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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Transwoman in the changing room at school pool

842 replies

PoolFloat · 05/08/2022 14:57

My mum goes to aqua aerobics classes at a sports club in a private school. Recently, a transwoman has joined the class. My mum was told that they use a different changing room to the one next to the pool but today they came out of the pool and put their swimming hat into a locker before returning to the pool to join the class (there is adult free swim beforehand).

The club has a safeguarding policy which states they will: prioritise the safety and well-being of children and adults at risk

I'm not sure if my mum is considered at risk? She is 88 and nearly all the women in the class are in their 70s and 80s.

The changing room has a communal area with only four cubicles so most women get changed in the communal area. Now they are reluctant to do so.

My mum has asked me to help her draft a letter from the women in the class saying how uncomfortable they are that this person is in their changing room but doesn't know how to word it.

Can anyone help please?

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Datun · 09/08/2022 18:22

Ereshkigalangcleg · 09/08/2022 08:38

The absolute insistence on pushing oneself into a space regardless of the feelings of anyone else, completely indifferent to the distress you may be causing anyone else in that space, strikes me as an extremely male behaviour.

This. Always have this front of mind when you are being guilt tripped about having healthy boundaries.

Exactly. The very insistence on accessing the space is the basis on which they should be excluded.

CliantheLang · 09/08/2022 16:11

Don’t discriminate (such as in job interviews).

I own my own business. If I advertise for help and a man in full fetish gear shows up, you can bet I'll discriminate against him. For the same reason any man who tries to rub his penis against me in a crowded train is going to live to regret it.

I am not a doormat for men to use as they please.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 09/08/2022 08:38

The absolute insistence on pushing oneself into a space regardless of the feelings of anyone else, completely indifferent to the distress you may be causing anyone else in that space, strikes me as an extremely male behaviour.

This. Always have this front of mind when you are being guilt tripped about having healthy boundaries.

Artichokeleaves · 09/08/2022 08:24

I'm thinking too of a well known not large and physically intimidating TW who used to post all over social media, whose posts used to make me think I would get out of any enclosed female only space with them at the speed of bloody light, not because I found them physically threatening but because they radiated 'so much as breathe in a way I can interpret as offensive and I will make your life a living hell'.

I don't want to be around that. I'm not a masochist. I just want a bloody bathroom I can use without having to edge around male needs and egos to get there.

Artichokeleaves · 09/08/2022 08:21

KittenKong · 09/08/2022 07:47

It’s dangerous for women because if they complain they risk being thrown out and barred - of clobbered (remember that huge trans woman who knocked teeth out of a woman who dared to suggest that they were in the wrong loo - I’m talking the size of a rugby player?).

Quite.

The massive majority of women, when alarmed and feeling unsafe because of the actions of a male person, are going to very quietly and discreetly avoid eye contact and get the hell out of dodge while trying hard not to draw attention, because they don't want to be screamed at or injured. This apparently seems to result in many TW having the belief that no one has noticed they were T, and thankfully, few have ever noticed the women quietly getting the fuck out of the space because they were scared. Fear grimace smiles also a thing that tend not to be picked up on: hint - they mean 'please don't hurt me'. Hence male people really not seeing the problem here.

And often, some male people love to call this 'self exclusion' which means a nice bucket of DARVO to have a splash in and no messy thoughts about whether they should take some responsibility for their impact on other people's access, inclusion and equality.

It's the endless screams of 'Mummy pick me up' from male people who demand that female people are there to meet their needs, and have no existence beyond this. And females who don't rush to service them whether providing 'protection' against scary men in scary spaces or to sacrifice their own access and inclusion and feelings to more important male ones are unnatural hags who shouldn't be permitted to go out in society anyway.

KittenKong · 09/08/2022 07:47

It’s dangerous for women because if they complain they risk being thrown out and barred - of clobbered (remember that huge trans woman who knocked teeth out of a woman who dared to suggest that they were in the wrong loo - I’m talking the size of a rugby player?).

wellhelloitsme · 09/08/2022 07:27

FireFlyBoogaloo · 09/08/2022 02:26

The absolute insistence on pushing oneself into a space regardless of the feelings of anyone else, completely indifferent to the distress you may be causing anyone else in that space, strikes me as an extremely male behaviour.

Absolutely.

Proof that you can't transition out of male entitlement.

SILdidittoo · 09/08/2022 07:01

Wellies54 · 08/08/2022 22:35

If male toilets are too dangerous for transwomen how can they be safe for any man? Lots of men are gentle or short or young or stand out in some way which could make them a target.

I thought it was telling that the instructor agreed with your mum but didn't know what to do about it. No one generally seems to know what the actual rules are and assumes it's been decided in law that transwomen can use female spaces so they just shrug their shoulders and pass the buck.

No one will answer why male toilets are too dangerous for transwomen, it's been asked over and over on these boards.

It's kind of assuming that transwomen are delicate creatures and completely unable to stand up for themselves. Seeing as they are born male they are just as likely to be evenly physically matched to the person they are supposedly at risk from.

A transwoman could be 6ft 5 and built like a brick shithouse, but we're being told that the male toilets are too dangerous for them. As women we need to welcome this person into our toilets so we can protect them if necessary. And if the dangerous person wants to come in as well then we should welcome them too because they might also identify as a woman.

christmas2022 · 09/08/2022 06:32

I cannot believe (well, actually I can) the AUDACITY of men thinking (well, knowing) they can just waltz into our women spaces and get away with it. Fuxk off out of our space!!!

FireFlyBoogaloo · 09/08/2022 02:26

The absolute insistence on pushing oneself into a space regardless of the feelings of anyone else, completely indifferent to the distress you may be causing anyone else in that space, strikes me as an extremely male behaviour.

CherryBlossomAutumn · 08/08/2022 23:42

It’s also worrying me more and more who is being most negatively affected by pushy trans ideology and intrusion into spaces, names and education.

Women, especially vulnerable women like the OPs mum.

And children.

CherryBlossomAutumn · 08/08/2022 23:41

Sounds really tough for your mum OP. As you’ve described, she’s looked after people all of her life, and now her husband. One time that could be just hers alone. How on earth did one man’s wish to be validated trump hers? It’s very demeaning of her value as a human being.

VestofAbsurdity · 08/08/2022 22:38

The end of this for females is cast iron gates and boundaries around female spaces, resources, access and equality, and you'll be able to hear the tantrums from space. But the evidence will be there. In the same way it has now stacked up sufficiently high for the beginnings of the push back we are seeing.
Female access will never be tolerated by some males unless it is compelled by law with consequences for breaching it .

Yes, and consequences for business, public buildings, publicly funded institutions, private clubs, etc., that do not supply sufficient easily available provision and enforce the single sex rules.

It is the only way forward now, TRAs and their simpering allies have seen to that so on their own heads be it.

Wellies54 · 08/08/2022 22:35

If male toilets are too dangerous for transwomen how can they be safe for any man? Lots of men are gentle or short or young or stand out in some way which could make them a target.

I thought it was telling that the instructor agreed with your mum but didn't know what to do about it. No one generally seems to know what the actual rules are and assumes it's been decided in law that transwomen can use female spaces so they just shrug their shoulders and pass the buck.

wellhelloitsme · 08/08/2022 21:43

Terfydactyl · 08/08/2022 21:38

Unisex as in single occupancy, not mix sex shared, facilities seem the best way forward to me

Well fine but the best way for me is as we used to have it. Single sex spaces, actually made single sex, not gender. I like the idea that women are together, usually helpful, not creepy, very little chance they will be hiding cameras or finding a way to hide in the unisex til a woman comes in so they can lock the door and rape the woman.
I say what we have, enforced single sex is better for all women than single unit unisex. Many many many reasons, too many to go into. And finally why change what's worked for 100 years until recently? Why do we lose out yet again for a man?

All of this.

And it's a solution that benefits an absolute maximum of 1% of people.

While the current set up benefits all women. 50% of the population.

wellhelloitsme · 08/08/2022 21:42

Yesterday, my mum was telling me that they wouldn't even wrap themselves in a towel when they came out of the shower. They were drying themselves and chatting and getting dressed. Just completely at ease with their old saggy wrinkly bodies scarred by childbirth and hysterectomies, just celebrating the fact that they were still alive and able to move. My mum has been going to these classes for 18 years.

And this fucking arsehole has ruined all that overnight.

This made me nearly cry. Your poor mum. An army of women think she sounds lovely and have her back Flowers

Terfydactyl · 08/08/2022 21:38

Unisex as in single occupancy, not mix sex shared, facilities seem the best way forward to me

Well fine but the best way for me is as we used to have it. Single sex spaces, actually made single sex, not gender. I like the idea that women are together, usually helpful, not creepy, very little chance they will be hiding cameras or finding a way to hide in the unisex til a woman comes in so they can lock the door and rape the woman.
I say what we have, enforced single sex is better for all women than single unit unisex. Many many many reasons, too many to go into. And finally why change what's worked for 100 years until recently? Why do we lose out yet again for a man?

Rathgar · 08/08/2022 21:11

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Rathgar · 08/08/2022 21:01

creepy

PoolFloat · 08/08/2022 20:53

DarkDayforMN · 08/08/2022 20:26

I hope your mum knows there is a thread full of women on Mumsnet rooting for her. If she would like to know that, of course!

Raging along with you, OP. I hope it gets resolved in a way that is okay for your mum. If management won't sort it could all the women go collectively to the men's changing rooms near the squash court? He would probably eventually follow them there too but at least at that stage it would be evidence that he's not a nice harmless transwoman but actively trying to make women uncomfortable.

Thank you @DarkDayforMN. I haven't actually told her. Maybe I should! I might copy and paste all the nice messages into a doc for her. She spoke to another woman today who said that she was very unhappy but that she was too scared to make a fuss. And that they would just have to take turns waiting for the cubicles from now on.

Yesterday, my mum was telling me that they wouldn't even wrap themselves in a towel when they came out of the shower. They were drying themselves and chatting and getting dressed. Just completely at ease with their old saggy wrinkly bodies scarred by childbirth and hysterectomies, just celebrating the fact that they were still alive and able to move. My mum has been going to these classes for 18 years.

And this fucking arsehole has ruined all that overnight.

OP posts:
Dreamwhisper · 08/08/2022 20:49

Terfydactyl · 08/08/2022 19:11

Literally every single woman that comes across this and realises that transwomen in the womens is a bad idea comes up with third spaces.
I'm all for stonewall et al doing there level best to get funding, sort it all out and start creating these spaces.

However I am (many of us are) further along , and we already know that this won't work because it's not validating.

So personally I could care less how they are marketed, who will use them, because they will not happen.

And I'll be very very clear how this will go should third spaces actually happen. Only men will use them. Leading to yet another space for men. Oh initially women, carers, parents with slightly too old opposite sex children to use the parents space. Then over a short space of time, attacks will happen, creeps will use them hoping to find women alone, cameras will be planted, etc etc all the things that are now happening in women only spaces and all women will stop using them.
You can quote me on this in the event third spaces become a thing.

Exactly what my concern was Sad

Unisex as in single occupancy, not mix sex shared, facilities seem the best way forward to me.

Artichokeleaves · 08/08/2022 20:33

ZuttZeVootEeeVo · 08/08/2022 19:16

And I'll be very very clear how this will go should third spaces actually happen. Only men will use them. Leading to yet another space for men

I agree. And to make this 'third space' they'll have to reduce the space given to women and people with disabilities.

Yup. As we know and have seen played out over the past few years male entitlement knows no bounds and there will be those who exploit those spaces and anyone in them until females withdraw into the female only space .

However I think this is probably something we need to go through to demonstrate females aren't paranoid/hysterical/other disparaging dismissive terms, and that they just have basic pattern recognition.

And it will also demonstrate beyond doubt that there are males who will not respect female needs, inclusion or access or anything else about females that gets in the way of their doing exactly what they wish at all times and using females as resources as they feel so entitled. And will successfully therefore fuck this up entirely for all males.

The end of this for females is cast iron gates and boundaries around female spaces, resources, access and equality, and you'll be able to hear the tantrums from space. But the evidence will be there. In the same way it has now stacked up sufficiently high for the beginnings of the push back we are seeing.

Female access will never be tolerated by some males unless it is compelled by law with consequences for breaching it .

Frankly demonstrating why females need single spaces anyway and no, we're not at some lovely rainbowy glittery time where everyone will just treat everyone else with love and respect. Two minutes on twitter reading the death and rape threats ought to clear up anyone still clinging on to that hope.

DarkDayforMN · 08/08/2022 20:26

I hope your mum knows there is a thread full of women on Mumsnet rooting for her. If she would like to know that, of course!

Raging along with you, OP. I hope it gets resolved in a way that is okay for your mum. If management won't sort it could all the women go collectively to the men's changing rooms near the squash court? He would probably eventually follow them there too but at least at that stage it would be evidence that he's not a nice harmless transwoman but actively trying to make women uncomfortable.

VestofAbsurdity · 08/08/2022 20:18

PoolFloat · 08/08/2022 20:05

Be kind? Where is the kindness to my mum and the other older women? Where is the respect?

Nowhere.

There isn't any for any women or girls @PoolFloat the entire TRA agenda is riven with hatred and misogyny.

PoolFloat · 08/08/2022 20:05

Be kind? Where is the kindness to my mum and the other older women? Where is the respect?

Nowhere.

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