Tag: language

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
Others

I fear that woman will be driven from public life

This matters to me as I feel that women’s rights are being attacked and set back decades. Woman have our own services for our privacy, dignity and safety and I worry that these are being threatened with removal. I care because I fear that woman will be driven from public life, our health and well-being will be affected. I know that predatory men will take full advantage of easy access into women’s safe spaces and assaults will increase.

I have raised my voice on Twitter albeit with an anonymous account. I have shared articles and supported others who speak out with positive comments and thanks. I have questioned companies and organisations about their use of dehumanising language eg menstruators, womxn. I have submitted responses to the UK and Scottish GRA proposals.

I have had some negative comments from strangers on Twitter.

Mary, accountant, mother, owned by cats

Categories
Public Sector

A colleague suggested drag for under 5s sessions

I am chilled by the unwillingness to debate a rights conflict. The tsunami of misogyny directed at women with the courage to speak makes me sick. I think language is so important; women need our words to describe ourselves, it’s not hateful or unreasonable. I am so disappointed in the left, I feel politically homeless.

Very little, I suffer from anxiety and I am too scared. I work in the library service in London. Pronouns are appearing in email signatures, a colleague suggested drag for under 5s sessions (I did say something about there being reasonable, not transphobic, not homophobic, objections to this). Even in a public service environment I am afraid to say too much for fear of being labelled a bigot.

I’ve said very little but no overt reaction to the little I did say.

Jane W

Categories
Public Sector

I have spoken in my role as a councillor on Leeds City Council

This matters to me because we need and fought for single sex services, spaces and language and I will not give them up.

I have spoken in my role as a councillor on Leeds City Council.

I have been reported to the police, to my employer and threatened.

Sarah Field, Councillor, Leeds City Councillor

Categories
Public Sector

Language will be changed to disregard “women”

I care because as a woman I am terrified of the misogyny from people. I am terrified our rights will be removed and language will be changed to disregard “women” I am scared for the future just to appease the minority.

I’ve posted on social media and discussed in work.

I have been called a terf by a colleague in work.

Louise, It isn’t Hate to speak the Trith, Bumcrackannie

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

Categories
Public Sector

Everyone has been appalled and disgusted

The protection of the biological definition of women and of women-only spaces, services and sports matter to me as I don’t want men in any place where I or any other woman or girl could be naked, semi-naked or vulnerable.  I want to restore clear, biology-based definitions of men and women.

I don’t think it is right to compel people to behave or speak in accordance with an ideology that they don’t believe in and which is prejudicial to the interests of women, girls and vulnerable adults.  The current situation seems to be a mix of a quasi-religion that allows no heresy and McCarthyism.  Freedom of speech is in danger.

I want to establish the principle that women have the right to say no to men’s demands and that women don’t have to sacrifice themselves to allow men to have what they want.

I have spoken to colleagues and other people I work with – in the high-profile, prestigious place I work there are lots of people who work there who are not employees of the organisation – about the implications of the organisation’s transgender policy which has been dictated by Stonewall. 

Some people have not understood the problem until I pointed it out.  Everyone has been appalled and disgusted.

HR are completely unresponsive on the transgender policy so I formally contacted a very senior (non-HR) member of the staff who I work with from time to time about the implications of the transgender policy.  He listened very kindly and seemed very concerned, but it turns out that he was mainly interested in whether I had been sexually harassed at work (I haven’t). 

However, the transgender policy has been amended, I assume as a result of my intervention to take out the passage “transgender people can have any sexual orientation.  For example, a transgender man (someone who lives as a man today) may be primarily attracted to other men (and identify as a gay man), may be primarily attracted to women (an identify as a straight man), or have any other sexual orientation”.  

The management evidently took notice when I pointed out that the passage made clear that they knew they were expecting people to change their clothes or use the toilet in the presence of heterosexual people of the other sex and that that could make them legally responsible for any harassment. Apart from that keeping the Stonewall Diversity Champion status and appearing woke seem to be much more important that the safety, privacy, dignity and peace of mind of the staff.

I follow gender critical organisations on Facebook and I used to comment on Twitter, but I got barred for speaking up for women.  I also comment on newspaper articles, primarily in the Times. 

I would have had qualms about doing so at work if I had any desire for promotion or if the criteria for my annual assessment were substantially subjective or if I had longer to go until I retire. I’ve also been very careful to keep all my complaints strictly formal and via my work IT network so that if harassment arises it will be possible to trace its source via the network.

I’ve been barred from Twitter and some of my comments on the Times have been deleted.

S, Adult human female

Categories
Lesbians

I was horrified at men approaching me on lesbian dating sites

This matters to me as I feel I would have been put down the trans route if I were growing up today. Typical gender non conforming child who grew into a same sex attracted woman.

I became single after a long relationship and after a long illness I recovered emotionally and physically to go back on the dating scene. I was horrified at men approaching me on lesbian dating sites. Most of them didn’t declare this and I worked it out.

I felt humiliated and a bit scared that I might have met someone in person without knowing they were biological men. It chilled me to the bone. I can now spot them and block them, but it was unpleasant and degrading for me at the time.

One person had been stalking me on line and in my social life – I had that experience from men in my 20’s and 30’s. I found it impossible to understand why they were there in the first place and it led me to question what the hell is going on.

I created a twitter account. I discuss it with friends and family. I also challenge the new norm at work by calling out the ridiculousness of language and mixed sex toilets.

Some friends especially the ‘woke’ younger women are unkind or think I’m old fashioned.

EJ, Proud vintage lesbian who feels like an outsider all over again but this time it’s the heterosexuals who are my allies, magdelen berns appreciation society

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Others

I feel that the rights of women and girls are being compromised

This is an important issue to me because I feel that the rights of women and girls are being compromised, eg no-platforming of academics, girls being told they have to accept male bodied trans girls into their spaces

I have completed various online petitions/actions, eg GRA, I have emailed my MP to voice my concerns over changes to language, I have joined several like minded groups on social media for support, and shared lots of information, to raise awareness to friends, eg pictures of males competing unfairly with female athletes

I have been ‘ganged up’ on and shouted down when I have tried to defend or make a point in groups on Facebook, eg The Labour Party Forum. I have been called a bigot and TERF purely for not agreeing that trans women are women,

ElleWoman:adult human female

Categories
Others

I don’t want to pretend otherwise to be agreeable

Men are not women, and I don’t want to pretend otherwise to be agreeable. Men don’t belong in our sports or our spaces, and have no right to police our language.

I’ve corresponded with like-minded women, donated $ to women’s orgs and followed the issue on social media.

I have been told I am making mountains out of molehills, that I am a bigot.

Natalia W, Adult human female, Canada