Tag: children

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Healthcare

I try to speak up because I know what it is like, when as a child you are unable to speak up for yourself

This matters to me as someone who was subjected to years of sexual abuse as a girl, as well as a lot of sexual harassment since my teens, and who has subsequently relied on single-sex spaces to get through life. I want to protect female-only spaces for all the girls and women who need and want them for whatever reason and I try to speak up  because I know what it is like, when as a child you are unable to speak up for yourself.

I think that it is deeply wrong of organisations to disregard the needs of vulnerable, previously abused girls by making them choose between the trauma of sharing spaces such as changing rooms or bedrooms with males or facing the consequences of speaking up when they do not feel able or ready to.

Girls’ trust in others’ ability to safeguard them will be diminished.

I have campaigned by handing out leaflets. I requested to speak to a long-established women’s group who then invited me to present the issue. Following my presentation the group expressed deep concerns about the situation. I have written to my MP and then met and discussed it with him twice – he was fairly dismissive of my concerns of the first visit and chose to centre the needs of one group over the needs of others. On our second meeting he was very rude to my friend who had come to support me. I have helped with women’s groups and with children’s safeguarding groups who have been campaigning. A photo of me, but not my name, has appeared in a main stream newspaper and also appeared in a less main stream media outlet.

I have had a very small amount of verbal aggression in public and have also been shouted at when attending meetings. When an organisation that I was involved with held a meeting, the Grade 1 listed building was graffitied with the words ‘T*RFS F*CK OFF’ which was designed to intimidate attendees. A photo of me appeared in a non-mainstream media outlet where the position of safeguarding group I support was inaccurately linked alongside far-right groups. I have not yet had any issues with my work but this is mainly because I have been very careful about keeping my work life, as a hospital-based nurse (RGN) separate from my campaigning. I have no doubt that if they were linked then someone would try to have me removed.

C

Categories
Education Healthcare

Transwomen are important & in need of support, but they are not women

I care because I see the need for sex based recording, security & resourcing. We need to be able to have balanced, caring conversations in order to find solutions that respect lived experiences, fears & needs. Transwomen are important & in need of support, but they are not women. Also concerned that this ‘solution’ to gender dysphoria is not easy, simple or effective.

Why aren’t we helping people to be happy with who they are?

I have used social media to amplify GC accounts, tried to have conversations with people who think GC is the enemy, talked to feminists who only saw the trans perspective & shared concerns & examples of behaviours that damage both women & girls & transwomen. I regularly report accounts which are abusive to women & use hate speech.

I am on a block list & regularly find that accounts which used to be mutual have blocked me. I feel unable to speak because the conversation is abusive & accepts no nuance or need for discussion. I’m a middle aged peri menopausal feminist with teenage children, male & female – my perspective is not represented by any of the conversations I see.

Al, Solution driven

Categories
Healthcare

I care because children’s well-being is at stake and they are the future of our society!

I care because children’s well-being is at stake and they are the future of our society!

I have spoken up, written to MPs, DofE, written for medical journals.

I have not had any negative consequences so far but am aware it is always a significant possibility.

Julie, Parent, Paediatrician, School Governor

Categories
Education

Men generally don’t take it seriously

I care because I work in Education and have personally seen the effect of puberty blockers on a couple of Y7/8 girls, one of whom used to collapse on a regular basis. This had an effect on staff seeing this happen.

I then began reading more about the subject and was extremely worried how this subject and it’s consequences for women and girls was slipping under the radar and changes being introduced by stealth.

I have talked about it with friends and family. Men generally don’t take it seriously as they will not be affected by its consequences.

The worry is that young women want to be fair to everyone as they don’t see the dangerous consequences for themselves.

I have discussed on social media.

AB, Concerned School support member of staff

Categories
Parent

I have a lesbian daughter, and I am appalled at the silencing of women under the guise of progressiveness. It’s dangerous.

I have spoken up wherever I have felt it safe to do so; shared my opinions with friends and family; networked with a wider group of women.

My sister and I ran a campaign challenging gender stereotypes a few years ago – through this we have been ‘outed’ as ‘terfs’ and have received abuse from strangers. I have lost my oldest friend who accused us both of being ‘Terfs’

Emma, Mother, daughter, sister, aunt, campaigner – adult human female

Categories
Education Healthcare

I worry for the long term effects that this ideology will have on children

I care because women as a sex class are fundamentally different to men and the language used recently erases these differences.

The reason women face sexism is due to us having the majority of the reproductive burden and to suggest men could claim to be a woman and face the same thing minimises it.

Finally, I worry for the long term effects that this ideology will have on children as no enough research has been done in this area.

I have spoken to some friends and family regarding these issues, particularly the effects on children. I follow many gender critical people/organisations/communities to stay up to date and educated on the topic.

When speaking to one family member about the topic, I barely scratched the surface before they started calling me a “TERF” and saying they were disappointed in me. I haven’t touched on the topic with my family since.

L

Categories
Education Healthcare Parent

Children need to be allowed to grow up without being manipulated into fulfilling someone else’s idea of what is normal

This matters to me because my eldest son was very gender non conforming. He had an all-female friendship group at school; hated sport; did four dance classes a week; wore bright colours and nail varnish; and dressed-up as female characters on World Book Day and the Golden Jubilee – he made a lovely princess! 

We always told him there’s no right way to be a boy and celebrated his confidence. His two best family friends were ‘trad’ boys and they are still his best friends today. He is now 16, wears mainly black and navy and alongside his one remaining dance class, he does weight training and plans to take up American football!  He’s had a girlfriend, has a diverse friendship group and loves his life as a teen boy. He is horrified when he reads about gender non conforming kids like him being told they are the really the opposite sex. When I read about Mermaids CEO Susie Green’s child, who sounded just like my son as a toddler, my heart breaks. I firmly believe that you don’t really get to know yourself until after puberty.

If an adult wishes to transition, I hope they get the best care and support but children need to be allowed to grow up without being manipulated into fulfilling someone else’s idea of what is normal.

I have written to my MP and various Labour leadership candidates; signed petitions; attended Women’s Place UK and argued gently with friends (either young women or older men in the tech industry) although most of my friendship group and their children agree with me.

A friend from my MA course challenged me about liking ‘transphobic’ tweets. We had a brief, polite discussion and she unfollowed me.

Vee, Teacher

Categories
Education Healthcare Parent

It is so blatantly misogynistic

Why so I care: so many reasons! Because it poses a seismic threat to women and children. Because it is so blatantly misogynistic. But also because it is so crazy and baseless! The sheer madness of it – I’ve never seen anything like it!

What have I done? Mainly stuff on social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Also Instagram.stories which are great because I see the same ppl looking at them – people I wouldn’t expect to be interested!

Have i faced any consequences? Yes loads. A very close friend and his husband no longer speak to me. One of my daughters is angry with me about it and refuses to talk to me about it. Other ppl.have called me mad and obsessed.

Keren, Angry old feminist

Categories
Education Healthcare survivor

I would be halfway through my transition by now

This issue is deeply important to me for many reasons.

I learned about Self ID and was panic stricken as I have been made a victim of sexual violence by men repeatedly, and single sex spaces are vital to my ability to access public services.

I like with chronic pain and C-PTSD as a result of the abuse I have suffered, and single sex spaces help me in managing my physical and mental health when out in public.  I also am a lesbian woman, and was horrified to learn about the new ‘Woke Homophobia’, whereby gender ideology and trans activists insist that men can be lesbians, and that lesbians are same ‘gender’ attracted not same sex attracted. This erases homosexuality, and makes the discrimination lesbians face impossible to address. I am also concerned as a primary school teacher, that child psychology and development is being ignored in favour of lobby groups who have their own aims and dismiss developmental psychology and basic child safeguarding.  And finally, due to sexual violence, I had a period of time where I experienced gender dysphoria and I understand how horrid it feels to feel trapped in your own body, but I know that this condition can be managed and recovered from, and I know that the basis for my dysphoria was sexual violence and my wish to not be a woman and escape sexual violence. Were I 15 years younger, I would be half way through my transition by now and it would have been a catastrophic mistake. I am deeply concerned for young lesbians and children who are being sent down an experimental and physically and psychologically dangerous path, as guinea pigs.

I have led direct action protests, I have spoken to friends and family, I have written to my MP, I have been vocal on social media, I have written an article, I have even shared information with dates!

I have had a Twitter ban, for a tweet that explains queer theory, which was bizarre. I have also had difficult conversations with friends who misunderstand the issues, many however, now support me due to their own observations. The most negative consequences have been during direct action protests where I have been intimidated, spat at, screamed at in my face by trans activists. I was also followed by a trans identified male, and was very unsettled. I am mostly concerned about being harassed by previous abusers, and by male trans activists. I feel frightened attending talks, in case someone is intimidated or violent.

Sofia, lesbian radical feminist activist

Categories
Parent

I thankfully held off in case he just needed time to work out who he was

I care because I am concerned about the safeguarding of young girls, because I know vulnerable autistic young girls and because my own son thought he was Trans when he was confused about his feelings towards other boys, and people suggested Mermaids to me. I thankfully held off in case he just needed time to work out who he was.

I have had quiet conversations with friends with autistic daughters to warn them to be ultra aware of what they are up to online and what they are hearing at school. I have had frank conversations with my own kids. I have spoken with likeminded friends online privately and on a couple of occasions posted publicly.

S, Mum of teenager