Tag: feminism

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Voluntary sector

It has been stressful and frustrating for myself and other staff

I care because in my organisation, I have found that the constant blurring of sex, gender and gender identity in organisational policies, blogs, guidelines and training materials at best undermines their effectiveness, and at worst installs regressive and harmful stereotypes.

I care because I value the power of data to advance the rights of all, and am deeply concerned about the quality of my organisations’ evidence when we use confusing terms like ‘non-man’ or ‘woman-identifed’ in staff or community surveys.

I care because women in the UK are losing their jobs or on ‘performance improvement plans’ for speaking up.

I care because I think there is real work that must take place to fight genuine anti-rights actors and human rights abuses around the world, and until we tackle head-on the issues of conflicting rights we cannot move forward.

I have rewritten guidelines, tools, research papers and strategic documents that: used gender identity instead of sex; included incorrect or problematic definitions of gender; did not use the word women in the name of inclusion and intersectionality. 

I have carefully spoken to staff across the organisation about this issue – always from a rights-based perspective – asking questions, sharing blogs or studies when relevant. I have repeatedly attempted to influence senior managers to follow correct Equality Act legislation rather than Stonewall guidance (with partial success). I have flagged reputational risks of alienating female supporters.

I have listened to women who have been told their feminism is ‘trash’ (by men) and spent time explaining to staff why calling other staff members ‘TERF’ is unacceptable, whilst trying my best to build bridges across staff communities. I have lobbied for spaces to discuss these issues in the workplace.

The negative consequences have been opaque and veiled warnings: be careful, get in line, be inclusive.

There have been impacts on workloads – without a serious policy framework language must be agreed on an exhausting and time consuming case-by-case basis. Hours have been spent drafting detailed policy recommendations that carefully address conflicts of rights which are swiftly ignored or rebutted with the mantra ‘we will be inclusive’ with no time spent engaging in any of the substance.

On an emotional level, it has been stressful and frustrating for myself and other staff. I know a number of staff who feel silenced, and unable to discuss openly on our online work platform because of the backlash, which has included warnings by senior managers. Meanwhile, potentially negative impacts of policy capture and new strategic direction on the communities we work with are yet unknown and unexplored.

Anonymous, Working on Women’s Rights for a UK INGO

Categories
Healthcare Men

As a gay man, I thought I was part of a movement which was dismantling gender stereotypes

This matters to me because I’m a gay man who supports feminism. I see sexism as the fundamental structural inequality. It means that women are unsafe in their homes, workplaces and the street and disadvantaged in every part of their lives. It also means that lesbian, gay and bisexual people and all gender non-conforming people (assertive women and feminine men) are under attack.

As a gay man, I thought I was part of a movement which was dismantling gender stereotypes. Now I feel the LGBT movement is reinforcing sexist stereotypes and dismantling the protections and special provisions that are meant to try to rebalance a sexist society. Self ID and encouragement of children to be trans is the opposite of progress.

I want full legal and social protection for trans people who definitely face discrimination but not at the expense of women’s spaces, sports and sexual equality provisions.

I try to discuss through Facebook but am worried about LGBT activists.

S

Categories
Voluntary sector

As an ex prisoner I was horrified at the policies allowing men into women’s prisons

I came to the transgender debate via 3 main channels. Firstly as an ex prisoner I was horrified at the policies allowing men into women’s prisons and could not imagine the thought of women I’d known and cared about having to share cell and living space with men, particularly knowing how traumatised by men many of those women had been. That was my introduction.

Secondly as a lesbian I was alarmed to see the increasing numbers of young lesbians being referred to gender clinics, and realising that their self hatred and discomfort was being used to legitimise what I came to see as a men’s sexual rights movement.

Thirdly, I have a daughter, and while I’ve always called myself a feminist, the call to activism came as a measure to try and make the world better for her and my friend’s daughters. Silence was not an option.

I have over the past 6 years become increasingly vocal against the trans lobby. I have joined many feminist groups, helped develop and execute campaigns with ReSisters, Fair Play for Women and many others. I’ve organised and taken part in many protests, including marching at the front of Manchester Pride with Get The L Out.

I attracted nationwide controversy when I was barred from my local pub for wearing a feminist T shirt. This attracted a lot of press coverage and radio interviews in which I tried to take the opportunity to bring the issues to an audience outside feminism.

More recently I’ve been concentrating on the issues facing detransitioned women and the unique challenges they face. I will continue to work to elevate their voices and I will never stop asking hard questions about trans ideology.

The first thing to happen was that I lost 70% of my friends locally and was threatened with violence from people in my town whom I have never met nor would even recognise on the street, which was a little disconcerting.

I run charity projects providing aid to refugee women and my main donation base is women, specifically mothers, who may pull funding if they know I’m a vocal activist, so keeping these projects separate is always a tightrope act.

The main harrassment I receive is online, which is easily brushed off, but being painted as a bigot in my home town has been difficult. Especially when it’s coming from people who’ve known me for years and know that I’m the opposite. I think possibly the most negative consequence has been really, properly seeing the misogyny that pervades every aspect of life and once you see it there’s really no going back. On the bright side though, the women I’ve met through feminism have been the best friends I’ve ever had and I have no doubt that together we can pull the plug on all this madness.

Rebekah W, Gobby lesbian single mum with pockets full of terrifying feminist propaganda

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Healthcare Voluntary sector

It offends me as a rational human being who knows humans cannot change sex

As a socialist and feminist it outrages me that women’s oppression is being redefined and repackaged as a privileged gender identity to which men belong. Our material existence as a sex class is being totally erased with real life consequences. We cannot argue for our share of resources when we’re not recognised. We cannot have women only spaces, activities and services.

We are being told that to have boundaries is exclusionary and women now have penises. It offends me as a rational human being who knows humans cannot change sex. The ideology at the root of it is dangerous and seeks to undermine our very humanity, to commoditise women and children in a neoliberal market.

Sex stereotypes are embedded once again and any girl not sufficiently passive, submissive or heterosexual to is now instructed that she is male and must take all medical and surgical options available through make her look more male like.

As a movement genderism aims to keep men in power while claiming their victim hood.

I have organised a public meeting with another woman, I have attended many meetings and joined a group. We responded to the initial GRA consultation and met senior civil servants to discuss. I have emailed my elected representatives and met them when it was on offer. I have spoken to friends and some colleagues about the issue. I have leafletted about GRA Reform. I tweet on the issue (too much!). Attended meetings at Scottish Parliament organised by Joan McAlpine MSP. Helped organise demo outside Scottish Parliament.

I’ve been lucky. I live a really quiet life, I’m not well known, I have a very common name so being “out” on Twitter is easy. I don’t have a large number of friends, the ones I have share my views. I keep political life separate from work.

Julie Smith, the struggle continues

Categories
Voluntary sector

I have raised it carefully and professionally in a range of work settings

I am very committed to eliminating discrimination against women, creating equality between women and men, dismantling the patriarchy. Forcing women to accept that trans women ARE women and thus should be in our personal spaces is the anathema of everything I believe in and fight for every day of my life

I have challenged people in real life and lost very close personal friends as a result. I have raised it carefully and professionally in a range of work settings (voluntary and paid). I have met with my MP to voice my concerns. I have an anonymous Twitter account and I post frequently on that. I have promoted posts from WPUK on FB.

I have lost two good friends – one of them was one of my best friends; I’ve bored people half to death as well.

R, Feminist campaigner

Categories
Public Sector

When I can’t use the words women or woman, how can I work in a feminist way?

As a woman and long-time feminist I need the language to be able to describe the sex class I belong to and the issues we all face as females. To have this language taken from us, to be silenced in this way, is profoundly disturbing and authoritarian.

Knowing the harsh and unfair consequences that some women face for speaking out has had a chilling effect on me. I am otherwise an outspoken woman but working in local government, I know I cannot question the gender ideology that is prevalent these days.

I risk being labelled a bigot at best and facing official censure at worst. This means I cannot work as I would like to further the cause of women’s liberation. When I can’t use the words women or woman, how can I work in a feminist way?

I have done all my activism in a very different way to usual. It’s been filing in consultations and getting informed. I’ve only spoken about the issue to my male partner and had one or two tentative conversations with friends.

At work, where our ‘diversity and inclusion’ officers have removed women from campaigns against violence against women and have widened International Women’s Day awards to men (not just those who think they’re women), I have had to be very careful.

I edit with caution, use words that can’t be argued with (for example, quoting external official bodies that haven’t totally erased women). But mainly I stay away from work fighting for women’s rights that in previous years I was driving within our communications team in local government. I am so disappointed in myself for this but I also don’t want to take on the bullies in my organisation who I know will attack me if I stand up for women’s rights and against gender ideology.

I haven’t really spoken up yet. I am slowly building my confidence and being inspired by vocal women who have. Like you Maya.

Sarah, local government worker, Australia

Categories
Parent

I was suicidally depressed as a bisexual GNC teenager and suspect the trans ideology might have snared me if it had been around then

I care because I’m a human who believes that truth and reality is the only way for humanity to progress. I care because I’m a woman and I care about womens’ rights for myself and for my sisters and daughters. I care because I am so grateful for the generations of feminists who won me my rights and I don’t want to squander their incredible work.

I care because I was suicidally depressed as a bisexual GNC teenager and suspect the trans ideology might have snared me if it had been around then, with permanent medical consequences. I care about womens’ sex based rights and our dignity. Most of all I care about my 2 year old daughter and the world she is going to grow up in.

I have spoken with my partner and friends in real life, anonymously on social media, have written in to letters and petitions, and donated to GNC causes.

I have been very careful.

Holly B, I always thought I was solidly left wing until I learned about the trans ideology, Australia

Categories
Public Sector

I have joined the equality committee of my union to try to make a difference.

I am worried about the effect of transgender ideology on women’s rights. For example, “gender” replacing “sex” on official forms, equality law being misrepresented with “gender Identity” cited as a protected characteristic when it is not and “sex” omitted, former women’s toilets being made “gender neutral” while the men’s is left as it is and the overall misogyny of a movement that insists on labelling women “cis” and calling us “transphobic” for wanting to talk to other women about our bodies.

I have posted on social media (Twitter) anonymously. I am afraid to use my real name because of the hatred and harassment by trans activists I have seen. I have stated concerns in a “feminist” group on Facebook but was thrown out by a man for refusing to state “TWAW”. I have discussed the issues with friends in real life. I have stated concerns about the lack of women’s toilets in a union meeting. I have joined the equality committee of my union to try to make a difference.

I have been removed from an online “feminist” group and been shouted down at a trade union meeting. I have been verbally abused on social media which confirms that my decision to remain anonymous is the correct one.

Sarah B., Feminist who believes that any form of feminism that centres male people is not feminism

Categories
Public Sector

It has become almost impossible to speak the truth about sex

I believe the truth matters, and language is important, and it has become almost impossible to speak the truth about sex. I believe I would be at risk of losing my job if I were to state publicly that I don’t believe trans women are female.

I don’t have any understanding of what it is supposed to mean to “feel” female (particularly in people not suffering dysphoria) and can only think that such feelings must be based on restrictive gender stereotypes that are harmful to everyone. I would be happy for trans people to change my mind on this but it feels like it’s not possible to even ask this question without accusations of hatred and violence.

I have spoken to my friends, but have not spoken publicly because of fear of social and professional repercussions.

I have not yet spoken up in a context that would have negative consequences.

H, Feminist hoping I’m not on the wrong side of history

Categories
Public Sector

Society has got this wrong

I have enjoyed my body for much of my life.  Conning vulnerable people into believing that they can change gender by hurting and harming their own bodies is cruel and wrong.  Girls getting their breasts removed tells us that there is something wrong with how those girls are being treated/growing up.

Society has got this wrong. Drug companies are profiting by mutilating people.  I was inspired by people like Posie Parker as well as the various arguments by different women.  They helped me to clarify my views on women’s liberation.  I was then outraged at the attacks on thinking women and resolved to stand up for us.

Another woman and I were members of Plaid Cymru.  She was investigated then chucked out of the party for disagreeing with the leadership. They were heavily influenced by Stonewall.  Her arguments were strong feminist arguments yet she wasn’t listened to.  

I began retweeting her arguments. We reached thousands of people. I challenged Leanne Wood on facebook and was surprised that our lead feminist was so unfamiliar with women’s arguments on this.  I raised it with Neil McEvoy and he recognised that the women around him thought it was important. I raised it with Rhun Ap Iorwerth AM who said that another female AM  Helen Mary Jones had had stick for raising this.  

I got involved in arguments with Welsh Greens and some listened.  I was surprised at how few people didn’t seem to get the importance of the re-definition of woman.  I was shocked at the political cowardice and group think of so many  people who wanted to be politically inclusive at my expense and who seemed remarkably ignorant about women’s issues.  Yesterday I started a new twitter account without my name, to build a better platform.

I have been blocked by someone who used to discuss things on facebook.  Other friends are wary that I might make their trans friends unhappy.  It’s sad but if everyone shut up it would be very bad for women and girls.

TalkitUp, Woman refusing to put up and shut up, Mouthyloud