Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be shocked not to be told trans student sharing bedroom on school trips

404 replies

rosesrredviolets · 20/04/2024 19:10

DD aged 15 shared a bedroom with a trans girl (born a boy) on a school trip. Dd only found out the sleeping arrangements whilst on the trip and we only found out later. I presumed that trans students would have their own bedrooms at this age. Am shocked not to have at least been asked by school in advance. However it would appear that the policy given to schools is that sharing is fine.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
10
GrumpyPanda · 22/04/2024 09:45

Icehockeyflowers · 22/04/2024 00:46

Of course boys shouldn’t be playing on all girls teams!

Do they use the same changing rooms too?

If these boys don’t want to play sports on the boys teams, they need to quit sports.

No need for even that. There's plenty of non-segregated sports - maybe less so in schools that often focus on traditional athletics and team sports. Certainly most martial arts have joint training and many of them aren't "sportified" to even hold competitions. (Obviously changing would still be sex segregated for all of them.)

Helleofabore · 22/04/2024 09:44

FlexIt · 22/04/2024 09:17

@Helleofabore surely as soon as we start using equivalents of “cis” we are legitimising the notion that there’s trans and … other?

I hear you.

When it comes to discussing issues that do depend on prioritising sex over gender, using the words that relate to sex cuts through and keeps the focus on why it is important.

I would never use the word ‘cis’ because it forces a falsely imposed hierarchy. I agree that it is offensive and I go further to say that when it is used so often to support harm to female people specifically or in general , it is misogynistic.

Whereas ‘female people’ is often clumsy, it is forced formality and detached in tone for sure. However, I think it is precise and sadly needed at this time.

As I used in the example, ‘this girl should never have been sharing a room with a girl’ doesn’t work. ‘This boy should never have been sharing with a girl’ can be taken by some that a female child with a trans identity shouldn’t share with other female children. It also opens the discussion up to accusations of ‘misgendering’ and cycles of distracting discussion and could be deleted anyway.

I have been caught in cycles of distraction and deletion before. I now rather get to the point I am trying to make and have it remain up.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 22/04/2024 09:43

FlexIt · 22/04/2024 09:17

@Helleofabore surely as soon as we start using equivalents of “cis” we are legitimising the notion that there’s trans and … other?

Saying "birth registered female" isn't the same as "cis woman" though, is it? Because it includes trans men and female born non binary people.

The objective is to have a word which means all female born people, however they identify, and which excludes all male born people, however they identify, and does not use nonsensical language like "assigned at birth".

FlexIt · 22/04/2024 09:17

@Helleofabore surely as soon as we start using equivalents of “cis” we are legitimising the notion that there’s trans and … other?

Helleofabore · 22/04/2024 09:14

TheHereticalOne · 22/04/2024 08:12

My post certainly wasn't aimed at you. Women, Mumsnet and people in general have been manoeuvred into an invidious position whereby they have to choose between standing firm in defending the meaning of the most basic words in their native tongue and risk their words being literally erased, or capitulation to Newspeak and covering half the argument before they've begun.

At best, you have to waste time defining your terms upfront to avoid the nonsense Humpty-Dumpty 'words mean whatever I want them to mean at any given time' approach and even then will encounter ducking, weaving and massive pushback to even the act of defining terms (because, again, this would enable a clear discussion, which does not benefit an irrational position).

I was agreeing with your post and I agree with this one. I didn’t think it was aimed at me.

And I hadn’t read this when I just posted to flex and can see I have cross posted with you. But you are right.

Helleofabore · 22/04/2024 09:06

FlexIt · 22/04/2024 08:08

I agree that this language is accurate however dont you feel that using it is fuelling the trans movement?

No.

I feel spending time clarifying what I mean or being stuck in a cylce of countering accusations of transphobia to be a waste of time. I find losing long posts that I take effort to write because someone reported it a wasted opportunity.

And I know that there are some posters that will report posts whenever they can based on their own personal definition of transphobia, or because posts use correct sex pronouns, or have tried to report my posts for using the term ‘male person’. I know because they have told me in threads that they have done so and been indignant when the posts remain. I know at least one poster on this thread has tried this on other threads in the past.

After having these discussions now for years, I don’t have any fears that what I say supports a movement that prioritises gender over sex where sex matters.

stickygotstuck · 22/04/2024 08:20

rosesrredviolets · 20/04/2024 20:27

I think DD would be more concerned about appearing transphobic than anything I could say to her and this is a classmate from start of year 7 so DD could end up ostracized by the whole friendship group for implying that she doesnt trust her or for saying I am not trusting them. How about at Scouts/DofE/PGL could the same situation arise?

This is exactly why this ideology gets away with making girls uncomfortable and putting them in danger, while saying 'nothing to see here'.

With respect OP, your daughter needs to learn that boundaries are important and that you should stand up for your own rights, or you'll be walked all over. Approval by the group is not the be all and end all.

TheHereticalOne · 22/04/2024 08:14

TheHereticalOne · 22/04/2024 08:12

My post certainly wasn't aimed at you. Women, Mumsnet and people in general have been manoeuvred into an invidious position whereby they have to choose between standing firm in defending the meaning of the most basic words in their native tongue and risk their words being literally erased, or capitulation to Newspeak and covering half the argument before they've begun.

At best, you have to waste time defining your terms upfront to avoid the nonsense Humpty-Dumpty 'words mean whatever I want them to mean at any given time' approach and even then will encounter ducking, weaving and massive pushback to even the act of defining terms (because, again, this would enable a clear discussion, which does not benefit an irrational position).

*ceding not 'covering'

sashh · 22/04/2024 08:13

In addition to @Helleofabore's post.

Another thing to consider. I used to teach in an area of Birmingham with a lot of Muslim students. Some were kept really sheltered, as in they had never been to Birmingham city centre, were not allowed to travel by bus, if they went to the corner shop they had to go in pairs. The only way they were allowed to visit a uni was with a female member of staff driving the minibus.

They probably would not be allowed on a residential but if they were and they were put in a room with a biological male the consequences could be dire.

'Honor' killings do happen in this country. Girls are sometimes sent to family abroad to get married, even at 15 ort younger if they are perceived to not being 'good girls'.

I don't for one minute think the OP's child is in that type of danger but it exists for others.

It shouldn't exist and it pains me to say that this is a possibility but even the 'that's transphobic troll' should realise affirmation of this boy could lead to the death of a roomate.

TheHereticalOne · 22/04/2024 08:12

Helleofabore · 22/04/2024 07:02

The language issue is stark.

I hate to use ‘female people’ and ‘male people’ but I deliberately do so to make sure my posts are not deleted and that the message remains clear who I am talking about.

And the word ‘female’ has most certainly been taken as well. I have found myself times even having to substitute female person to ‘someone with a body formed around producing large gametes’ in posts where male posters have claimed the word ‘female’. But apparently, there is nothing to see here. No eroding of clear language is happening at all… according to some.

So, for now I will continue with the laborious ‘female/ male people’. I hate it but the message without it becomes ‘this girl should not be sleeping in the same room as this girl’. Which, of course, is the very point that extreme activists want. And it then brings out the accusations of transphobia.

My post certainly wasn't aimed at you. Women, Mumsnet and people in general have been manoeuvred into an invidious position whereby they have to choose between standing firm in defending the meaning of the most basic words in their native tongue and risk their words being literally erased, or capitulation to Newspeak and covering half the argument before they've begun.

At best, you have to waste time defining your terms upfront to avoid the nonsense Humpty-Dumpty 'words mean whatever I want them to mean at any given time' approach and even then will encounter ducking, weaving and massive pushback to even the act of defining terms (because, again, this would enable a clear discussion, which does not benefit an irrational position).

FlexIt · 22/04/2024 08:08

I agree that this language is accurate however dont you feel that using it is fuelling the trans movement?

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 22/04/2024 08:01

Helleofabore · 22/04/2024 07:02

The language issue is stark.

I hate to use ‘female people’ and ‘male people’ but I deliberately do so to make sure my posts are not deleted and that the message remains clear who I am talking about.

And the word ‘female’ has most certainly been taken as well. I have found myself times even having to substitute female person to ‘someone with a body formed around producing large gametes’ in posts where male posters have claimed the word ‘female’. But apparently, there is nothing to see here. No eroding of clear language is happening at all… according to some.

So, for now I will continue with the laborious ‘female/ male people’. I hate it but the message without it becomes ‘this girl should not be sleeping in the same room as this girl’. Which, of course, is the very point that extreme activists want. And it then brings out the accusations of transphobia.

In the last couple of weeks I've started to use "birth registered males" and "birth registered females" a lot, which is the terminology Dr Cass uses.

I like it because it's very clear who we are talking about. We don't have to pretend everyone is assigned a gender by the gender fairy at birth which mysteriously has a 100% correlation with genitalia.

And surely Mumsnet can't delete posts for using the same terminology as Dr Cass.

WickedSerious · 22/04/2024 07:45

tiredinoratia · 22/04/2024 03:58

Genuine curiosity. What risk is there and why is everyone so up in arms?

Did anything actually happen or is this simply the fear of the unknown.

It seems to me the hyperbole is the most dangerous thing here.

I just can't get riled up about this.

Of course you can't.

WittiestUsernameEver · 22/04/2024 07:39

tiredinoratia · 22/04/2024 03:58

Genuine curiosity. What risk is there and why is everyone so up in arms?

Did anything actually happen or is this simply the fear of the unknown.

It seems to me the hyperbole is the most dangerous thing here.

I just can't get riled up about this.

Ok, so when you next go in a residential trip of some sort.... volunteer to share a room with a penis-having male bodied 'woman' and see how you feel about sleeping next to them, changing in the same room, sharing bathroom facilities.

And then please do report back.

TheKeatingFive · 22/04/2024 07:38

user1470899178 · 22/04/2024 06:26

Wow, plenty of transphobia here!

And there we have it ...

Attempting to shut down debate about female safeguarding by lobbing in the word 'transphobe'

I hope these tactics are clear to all by now because it is obvious what you're trying to do. Eroding girls boundaries - threatening them with a label if they speak up for their legitimate needs.

Absolutely disgusting thing to do.

WittiestUsernameEver · 22/04/2024 07:37

user1470899178 · 22/04/2024 06:26

Wow, plenty of transphobia here!

Feel free to point out the transphobic comments. I'll wait...

EasternStandard · 22/04/2024 07:32

LogicLoverLlama · 22/04/2024 07:31

This policy is almost definitely illegal according to a legal analysis last week. Dozens of other families are threatening to take their child’s school to court over this safeguarding and you should too

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5050647-cass-report-school-policies-write-to-your-childs-school-for-evidence-their-current-policies-and-practices-are-lawful-and-in-line-with-the-cass-report-links-starter-info

just send them a letter asking if their trans policy has been updated with this legal advice and in light of the Cass review

it’s really really important every parent who cares about their child takes this step. Won’t take 5 minutes

Good to see change on this

Helleofabore · 22/04/2024 07:22

Imagine too, if you were this male child and you knew that all these people had made so much effort for you, that a girl had been put in this position to make you happy, the pressure that this male child is under to stay within that gender identity.

This is what Dr Cass was pointing out. This is what many people have been pointing out for years now.

Putting that male child in a private room is more of a nuetral solution and doesn’t add a burden on either the male child or another child.

Scarletttulips · 22/04/2024 07:22

We are all assuming these two are not in a relationship - they might have had a wild time!

Ohgollymolly · 22/04/2024 07:21

user1470899178 · 22/04/2024 06:26

Wow, plenty of transphobia here!

Why is it phobic?

This is what worries me the most about things, you can’t call anyone out, you can’t say anything vaguely oppositional without being called phobic etc.

The need for that mentally ill boy to be affirmed in his delusion, does not outweigh the need for girls to feel safe. As a young child/teenage girl, I would not want to be in the same bedroom as a child with the opposite genitalia. Especially not in a room with a mentally ill boy. It’s ludicrous. As an adult woman I don’t want them in female bathrooms.

Women fought long and hard to have equal rights to men, they would be rolling in their graves to see little boys to grown men masquerading as women invading our space and undermining our rights.

LogicLoverLlama · 22/04/2024 07:18

Nevermind31 · 21/04/2024 23:40

My teenage daughter would not be sharing a room with a penis, no matter how much the penis thinks he is a vagina.

What if you didn’t get told though?

Helleofabore · 22/04/2024 07:17

musicalfrog · 22/04/2024 07:05

@tiredinoratia @BedBugs5 @Tandora and others who are defending the school's actions here.

What if that trans girl decided he was actually a boy during that trip. Gender is fluid, you know?

What action would you have had them take in that scenario? Move rooms halfway through the trip? Trust the boy in the first place to come clean about his feelings?

Good point.

What if that child announced they were a boy/man next week?

How is OP’s DD to process that? Or is OP’s DD just expected to go with it, because it is nobodies business?

One of the things that some posters cannot conceive is that other children are directly impacted by a child’s gender identity. Despite the dismissals and the denials.

The dismissal of the potential harm of other children as just acceptable collateral damage is clear once you see it. And once you see it, you cannot unsee it. Nor can you unsee the tactics used to confuse or obfuscate the issues needing to be discussed.

musicalfrog · 22/04/2024 07:05

@tiredinoratia @BedBugs5 @Tandora and others who are defending the school's actions here.

What if that trans girl decided he was actually a boy during that trip. Gender is fluid, you know?

What action would you have had them take in that scenario? Move rooms halfway through the trip? Trust the boy in the first place to come clean about his feelings?

Helleofabore · 22/04/2024 07:02

TheHereticalOne · 22/04/2024 06:43

You know, I remember years ago discussions on mumsnet about the corruption of the word 'woman' to include men who want to be accepted as women and the concern about women's words to talk about ourselves being removed.

Some posters thought that this was an over-reaction and that we should include those men under the definition of 'woman' and "be kind" because, anyway, we still had the word 'female' to describe ourselves.

Some posters pointed out that once these men had successfully colonised the word 'woman' to redefine it as anyone who "identifies as a woman" (based on whatever they individually believe 'womanly feelings' to be) they would absolutely come for the word 'female'. This was because the whole point is that it is unacceptable to those men for women to define themselves as anything different from them and they wanted to obfusticate the issues that arise from said "identification" and make it difficult to discuss in plain language.

In other words, the appeasement position of "oh, just give them this and hopefully they'll leave us alone" was doomed to fail and Poland would, indeed, be invaded.

This was seen in many quarters to be an extremist, conspiracy-theory-esque position and suspicion at the time.

But here you are.

You would be less confused and will understand the issues better if you remember that what you call "trans female students" are in fact "trans male students", but something tells me you have some vested interest in obscuring that very simple truth.

The language issue is stark.

I hate to use ‘female people’ and ‘male people’ but I deliberately do so to make sure my posts are not deleted and that the message remains clear who I am talking about.

And the word ‘female’ has most certainly been taken as well. I have found myself times even having to substitute female person to ‘someone with a body formed around producing large gametes’ in posts where male posters have claimed the word ‘female’. But apparently, there is nothing to see here. No eroding of clear language is happening at all… according to some.

So, for now I will continue with the laborious ‘female/ male people’. I hate it but the message without it becomes ‘this girl should not be sleeping in the same room as this girl’. Which, of course, is the very point that extreme activists want. And it then brings out the accusations of transphobia.