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Original poster

Women’s Aid considers employing self-declared transwomen [i.e. men] in women's shelters

260 replies

cromeyellow0 · 04/02/2018 01:35

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/womens-refuges-may-get-transgender-staff-3txhcr8mb

The review of women’s refuges, which is not dependent on any government reform, was agreed last week by the board of the charity Women’s Aid, a federation that oversees more than 300 shelters.

Mary Mason, the board’s interim co-chairwoman, said: “We have agreed to start a review of our whole transgender policy, including the possibility of employment for self-declared transgender women without a gender recognition certificate.”

Describing it as “an extraordinarily difficult discussion,” Mason said the review, by Women’s Aid’s director of services, Nicki Norman, would take three to four months. Another board member, Sarah Forster, confirmed the move.

Where did the impetus come from? It shows yet another institution "getting ahead of the law", as a Labour MP would phrase it.

OP posts:
OldBlueStitches · 04/02/2018 07:01

What hope is there when LITERALLY somewhere that is supposed to be a refuge for women is even considering opening their doors to men.

If this isn't centering TIMs, I don't know what is. On what planet could this possibly benefit any woman? The question the refuges should be asking is "what can help women?", not, "should we include TIMS?".

Coyoacan · 04/02/2018 06:59

How horrible. Women's Aid is the first port of call for women when they are in a vulnerable position

bonnymnemonic · 04/02/2018 06:47

I've shared on FB. It's my first gender critical post, despite hitting peak trans some time ago. I'm hoping it will help get others to peak!

niceberg · 04/02/2018 06:21

Women's Aid? Ffs. They should be holding out as long as possible and fighting all the way. I keep peak transing. It just happened again.

StealthPolarBear · 04/02/2018 06:03

kicking out the radical feminists and re-orientating the mission of the refuges around 'keeping families together'..
That is chilling. As is this. Was only a matter of time I suppose.

MistressDeeCee · 04/02/2018 05:58

I don't know... somehow what's popped into my head is shit like this happens not only because of male-focused agendas, but because we don't support each other as women. If numerous women aged 18+ committed to pledging just £1 per month, how much would that raise?

I feel as if online has become a great big talking shop. Whilst people with horrid agendas feel no qualms about actually getting out and invading womens' spaces.

I'm likely being naive but very out of sorts today. I don't get why the TRA issue, the invasion of womens' spaces by white male-born privilege, just isn't a big widely known issue. Or at least doesn't seem to be as I barely know anyone who even mentions it in RL.

GuardianLions · 04/02/2018 05:28

This has really shaken me up Sad

DonkeySkin · 04/02/2018 04:38

I'm not discounting the funding imperative, but my impression is there are a fair number of trans ideologues inside the women's refuge movement these days.

Gender Studies graduates gravitate towards women's refuges because it is one of the only sectors for which such a degree (allegedly) qualifies you. They are all steeped in queer/trans theory. It's ironic. The radical feminists who started women's refuges did so with nothing - it was volunteer, grassroots activism. Over time they were able to show that they provided a vital service that brought great benefit to society, so governments started funding them.

Once the movement was professionalised and funded - thanks to the hard work of feminists - people with no grounding in the women's movement, and who held attitudes that were in fact antithetical to women-only organising, started moving in on it. It's not just the trans movement. This happened in NSW, Australia, when the Salvation Army and the Samaritans took over the running of many women's refuges (after convincing government funders they were the 'most qualified'), and immediately started kicking out the radical feminists and re-orientating the mission of the refuges around 'keeping families together'.

newmatilda.com/2015/03/27/call-inquiry-womens-refuge-changes/

Mrsmiguelcervantes · 04/02/2018 03:31

It will be to do with funding. Women’s Aid organisations are heavily dependent on government funding, they don’t receive a lot of public support.

This is an appalling affront to women’s rights.

Seeingadistance · 04/02/2018 01:42

Might this have something to do with funding? A fear that they'll lose state funding if they don't do this?

I hope they don't. Feel sick at the thought of this.