Sam Smethers CE Leaving Fawcett Society

[Abitofalark]

I don't know if this is old news but I came across it on the Fawcett Society website while looking for news about the Stereotyping project.

She is leaving in December 2020:
“After five fantastic years at Fawcett I have decided it is time for me to step down. I will be leaving in December.

“I remain fully committed to the issues we are campaigning on and the important work we do but I think Fawcett could benefit from some new leadership and fresh energy and I need to take a step back to rebalance my life.
ps://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/news/sam-smethers-to-step-down-as-fawcetts-chief-executive

I wonder what if anything it signifies for the Society and its future direction.

[PearPickingPorky]

It'll be someone even more Woke anti-women who takes over.

[BoomBoomsCousin]

That sounds like a disagreement with the board, other on direction of the society or Smether’s impact/fundraising.

[BoomBoomsCousin]

*either, not other

[Abitofalark]

Here is a link to a blog by Sam Smethers about how to balance women's and trans' needs. I couldn't see a date on it but I think it is recent.

www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/blog/sex-and-gender-identity-finding-a-way-forward

[gardenbird48]

Thanks for that link lark - it is an interesting read - still lots of issues and she holds back quite a bit on the issues to women but does support single sex spaces. She let a statement about transwomen seeing themselves as being subject to greater violence than women stand without further balance but is that a lack of research and understanding or is she trying to pacify both sides? I’d be interested to see the reaction to this.

It reads like she still has a rather narrow stereotypical view of transwomen which isn’t necessarily accurate.

[Manderleyagain]

They advertised the post, but I think (from memory) they had to extend the deadline suggesting they hadn't got anyone. Could be wrong on that, but no new ceo has been announced.

The blog post suggested to me that she wanted to acknowledge (and address, discuss?) the conflict of rights more than they had done. So if there was a disagreement with the board I worry that it was that, signifying that fawcett will stay on the same track. But that could be reading too much in.

[Abitofalark]

Yes, one of the problems with it is that it isn't simple and the implications are about much more than single-sex spaces or exemptions: the use of language to erode meaning and the erasing of women from the reality and the realm of women. And then the problems with such terminology as non-binary and defining what that concept actually is and what it denotes.

[Abitofalark]

She also issued a statement in response to the government's statement on the GRA in September, which again to me, implies more complications and difficulties that would follow from her seemingly simple solutions such as de-medicalisation.

www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/news/fawcett-comments-on-government-response-to-gender-recognition-act-consultation

[Abitofalark]

I meant to say, gardenbird, picking up your points, she does seem keen to find a solution and a balancing of needs, possibly to pacify, but there were questionable statements such as you mention about greater violence and even something she wrote about changing rooms. I was left thinking there was a lack of understanding of all the tentacles and complications which are more fundamental than allowed for and it would take a great deal more than empathy and goodwill to solve.

[PearPickingPorky]

She close with Chief-Feminist Jolyon Maugham, he's done work with Fawcett and she's on the board (IIRC) of his Good Law Project.

Which adds an interesting angle.

Jogyon is using the Good Law Project to bring legal action to ensure more children can be put onto puberty blockers more quickly.

[stumbledin]

This was discussed on a thread about the number of women's groups looking for CE and relfecting on the damage done by those leaving for not standing up for women's sex based rights.

Did have a quick search but cant find it.

Its a shame that these women will leave the jobs they have hung onto with their pensions etc., but leaving the organisations weakened by their capitulation to the trans agenda.

[HecatesCats]

As Pear points out Sam Smethers is a Director of Jolyon Maugham's Good Law Project. I believe her daughter now works for the Good Law Project as their Comms Manager. She was Parliamentary Assistant to Harriet Harman prior to that. I'm really hoping that Harriet hasn't been sucked in as well.

[Abitofalark]

Well that's a surprise - Good Law Jolyon again! I'd looked at her bio on Fawcett but no mention of that:
"Sam joined Fawcett in August 2015 as Chief Executive. Prior to that she was the Chief Executive of Grandparents Plus for over six years. Sam is no stranger to equalities and gender issues having worked for both the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission. She also served as a Fawcett trustee between 2007 and 2010, was a trustee of Gingerbread for seven years and has nine years’ experience working in Parliament. Sam is passionate about equal representation, valuing and sharing care and closing the gender pay gap. She has made a big impact already and focused on creating a brilliant team, driving forward an intersectional approach to our work and devising an exciting programme to mark 100 years of women's suffrage. Sam has four children so no time for much else. Contact Sam at [email protected]."

[PearPickingPorky]

Gosh, that bio is quite impressive, in that you'd think with that background she'd really understand the issues women face.

And yet, Fawcett have achieved pretty much fuck-all-squared.

[Aesopfable]

I'm really hoping that Harriet hasn't been sucked in as well.

Harriet Harmen been there before. She support PIE.

[Aesopfable]

*supported (past tense)

[AnyOldPrion]

She let a statement about transwomen seeing themselves as being subject to greater violence than women stand without further balance

She also effectively says “A few men have GRCs, therefore transwomen are women”. I feel very strongly that if we are going to balance rights, we have to start from a position of truth.

If you concede that men are women, you have to discuss how those women can be managed in women’s spaces and explain why you want to exclude some women from women’s spaces in certain circumstances.

We cannot concede that point before we begin, no matter how much we’re told it’s polite.