Calling all gender critical guiders!

[AgnesBadenPowell]

You might have seen the posts in feminism chat and AIBU last week about Girlguiding's new-ish transgender policy.

In case you missed them, the threads discussed how GG are now defining girlhood on the "innate sense of being a girl". GG is ignoring its ignoring its own research into the damage gender stereotypes do to our young women; parental consent is ignored and we now have the ridiculous scenario where a guider's 6 year old son must sleep in his own tent or pod in his mother's tent and use the male facilities on camp, but a self identifying transgirl (ie boy) of 14 is just fine sharing a tent/loos/showers with a 10 year old girl. The girl's feelings are not taken into account and her parents will not be informed.

A few of us gender critical guiders have got together away from MN to share ideas and think about how we might challenge this policy. Our individual letters to GGHQ have been ignored or dismissed but there is strength and safety in numbers.

If you'd like to join us, or you know a guider or parent that has concerns, then please PM me or @drspouse

[drspouse]

waves

[AgnesBadenPowell]

[MrsKCastle]

Thanks for this. I'm one of you but didn't take part in the previous thread. It is a real concern for me though.
I will PM later.

[averylongtimeago]

Waves

[DoctorW]

This is a great idea. GGHQ needs to take your concerns seriously and its all too easy to dismiss an individual. Its also safer to speak out in unity. I really hope your group of gender critical guide leaders grows. We need your voices.

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

Good for you
The GG responses to letters on the other thread were horrifying.

[SuitedandBooted]

AgnesBadenPowell

Could I ask you to post something here, please?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3192069-AIBU-to-think-you-should-sign-this-petition-to-ask-the-government-to-consult-with-women-about-Self-ID

Think you could help get a few more signers!

[averylongtimeago]

If you would be prepared to write to gghq it would be helpful.
The more their position is questioned the better.

www.girlguiding.org.uk/about-us/our-organisation/contact-us/

[Beamur]

Hi, I've been reading your threads. I'm a Guide parent and interested in this. I've gently broached this with the Leaders, one thinks it's all positive, the other doesn't but it seems a rather prickly topic.

[EchoGivesNarcissusTheFinger]

Hello, I'm a horrified lurker and trainee guide leader. I've PM'd you, Agnes . Thank you so much for your efforts so far and for bringing this to our attention.

[AgnesBadenPowell]

@averylongtimeago I have written girlguiding and again today. I'm aware that others have done the same. We have received the same stock email response with a link to the equality and diversity policy; the very document we have been questioning. Hence this thread - if they won't listen to individuals they may listen to a group.

[AgnesBadenPowell]

@EchoGivesNarcissusTheFinger I've read your PM and will reply properly after work

[AgnesBadenPowell]

@SuitedandBooted I have just done that! Hopefully will increase awareness. If I'm feeling brave I could always do my own AIBU post!

[SlowlyShrinking]

I’m not a guider, or involved in guides (in fact I don’t have any daughters) but thanks for standing up for girls. The thing about a guider’s son quite rightly not being able to sleep with or change with the girls, but a teenage boy who “identifies” as a girl being ok to share showers with girls is just mind-blowing. And reminiscent of the potential situation in a women’s refuge, where a mother wouldn’t be allowed to bring her son if he was over 10, but any man who said he was a woman would be allowed in. Terrifying and ridiculous.

[TheMonstrousRegiment]

Like Slowly I don't have any GGs (well actually Scouts anymore), but this is so important. Well done for getting your voices out there!

Bumping this for more notice.

[MumOfTheMoos]

Agree with Slowly and Monstrous- thank you very much for doing this. Only have a son as well but Girl Guides is so important for Girls and has been doing such good work - how could they trash it so?

[MrsUnderwood]

I’m a guider and my DD has just started Rainbows. I’m interested in what we can do to help.

[drspouse]

@MrsUnderwood I'll message you.

[vintagegirlguide]

Hi, I’ve been a lurker on mumsnet for many years and a guide leader even longer. I’m very concerned about girlguiding’s policy on this. I’ve PM’d you Agnes.

[drspouse]

Worried I'm really sorry to tell you but Scouting has been "educated" by Mermaids and they also won't tell parents if a girl identifying as a boy or vice versa has joined the troop and is sharing with the children of opposite biological sex.

[Kyanite]

I can't understand why people don't see the obvious risks! It's absolute madness. I have innate sense of being girl sometimes at the age of 51 but I guess my age would exclude me...perhaps I could claim ageism.