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Original poster

Baby steps in being publicly gender critical - help!

37 replies

GCBabySteps · 25/02/2019 18:30

I've name-changed in case you haven't guessed!

I've recently shared a few articles on the dreaded Facebook - Martina's article in the Times and their story on Ruth Hunt's resignation.

There's been some good-natured debate on the recent post, with both sides agreeing on the whole. But it's now being piled on by a very woke friend who is parroting the TWAW line, along with "trans woman have NO advantage over cis women" in relation to sports.

Also, in the last 5 minutes I've had someone ask what women's rights trans rights remove.

I really wish I had a quick list of rebuttals to these inane arguments. My tendency is to eyeroll and say "for fuck's sake it's common sense" but that's not very eloquent!!

On the other hand, I had one friend thank me for putting into words what she's been feeling for a while, so it's not all bad!

I also replied to a tweet by the famous cyclist.... I haven't done anything bad enough yet to be banned. But then I wimped out and deleted it Blush

Please folks (I can still use folks can't I?), give me courage to carry on (and some helpful one liners wouldn't go amiss either!)

OP posts:
enidalton · 26/02/2019 05:57

This reply has been deleted

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AnyOldPrion · 26/02/2019 05:43

I've had someone ask what women's rights trans rights remove.

DonkeySkin put it most clearly.

Mostly now I point out that this is a small, rather aggressive group of men who are demanding that women’s rights are extended to them.

These demands are being made without providing any scientific evidence that the new laws will not cause harm to women. And I suggest that the onus should be on those demanding these changes to demonstrate that they will not cause harm, before swathing changes are brought in.

Also... why these men? Why not gay men, or priests (for example). Sex segregation is there for a reason.

Baby steps in being publicly gender critical - help!
Original poster
GCBabySteps · 26/02/2019 00:51

@R0wantrees The sporting stuff is really helpful, thanks!

Even though I couldn't give a fig about most sports, I think it could be the blatant unfairness of men competing as women which starts the tide turning.

@feministfairy Thanks for reminding me about the medical aspect in all this. I was thinking of abuse victims and religious beliefs, but I'd totally overlooked the basics.

It boggles belief that we have to remind people that lesbians want a female partner!

@donquixotedelamancha "It's about defending women's hard won rights." Totally spot on. Have trans rights but not at the expense of women's rights Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
GCBabySteps · 26/02/2019 00:31

Thanks to all for your suggestions. I shall use them as ammunition in the continuing fight to make people see sense. It might be a losing battle but I'm determined to try!

OP posts:
donquixotedelamancha · 25/02/2019 19:09

Please folks (I can still use folks can't I?) As long as you identify as bugs bunny :-)

I've had someone ask what women's rights trans rights remove I might suggest something like this:

None. Trans people should live free from intimidation and bigotry. They should have the same rights in law as everyone else.

Everyone should have certain sex based rights, but this is especially important for women. For example:

The right to single sex sports competition where necessary. Taking this right away and allowing males to compete would end many women's sports.

The right to bodily privacy. Many, many women are not happy with showing in front of males in areas like swimming pools. Taking this right away by making facilities unisex would exclude many groups of women from using them.

This doesn't mean excluding transwomen: some sports should be mixed; single changing rooms can be built. It's about defending women's hard won rights.

R0wantrees · 25/02/2019 19:07

"Open Letter to the International Olympic Committee
This is the English version of an open letter to the leadership of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), extended to the leaderships of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC), the International Federation of Volleyball (IFV) and the Brazilian Confederation of Volleyball (BCV) in defense of professional women’s sports by Ann Paula Henkel (Connelly)"

fairplayforwomen.com/ana_paula_henkel/

really worth reading and sharing

R0wantrees · 25/02/2019 19:02

Fairplay For Women have launched a public campaign to protect women's sports. There's lots of information and data on the website:

fairplayforwomen.com/sport/

feministfairy · 25/02/2019 18:52

Women's rights to sex segregated spaces are removed - single sex hospital wards, showers, changing rooms. Lesbian's rights to same sex partners. The right to ask for a same sex health practitioner for smear tests, mammograms etc. The right to ask for a same sex counsellor in a rape crisis centre or DV shelter

DoctoressPlague · 25/02/2019 18:49

I move in very woke circles and have found that none of it registers if I go along with TWAW even by omission. I no longer use the word transwoman, I talk about men. When I started doing this, the penny dropped for an uber-woke male friend.

Original poster
GCBabySteps · 25/02/2019 18:41

@feministfairy
Thanks - I have already retweeted that, much though it pains me to agree with Piers Morgan! Grin

OP posts:
feministfairy · 25/02/2019 18:38

This one:
twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1099803988168368129

feministfairy · 25/02/2019 18:37

Maybe share the Piers Morgan tweet from today about the girls losing out to in the sprints?