I’ve been watching the video clip of the Sturgeon / VAWG meeting, and it’s highlighted to me how little focus there has been on the right to privacy and dignity. For valid reasons, the main focus has been on women’s safety; however, I wonder if a result of this is that supporters of self-ID never have to address or justify their views on women’s privacy and dignity.
I think their responses might be a powerful eye-opener to the public, as it’s something almost all women and girls can relate to, perhaps unlike safety.
A focus on privacy and dignity also means that accusations of transphobia in relation to transwomen posing a risk to women, won't derail the focus of conversations about single-sex spaces.
Privacy and dignity are human rights that are continually promoted in the NHS and social care as fundamental to good practice. These rights also influence safeguarding policies.
I’d like to ask Sturgeon, and others . . .
Do women with a lifelong history of sexual violence perpetrated by males have the right to privacy and dignity in single-sex spaces, away from male bodies?
Does a 13-year girl have the right to privacy and dignity, away from male bodies, whilst changing her sanitary towel at school?
Do women without a history of trauma have the right to privacy and dignity, away from male bodies, in the changing area of a sports club, if that is important to them?
I’m guessing the response would be, ‘transwomen are also entitled to privacy and dignity' which of course is the case, but third spaces would fulfil that need. At least that would move the conversation on to the practicalities of third spaces rather than 'nothing to see here . . .'
The alternative response is that women don't have the right to privacy and dignity, away from male bodies. I want to hear them say it.
By the way, I don't want to minimise the efforts of some of the incredible feminists who have addressed the issue of privacy and dignity, but I can’t recall seeing or reading an interview in which supporters of self-ID have been forced to address this issue specifically, because the conversation is usually focussed on safety, and how vulnerable transwomen are.