Also,
DameFanny, have you ever looked at the questionnaire results before this? I have.
In fact, I used to link to it on MN. No-one used to have a problem with it. www.gettheloutuk.com/blog/category/research/lesbians-at-ground-zero.html
Here are some extracts from it.
As a lesbian I have heard many lesbians privately discuss being targeted by transactivists for being lesbians.
Those stories were hushed in confidence, suppressed, women justifiably fearing retaliation from perpetrators.
This silencing means that there are very few public stories of lesbians on the “cotton ceiling”, a point often advanced by transactivists to dismiss lesbians’ dissent. The aim of this study was to give silenced lesbians an opportunity to speak anonymously about their experience when faced with men who identify as transwomen, while
formally gathering the missing evidence.
The survey aimed to find whether there is a form of social pressure on lesbians to accept trans ideology within the LGBT community, and what form this may take. How does this affect their ability to meet other lesbians?
Are lesbian dating sites safe for lesbians? Is this social pressure influencing lesbians’ life and their sexual life? If lesbians are pressured online, could they also be pressured offline? Are lesbians experiencing any form of sexual violence from men who call themselves lesbians? If yes what form does this sexual violence take?
(Continues)
Research tools and method
The research was initially planned to be a series of interviews conducted with women who would be preselected after taking part in the questionnaire. After careful consideration a questionnaire was deemed more suitable in order to map an under-researched issue. A questionnaire enables the researcher to ask respondents a wider variety of questions in a short space of time (Sarantokos, 2012) and gives respondents the chance to complete the questionnaire in their own time (Curtis and Curtis, 2011).
The survey comprised of 30 questions about lesbians’ experience. It had sections relating to the following subjects: respondent identity, their experiences in LGBT groups and on lesbian dating sites, their experiences interacting with men who identify as transwomen as potential sexual partners. For the purpose of the survey, I used the queer terminology “transwomen” as advised by the Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee believed that the survey should be “objective” but did not consider that the term “transwomen” is not an objective term and is far less widely accepted than they claimed, a point noted by a respondent who complained that the term was incorrect and misleading as “transwomen” are biologically male, therefore “not a subset of women”.
The survey was sent to women-only and lesbian-only groups on social media, as well as to individual lesbians in my own networks. As such the sample does not claim to be a representative sample of the lesbian community.
However, the research was to capture the points of view and stories of many, until now, silenced lesbians.
Findings
Within a few days, 80 women had responded to the survey, far more than originally planned. This rapid engagement demonstrates a keen interest by women who are affected by such issues and the recognition that there is a lack of work and visibility in this area. Several women left private notes, thanking me for the opportunity to speak up. Lesbians were eager to share their stories. The intention was to record lesbians’ experiences from the UK (48%), however the survey was also answered by women across the world 9, highlighting that the questions raised
concerns for lesbians in different parts of the western world. All age groups were represented. Due to the imposed time constraints of the research, I had to limit the number of questions relating to demographic information and also relating to the location e.g. rural/city provenance. Future research that will attempt to understand these views in more depth and detail will take more factors into considerations.
(Continues)
The majority of respondents reported being part of lesbian, queer or LGBT groups online (11%), offline (37%) or both (48%). 72% reported being part of strictly women-only groups (excluding “transwomen”).
Women were also part of groups which are mixed – including men and women (20%),
inclusive of all gender (21%),
women-only but including self-identifying women (20%)
and welcoming of “transwomen” (26%).
Women who were in groups that were not “women-only” reported “feeling silenced”, “intimidated”, “unable to speak freely”, “uncomfortable” with the group policy and wishing the group was for women only but “dare not say it”. Several reported how “transwomen derail” and monopolise the discussion to be solely about their issues while shutting down discussion about women’s or lesbians’ issues by calling it “transphobic”. Group dynamics are described as “toxic”. Several women explain how “transwomen are behaving just like men”.
Lesbians constantly report being told their sexuality is “wrong” if they openly state they are solely attracted to women.
Women reported “threats”, “intimidations” and “abuse”, by “transwomen” and allies.
Several respondents explained they understand and respect the need for “transwomen” to meet exclusively amongst themselves but cannot understand the lack of reciprocity accorded to women and lesbians by the trans community.
50% of women reported being excluded from their LGBT group(s).
The reason for their removal was made clear: questioning any aspect of the queer doctrine results in women be-
ing labelled “transphobic”, resulting in a ban. Respondents were banned for sharing articles from feminists that their group disapproved of, or for stating biological facts about sex and anatomy such as: “just females have periods”.
Several respondents have left groups themselves due to intimidation or before being pushed out.
Women who are still in LGBT groups have not been excluded because they report “not being open with their views".
66% of respondents reported being intimidated or receiving threats in their LGBT group(s).
For questioning the trans doctrine or just stating they were lesbians, respondents reported experiences including: verbal abuse, death and rape threats, pressure to commit suicide, threats of physical or sexual violence, threats to kill family members, receiving “transwoman nudes”, threats of “doxing”, actual online “doxing” (including exposure
of their name, picture and home address), threats of exposure to employers.
While most of this intimidation happened online, many women also reported offline threats:
• Two respondents were threatened at their place of work and one lost her job.
• A woman’s employer was repeatedly contacted with attempts to have her dismissed,
• Two respondents were subjected to intimidating behaviour from “transwomen” at lesbian events,
• A seventy-year-old woman reported being “physically threatened and forced out” of a group by a physically intimidating “transwoman”.