Shall we start a feminist think tank?

Medical treatment for children with GD

Are you thinking along the lines of simplifying existing analyses so they are easily digestible or critically appraising existing studies? Can contribute to either.

Realism vs Genderism

Pro sex realist is anti genderist.

Realist feminist has a better ring to it. Realfem, or just real. Says what it does on the tin and pays no heed to TRA drama. Less agin, more for.

Because it's quite important to me that I'm critical of the construct of gender.

I'm not in the UK so I've not said much here though I'm interested in what you all come up wit.

One thing that has struck me about the term GC though is there are IMO a lot of women who don't think gender constructs should be saying things like women can't be in the military, or aren't good at math, but they aren't really concerned about destroying masculinity or femininity altogether, they might even like those things. They want them in their proper place might be one way to say it.

They are concerned about gender expectations interfering with women's rights, and women having proper protections required by our sex differences. And they are I suspect a large group who don't get heard much. A group that represented their views could really benefit from their numbers, but I wonder if the term GC might be a bit alienating to them.

Half asleep last night I was thinking we need a word like atheist - agenderist? Does that already exist?

Realist.

sex based rights

Not sure I am in a position to explain this as it was something said to me (when I used the phrase gender critical).

Part of the problem is the campaign to blur the lines of the meaning of the words sex and gender means you cant assume someone takes the same meaning as you do when using either or both words.

Yes being gender critical could be just about not wanting gender stereotyping to happen from the moment of birth by family, school, advertising, etc., etc..

Sex based rights is about the basic underlying reality of discrimination against women just because of their sex. The gender stereotyping is one of the mechanisms, but sex discrimination is not just about being made to wear pink, but the fact that male violence against women happens irrespective of whether women are performing the gender stereotypes that society (ie patriarchy) imposes on us.

It maybe that there should be two parallel campaigns to help get this across to those who aren't particularly aware or focused on who things are drifting.

ie get rid of gender as a concept in the same way as people challenged racist stereotypes

and campaign against sex discrimination in all areas of life, work, home, male violence, sexual exploitation

(Obviously more complex than this but posting in haste.)

I think where we could really make a difference is in raising public awareness about the various issues, impact on women’s rights and what our rights currently are under the law. I think the overwhelming majority of people have NO idea what is going on. I’ve spoken to so many well educated, intelligent people who haven’t even realised we have SEX based rights enshrined in law - they all thought it was gender based already, and they haven’t heard of the Fair Cop campaign or Maya’s case etc.

So maybe approaching the various organisations and finding out if added publicity would be the best way to help? (And also wouldn’t cost much as so much is via social media, word of mouth, PR contacts with journalists etc)

Related, maybe we could start a list of journalists who have been covering these issues or are supportive on Twitter etc?

Althouh a lot of women are now saying we are letting the trans agenda win is we use GC and should now start talking about "sex based rights2!.

Talk me through that one?

Because it's quite important to me that I'm critical of the construct of gender.

I'm a bit wary of the phrase "sex-based rights", as I can imagine the term swiftly becoming used to justify the same-old-same-old corralling of me into a set of arbitrary "rights" because I'm a woman, which are different from the arbitrary set of "rights" for men. Whereupon I'm back to square one.

I dont think a think tank will do anything about being politically homeless as surely the role of a think tank is to look into the implications of political policies irrespective of which party is making them.

Is it enough to say if is a think tank with a gender critical stance?

(Althouh a lot of women are now saying we are letting the trans agenda win is we use GC and should now start talking about "sex based rights2!).

Great idea. I’m in.

For the scientists of the think tank: free media training acmedsci.ac.uk/grants-and-schemes/mentoring-and-other-schemes/sustain/media_women

active dismantling of the safety net on every level

I do agree, at the same time all this as an actual issue is completely off the radar of school leaders and educational Lea advisors unless they're involved in any of this.

I've seen safeguarding policy being delivered from its very beginnings as that's when I started teaching. I only became aware of the whole debate over the last 3 years. I've tentatively asked questions and I've been sent on several mandatory courses recently and it's simply not an acknowledged area. The nearest is radicalisation- except some (TRAs) would view the rad fem view as the radicalisation- and online harms, which is starting to include body image impacts, and manipulation online.

And toilet policy is woolly. Privacy for girls is not mentioned, but I feel this is because the deliverers aren't aware it's even an issue.

a massive hole in safeguarding policy

Caused not by a gap in legislation or awareness but by an active dismantling of the safety net on every level.

Also wrt to trans widows and children of trans parents. They're not acknowledged and the harm is not acknowledged.

True, detransitioners and their regrets are also blocked from the public's view and presumably therefore from the mental and physical support they need.

There's a massive hole in safeguarding policy wrt the messages children and parents get from media, online and books.

Also wrt to trans widows and children of trans parents.

They're not acknowledged and the harm is not acknowledged.

Mum's voices need to be empowered, definitely.

Unfortunately the new RSE guidance and pshe schemes which are being developed by a range of charities and organisations are including a certain slant on 'trans.' That children are born in the wrong body.

This is going into schools via training as accepted mantra and one they have a responsibility to actively support and teach.

As SSA uk are finding out, mums aren't always being listened to, especially as any questioning is labelled phobic. Charities with trans agendas are holding a lot of power in some areas.

A think tank would have to be able to carefully spell out, with evidence and research, the links between and impact of overly heavy gender stereotyping and children feeing they're somehow 'wrong.'

There are many crossovers to online harms and body image and acceptance so it shouldn't be difficult to join the dots and communicate them, but it is.

It is unfortunately likely to become worse too due to the way primary schools are going to be organised and judged under the new ofsted framework. Heads are less in control of curriculum content and design, this is increasingly placed on the shoulders of subject leaders. (Individual teachers.)

Safeguarding in schools and of gender querying children and referrals to GIDs and CAHMS is a huge priority. Research of and use of that research to inform policy and also educational policy on this. Safeguarding policy around the messages children get from the trans ideology online and in increasing numbers of books is also a priority of research and political lobby.

This think tank does need to know what's already happening in organisations.

I would want any group to be clear that there are no defined political allegiances, and that the role is to inform all parties of issues that affect women. (Sort of like how Stonewall manages to operate across political divides.)

Of the various people who have spoken out I feel politically most comfortable with James Kirkup, with my primary concern the silencing of women via #nodebate. Though obviously the more I learn, the more I am worried about safeguarding. I realise that others come from different places with different priorities. This should not matter provided there is sufficient common ground, understanding and respect.

Just a question, though I know nothing about this, might it be possible to speak to existing respected think tanks, including the one run by Kirkup, and ask if they would be interested in a parallel, funded, womens issues reasearch area. It would shorten the learning curve.

That's a super idea Getbusy I'm s primary teacher, and primary schools are very careful to listen to parents- Mums are more involved generally at this age, so there's a need to keep them happy/ onside.
It's not an issue that comes up as much at this age, but it does happen.!

Reach out to schools offering an alternative to the Stonewall- Mermaids- NSPCC triad; organisations are already doing this but I think a mum angle may get a better foothold in schools and what we want is local mums to offer the training with a balanced perspective centring the welfare of all children equally. I was speaking with a few teachers last night and there is increasing concern around the changes being pushed through- link up with SSA etc to provide volunteers to deliver training in their own locality - local mums who know the teachers and schools.

I forgot to add also: can the think tank work with others who want to talk publicly and be visible, in order to raise up their voices, eg detransitioned people, lesbians who have lost or are losing all their women only spaces. parents of ROGD children. health care professionals, researchers and academics who are concerned about the culture of silencing concerns and stifling research, women expected to share changing and toileting and whatever with men in public and professional spaces, sportswomen objecting to males in their competitions and so on? All these crucial voices seem to be missing from the debate so far.

Media coverage is needed to inform public opinion and that also means finding women willing to talk as case studies to put them in touch with journalists. Anonymously if needs be. The think tank needs a big media team to do all this.

One unique thing we do have here, is a huge collective ability to join the dots and bring together insight over a wide range of topics affecting women.

We might never have the ability, or even the interest, in getting behind one issue or focused mission. But we are an incredibly powerful source of experience and our potential to network is massive. That network is powerful.

If we joined up with existing think tanks, organisations or new movements such as LGBAlliance I reckon we could be formidable.

I’d love to join in. Happy to work with women from all political parties and the homeless, as I am.

I’ve moved gradually to a position though where I would challenge the current GRA. I think it was a huge mistake to write gender into law in the first place. I believe the original GRA was to allow same sex marriage as long as one individual reassigned gender so as not to frighten the horses.

Homophobic, unworkable as well as leading to the current mess with self ID.

I'm in.

I’m in.
Politically homeless academic in Social Sciences/ Childhood Studies.
My top 3 concerns are:

1. Self ID and the consequences of this upon safe spaces for girls and women
2. Lack of consideration about the long term impact of medical interventions with young people who may, or may not have gender dysphoria
3. The damage being caused to some women’s sport, especially for young women. It enrages me that girls, who need all the encouragement they can get to participate in sports, have this to contend with.

I’m beginning to feel increasingly fearful of what I say about these issues in my teaching when quizzed by students. And, I fear my Union would send me up the paddle without a creek if I came out as full on GC in my institution 🙁