The Scotland GRA Reform Bill proposes changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004, to enable a system of self-ID with no need for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and a lowering of the age from 18 to 16 for a gender recognition certificate. Debate on this issue has been lively. Three responses to the consultation… Continue reading The Scottish legislation on the GRA Reform Bill
Tag: Gender
The Tavistock Clinic: (Paediatric) Gender identity development service (GIDS) and Mermaids
The Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) is for children and young people, and their families, who experience difficulties in the development of their gender identity. It's a national specialised service, based in London and Leeds, and is the only one of its kind in Great Britain. A number of serious concerns about the service have… Continue reading The Tavistock Clinic: (Paediatric) Gender identity development service (GIDS) and Mermaids
Women’s refuges: Who needs single-sex spaces? Where and why?
In what circumstances does UK law permit single-sex spaces? And is the law as it stands adequate and properly administered? This is a recent judgement on single-sex spaces enablement What can be done to meet all needs and expectations? ** Unisex changing rooms put women in danger https://fairplayforwomen.com/unisex-changing-rooms-put-women-in-danger/ tbc
What are the limits (if any) to being ‘inclusive’?
Is there a point where being 'inclusive' of one group may become significantly disadvantageous or damaging to another? How might any such disadvantage be best addressed? ** Here's UK Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries' view as at June 2022: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-10953147/NADINE-DORRIES-choose-fairness-inclusivity-sport.html tbc
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?
Education: Schools and PHSRE
There have been some significant reports about how schools and students are responding to the 'trans debate'. These include Girl ‘driven out of school for questioning trans ideology’ Schoolgirls rejecting mixed toilets over boys’ bad behaviour Nadhim Zahawi: ‘Trans pupils should wear uniform they want — but sport is different’ . The Stranglehold of Transgender… Continue reading Education: Schools and PHSRE
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?
Gender transitioning, recognition and single sex provisions.
Are the current UK arrangements for single sex services adequate? Some background: In the UK a change in gender of an adult can be confirmed by a Gender Recognition Certificate, a route to transitioning which has been available since the Gender Recognition Act of 2004, effective in April 2005. This 2004 Act was brought into… Continue reading Gender transitioning, recognition and single sex provisions.
At risk groups: Can trades unions help establish real risk levels?
There is debate about the reality of otherwise of risks for women, trans, gay and lesbian people and others in shared intimate spaces. Who must take responsibility for assessing the evidence of real risks to (variously defined) vulnerable groups? Do trades unions have a role here? And if so, how? Is there a tension between… Continue reading At risk groups: Can trades unions help establish real risk levels?
How important are biology and genetics?
We are all mammals, with much the same physical design as other similar animals. How much should this fact should affect our every day behaviour as wo/men is a matter of debate. What does 'the science' tell us? The issues are really around basic human / mammalian physiology and also psychology / behaviour. Human physiology… Continue reading How important are biology and genetics?
The psychology of sex, gender, groups and trauma
Two intersecting aspects of psychology may be particularly relevant to issues around sex and gender. One is self perception (who do I think I am?) and the other is group dynamics (how do the people around me / those with whom I associate) defend my / our identities? Every person has an identity and character… Continue reading The psychology of sex, gender, groups and trauma
Reading and references: Websites
There are several other websites which focus on the politics of sex and gender in the UK: [Read and discuss more about various categories of References.] https://labourwomensdeclaration.org.uk/ https://women-uniting.co.uk/ https://sex-matters.org/ https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us https://www.tht.org.uk/ Wikipedia: Feminist views on transgender topics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_views_on_transgender_topics** The EHRC guidance on single sex spaces here : https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/what-equality-act-says-about-protected-characteristics-sex-and-gender https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/separate-and-single-sex-service-providers-guide-equality-act-sex-and-gender https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/when-you-can-provide-separate-or-single-sex-service https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/gender-reassignment-provisions-equality-act ** Fair play for… Continue reading Reading and references: Websites
Reading and references: Articles, papers and reports
Here are a few of the many articles and papers which have been written in recent times about the politics of sex and gender: [Read and discuss more about various categories of References.] Law and legal cases: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8969/ https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/apr/29/barrister-allison-bailey-stonewall-discriminated-against-for-gender-critical-views-tribunal-hears Single sex spaces https://4w.pub/female-prisoners-forced-to-share-showers-with-intact-males/ Physiology and genetics: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sex-redefined-the-idea-of-2-sexes-is-overly-simplistic1/ https://fairplayforwomen.com/chromosomes-biological-sex-gender/ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/differences-in-sex-development/ https://www.genome.gov/27557513/the-y-chromosome-beyond-gender-determination https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/fact-sheets/Y-Chromosome-facts https://www.genome.gov/27557513/the-y-chromosome-beyond-gender-determination#:~:text=The%20X%20and%20Y%20chromosomes,only%20pass%20on%20X%20chromosomes). https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2019.00388/full https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/q-a-mixed-sex-biology/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7415463/… Continue reading Reading and references: Articles, papers and reports
Labour Women Voices 