Impact assessments

[thatdamnwoman]

Thought I'd pass this on.

A friend of mine lives in an area where there are proposals to introduce a trans Handbook/guide to schools. There were issues about lavatories and changing rooms involved and a general stampede towards identifying potentially trans students in order to support them.

The changes were about to be waved through by pro-trans people in the council until my mate asked at a public meeting one simple question: 'Have you carried out an impact assessment on the effect this will have on the girls in each school?'

They hadn't: they've been focussed entirely on a tiny minority of trans students. That question has given people the opportunity to discuss the misogyny and homophobia inherent in many of the proposed measures and enabled those who are worried about what's going on the opportunity to voice their concerns in terms of fairness, equality and the needs and rights of girls.

So at work, in schools, hospitals, colleges — when management propose making the women's loos gender neutral but not the men's, when the LA wants to make changing rooms unisex, or whatever, ask the question: 'Have you done an impact assessment on the effect this will have on the girls and women who work here/ use these premises?'

What never ceases to astonish me when I hear of these stories is that so many people in these meetings don't appear to have any notion of the reality of what they're proposing. They haven't even considered the effect and impact om girls and women at all.

actually I'm glad you said "Impact assessment" because that kind of jargon is the only thing these people will relate to.

so next time I mean effect on" I will replace with "impact assessment".

but to your wider point, yes, trans is treated as a whole separate issue with no link at all to people who aren't trans. It's bizarre.

I'd also add an impact assessment on other protected characteristics, e.g. religion - those men and women whose religion forbids sharing spaces where they undress. That one really ties up the woke - acknowledging a woman's right to wear a burka while insisting that she shares a changing room / toilet with someone with a penis!

I'd also add an impact assessment on other protected characteristics, e.g. religion - those men and women whose religion forbids sharing spaces where they undress. That one really ties up the woke - acknowledging a woman's right to wear a burka while insisting that she shares a changing room / toilet with someone with a penis!

Yep.

Yup, it's the formality of that phrase — not emotional, not stating your position, not controversial because there need to be impact assessment wherever change is proposed. It enables people to talk about what is actually being proposed from a girl's/ woman's point of view.

I've actually written the question in a note on my phone because I'm quite likely to forget what to say at the moment I need it.

Exactly, it is likely to affect more than one protected characteristic.

I second this advice. Ask to see Impact Assessments and about their Public Sector Equality Duty. Don't be fobbed off.

Won't they have to do an impact assessment on the GRA itself? Well done to your friend.

What never ceases to astonish me when I hear of these stories is that so many people in these meetings don't appear to have any notion of the reality of what they're proposing. They haven't even considered the effect and impact om girls and women at all.

This.

Won't they have to do an impact assessment on the GRA itself? Well done to your friend.

The one they did for the Scottish consultation was risible.

Yes, your point about religion would also, I imagine, apply to disability and concepts of dignity and vulnerability.

Impact assessment: let's turn this tedious little management phrase into a useful tool.

Unfortunately there is no statutory obligation for public authorities to conduct equality impact assessments in England, Cameron changed the Specific Duties. There is in Scotland.

"Impact assessment: let's turn this tedious little management phrase into a useful tool."

yes

we had a poster here who made some really odd comments; I twigged that perhaps she didn't know why we ever had separate hospital wards and toilets. At the risk of being totally patronising, I asked - it turned out she didn't know, and just thought it was a hangover of Victorian prudishness!

Whereas I when I was a child, my mum went to hospital and was scared there'd be men on the ward. And then was it New Labour who made a promise to have segregated wards as much as possible?

but there are now people in management who have no recollection of this at all.

There isn't, but it's good practice.

If they say, "we haven't bothered to look at the impact on other groups because we don't have to", their commitment to E & D looks pretty poor.

Raising this in a public meeting would be quite awkward for them.

Yes. And it's not just one overall impact assessment they need to carry out. They need to go to each school and talk to the girls and possibly even the parents, and see the facilities available at each venue.

With a bit of luck it this will raise all sorts of inconvenient questions and make parents sit up and take notice. Not many dads would be cool with the idea of their 12-year-old having to share a loo with a 15-year-old boy.

I'd also add an impact assessment on other protected characteristics, e.g. religion

Also age (children are more vulnerable) and disability (disabled children still more so).

You could share this with the school and parents: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/genderneutral-toilets-my-daughter-was-called-selfish-for-wanting-girlsonly-loos-at-school-cwth60b2c

Single sex toilets in schools are mandated by law.
Every single safekeeping law and policy was implemented after a scandal. Some councils appear to be eager to be the focus of the next scandal.

Here's the share token for the excellent article that wanderabout shared.
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/genderneutral-toilets-my-daughter-was-called-selfish-for-wanting-girlsonly-loos-at-school-cwth60b2c?shareToken=157e852de9132a9c37967f15e3ed15f0

It's amazing how quickly adults 'forget' to consult with children when pandering to the demands of some trans organisations.

Every single safekeeping law and policy was implemented after a scandal. Some councils appear to be eager to be the focus of the next scandal.

This. It astonishes me how laissez-faire they are about it.

I was working in schools when the massive 'Every child matters' initiative was launched, on the back of specific child abuse issues. Millions were spent on it, millions of hours were dedicated to it, schools and other organisations - rightly - had to devise and implement swathes of policy and practice designed to ensure (and I don't know how often I heard or read this phrase, but it was many times) "it never happens again".

We seem to have gone 180 degrees from safeguarding/child protection being central to what we do to 'Meh...' in just a few years.

And here's the guidance that tells schools they MUST provide single sex toilets and washing facilities for children over the age of 8.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/719398/Gender-separation-guidance.pdf

I'd also add an impact assessment on other protected characteristics, e.g. religion - those men and women whose religion forbids sharing spaces where they undress. That one really ties up the woke - acknowledging a woman's right to wear a burka while insisting that she shares a changing room / toilet with someone with a penis!

Our middle class suburb has a significant proportion of Asian Muslim residents.

NONE of our local high schools which have trans indentifying pupils have tried to implement mixed toilets or changing areas.

They have not changed the school uniform to force girls wear trousers and remove their right to wear skirts.

They have not compelled girls to play sport with boys.

Pupils who wish to can use the single room facilities.

Staff use the preferred names of all pupils.

No one has done a Daily Fail sad face feature in the local paper. No one from the Council had made a statement.

I suspect the Council have realised that the generally well off, highly educated and professional local Muslim community will not be easily silenced by calls of transphobia and threats of trans teen suicide.