When should we use titles? Mx, Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms? Or what? And with which pronouns, when? Here's an example of how one writer suggests 'maternity' matters might be trans-inclusive: The language of maternity is alive and well – so why not expand it to include trans parents? by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett and this is… Continue reading Titles, nouns and pronouns (Mx, ‘chest-feeding’ etc)
Category: Language & Terminology
‘Gender’ education and training in the workplace
Training on equality, diversity and sexuality is becoming a routine part of in-service provision in many organisations; and now that training is often delivered by external providers. It has therefore become quite big business. The course content transparency that might be hoped for is not however always available because of claimed copyright, commercial and other… Continue reading ‘Gender’ education and training in the workplace
Must trans issues be contentious? Can they be discussed without angst?
Why does this sometimes occur, and how does it happen? What can be done to lower the temperature if / when things get heated? ** I’m not sure how to best handle this. An experience I keep having is someone shoehorns trans rights into left wing causes like Black Lives Matter (BLM) or Extinction Rebellion.… Continue reading Must trans issues be contentious? Can they be discussed without angst?
What is a man? What specifically ‘male’ experiences may shape men’s lives?
We have already asked, 'What is a woman?' A parallel question must be asked, 'What is a man?' One answer which focuses on masculinity is provided by this recently published article in the Washington Post: The reinvention of a 'real man' tbc
What is a woman? How does our lived experience of bodily functions shape our lives?
The May 2022 Prospect Magazine has an article asking What is a Woman? https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/what-is-a-woman-biology-identity And an earlier one by Angela Santini also asked What is a Woman? (Prospect Magazine, Summer 2021). https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/what-is-a-woman Andy Lewis suggests that the proliferation of articles about this question is a deliberate attempt to eliminate the concept of woman in objective terms… Continue reading What is a woman? How does our lived experience of bodily functions shape our lives?
Is sex (as a category) really necessary?
A recent report has suggested that we ask whether the concept of 'sex' as a way to categorise people is really necessary. Pink News' headlines for 11 May 2022 are that 'Abolishing legal sex and gender comes with many, many pros, radical new report finds'. The Pink News report tell us that '... (UK) law… Continue reading Is sex (as a category) really necessary?
The meanings of words (TERF, CIS and other terms)
There are some words in the 'language' of sex and gender which many find objectionable. Examples might be 'CIS' and 'TERF'; but for outside observers these terms are meaningless. How can they - and maybe other similarly triggering terms? - be explained? Are they legitimate terms? [Read and discuss more about Language and terminology.] **… Continue reading The meanings of words (TERF, CIS and other terms)
Labour Women Voices 