Action Aid - no such thing as a biological female

Funnily enough, the first word that came to my mind when I read that statement was "bollocks".

We recognise the specific discrimination that trans women and girls face. ActionAid UK also believes that both sex- and gender-based discrimination are deeply embedded in the patriarchal structures operating in the countries ActionAid works in.

Hang on a second, ActionAid UK told us that they believe sex doesn't exist - so how can someone be discriminated against based on something that doesn't exist? And how can it be stated so clearly what they believe when the trustees admit that they haven't actually discussed this issue yet? They actually say that they think these are complex issues that require consideration - you think?! Maybe you should have 'considered' them before declaring that biological sex doesn't exist.

They are trying to prove that they are atoning enough by making sure that the very first group of people they mention is transwomen. Yeah, you know what a woman is, ActionAid - you've made that nice and clear by this statement.

I think what bothers me more than them grandly overlaying a first world issue onto people who desperately need humanitarian help, is that by their own argument any little girl who falls under the ‘gender umbrella’ is therefore a male and therefore what, ‘Teflon’ when it comes to forced marriage, rape, etc? Fabby.

[quote EmpressLangClegSpartacus]Genderist beliefs are luxury beliefs, only the most privileged have time and resources to spend fretting about their identities and forcing other people to do the same when on a global level for so many it's their actual material reality that's the biggest concern. One would think that would be the focus for organisations such as Action Aid.

Exactly. This article by Raquel Rosario Sanchez sums that up perfectly.

www.feministcurrent.com/2017/07/26/white-feminism-thing-gender-identity-ideology-epitomizes/[/quote]
That article is brilliant.

To argue that sex is not real and that gender is innate or chosen, instead of socially imposed, demonstrates both ignorance to the world around you as well as a position of privilege. In this way, we see that gender identity ideology literally is “white feminism”: a (so-called) feminism that ignores the material realities of the marginalized, centers the feelings and interests of the most privileged, and presents itself as universal. It is a “feminism” invented by academics in Western countries that does little to address the struggles of those outside these circles.

We all know (as do the people at Action Aid) that the people that AA claim to help do not spend their time navel gazing about 'what a woman is'. They all know exactly who the women are.

Responding that they support trans women is contradictory to stating there is no such thing as biological males or females.

I would need them to clarify whether they still believe there is no biological sex, and therefore what is a trans woman, and what is a woman? Someone cannot be trans without a biological sex. It is literally erasing them.

Yes... white male 'feminism' at that, all too often as with the bloke mentioned at the start of that.

(I noted that Plan International was mentioned in that piece for a study on child marriage - looks like they're focussing on real issues).

Is Raquel the woman who has been consistently harassed by the TRAs at Bristol Uni? That was a fantastic article. Thank you for linking to it.

Genderist beliefs are luxury beliefs, only the most privileged have time and resources to spend fretting about their identities and forcing other people to do the same when on a global level for so many it's their actual material reality that's the biggest concern. One would think that would be the focus for organisations such as Action Aid.

Exactly. This article by Raquel Rosario Sanchez sums that up perfectly.

www.feministcurrent.com/2017/07/26/white-feminism-thing-gender-identity-ideology-epitomizes/

Anti-trans?
Nope, nope and nope again.
One can be pro women and girls and also 100% in favour of fairness and equal rights for trans people. One can be pro fairness and equal rights for trans people and still be concerned about the erosion of women's sex-based rights. It's not a zero sum game.

The level of public debate is shocking, even in the broadsheets. Life is not about Manichean choices, the just and righteous here and the wicked and fallen there. 99% of the time, it's about the muddy places in between, where rights conflict, no choice is perfect and the best can be the enemy of the good.

Well of course there’s vanishingly small numbers of trans people in developing countries,

Being a girl/woman in many countries is such low status (and in some cultures akin to slavery) that no man in his right mind would opt in, and few women would have the status/opportunity to indentify out, of womanhood.

Is that the reason for the glaring omission of trans men... a tacit acknowledgement that only male people have the privilege to ‘choose’ their gender? Or feeling like a woman is more important than actually having women’s anatomy which needs gynaecology, menstrual and obstetric services?

Spero it is a very surreal problem when a women and girl centred charity starts regressively centering males isn’t it.

I have decided that any organisation with a remit that is centred purely on female’s needs to stop virtue signaling to the world. This cycle of virtue signaling is backfiring and largely is pushed by people with personal agendas.

I wrote to them and finally got a form letter back with the statement that they are for full inclusion of trans women and trans girls.

Those groups are unlikely to contain very many individuals in the countries which they serve, which makes the statement one meant to cater for domestic opinions of one type.

I have no idea why this angers me so very much. I know what they are and they have already told me what they are. Perhaps I have elevated opinions about my own ability to persuade others with facts...

I’ve just seen the Action Aid advertisement pop up on my Instagram. I noticed there was a comment from Instagram saying “ Instagram are not affiliated with this organisation “ which I’ve never seen before. The next charity advert I had didn’t say that ( nor does any other account I follow) so I was wondering what that was about. I also noticed they were raising money for “ people” who have periods...although I have seen the use of women & girls on their website.

I've been appalled over the last 2 days by what I've seen about AA. I've been donating for over 24 years but seriously considering pulling that sponsorship now.

Anti trans?

Fuck off.

Positioning women who know that women and girls around the world are oppressed because of their biology is anti trans?

Yes, for the last few years I've only contributed to women's rights crowdfunding. All my charity giving has been diverted to this important political challenge.

Another good place for redirecting donations would be the Hamlin fistula hospital or foundation.

The problem isn't going to be resolved by kicking it up to Trustees. These are people who have self identified as the great and the good, and will largely need to be guided by the permanent executive team to make a statement because their greatness and goodness doesn't extend to actual practical sense. Expect further word salad. Expensively produced at an extraordinary meeting of the great and good.

OK... I'll make a note to research this before my next will review...

Really shocked at this! They appeared to be a very female centred charity. Oh well, I will be cancelling my DD and letting them know why. Who should I give my small monthly do ation to instead? Already support Lumos and Vancouver Rape Relief so maybe I will just split it between them.

Trustees shit a brick as they realise the massive PR disaster at the same time as one of their major sources of income DFID is being merged into the FCO and it looks like the government budget for overseas development is going to shrink massively. ActionAidUk got £733,000 from the government in 2018.

Oh Dear.

I am also outraged, and on the brink of cancelling my monthly donation.

This is insanity. Toxic, delusional, narcissistic, misogynistic insanity.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/07/17/action-aid-embroiled-trans-row-declaring-no-thing-biological/