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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

I just came out as GC at work, to the big boss and I feel a bit sick

845 replies

JustcameoutGC · 15/04/2021 12:34

I have NCed for this. I have just outed myself as GC in work to the big boss (and some others cced in).

I was asked to sign off on something that I just couldn't and I said so, and explained why.

I literally feel sick. Like I have put a big fat GC target on my back. My org is totally woke. I wonder how many times my response has been forwarded already.

OP posts:
lifeturnsonadime · 15/04/2021 22:25

@R0wantrees

They were using gender as a euphemism for sex.
This happens all the time. I think it might have started with people not wanting to use the term sex, because you know, Sex. The. one that annoys me the most is the Gender Reveal Party. How on earth can they know the gender from the scan?!

Anyway well done OP. It's not easy in the workplace to do this.

GCAcademic · 15/04/2021 22:24

@R0wantrees

I had to correct my vet when I registered my dog and their form asked what his gender was.
You mean you hadn’t done the test of whether he prefers a pink or a blue collar? That’s how we knew what we were getting when we picked ours up from the breeder.
R0wantrees · 15/04/2021 22:19

They were using gender as a euphemism for sex.

AngelicInnocent · 15/04/2021 22:16

Omg R0. I've heard it all now.

R0wantrees · 15/04/2021 22:14

I had to correct my vet when I registered my dog and their form asked what his gender was.

StillWeRise · 15/04/2021 22:13

@R0wantrees

Is a women any less of a woman after a double mastectomy? Or after a hysterectomy? No, of course not.

Just as a man is no less of a man for having surgeries and/or any hormonal medication he may take?

This is the point that many GC feminists would very much like to make without fear of being sent to gulags for re-education, removed from social media platforms or have their career threatened.

brilliant! hoist by their own petards!
AngelicInnocent · 15/04/2021 22:12

This is why I'm glad I work with animals, not people. They know the difference between male and female and I don't have to argue with them!

Lougle · 15/04/2021 22:02

There's a reason NHS websites say 'pee' and 'poo'. It's because simple words make most people understand. Don't tell me that everyone will understand. They won't.

ThinkIveFoundYourMarbles · 15/04/2021 22:00

Well done, OP!! SmileThanks

Leafstamp · 15/04/2021 21:55

@ListeningQuietly

I must be old but it makes me happy that Xenia is GC

heaven help the fuckwits that take her on
especially with the rest of us at her shoulder

I had the same thoughts Grin
SylviaPlath1984 · 15/04/2021 21:54

@SweetPetrichor

ODFOD

Congressdingo · 15/04/2021 21:53

Is a women any less of a woman after a double mastectomy? Or after a hysterectomy? No, of course not

So using your own analogy, is a man any less of a man if he has a penectomy?

Strikemepink · 15/04/2021 21:53

I stand with you OP, well done and thank you.

DarkishBlue · 15/04/2021 21:52

Ereshkigalangcleg wrote

That's so sad - I'm sorry

And to others who have sympathised.

Thank you. But it was more of a blessed release to him and to us.
He was never going to see the light. No insight at all.
He was suffering terribly and it wasn't awful that his suffering ended.
That might sound icy cold but it really isn't. I wanted mental peace for him, and he was never going to find it any other way. He's at peace now. I remember the brother of my childhood. Before he was so ill.

ListeningQuietly · 15/04/2021 21:50

I must be old
but it makes me happy that Xenia is GC

heaven help the fuckwits that take her on
especially with the rest of us at her shoulder

Sorka · 15/04/2021 21:49

@SweetPetrichor

You don’t ‘come out’ as GC. If I worked with you, I’d be reporting such behaviour for further education and disciplinary action. I reported similar behaviour relatively recently and it was handled very well. I don’t think you have anything to be proud of here and I hope any decent work place will remind you of company policy and/or professional behaviour.
And this is why so many of us who don’t agree with this ideology and do not support the erasure and disenfranchisement of women are afraid.
ChewtonRoad · 15/04/2021 21:47

Well done Justcame and others who have shown willingness to acknowledge reality at work when the batshit alternative is suggested. It is absolutely the right thing to do even when it's scary as hell. Flowers to you all.

JustcameoutGC · 15/04/2021 21:44

@JustAmotherOne

JustCameOutGC

I actually didn't use the wording "coming out" (that came from sweetpetricor) I said I outed myself

Apart from in your username. And the thread title.

Outing yourself seems a better usage.

Fair cop. It was a rush job name change.
OP posts:
Cyntia123 · 15/04/2021 21:35

Well done op. I completely agree and I think its so important for women to start speaking up about this. Its just common sense and I cant believe we've got to this stage where stating biological fact is considered bigotry and could lead to disciplinary action at work. It takes bravery to speak up but the more that do it the better.

Delphinium20 · 15/04/2021 21:34

Well, it seems as if some DID anticipate the Spanish Inquisition, as some there seem people eagerly raising their hands to be Inquisitors.

DarkishBlue thank your for your contributions. It's anecdotal evidence like that that really hits home how language is foremost designed to communicate, and we owe it to those least able, to keep language as clear and helpful as possible. So sorry about your dear brother.

Waitwhat23 · 15/04/2021 21:30

Another voice on here saying well done OP. Scary that this is necessary and brave of you to put your head above the parapet.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 15/04/2021 21:28

Not all women have cervixes, but all cervix-havers are women.

JustAmotherOne · 15/04/2021 21:27

JustCameOutGC

I actually didn't use the wording "coming out" (that came from sweetpetricor) I said I outed myself

Apart from in your username. And the thread title.

Outing yourself seems a better usage.

yourhairiswinterfire · 15/04/2021 21:23

Is a women any less of a woman after a double mastectomy? Or after a hysterectomy? No, of course not.

...

Grin So close - just one more step

You know, it's strange, because I was once called a 'transphobic cunt' during an online discussion for saying exactly that...that removing breasts doesn't make someone not a woman...

ExhaustedFlamingo · 15/04/2021 21:20

The blurring of sexual characteristics and gender identity is the heart of the issue here.

If someone wants to identify as a different gender, or as non-binary, crack on. I'll respect your pronouns and address you as you ask. No problems.

But a man does not have a cervix. A woman does not have a prostate or testicles. I'm not colluding with something which is biologically untrue. A trans woman may have a female gender identity, but she does not have female biological parts. Or female gametes. She is not a woman.

Conflating gender identity with biological sex-based characteristics is causing massive issues. If we could respect people's request to identify as whatever gender they prefer while protecting sex-based rights and using anatomically correct, sex-based language there might actually be a way forward.

If we're going to strip away all the social niceties, let's be honest - agreeing to respect someone's gender identity is a kindness. A transman is not a man. A trans woman is not a woman. No matter how many times you insist you are, you can't change biological fact and it's ridiculous that people are cancelled for stating the truth. We should all be kind, and we should all respect how someone else sees themselves - but when it comes to protecting sex-based language and biology, it's utterly wrong and damaging to mix up the two things.