Tag: work

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It pisses me of that men transitioning late in life are going into schools and talking to girls about working in STEM

I care because it pisses me of that men transitioning late in life are going into schools and talking to girls about working in STEM. Completely ignoring their male privilege and the things that girls have to endure, ongoing low level objectification/harassment, assault, periods and associated pain/bleeding/flooding/mood swings/impact on concentration.

I talk to friends, carefully to see if we agree. Discussed at sporting event when J K Rowling was declared a terf and explained what it meant and the implications for self Id in sport A man asked me if I didn’t believe that twaw on social media in response the matrix producers that transitioned. I am ashamed to say I didn’t flat out say no. If there were women they wouldn’t have got the money to make that film in the 1990s.

JCB

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Self employed / entrepreneurs

Women’s rights are new, fragile and threatened

I care because women’s rights are new, fragile and threatened. And trans ideology is not only dangerous but absurd.

I actively support Speak Up For Women, a New Zealand group fighting against sex self-id.

I have lost clients, been threatened, been smeared by activists and by journalists working in national mainstream media.

Sunil W, self employed/ own business, New Zealand

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survivor

I am a survivor of severe, organised abuse in childhood

First and foremost, I am a survivor of severe, organised abuse in childhood.

Secondly, I have worked for decades for women and vulnerable people, including as a human rights lawyer for victims of violence, as a writing teacher with mothers in prison and the community and in groups campaigning on consent.

Thirdly, I am a bisexual woman and was on the ‘gay scene’ for years.

Fourth, I am a parent and work often in education and concerned with safeguarding. I care deeply about this issue because whilst I think every consenting adult is free to have their own beliefs and make choices about their body, the TWAW lobby is infringing the human rights of others, with harmful implications and it is constantly threatening and seeking to close down freedom of speech.

I have spoken about this issue on social media and in real life for the past three or more years. I have written countless posts and emails and I have kept a diary on this issue to process my own thoughts before formulating my own speech in what can be a fast paced and abuse-oriented environment on social media.

I have been called a “terf” many times. I have been ostracized by a group of women campaigning with me on abortion rights (though remained good friends with others). On social media I have been told directly that I am “fascist scum” or I have been patronized as an abuse survivor who is somehow biased, disregarding my qualifications as a human rights lawyer and background supporting people. Other negative consequences include the mental health toll of constantly being “gaslit” implying that I am the person in the wrong. A tactic used by those who want to reframe reality the world over and I know that, yet still so sad and wearing!

Anna Morvern, Writer, speaker, teacheryer, translator

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Private sector

As a woman in tech, I totally understand what being a minority is

As a woman in tech, I totally understand what being a minority is. I totally get what discrimination is, including plenty of subtle ways that women in tech experience. I know it sucks. I can only imagine how difficult it is for trans people, I feel for them, and I’d love them to be accommodated in any ways possible.

At the same time, I wish advocates of “Trans Women Are Women” opened their eyes to possible abuse if the laws and rights in this matter are not extremely carefully considered. It goes for so many potential issues, from bathrooms, changing rooms, prisons, shelters… I am all for freedoms, respect and rights for underrepresented groups – but these rights cannot come at the cost of rights and safety of another vulnerable group.

I am totally opposed to possibility of ever going to a gym changing room and suddenly seeing a dick and balls on someone next to me.

I am totally opposed to female athletes being beaten by someone who maybe weeks prior was competing in male’s sports. I cannot imagine the horror of a woman escaping to a shelter from abuser – and her getting abused in there by another male presenting as a woman.

I have not spoken out. I wish I had the courage – but I don’t.

 I have witnessed so much abuse going towards the much more powerful women out there, I simply do not want to bring this on myself.

I understand that many of the “trans activists” women have good intentions. I understand their desire to improve lives of other vulnerable groups. But I really, REALLY wish they admitted we live in a “real world”, and for every genuinely vulnerable trans woman, there will also be a man who will put on woman’s clothes only to abuse the situation. For this reason, amongst other things I am totally opposed for self-identification, for ability to just say one day “I’m a woman” and that’s it. It needs to be a proper process – we don’t just let people change nationality on a whim, and surely gender change is an even bigger part of identity than this.

I’m sure there are ways where we can find middle ground, protect trans people whilst ALSO protecting women’s (female!) rights. It’s making me really sad that TRA present this as a black-or-white issue, if you have any concerns then you are a terrible TERF.

I am grateful for your work, and thank you for speaking out for those of us who do not have the courage for this. Even following you sometimes feels like risky business.

L, Europe

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Lesbians

I have called this racist sexist rhetoric out at work (it got me fired)

I am a Black Lesbian woman. Aside from being told I’m a bigot because I don’t date males, I’m being told that my womanhood is only valid because men can be women too. TRAs are using racist rhetoric that kept Black women from accessing the same facilities as white women.

I have called this racist sexist rhetoric out at work (it got me fired). I have talked person to person with other women about this. I have raised my voice in disagreement when a law was being considered in my small city (I’m in the United States).

Fired from my job. Subject to sexist and racist harassment.

T, Black Lesbian Woman, adulthumanfemale11, USA

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Self employed / entrepreneurs

I’ve seen male people with money using claims about “gender identity” and “transphobia” to weaponize those sentiments

I’ve understood since I was twelve or so that women and girls are treated unfairly, and been involved in efforts to ameliorate some of that in sport. I’ve similarly understood how the poor, racial and sexual minorities are often discriminated against, and worked to ameliorate that. Although cloaked in the language of “equal rights,” I’ve seen male people with money using claims about “gender identity” and “transphobia” to weaponize those sentiments in ways which cause observable harm to others in sport, social social services, etcetera.

I owe a great moral debt to women and GLB people who have stood up for civil rights, and so see my activism as returning a favor AND ALSO just the right thing to do.

I’m active on social media and have brought it up in a variety of groups I am part of.

I’ve been ejected from local political and online groups for defending female-only spaces, and drummed out of two non-profits which were important to me over these issues.

I write my legislators about issues such as male colonization of female sports, and do such things as letters to the editor which note that sexism and homophobia was the key issue in a local killing, not “transphobia.” A man who hoped to get a woman drunk and rape her freaked out when they discovered “she” was really a man, and what that might mean about the attacker.

I’ve been kicked out of SEVERAL groups for my alleged “transphobia,” although I’ve known and worked with scores of trans people of many ages and both sexes over 20+ years. It has cost me many casual friends, and I’m sure it has cost me business as people avoid or gossip and ostracize me. This is nothing compared to the violence women and Blacks receive, or that I saw against gays and lesbians from the 1980’s forward, so I take it in stride. As a self-employed white man I have a lot of privilege, and can afford to take these hits for many years. I have little fear of male violence, and am not easily intimidated.

Rory Bowman, feels a strong moral debt to feminists and earlier GLBT activists, USA

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Self employed / entrepreneurs

After 30 years in the trade union movement, for the first time I can honestly say I felt fearful for my safety

I have a daughter and a granddaughter. I want them to be able to live their lives free from oppressive and restrictive stereotypes that limit what they can do, achieve, how they chose to live. Trans rights is representative of the very worst misogyny I have ever experienced. As a senior trade union officer, after 30 years in the trade union movement, for the first time I can honestly say I felt fearful for my safety and well being because of trans activists.

I have written articles in the Morning Star. I have tried to limit the damage done by the TUC and trade unions adopting wholesale Stonewall policy. I have tried as far as possible to work behind the scenes with other like minded women in unions. I have had numerous conversations with friends and family to raise awareness. I have never felt so silenced in my life and I am a woman who has led strikes and worked at a senior level in trade unions. I do what I can on social media.

I felt I had to leave my job as I could not promote my union’s policies on the GRA and trans rights that I personally opposed. I have lost good friends and comrades.  I expect to lose more before this is over. It is hard to be seen as a bigot by people when you have spent decades working for equality and social justice. 

Trish, Former Trade Union Officer

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Self employed / entrepreneurs

If we deny sex we deny female oppression

Biological sex is the basis for female oppression. If we deny sex we deny female oppression.

I’ve spoken to friends. Posted on social media pages.

I have been blocked and deleted by a few long term friends. I am terrified of being doxxed and having my business ruined. It is a catering company and many of our customers are in the younger demographic who would potentially refuse to work with us over differing views on sex.

Anna

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Self employed / entrepreneurs

I took my eye off the ball whilst practicing as a diversity consultant

I have studied and worked in the gender space for nearly 30 years and was active for ten years before that. I was a Spare rib subscriber and part of a CR Group ( we still meet). I recognized the dangers of postmodernist theory on the practice of feminism but I took my eye off the ball whilst practicing as a diversity consultant. When I read about census changes I got interested, went to an earliish Women’s Place meeting and that was it. I recognized there was a massive fight to be had.

I joined Twitter for which I had had an account not used and started tweeting. I wrote about it in my blog, I’ve written to MPs and met with one, alerted CIPD to what was happening etc.

I get zero response from the industry. I have a project in planning which may not be taken up I because of my stance but I accept there is a price to pay. One colleague at a university where I lecture .. actually  wasn’t asked back this year!  … said  eighteen months ago  ‘ god you’re brave’  which alerted me to the penalties and also the importance of speaking out.

Sarah Rutherford, Gender and Culture Consultant

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Others

Biological reality matters

I care because I am a woman, because I care about other girls and women, and because biological reality matters. 

I have shared articles on closed/trustworthy groups. I briefly raised the new Relationships and Sex Ed guidance with my child’s school teacher (but at the end of a meeting about a different topic) and shelved it for the time being

I have been too scared to speak up on social media for fear of the consequences (losing friends, being reported to my work).

Cath, woman, academic, freelancer