Tag: Scotland

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Healthcare Others

I’m grateful my daughter is grown up and not the toddler that insisted she was a boy

I care about women’s rights, freedom of speech, democracy. I dislike and fear authoritarian and violent nature of trans activism. I care about democracy and rights of women to meet, right to speak out. I care about accurate use of English language. I care about accurate data. I care about safeguarding children, and vulnerable women. I’m against gay conversion therapy whether it’s psychological by churches or medical and physical by voluntary organisations and the medial establishment. I’m grateful my daughter is grown up and not the toddler that insisted she was a boy.

I responded to consultations on reform of GRA in Scotland and Westminster, to implementation of Gender Representation on Public Boards, evidence on conflation of sex and gender to Scottish Government, responded to Hate Crime consultation. Write to MP, MSP, Cancer Research UK of effect of self ID on clinical trials. I’ve talked to friends and family and small group of people and arranged talk for same group. I’ve attended meetings. Left leaflets in books, metro on buses other public places.

I’ve had some angry messages when I arranged discussion of issues to small group.

Luddite, born in 60s, grew up 80s.

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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

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Others

I’ve been blocked on Twitter by Frankie Boyle, Jolyon Maugham and John Nicolson MP – is this a negative?

This matters to me because it has revealed to me how fragile women’s rights are. The attempt to redefine us out of existence is the biggest threat to the rights our foremothers fought for. We mustn’t let them down.

I’ve spoken to friends, relatives and colleagues, I’ve written to political representatives, I’ve donated to crowdfunders, I’ve met MSPs, I’ve responded to Government consultations, I’ve badgered friends and relatives at home and abroad to respond to consultations, I’ve joined a campaign group, I’ve delivered leaflets to people’s doors, I’ve leafletted in the street and at football matches, I’ve set up stalls on high streets and talked to members of the public, and I’ve been to demos.

I’ve been blocked on Twitter by Frankie Boyle, Jolyon Maugham and John Nicolson MP – is this a negative??? When leafleting with a friend we were abused by a group of people who called us terfs. A meeting I attended was aggressively protested by transactivists. To be honest though, any negative consequences are massively outweighed by the positive. I’ve loved the campaigning and I’ve loved meeting some fantastic women. I’m still terrified at the assault on our rights, but I love my terfy friends!

Kate

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Healthcare Public Sector

It feels like just as we defeat climate denial then biology denial pops up

I’m particularly concerned on two fronts, first science denialism – biological sex is a material reality and very relevant to medical practice (my husband is a doctor). Females and males experience disease differently and so it is important to ensure that research and practice is able to continue to support this. It feels like just as we defeat climate denial then biology denial pops up. 

Secondly in sport – as a former university athlete I think it is vital that women’s sport is protected as a women’s space.

I struggled to make the team at my university and if biological males who had experienced male puberty and all the advantages that brings had been allowed to compete in the women’s team I’d have had no chance!

I also think it is vital that children are supported to accept themselves for who they are (which ironically is of course what TRAs say) surgery and what is essentially self harm is no way to support a child going through a difficult time. Transition may for a very few young adults be the way forward, but it is an adult decision.

I work for the Scottish Government (in an unrelated area) and so am concerned for my job! I do like tweets, but rarely retweet (there is also a requirement as a civil servant to remain objective and impartial and given the political nature of much of the debate I think it is right and proper that i remain fairly quiet). i have talked with some friends and colleagues about my concerns. I think if I did in a work environment my job may well be under threat.  

Caroline, pro science pro fair sport

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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

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Others

This proposed legislation leaves women vulnerable to males

This matters to me as a concerned woman, a mum of amazing daughters, an abuse survivor. This proposed legislation leaves women vulnerable to males seeking to use legislative changes to enter women’s safe spaces

I’ve written to MP, MSP, donated to fundraisers.

Izzi

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Healthcare survivor

There is a special bond that forms between women in the absence of men

My adult life has been marred by bullying, invariably by men, especially those in positions of power, but also from those with whom I was intimate.

I experienced verbal and psychological abuse from my husband, directed at me and my children. I was fortunate to be directed to my local DV shelter by a friend. We did not have to move in, but received help from the wonderful women who worked there.

As I age, I find more and more relief in the company of women. There is a special bond that forms between women in the absence of men. The space feels safer and warmer, and women respond differently to one another when not subjected to the male gaze.

That women who need single-sex spaces for recovery can have that taken from them by the insistence by men who claim to be are women is almost impossibly painful. Those spaces have been set up by women, for women. I feel so angry when men demand the right to enter.

I have responded online to consultations, written to MPs and MSPs. I have donated online to campaign for women’s rights. I have spoken out on social media, using my own name, despite threats of violence, and to my career.

Until last year, I was tied up in an unhappy marriage and too unwell to travel. Now coronavirus is interfering with my freedom, but I hope to join up with other women in the near future, either to meet with  ReSisters group, or attend an organised meeting.

I have received public threats on Twitter, both of physical harm and threats to my career, one of which was a credible threat to report me to the governing body of my profession, which fortunately was not carried through.

I am fortunate to have lived in a place where I was physically out of reach for physical threats or UK police reports and therefore I have felt able to speak more freely than otherwise.

Sarah, 50ish human female

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Private sector

My response is: I won’t do any of that

This matters to me personally. I was raised by a conservative, religious father and a loving, submissive and leftist mum; and was educated (2-17 years old) at only-girls Catholic schools in Spain. My childhood and adolescence were filled with a cognitive dissonance: women are submissive, virginal (resulting in nuns, or a wives and mothers) whilst educated, intelligent and capable (effort, study, discipline).

Although I was already challenging it at home, it wasn’t until university that the external pressure was over (end of school and divorced parents) but not the internal fight. It took years of reading books that I realised the damage that traditional gender stereotypes bring across society.

I have been discussing about gender equality, LGB, religion and politics at home, with friends and at work. I listen, ask for more information, look for alternatives, deep dive. I read and observe: fiction and non-fiction, movies and documentaries to understand the world that surrounds me. I am constantly amazed at how both our brains and our societies work: such imperfect systems capable of such good things.

And all of a sudden, in the name of inclusivity, I am now presented with three options: (1) I can be a ciswoman and perform a submissive, virginal, traditional role (in a very liberal set, where hard porn and sex work are free choices; and make up and high heels actually empower me); (2) I can change the way I dress and hair style and become non-binary (because I am financially independent, care about my career and I am assertive at work); or (3) I can have cosmetic surgery and become a different person altogether. My response is: I won’t do any of that.

I easily recognise any movement that prevents open discussion, denies material reality / science, or forces me to become something I don’t believe in: I have been there and don’t want it back, thank you very much.

In the big scheme of things, I have done very little to raise my voice. I am very vocal with my family, friends and with (a carefully chosen group of) colleagues though. I attend seminars, training and discussions around feminism, social welfare, humanism and similar. I used to take part in Diversity & Inclusion groups at work focused on gender and LGBT. Sometimes I attend political demonstrations but I am not affiliated to any party.

When I joined Twitter about a year ago, my head exploded. I used to be a follower rather than joining in the conversation; read the news (cry a bit), follow a few feminists (feel empowered) and comedians (have a laugh), and watch videos of puppies (aren’t they beautiful?). Then, I kept following a few more women, raised questions, praised interesting articles… and became angrier and angrier (I prefer respectful, no-violent anger than despair).

I (softly) raised a few questions with colleagues, was a bit annoyed at a biological man receiving a Female in Business award; tried to understand the British culture and trans activism (so closely linked to Western individualism and post-modernism); and kept repeating the same mantra: “we should all be free to express ourselves in whatever way we want; and I should treat people the way they want to be treated, not the way I want to be treated.”

When I started listening to the Labour candidates denying sex or giving preferential treatment to males, I was annoyed. But when I attended the solidarity rally for Women’s Place UK and LGB Alliance, I became astonished. I had been in a bubble so I decided to respond to the Scottish Government consultation on their gender recognition bill, and have become a bit more vocal on Twitter (which is not made for my long diatribes).

I am aware of the noise, the ignorance, the science-deniers, the misogynists; but also the kind, hopeful people who just want a better world for everyone.

I haven’t been openly critical about trans issues at work so the colleagues I have been able to talk to, agree with me (they have been even more critical than me who used to embrace inclusion without realising there are actual sex-deniers in this debate). But I know a little about low-key misogyny.

Four years into my previous company, I got the sponsorship of the female Director of the department to design, create and launch a training module for female middle-managers with high potential. Soon after it was launched, she left the company and was replaced by a male Director. On his first day, my (male) line manager and I sat at his office to meet each other, and I explained my part in the programme.

I am very expressive when I talk about something I love: my face turns red, I move my hands a lot… He wasn’t happy. He looked right at me and queried whether I would become “rebellious”. I swore internally whilst nervously laughing a little, looked at my manager and asked if I had ever been problematic to which he replied “no” (big smile too, uneasy and surprised in equal measure). I went home, swore in Spanish (best language for swearing, when you roll those “j” and “r”), spoke to my father (we disagree on plenty of things but he knows how to deal with difficult male senior managers in the workplace because he used to be one of them) and went back to work.

I spoke to my line manager who encouraged me to show my skills and good performance, but had to act as intermediary (aka human shield) in a couple of more occasions. I knew this Director would not help me in my career. Several female colleagues were equally mistrustful but couldn’t do much due to his seniority, so a few months later a (female) Senior Manager took me under her wing and helped me find a brilliant job opportunity in another team. I was very happy to move on.

There Is Always Hope, thereisalwaysh

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Healthcare Parent

This is a highly inappropriate thing to say to children with any form of disability

I care because no child should be told by anyone in authority that they may have been ‘born in the wrong body’. This is an ideology, not a scientific fact and should be taught as such, if at all.

I don’t imagine there are many people in this world who didn’t like aspects of their body growing up and they should be taught body positivity and self acceptance.

I also feel this is a highly inappropriate thing to say to children with any form of disability who may well feel like they are in the wrong body but are unable to identify out of it.

Self ID is a separate matter which raises all sorts of ethical and legal issues. The current GRA requirements seem reasonable to me but as with all law should should be subject to considered review. In the current climate this is difficult due to the atmosphere of fear of being branded transphobic.

I’m not particularly vocal on social media anyways but having seen the hate and vitriol spouted at anyone who doesn’t fully devote themselves to trans rights activity worldview I don’t want to get involved publically.

Not personally because I am aware that if you even hint to the wrong person that you feel women’s and children’s safeguarding should be considered in all of this you are subject to criticism.

My wife mentioned to a work colleague that I was interested in the the Scottish GRA review and upon hearing that I thought self ID could have negative implications for women’s legal protections she was informed that I am bigoted, transphobic and denying the reality of trans people.

Nick, Interested parent and casual twitter observer

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Parent

I want my daughter to play in sport that is fair

This matters to me as I don’t want women and girls to be silenced and I want my daughter not to be called a cis. I want my daughter to play in sport that is fair. I want the same for other girls. I don’t believe you can change sex at any point. I don’t want men to be able just to say that they are women same as me. I hate institutional capture where people seem to have lost the power to use their brains.

I emailed the BBC about their use of assigned at birth. I wrote to MSP and MP.

Claire B