Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Transgirl in friend's school

65 replies

mikado1 · 17/07/2018 00:26

I immediately thought of MN when I heard this story tonight! My friend works in a secondary school (Ireland) and they've had a student identify as trans. He had long hair, now wears it tied up and awards skirt. School v accepting and supportive, parents v demanding, almost looking for school to trip up. Use of girls' toilet was asked for and principal denied access point blank, said if he had a 12yo DD he wouldn't be happy (trans student 17). Unused toilet next to office was offered. Done.

I was impressed by his decisiveness and instinctive rationale, I was beginning to think only MN saw the light. He apparently said he knew he could be sued but took a stand and it was accepted.

OP posts:
IAmLurkacus · 17/07/2018 05:40

Has anybody asked disabled people how they feel about their facilities being relabelled ‘gender neutral’? Ffs.

MistOnTheWater · 17/07/2018 05:34

Well done that HT. Girls and women are always being told to be nice, accepting and support boys and men. There's been reports about sexual harassment in schools - called 'peer on peer bullying' by a certain politician ffs.

in the official guidance referred to upthread it states that 'all students should feel safe and supported when accessing toilet and changing facilities'. Then it completely ignores the rights of girls to feel safe and supported Confused

UpstartCrow · 17/07/2018 01:14

That child is going to struggle even more when the girls start puberty.

Amalfimamma · 17/07/2018 01:04

But since 2015 , in Ireland, there's been no gauge of man or woman. I could wake up tomorrow and claim to be a unicorn and living on a rainbow and they'd have to accommodate for me.

Original poster
mikado1 · 17/07/2018 01:02

Yes got it. Thanks amalfimamma

I think the 7yo who will have gone through primary as a girl may find that e third space a difficult distinction, having been seen accepted as a girl from year one..

OP posts:
ijustwannadance · 17/07/2018 01:00

It basically says that trans kids needs are far more important than all the other kids, and that if other pupils and their families are uncomfortable with male bodies being in teenage girls changing rooms then go get educated you bigots.

Girls are being told they have no right to say no to males and if they don't like it tough shit.

thebewilderness · 17/07/2018 00:54

They need to stop trumping the other protected characteristic with gender reassignment.

Amalfimamma · 17/07/2018 00:49

Try now

Transgirl in friend's school
Transgirl in friend's school
Original poster
mikado1 · 17/07/2018 00:47

Can't zoom in..

OP posts:
Amalfimamma · 17/07/2018 00:45

From the official guidance

Transgirl in friend's school
Original poster
mikado1 · 17/07/2018 00:42

Exactly.

I was afraid that the accommodation might have been given simply because we think of ourselves as accepting and inclusive and non-judgemental but fail then to reflect on what this means to others. Instead this principal, accommodating ad he was, immediately considered others' rights too, and ensured a tricky precedent wasn't set despite pressure. Majority of staff agreed 100℅

Conversely i know of a 7yo child, living as a girl, who does use the girls' toilet... Now what will happen there in 5y time..

OP posts:
Prawnofthepatriarchy · 17/07/2018 00:39

That's interesting, Mikado. If only more people and organizations took a matter of fact approach like that.

I mean, what if the Girl Guides had said "Teenage boys? Sharing overnight accommodation with teenage girls? And we're not going to tell the parents? ... Are you on fucking glue, you utter fool?"

So much risk and heartache avoided.

TensionWheelsCoolHeels · 17/07/2018 00:36

That sounds very reassuring. I'd like to see a similar response from my DD's school should the issue come up. Reasonable alternative offered which gives the trans child privacy, dignity & safety without compromising other pupils' right to the same consideration.

Original poster
mikado1 · 17/07/2018 00:33

I think he was thinking more of the particular parents in his case re legal action.. no one wants it whether theyd win or not!

OP posts:
UpstartCrow · 17/07/2018 00:29

I'm pretty sure that in Ireland women's spaces and services are still provided by sex, regardless of someones trans status. So I don't think he can be sued.
The third space sounds like the most sensible option.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.