Tag: sports

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Education Healthcare

I fear for the impact of gender ideology on children

As a parent, grandparent and longterm volunteer in a primary school, I fear for the impact of gender ideology on children, both psychologically and medically. I have a huge concern for safeguarding across the board – in all the areas impacted by a belief in gender identity – single-sex spaces (toilets, changing rooms, prisons) and single-sex services (female HCPs for smear tests and mammograms, for body searches in prisons and airports, for intimate personal care in social-care settings).

I am also incited to speak up because of the impact of gender-identity ideology on women’s rights – the opportunities for the female sex in sports and politics and STEM and other areas which are now offered to anyone who “identifies as a woman”. 

I’ve posted on FB on the topic but not as much as I might have and other friends have. I have good friends with “trans children” who are hurt by my speaking out at all on this. I have chatted personally with members of my family, and extended family, and some friends.

At the school where I volunteer a child had a “gender non-conforming” issue: I discussed Transgender Trend + their schools pack + other resources for the family with the headteacher/Senior Leadership Team; and gave them a copy of Rachel Rooney’s book, which they appreciated. 

I wrote to my MP 3 years ago and had her full support on these issues. I wrote full responses to the English and Scottish GRA consultations, and I’ve bought postcards from Fair Play and Standing For Women and left them in women’s toilets.

A couple of close friends consider I am being unfair and unreasonable but we haven’t fallen out. I am overly cautious on being very public on speaking up as it would hugely impact my husband and his career.

Aunt Gertrude, mother, grandma and teaching assistant volunteer in primary school

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Education

My niece started taking cross-sex hormones when she was 18

I’m a public school teacher in NH USA, and have seen the lives of my students, my neighbor and my niece destroyed because they were told they had boy’s brains in girls’ bodies. My niece started taking cross-sex hormones when she was 18. She soon found her face and body irreversibly changed, but she didn’t want to go through the surgeries. She was trapped, and died of a heroin overdose. She had been talking about suicide.

I’ve spoken at the NH Statehouse against bills that have forced us to pretend that men are women – even on the sports fields – as well as bilIs that silence therapists,  have repeatedly written and spoken to state representatives and our governor, I often write about this on Facebook, an on-line journals, and letters to the editor.

After writing about the death of my niece, I received several death threats, was doxed at work, and was investigated by my school district for bigotry. I’m leaving my place of work, but I’m concerned that I won’t find another job after their HR checks out my background. I have a progressive neighbor who stalks, threatens, and harrasses me. Facebook removed one of my posts (of course) and I am often called a bigot by my friends on social media.  My relatives on my niece’s side of the family won’t communicate with me.

Stephen, special education teacher, USA

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Education Healthcare

It makes me sick to see a man on the top of the podium with two elite female athletes

I care most of all about the violation of women’s sports with the entry of males. It makes me sick to see a man on the top of the podium with two elite female athletes alongside. All women’s spaces should be safeguarded. I also want to stop the medical transition of children, and the changing of our language. The word “woman” should stand alone to mean adult human female.

Mostly I have preached to the choir on the sidebars of other people’s tweets. I have written letters to Lambda Legal, CNN, and a Japanese journalist who wrote a slanted article for a Japanese newspaper. I didn’t hear back from any of these. I have signed petitions!  I have tried to convince my sister to no avail. I have donated to LGB alliance so my money can work for this cause.

I live in Japan, and my part time job is secure. I have such a low profile that no one takes the trouble to send unkind tweets.

Barbara, GC lesbian feminist, Japan

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Others

A non genuinely transitioned man accessing my safe space would totally close down so many things for me

I care because I know what is is to be afraid of men. I was raped when I was 20 . When married my husband was abusive to me and later to my oldest daughter . I left him and shortly after that I was attacked outside my flat when I took my dog out for a last pee . It was attempted rape. The man got 5 years for assault with intent to ravish .

Each time the effect on me is that I cannot bear to see a man naked from the waist down. I still get a terrible fright if someone approaches me from behind and I’m very cautious in lifts , car parks , the street etc.

A non genuinely transitioned man accessing my safe space would totally close down so many things for me . Sports Changing rooms  , toilets in bars and restaurants and shops – especially if the are along long corridors / down in basements etc . The whole thing is terrifying.

My eldest daughter is a lesbian and she and her wife are very concerned about this too especially the “your a bigot / terf if you don’t want a girly dick” threats.

I have posted on Twitter and FB . Spoken up at my SNP branch meeting and posted info to the branch Whatsapp . Joined- founder member of a local women’s group for Independence . Shared info with friends. I’ve had a few insults on social media, not to my face.

M, Senior adult Post menopausal woman

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Others

I care about fairness in sport

I care about fairness in sport and safety in single sex spaces.

Mainly twitter posts, the one middle-road article I shared on Facebook cost me an acquaintance.

Woman

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Men

This is extremely unfair and unsafe for all the women and girls who compete

As a husband, father and grandfather I am really concerned about the safety and the safeguarding of all women and girls in what must be maintained as all female areas and environments. These areas have been hard earned by women over the years and must not be given up. Also as a follower of sport all my life , I am concerned when men who self identify can grossly unfairly be allowed to play in women only sports.

This is extremely unfair and unsafe for all the women and girls who compete in the hope and reasonable expectation of a level playing field, and without the risk of being injured by male bodied opponents.

I have attended a function and have written to my MP. I have also contacted the ruling bodies of 2 sports to make my thoughts clear and express the hope that the reviews that are in progress will not give way to lobbying and pressure, but take what I believe is an obvious and clear decision to maintain the integrity of women’s sports.

I have not suffered any negative consequences.

M, Grandad

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Others

I resent that there are no female toilets in some theatres

This matters to me because I feel like women are being erased. I resent that there are no female toilets in some theatres. I resent that some trans women are trying to push women out of Female only sports. Most of all I resent that this is a battle we have to fight.

I’m on Twitter, I’ve written to my MP, talked to friends about why I feel this is an important case.

Some people think this means I hate gay people. They just don’t get the argument.

Lynne, Adult human female, feminist,  boomer, retired but not dead

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Healthcare Others

I am worried that medical transition will be the opposite of helpful for her

I could write pages… but to summarise: Firstly, because of the impact on children of being taught they (or others) could be “in the wrong body”, the messing with their heads this involves, the way they are indoctrinated to ignore their normal boundaries around their bodies, private spaces, etc. as soon as someone claims to “identify as” something they are not, and the way some are being funnelled towards puberty blockers and further medical transition which I don’t believe will help them long-term and which have numerous potentially serious consequences.  I also know – slightly- a vulnerable young woman who is now “transitioning”, and am concerned for her as I am convinced her desire to transition is a result of her situation, and I am worried that medical transition will be the opposite of helpful for her.

Secondly, the destruction of women’s (and girls’) rights – our rights to single-sex spaces, care and support, safety, dignity and privacy, women’s sports, and initiatives to promote equality in business, politics and elsewhere are being eroded by allowing males to move in on them.  Worse, we can’t even talk about these issues properly due to the very meaning of the words being warped so that “women” can mean anyone.

Thirdly, even data gathering to better understand the needs of women as distinct from men, and the factors that affect us differently, is at risk through people “identifying into” the opposite category. 

Criado Perez’s “Invisible Women” brilliantly highlighted the importance of sex-specific data, but instead of addressing this we are at risk of worsening it with misleading data about “female” rapists, 6ft 5 “women” athletes etc., which also impacts research and policy-making affecting women and girls.

Finally the basic UNFAIRNESS infuriates me; that after oppressing women in every way for centuries, men can now do so by claiming to BE women, and claim they are now the most oppressed minority, all while trampling on our and our daughters’ rights.

So far I have: written to my MP several times and met with her in person once, mainly about GRA reform, though I also discussed child transitioning and other points with her; completed the UK GRA consultation (and also persuaded a few others to fill it in as well) and later also completed the Scottish one (I think there was another one too but can’t remember just now?); donated to several relevant crowdfunders and campaigning organisations; talked to my children’s school about my concerns, particularly about a scheme they were participating in (though without much success I fear); attended a Woman’s Place event; discussed issues with a few close friends and family; sent other letters occasionally or sent cards to thank people who had been particularly supportive; given feedback on surveys etc which used “gender” instead of sex or otherwise erased women; and supported/followed/shared posts/occasionally commented or replied (though I don’t post much!) on Twitter, Mumsnet, newspaper and other comment sites etc.

I would like to be more vocal on social media/in real life, but as I am currently jobhunting and many/most of the likely employers in my area are Stonewall champions or otherwise like to present as very “woke”, this limits me to speaking out only anonymously or “behind the scenes” (e.g. contacting my MP), as I do need to be able to get a job and fear this would be impossible if I was more open about my views.   

I have had to be very cautious about where/how to speak up as I am currently jobhunting and worry about wrecking my chances of getting a job if I am open about my views.  Too many of the potential employers in my area are heavily rainbow-flag-waving, Stonewall-championing organisations and I believe being openly gender-critical on social media, for example, would have a huge effect on my chances of finding a job, which in turn would affect my family as we will need the income in the longer term. 

I also worry to an extent about losing friends, hostility etc if I speak out more openly to friends on social media or more widely in person, though I have talked to some close friends and family and not had any negative reactions so far.

Violet

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Others

I wrote to the NSPCC and told them why I was stopping my monthly donation

As a child, I was extremely GNC to the point of wishing I had been a boy, and was a very androgynous teenager and young woman. I have no doubt at all I would be transed if I was young now. I also fear for women’s and girls’ sports. All the (very recent) progress we’ve made is set to be lost if men and boys are allowed to participate.

I have written to my MP and tried to meet with him, and I have spoken to friends and family. In fact, I have spoken to anyone who will listen, trying to explain what is happening and why it matters. (Most people find it hard to believe and some think I must have made a mistake).

I post on Twitter, and amplify GC feminists voice by retweeting and liking their posts.

I have also contributed to 4 or 5 crowd funding requests (e.g. Sue Evans,  James Caspian, David Bell, EVAW) and I support Refuge crisis centres with a small monthly donation to help them remain independent. I wrote to the NSPCC and told them why I was stopping my monthly donation, and have written to other institutions such as the National Trust when they show themselves to no longer understand that women are a biological category.

I haven’t suffered any negative consequences.

Claire L

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Others

I am worried about the loss of single sex spaces

I am worried about the loss of single sex spaces, fearful of the future for girls who not be able to have boundaries and angry about men stealing sporting chances from women athletes.

I have done very little as I don’t feel I can express myself well enough to raise my voice. I have used social media and supported crowd funding.

I have experienced some abuse on social media and being blocked by some high profile accounts.

Linda, 65 year old, white, working class