Which women-only spaces do you use, and how would their removal affect you?

my right on team now allows transwomen

Jesus Christ.

Genuine question for people who’d refuse a male doctor/nurse for a smear, would you have asked for all them to be female?

I wouldn't care about the anesthetist and the surgeon but I would much prefer the rest to be female.

I used to play a contact sport. Granted I don't right now cause I'm a lazy fucker, but my right on team now allows transwomen and TBH I can't afford the increased risk in injuries, so much as I would like to go back (after getting a bit fitter). I won't.

I’m surprised so many women object to males doing smear tests.

You're a rape survivor and you still don't understand why a woman might not want a man doing her smear test? Really now?

I've always been on women's only wards in hospitals (mainly gynaecology issues), and always visited female gynae consultants.

I did have one internal exam with a male hcp, which sparked complaints from the nurses on the ward for the way he carried it out.

My job requires that I be female.

I use female toilets and communal changing areas at the gym. I specifically don't use mixed gender fitting rooms, or take my kids in there to try on clothes.

More importantly for me, my kids use single sex toilets and go to a girls only social group with outings and sleepovers. They wouldn't want to go to the group if they would have to sleep with boys.

Yes I could probably live with some spaces becoming mixed (although I wouldn't like it), but it's not all about me is it? Examples of women I've worked with as an advocate:

• a woman in a refuge who'd been horrendously abused and couldn't even speak to a male police officer without constant panic attacks

• another woman who'd been held prisoner by a partner and abused - couldn't leave the house as she was terrified in case she saw a man

-women who'd had relationships on mixed sex psychiatric wards when they were in no position to consent

• women in rehab who'd had sexual relationships, a few of whom had become pregnant when they were really at their most vulnerable.

These cases are more common than you'd think, and I think all these women and others deserve not to be forced to share toilets, changing rooms, refuges, prisons, hospital wards or to be medically examined by men.

I personally don't use that many women only spaces (beyond the standard 'public loo', medical institution, etc. ones) with one notable exception (see below). Many other women do, though, and I wouldn't dare tell them they can't if that's what they need to be comfortable!

As for the exception: I participate in and help run networks and programs for professional women in my line of work. This is a much needed safe space for many of us where we get to talk about and coach/support each other through a range of issues ranging from not being heard in meetings and people assuming our male subordinates are the people in charge to serious problems such as sexual harrassment in the workplace.

I really don't need any men in there - especially not the TRA types demanding to be 'centered' at all times. We set these things up and we invest our time and energy in them because women are desperately outnumbered in our field. Nobody except ourselves looks out for us, so thanks, but we've got a full plate already over here!

As far as I know the GRA was enacted to help transwomen, and transmen with specific things. Same-sex marriage and pension entitlement.

Those things are no longer an issue.

It was not designed to give men legitimate reasons to break all protocols concerning women's spaces.

It was not designed so men could compete in sport as women, against women.

It was not designed to have men transferred to women's prisons

It was not designed to force women to except men in healthcare, on psychiatric wards.

It was not designed so that sleeping accommodation for children meant mixed dorms.

It was not designed for men to claim eligibility for all women shortlists.

It was not designed for men to claim they are lesbians.

It was not designed for men to be given the most massive stick imaginable with which to beat women.

All those things have happened, because men are exploiting it.

What on earth makes you think that's going to stop?!

Toilets, changing rooms, hospitals, sporting events.
I'd feel quite uncomfortable with the first three to the point of choosing to go elsewhere if I could.
I'd feel outraged with the last and probably give up the sport if there was a mtf competing against me or my team.

Antenatal yoga/swimming etc. I would feel mocked if surrounded by people dressed up as characatures of pregnant women, playing at complaining about piles and weak bladders.
I wouldn't have wanted to chat frankly to my "bump buddies" if I was being used as research for role play.

I would have just stopped going. As many women have done to "womens" and lesbians groups.

Yet none of these "women only" places were officially open to transgender at the time.

They were. Always have been in fact.

catscan

It's a slightly odd opening post.

I see that you are new, and maybe haven't read the numerous threads on here with specific examples such as the ones on this thread.

It's partly about those specific examples. But as you say it won't affect everybody, all the time.

What will affect everybody, 100% of the time, is that their rights will disappear. Whether they exercise them or not. Their choice will be removed.

Some of those are rights enshrined in law and some are customs and protocols that have the effect of 'rights'. (The right to challenge a man if he is not where he would normally be).

A man in a female intimate space has to do very little to intimidate. The lift of an eyebrow, a concentrated look, a smirk. That's all it takes. No laws broken, nothing you can actually hold them accountable for.

And women, culturally and socially will have to accept it.

Why? Why should we change all the protocols about sex segregation, to validate a handful of men?

Seriously. Tell me why? Who benefits? Tell me a single woman who would benefit.

I also have a question.

Quite apart from your common or garden predator/voyeur/peeping tom/paedophile who can exploit this with ease, here are men who fetishise women and their biology who are officially transgender, under the Stonewall definition.

Men who become aroused from not only accessing women's spaces, but by forcing them to accept that they are women.

And who enjoy women's discomfort at making them use the correct pronouns and the correct name.

Men who are compelled, by a sexual motivation, to access as many women's spaces as possible.

My question to you, is if these men are officially transwomen, how can we tell the difference between them and a transwoman with gender dysphoria? And, why should we even need to?

If you haven't come across autogynephilia before, perhaps this thread will help you.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3101834-trans-widows-escape-committee

We have women only spaces because women want women only spaces. That's a good enough reason to have them.

If some women want mixed sex spaces instead, campaign for them. If MIT want to be in women spaces, tough, they can campaign for their own space.

I agree that we have more important issues to deal with, so dr

I don't use any other than female toilets but it wouldn't bother me if men were there as there are cubicles.

I wouldn't mind a male Dr performing my smear test but it has never been suggested.

The idea of 'womens spaces' or groups to talk and share experiences or whatever makes me want to cringe.

I was sexually abused in childhood and raped as a teenager.

But it's not about me. I care about what other women want and feel comfortable with when it comes to 'spaces' that they would prefer to be female only.

I was on a mixed ward at 20yo following an asthma attack. I couldn't breathe, chained up to the oxygen and only a flimsy curtain to protect my privacy.

I was in for two nights and I didn't shower once. I just waited it out till I got home because I felt utterly vulnerable.

I am not keen on unisex toilets but only because men piss in the seat and fail to flush

Yet none of these "women only" places were officially open to transgender at the time. So "women only" means what exactly?

Hospitals is a big one for me, I've just cancelled a much needed operation, as I was told I'd be placed on a mixed ward after.
I have ptsd from csa. I can't and won't be around men on my own.

Public toilets is also one that needs to be ladies with female genitalia only! I've been in a situation where a man actually peeked under the toilet door in a train station.

Yesterday I went to the Rapid Access Womens Clinic at the hospital. The parts which are causing me pain are specific to females - my womb, my ovaries. Although I was seen by a male doctor (who performed an intimate examination) it felt safe to be in a clinic designed for women. As much as anyone who has a penis can claim to be a woman my biology is different to the biology of someone with a penis. Men should have special clinics for things like their prostate (unique to men) and no doubt they feel vunerable with a doctor putting a finger up their bottom just as I did when a man put his fingers into my vagina.

I live in the land of female only spaces middle East. Female only banks, stores, lines, seating sections, etc. I view it as a MASSIVE disadvantage because it infantalizes women.
I say this because:
A) there is NO such thing as a female only zone. Having been assaulted myself by a man (not even one dressing as a woman) in a female toilet at the age of 6, I know full fucking well that the idea of "female only zones" is bullshit.
B) by claiming you need special areas you claim you need special treatment. Whether that's shorter lines or more seating space, it declaring weakness and that you need protection.

Getting in stupid arguments about female only spaces sets women back decades to when they needed to be "protected".

Accept that NO WHERE is safe for women at the moment and why that is! And you'll stop giving a fuck about women only spaces, the "trans issue" you lot are so obsessed with, and realize that there are more pressing issues than gender politics and sterotypes. Grow the fuck up