Tag: sports

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Education Parent

I worry that we cannot speak our minds without being called bigots.

As a mother to three daughters and a teacher, this really worries me.  I worry about the girls’ safety when using public toilets and changing rooms. I worry about competitive sport – will they be competing in fair competitions? I worry that we cannot speak our minds without being called bigots.

Mostly I worry about my middle daughter who is a “Tom boy”. If she is gay – will she be convinced that she was “born in the wrong body”? Will she want to transition? How will I possibly handle that? Will she be taken away from me? This terrifies me. 

What have you done? Very little. I’m too scared to.

The bravest thing I have done is share something on Facebook saying “Happy International Women’s Day all you adult human females” alongside a Team GB montage of amazing sports women.

I have begun to boycott products and services that I feel do not support women. Nike, Flora, Audible, Always.

I like pages and stories on Facebook. I have donated to LGB Alliance.

I rant to my husband but don’t say much to anyone else in case I am branded a bigot or get into trouble at work. I have not been brave enough to speak up.

PP, Mother of sporty girls

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Others

I ran a marathon while carrying a flag that said “SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS”

As a woman, I want privacy and safety when I use public bathrooms, locker rooms, etc. I want sports to be fair; I want young female athletes to benefit from them the same way I did, and I want elite female athletes I look up to to have the wins they deserve.

I fiercely believe that everyone has the right to choose the circumstances under which people of the opposite sex see them undressed as well as the circumstances under which they see members of the opposite sex undressed. This is true for situations that affect me, such as public bathroom usage and the sex of the doctor who performs my pap smear, as well as for situations that don’t and hopefully never will, such as having to share a prison shower with a biological male or being pressured to wax male genitalia.

I will steadfastly defend this right to choose not only for myself, but for women everywhere.

I ran a marathon while carrying a flag that said “SAVE WOMEN’S SPORTS” as well as the dictionary definition of the word “woman” (“ADULT HUMAN FEMALE”).

I’ve written to my government representatives. I’ve researched and written speeches, which I’ve delivered at school board meetings of a school district that opened locker rooms to opposite-sex students. I’ve attended demonstrations at athletic events of that school district, distributing flyers and holding up large signs/banners.

I boycott companies who support gender identity ideology. I’ve written to those companies to explain why I’m boycotting them, and I explain my boycotts to others. I’ve signed petitions and used social media to urge others to do the same. I’ve given an interview for a feminist radio show and written an op-ed that was recently printed in a newspaper.

I have been dogpiled on on social media. I’ve been called garbage/trash, a TERF, sh*t, a c*nt, and “the f*cking genitals police.” Someone commented on one of my posts with a picture of an anime girl pointing a gun at the viewer captioned, “SHUT THE FUCK UP TERF.” I’ve been told to STFU, and someone commented on one of my posts with a picture of super glue captioned, “Finally, a line of lipstick made exclusively for TERFs.” Someone commented on one of posts with a meme including an emoji holding a knife that read, “Why be transphobic when you can just DIE.” I was told to “die alone.” Someone told me they hoped I lost “every sponsor or scholarship [I] ever apply for.”

For objecting to male people competing in female sports, I was accused of being “mediocre,” “a terrible athlete,” and told I needed to train harder. Many people insulted the way my parents had raised me, and I was told that I shouldn’t have kids myself. I’ve been accused of having “internalized misoyogny[sic]” and of having the patriarchy “ingrained deep” in me.

Emily Kaht, Just a normal woman who’s finally had enough, USA

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Healthcare

I am horrified that young lesbians are being gaslighted into having sexual relationships with male-sexed bodies

I am deeply concerned about the erosion of the right of women and girls. The changes in language and our ability to describe ourselves accurately. 

I am horrified that young lesbians are being gaslighted into having sexual relationships with male-sexed bodies. To have university campuses have signs up proclaiming that ‘genital preferences are transphobic’ (I’m looking at you, Liverpool!).

I do not agree with women’s sports being infiltrated by male athletes. I do not consider myself to be transphobic, and much like JK Rowling, think we should all be free to live and love as we choose. However…

…as someone who has been ridiculed and bullied for specifically not ‘liking dick’ forever, to now be expected to accept ‘dick’ as the norm is beyond ridiculous.

I work for an NHS service. I am having open conversations with GNC kids and exploring the issue, rather than jump to affirmations. We are talking about this as a service.

I have had arguments with gay male friends over the use of the word TERF.

RA, NHS worker

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Others

Today a trans women came out at work. They won’t be dressing as a woman all the time as it “wouldn’t be practical in their job”.

I am primarily concerned about safety of women in single sexed spaces e.g. Refuges, toilets. Secondly I am concerned about women’s sports. Women’s sports exist to provide a level playing field and allowing trans women with women to compete distorts this level playing field. It will have a negative impact on the careers and livelihoods of women athletes which is already underfunded and under resourced compared to mens sports.

I have talked with family and friends when the topic arises but not done anything practically.

I care because just today a trans women came out at work.  However they won’t be dressing as a woman all the time as it “wouldn’t be practical in their job”.  It has made me so unaccountably angry.  Putting on femalehood like a costume and then taking it off when it isn’t practical. 

An acknowledgement that women have it worse but doing nothing about it and just taking the “good” bits.

I am concerned about consequences at work if I was to be more vocal, particularly as my twitter account is mainly used for work, but not exclusively.

I would be fired

Anna

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Healthcare Others

The silencing of women on this issue is driven by men

I care because I worry about the future for girls and women and I’m outraged about the slow creep of corporate subservience to organisations like Mermaids and Stonewall.

As a little girl I would have expected my Mum (and Dad) to stand up for my rights and although I don’t have kids I have an 8 year old niece. Why should she have to get changed into her swimming costume in front of men masquerading as women? Why should she have to compete against boys masquerading as girls if she chooses to play competitive sport.

The silencing of women on this issue is driven by men and I say this as a heterosexual woman who is in a loving marriage. But if you speak up you are dismissed as transphobic: possibly the laziest insult around these days. I’m increasingly uneasy about being a member of my company’s ERG LGBT group which is aligning itself with Stonewall and all its dubious misogynistic views. Lesbians are being erased and expected to accept male bodied partners. Children being told they are a different gender and young ones being given puberty blockers. A very frightening world.

I am regularly educating and raising awareness with my friends. Only last night two gay friends who are big Harry Potter fans were saying they were confused and didn’t understand the issues with JK Rowling. They were shocked when I told them the issues. It’s easy to assume that all LGB people know all the facts: many are blissfully unaware.

I would absolutely love if someone in the movement could create some materials which people like me in corporations could share internally to raise concerns about the likes of Stonewall who have a jack boot on the neck of big companies in the UK. Most organisations have an internal ‘speak up’ whistleblower mechanism which can be used if people are concerned about anonymity. Not really for me.

I’m a confident and articulate person. I tend to find that those who I speak to are  totally unaware of the facts and when they hear them they are horrified. I suspect many people are watching on the sidelines terrified to be labelled transphobic especially those in the public eye.

Lou, A left leaning feminist who can no longer tolerate the erosion of womankind

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Healthcare Others

Men are still telling women what to think

As a woman I care about this because women’s hard won rights are being eroded.  We need single sex spaces and sports to ensure safety, dignity and equality.  I’m worried that children are being pushed into irreversible medical procedures without the knowledge or maturity to make a wise decision.  Men are still telling women what to think, in fact what we are, it’s the same old misogyny as ever.

I have attended Woman’s Place UK meetings.  I submitted evidence to the GRA consultation.  I’ve written to my MP about my concerns.  I’ve spoken to friends and family about the issue.

I’ve been very careful about who I speak to and what I say so I haven’t personally experienced negative consequences. 

As a 63 year old woman I have a lot of older friends, all the women I know in this age bracket are very concerned about this issue, especially about children being pushed into irreversible medical procedures. 

I’ve heard a lot of stories from other women about the abuse they’ve experienced in the past which makes them particularly anxious to maintain single sex spaces for girls and women as an urgent issue.

Maggie, Woman

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Healthcare

I’m angry that our centuries of shared experience of constant male subjugation and harassment is, apparently, forgotten.

I am a woman. I am a mother to a daughter, and I don’t want her to feel she must accept male bodies near her in toilets, changing rooms in school and elsewhere and I don’t want her to be forced to compete in unfair situations in sport.

I have an elderly mother and I fear for her dignity in healthcare provision. I fear for women for whom written language is a problem who don’t access healthcare because they don’t realise they’re people-who-menstruate, etc. I feel bad for women who will be excluded for public life due to religion or disability who can’t access gyms, loos, shop changing rooms, etc. I feel bad for women who miss out from all-women shortlists, etc, because of men taking their place.

I worry about young people being subjected to experimental treatment. I worry for the mental health of those who aren’t resilient enough to cope with words like ‘woman’ without self-harming or committing suicide. I worry about crime stats, and male crimes being recorded as female. And I’m angry that our centuries of shared experience of constant male subjugation and harassment is, apparently, forgotten.

I have only discussed this with a few close women friends or anonymously online. All I have spoken to in real life have expressed the same concerns, including an experienced clinical psychologist.

I haven’t spoken up in my own name. I frequently opt out of the conversation online because I find it distressing and frustrating. Thank you for this opportunity.

WildRedWord, Woman

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Academics and researchers

I know what awkward teenage years are like

I care because, having been 6 feet tall since I was 12, I know what awkward teenage years are like. In my late teens my parents came under pressure from medical professionals, which they were ultimately able to resist, to allow my younger and taller sister to be prescribed carcinogenic drugs to stunt her growth and keep her within socially acceptable height limits for females. It was the participation of tall women in Olympic sports that changed that perception.

I care because from childhood onwards I was subjected to criticism and sanction for attempting to participate in society on equal terms with boys and men:

  • At the  university I attended female students (only admitted 3 years previously) were massively outnumbered, routinely harassed and the subject of derision about their intellectual abilities in the absence of any female faculty.
  • At Westminster, where I spent the next 20 years as a researcher.

I care because my daughter fitted the model of awkward, bullied, girl with ASD, unsure about her sexuality and  susceptible to the argument that she was “born in the wrong body”. Referrals to groups where she never met another girl with her diagnosis until she was 13 did not help her feel more comfortable, however well-meaning they were. Lesbian role models in her family and social network did. Representation matters.

I have contributed to discussions on social media, attended meetings and events and discussed these issues with friends.

I have lost some friends, although not close ones.

Miriam, Legal & criminal justice policy researcher, administrator, migrant

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Others

As a rape victim, I don’t want people with penises in my changing rooms, in my toilets, in women’s prisons.

This matters to me as a rape victim, I don’t want people with penises in my changing rooms, in my toilets, in women’s prisons. And as for biological men (who identify as women) competing in women’s sports that makes my blood boil, I know as a female I can’t throw as far, run as fast, lift as heavy as a biological male and it makes me so mad that women, no matter how hard they try will never be able to compete.

I have also been looking into autogynophilia and it scares me, I think a large number of these men have this. I honestly have no problems with people that have fully transitioned. And the vile abuse that people get on Twitter for saying all this is scary.

I’ve liked things on Twitter. I’m too scared to even retweet. I refuse to be called cis, I’m a woman.

I have been called a transphobe by my good friends. I change the subject now because it makes me uncomfortable.

Moonface , Not cis

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Healthcare

Difference is what makes us human and should be celebrated

This is crucially important as the only thing that makes us male or female is our bodies and there is no such think as being born in the wrong body.  Difference is what makes us human and should be celebrated, not forced in to limiting social constructs that oppress us all and reinforce stereotypes. 

Bodies matter in other ways too and male bodies are much stronger, faster and more powerful so should not be allowed to enter women’s sports.  Only men rape, so they should not be allowed access to our sex-segregated spaces.  Safety, privacy and dignity are desperately important. 

I am also very concerned about the meaning of language and that words that are very specific can be changed as casually as the definition of the word Woman, now changed in law by the Scottish Government.

I have attended rallies (threatened by trans activists beforehand, who also told the organisers that we were intending to rush the stage and be violent – a complete fabrication).

I help to organise local meetings that are very peaceful but have been subjected to really vicious and threatening abuse by trans activists and even local politicians standing outside of the venues.

I work as hard as I can to raise awareness of the issues involved, handing out leaflets and standing up whenever I am able, to share details and correct misinformation.

I am in a number of groups that share links and other information, acting within a political party to support and protect women’s rights and fight against the erasure of the meaning of being a woman / female.

I have written to my MP and been ignored.

On a training course the transgender trainer was extremely unpleasant when I said that women and transwomen have different health care needs.  They made a complaint to my manager.

I was subjected to very intimidating abuse and threats at meeting venues, monitored by trans activists within my political party and my views closed down immediately when attempting to defend women’s rights.

On Twitter & Facebook I have been told to die in a fire and that I should be raped to death, subjected to outrageously offensive comments and aggression, and reporting these comments to the Twitter and Fb resulted in no action being taken by the perpetrators.

I have had my face filmed very closely by some abusive trans activists (some masked) who were attempting to intimidate me from attending a meeting.

J