Legal & the Law · Mental Health · Single Sex / Spaces

Trans women in prison

There are reports in the UK and USA (amongst other countries) of women being forced to share prison accommodation with 'intact' natal men who self-ID as women. There are also reported incidences where female officers have been assaulted by trans men (and of natal women in prisons, already traumatised and powerless, being assaulted by male… Continue reading Trans women in prison

Legal & the Law · Politics · Single Sex / Spaces · Social Inclusion

The Scottish legislation on the GRA Reform Bill

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

Mental Health · Psychology

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

Attitudes · Single Sex / Spaces · Social Inclusion

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

Biology vs Culture (Sex & Gender) · Human Rights · Legal & the Law · Politics · Social Inclusion

Does the sex, gender and trans debate highlight conflicting human rights?

To what extent can these different claimed rights be resolved, and how? Conflicting rights is commonplace in equality legislation. It is necessary to find a balance for all concerned parties when considering new policies, or individuals needs. Equality Impact Assessment and Public Sector Equality Duty, require organisations to critically review their policies, assessing any impact… Continue reading Does the sex, gender and trans debate highlight conflicting human rights?

Attitudes · Human Rights · Language & Terminology · Politics · Psychology

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?

Attitudes · Legal & the Law · Politics

Public perceptions of sex, gender and trans-ID

This survey was undertaken in 2020, and the findings in the second set of questions follow from the conditions 'established' in the first set of responses.  Do these views still stand? What can be the political messages gleaned from them? ** From the (UK) NHS: Gender identity and why it is important to ask about… Continue reading Public perceptions of sex, gender and trans-ID

Biology vs Culture (Sex & Gender) · Language & Terminology · Legal & the Law

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?