To think that a Rape Crisis centre should not have a transwoman CEO?

[ArabellaScott]

Mridhul Wadhwa has just been appointed CEO of Edinburgh Rape Crisis. The job was advertised as for women only. Mridhul is a transwoman (born male) without a Gender Recognition Certificate.

AIBU to think that women survivors of rape and sexual violence should be able to have a female only space?

theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2021/05/new-boss-for-edinburgh-rape-crisis-centre/

If anyone would like to register their concern at this charity breaking the law (Equality Act 2010), then this may the place to do it (you can do so anonymously):

www.oscr.org.uk/contact-oscr/charity-concern-form/

Charity number for ERCC is 0006208

So if a trans man (biological female who looks like a male) got the job, would that be ok to you then?

Do you think victims would be more comfortable that way? Interesting...

“Although survivors have asked for a single-sex service and know that transmen are female, thus eligible, this doesn’t help my point so I’m going to disregard it.”

Do you think victims would be comfortable with that because they could just guess the transgender man's chromosomes

They wouldn't need to, would they, if it was established that workers would necessarily be female.

This thread is a tough read. I am sending virtual hugs through the ether to all the women here who are reading this and finding some of the lack of empathy for traumatised women distressing.

It’s not bigotry for women to want women only spaces to process trauma.

Staff of services such as rape crisis centres for women ought to be demonstrating their focus on women and how best to serve them. It might not be every woman who would find being counselled by transwoman distressing, but even if it was re traumatising to only 1% of women, then the best thing for all the women would be to have biological women only, and not risk even that 1%. It is unacceptable to place the burden on women using the service to object, and risk being branded bigots, when the best solution is to avoid the whole situation by using the exceptions in the equality act as they were written and intended a mere eleven years ago.

This is a terrible appointment, on so many levels, as has been explored at length.

I think the trans man thing is a squirrel. As far as I know there are no trans men seeking to work in services solely for women.

They would most likely find it triggering or inappropriate to work in a role which is reserved for people who are female in any event.

In the event they did want to apply and were the most suitable person for the role then there is no reason they shouldn't be appointed.

I grow tired of this.

What do you think of this TW getting this job, in this place, in this way?

I think it’s dreadful, shouldn’t happen, and whoever is responsible should be sacked.

Sometimes women say “no”. This is one of those times I would do so. 87% agree, but I’d still be of the same opinion if they didn’t.

Transmen, being female, are entitled to apply. An organisation is entitled (and should use its entitlement) to reject any candidate who is unsuitable for the role for whatever reason. No-one is entitled to a job at a rape crisis centre.

Rape crisis centres do not exist to give people jobs. They exist to support women subjected to rape.

@lifeturnsonadime

I think the trans man thing is a squirrel. As far as I know there are no trans men seeking to work in services solely for women.

They would most likely find it triggering or inappropriate to work in a role which is reserved for people who are female in any event.

In the event they did want to apply and were the most suitable person for the role then there is no reason they shouldn't be appointed.

Agreed. If a transman had applied for CEO position of ERCC, the org would undoubtedly be publicising it as a win for diversity and inclusion. As there is no such fanfare, I’m presuming that transmen haven’t applied, even though they are entitled to, for reasons of their own.

And slowly but surely women are ignored, shouted down and called transphobic if they object to women-only spaces and jobs being taken over by men.

Im equally horrified an saddened that some women on this board are spectacularly not seeing what is happening right in front of them.

A job deemed only appropriate for a woman, as clearly stated in the advert, is given to a man. But that's ok because the person says they are a woman.

When and where will it all end?

@Ereshkigalangcleg

Do you think victims would be comfortable with that because they could just guess the transgender man's chromosomes

They wouldn't need to, would they, if it was established that workers would necessarily be female.

Yes, there’s a lot to be gained from transparency and public confidence in service provision. It’s almost as if that is therapeutic, in and of itself!

@5zeds

No.

I have a right to female only spaces as described by law and IF you want to change that you need to try and change the law. Looking at the pole I think the vast majority of people think that it’s right that victims using the RCC are best served by a female only space.

Where is that right located in law? Which Act, which section?

When and where will it all end?

It will only end when enough women take a stand on behalf of those women who need single sex services and spaces whether rape counselling, hospital wards, intimate care, prisons, bail hostels, refuges, breast screening clinics, menopause services, changing rooms or toilets.

YANBU. The fact anyone says otherwise shows you how far this madness has gone.

Where is that right located in law? Which Act, which section?

This is pretty disingenuous. The right under the Equality Act is for a service provider to designate roles that are single sex. The guidance to the Act gives examples.

The bigger question is why you don't think these spaces should apply? Why don't you think that there are instances that women provision away from males however they identify when there is clear evidence that being in the presence of males will traumatise them?

Apologies I meant 'spaces' not 'roles' in the first paragraph.

When and where will it all end?

Honestly? When straight men are at serious risk of having their heterosexual sexual experiences compromised. Then it'll be both obvious and reasonable to say who the women are.

So rape victims who want a female counsellor are not only transphobic but have also been compared to racist.

Christ.

Mind you, compared to the names we've been called by our rapists that's mild.

@DrSbaitso ah yes... so we have to sit and wait for the menz to come and save us.

You're a lawyer, RobinMoiraWhite, I presume you know the law better than I do - are you telling me that legally women are obliged to accept males into every space currently designated for women? Are you saying women rape survivors are legally compelled to accept a transwoman as a counsellor?

@R0wantrees

When and where will it all end?

It will only end when enough women take a stand on behalf of those women who need single sex services and spaces whether rape counselling, hospital wards, intimate care, prisons, bail hostels, refuges, breast screening clinics, menopause services, changing rooms or toilets.

Yes.

And here we all are.

Talking about what women need to move through life in women’s bodies, dealing with things that happen to women because we’re in those bodies. Material, physical reality that means something.

If you think that is in some way shameful, or ought to be hidden or apologised for, or caveated, or sanitised, then I am sorry.

Sorry for you.

(Not you, R0wantrees, I was agreeing with you!)

Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9. -
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/schedule/9

There is also a guidance note which notes specific examples, including councillors in rape crisis services but I can't currently find it - will post when I do.

2 + 2 = 5

So trans men, who look like men but are biologically women are allowed to work in rape crises centres? Do you think victims would be comfortable with that because they could just guess the transgender man's chromosomes?

Jesus. Will you listen to yourself?

What if a male individual looks exactly like a female individual, what then? What if a woman, looks like a man, what then? What if we can do it this way? What if you have to have it that way? Do you want to look in someone's pants???

Listen to yourselves.

These are traumatised women, trying to recover from being bashed, hit, assaulted, raped. Almost exclusively by men. Not some political point scoring nonsense or ideological resource that you can burnish your sexist, or woke credentials on.

These are real women trying to recover.

"I have a right to female only spaces as described by law and IF you want to change that you need to try and change the law. Looking at the pole I think the vast majority of people think that it’s right that victims using the RCC are best served by a female only space.
Where is that right located in law?"

Which Act, which section?

Ffs.

I see Robin has shown up again to tell us women don't have sex based rights. Well, Robin, if we don't, then what was that clause the ERR invoked in their job advert?

Oh and what was it again Stonewall is trying to get removed from the EA because it 'hinders transrights'? And what was it the Scottish government wasn't trying to redefine when saying anyone, with no requirement, can be a woman?

As someone else once said: you only know if a male person is a man or a transwoman, is by politely asking what their preferred pronoun is.