St Pauls School ditches the title "Head Girl" - The Times 19/06/21

Suits law firms to have "women" who won't have kids

Transmen and transwomen fit that criteria perfectly

Agreed re: Global Butterflies. Very much under the radar and very very present in law firms in particular. Had no idea they were in schools. Also involved in creating the diversity guide for legislation, which (rightly) sets guidelines for the civil service about drafting legislation without male pronouns. Interested me because it was two diversity organisations (one of which, Global Butterflies, was a trans organisation) who advised on the document; not a women’s organisation.

Early adopters there too. I read a report years ago that they had 10+ trans sixth formers. All female school, very high pressure environment, no uniform (ever, or not for decades, anyway).

Literally 'girls know your place'.

If the head girl's going to be 'head of school' what's the actual head of school going to be called? Or is she abdicating?

I'd love to say more more but I'd better not.

@FricasseeTurnips maybe. Certainly these girls are (generally) extremely privileged (economically, intellectually and with family support) and are as-yet unlikely to have experienced much harmful sexism.

“The LGBTQI world is an amazing rainbow of positivity and labels. We love labels. We love terminology, we love flags, we love parties,” Cusdin told staff.

How can anybody take this person seriously? How is this in any way compatible with the school's statement? “Our students are open minded, intelligent and articulate, engaged as they should be in the debates of the modern world. Enabling them to grow in confidence and to understand the change that can be made through respectful, reasoned discussion is the root of their empowerment as young women.

Having followed your link, I see it's two late transitioners who are trans women. As one of the replies to Lucy Bannerman says, what is their expertise on being a teenage girl experiencing gender dysphoria? Allegedly they also provide menopause training.

We should be taking more notice of Global Butterflies. All the focus gets put on Stonewall but this org also have very high profile clients. The fact they are also venturing into schools specifically all girl schools is concerning.

It's a funny position to take.

I mean - they have the word Girls' in the title of their school. No doubt you have to be a girl to get in.

But somehow you can't be a head girl because that somehow is not inclusive (but the school title and criteria are all just fine).

Whilst there were many issues with my all-girls primary school, I do credit that environment for escaping harmful early gender socialisation that girls should act a certain way

Do you think this is what's happened here - the girls are so used to a uniquely female environment that they do not realise the sexism and misogyny that happens in the real world outside of that?

That’s so sad. Girls schools should be championing women not pushing aside their sex as if it is an inconvenience and something to be ashamed of.

Whilst there were many issues with my all-girls primary school, I do credit that environment for escaping harmful early gender socialisation that girls should act a certain way.

When I emerged into a mixed sex school st 12 I couldn’t understand why the girls deferred to the boys. The socialisation differences were quite alien to me. Why did the girls stand at the side of the playground and not join in? Why did they not speak up in class? Why did they not put themselves forward for team captain in sport or drama or whatever?