females.

Sex is just what we are, it’s not an identity, it’s not a feeling, we become female at conception and we die female. If they dig us up in 200 years they’ll be able to tell we were female, they won’t know (or care) how we chose to identify. Life as female human beings means a different path to navigate than life experienced by males. That’s true no matter how you identify. I won’t swap that basic material fact, rightly defined in for something as flimsy, fluid, subjective and restrictive as gender. I am female, but I reject gender stereotypes forced on females.

Gender stereotypes don’t help females, and they don’t help males either. Live as you choose, be ‘who’ you want to be, but protect in law those who are disproportionately advantaged for their sex – for ‘what’ they are.

I have written letters to politicians, elected representatives and councillors. I wrote thoughtful, detailed letters and received responses from very few. The responses I received were often cagey, tentative, and most avoided the questions I asked, or declined to comment on practicalities of GRA legislation. Often I received basic responses  from staffers that basically just ignored everything I asked and instead pointed me to inadequate sources that they insisted would “educate” me, even when I sent letters containing credible references, evidence and stats of my own. It was very clear that several were anxious about the subject, and others didn’t understand the complexity and felt unable to address questions competently. 

I can count the number of politicians who actively engaged on one hand,  most  of them openly agreed with my points and were able to offer informed commentary, and only one didn’t agree but was still willing to discuss. I can’t reveal who that is because they’d probably be kicked out of their party. Politicians seem either poorly informed or frightened to discuss.

I have attended multiple meetings of women’s groups. Only one has passed without threats, protest, disruption or violence against the attendees. All of these meetings welcomed trans attendees, often had trans speakers and opposition campaigners in attendance were always given time to speak.  I have worried for my own safety too many times. We never go alone, we organise ourselves to arrive in groups.

I have attended peaceful protests at Parliament. The only disruption or aggression came from  those who attended to disrupt speakers. Babies to 90s, male and female, plenty trans people too, but coverage always characterises you as “angry middle aged women” 

I have delivered leaflets across my city. I financially support my local grassroots group. I sign and share petitions. I created a GRA reform PowerPoint for elderly women’s group who felt too frightened to ask for info.

I have to be very careful because I know that being vocal about this may lead to activists trying to pressure my employer to sack me.

I work in a role/industry that doesn’t welcome public political opinions. I would love to say more about what I do and why it demonstrates my active, personal and professional commitment to meaningful diversity and inclusion but I can’t. 

I am a member of a political party and attended a local party social group for women for some months. A prominent male GRA campaigner started to attend these women’s group meetings and was hostile from the start. He took photos of our group, shared them online, connected my image and name with my social media, labelled me as “anti-trans” which I’m not at all, and effectively doxxed me. I had to stop attending the women’s group. I’m angry about it but couldn’t fight back,  I need to protect my family and my livelihood. I can speak my mind freely when it affects only me, but I can’t risk those around me, and that risk is real.

I can truthfully say that I have always been careful in expressing my views, never abusive, but I have still received death threats, abusive comments, sexually violent threats. I have been doxxed. Many women I know have experienced so much worse. That’s the reality of it.

GeorgieM