Have you been publicly gender critical?

[SwearyG]

I'm considering "coming out" as gender critical ahead of the WPUK meeting on Tuesday to suggest that my friends attend the meeting too as I really think we need to debate, discuss and push back against what is being said by the TRAs. I've tried it in person a few times and most people have taken what I've said quite well, with my younger friends doing mental gymnastics to keep TIMs as women in their heads, though they can't accept my anorexia analogy on that.

So I've written a lengthly post for Facebook saying that people need to think about the rollback of women's rights in the name of progression and how the opportunity to talk is coming on Tuesday but am not quite brave enough to press post. Has anyone done this with any success or is it best to keep fighting anonymously?

No - I have a professional role where I have to be above any sniff of an accusation of prejudice.

Can I hear the anorexia comparison? I've 'come out' but I do it on a one-to-one level, I'm far to chicken shit for a Facebook outing! Go you!

No, because I have never heard the subject mentioned by anybody in rl - only on MN!

Interested to hear your anorexia analogy too.
I’ve had a whispered conversation with a friend who runs a women’s football team about trans women in sport and that’s about it.

I don't work so am safe from that kind of accusation or issue.

I just know it's such an emotive issue and I'm so passionate about how we have to stop this - having only really woken up to it a few months ago my mind is blown on how important it is and how we need the message to spread that the trans activism is really eroding women's rights. I worry that most people will scream transphobe and leave me friendless (though who needs friends like that).

I'm an anorexic. I am "in recovery" whatever that means, but basically I am currently a healthy weight and managing to eat fairly sensibly. I have had anorexia since I was a teenager (now late 30s) and have always felt my body is wrong - too big, too small etc - I hate it. My treatment from all providers, both private and NHS, has been therapy and meal plans. Treatment to get me to accept my "wrong" body as it's not wrong because it's the only one I have. With the mind/body disconnect we treat the mind to accept the body. Losing weight didn't help the disconnect, gaining weight didn't help it, it's a mental issue.

People with gender dysphoria are told that their body can be surgically and hormonally altered to meet their version of the right body. This is akin, to me, to giving my anorexic self diet pills and liposuction. There is no "wrong body" there is only a disconnect with the mind/body. The answer to change the body is totally at odds with how we treat other dysphorias, and anorexia is the one most people know.

For work reasons I have just had quiet conversations with one or two friends. I follow some of the GC vocal feminists on Twitter in the hopes they know people are listening/interested.

Yes, when in conversation with friends. I can't post stuff publicly, or I will never work again in my profession.

I think your analogy is fantastic. And incontrovertible since it is your experience. And you'd have to be a massive shit to read that and think 'fucking TERF' I don't know if your friends are massive shits or not though...

And I think we should all be talking about it. I am trying to peak trans three people a week. I did two over the weekend

I've spoken to the odd person. I've also written about it to a teenager club dd is in. And to MP and SMP (both ignored).

I've just posted it and awaiting any backlash. That I'm scared to post it means it's even more important to say so. I even did it without my standard woolly "of course I respect transpeople and think they need their rights and dignity protected" because durr, of course I think that.

Hopefully we can peak trans some more people.

I do with friend and fellow sports players. All are incredulous that TW are competing in female sports.

The only problem is that the new wave of trans women seem perfectly happy with their male bodies, do not want surgery and do not view it as a mental health issue.

I can't discuss it in public or on social media because I could lose my job due to not being "inclusive"

Yes. I have rid myself of fake friends long ago. I don't have a public service career to concern me. I lost no friends I already left the Labour party and many friends have become stealth TERFs. My family are not against me either, they don't do anything other than listen they mostly laugh at scared politicians and notions of men saying they can get pregnant.

I’ve spoken to lots of people about this, so all my friends know how I feel, including my brother who is very pro trans rights. Luckily we haven’t fallen out over it!

I shared the Scottish consultation thingummy by email.

I don’t mention it at work though.

Have you had any responses yet OP?

I've spoken to lots of people about it. At work, it's difficult. I work with young people and for a quango, so I can't be as critical as I would like to be.

Only response so far from DH saying we’re all gender non conforming and it’s not for women to budge up and make space for men who don’t fit the toxic masculinity box.

I’ve had conversations with my closest friends about them and one disagrees with m vehemently but we are still close (we don’t mention it, much like my parents and Brexit).

I figure people have to stick their head above the parapet on this, especially because we’re being intimidated into silence. And anyone who gets uppity isn’t a real friend. All I’m doing is saying we have to talk about this and saying the WPUK talk is happening.

Sort of. My family and OH are very aware of my beliefs, and concur. People at work also find the new gender ideology ridiculous. But I wouldn't dare mention it on Facebook. I also have an old friend who has drifted from right-wing to left over the years, and when I tentatively broached the subject with him, it was clear he hadn't thought it through and might have called me a bigot if I'd pushed it further. So I pulled back.

It's done politicians nor the Trans community any good. Nobody gave the Trans community any interest, now they are a laughing stock, which wasn't my intention, as I take the issue seriously. Friends and family are also going to spoil their papers, they say they are not voting for fools who think men can get pregnant, who are scared of a few people Tweeting, behaving like toddlers banging wooden spoons on pans and beating up women.

I have replied to other postings outlining my concerns. So for example if asked why my profile picture does have a trans ally frame (ffs) I will politely point out that ‘I’m very much in favour of safety and freedom from the threat of violence for all, and as a woman, women’s rights are very important to me. I support everyone’s right to be safe from violence and fear. I also support women’s rights to be free from violence and fear. I consider self ID to be misguided and to have multiple potential negative impacts on women, for example threatening women’s protection from discrimination at work and in life generally. Then I tend to launch into a rather worthy discussion on the equality act.

It’s a woolly statement, and it’s hard to argue with, because of you read it and tell me I’m a bigot I will come back with asking you why you don’t support women’s rights. ;)

I wouldn’t post something actively denouncing trans as a status. I tend to keep FB as a family sharing thing (expat, good to keep in touch) so it for me would be the wrong platform.
I will however respond in a polite and logical ways if prodded.

So far it’s worked well. Literally everyone has said ‘oh, I hadn’t thought of that.’

No you hadn’t, but now maybe you will.

DOESNT have a trans ally frame. :)

I don’t frame for any bugger, and I don’t appreciate being pressed to virtue signal.