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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

What do we think about the GRA Consultatation Documents and whether they are biased?

7 replies

loveyouradvice · 19/07/2018 13:34

I haven't yet read them in detail though some things initially jumped out - like referring to someone's sex being assigned at birth which really surprised me!

And the way that it represents trans rights, and impact of GRA....So just beginning to reflect and am rather surprised a government document could get away with being so biased.... Don't understand!

posting Wanderabouts comment below - and would love to hear more from them and others

The consultation information is hugely biased and I don't trust it at all. It looks like it was written by Stonewall and has ridiculous omissions and inaccuracies.

OP posts:
R0wantrees · 19/07/2018 14:26

Also, important to see the 'easy-read' version of the Govt's consultation paper on changes to the GRA.

This is standard practice to provide accessible text primarily for people with learning disabilities & it is recognised these will also be used by younger people, those with limited literacy skills and those for whom English is a second language (as well those who don't want to read the alternative 86 page document )

It is worth considering the impact on parents of young people questioning their gender identity who may also be using this government guidance.

It follows the standard guidance with regards style but surely there is also a responsibility & requirement for content?

Some concerns about which were raised here:
twitter.com/helensteel12/status/1014408578264961024

link to document:
consult.education.gov.uk/government-equalities-office/reform-of-the-gender-recognition-act/user_uploads/final-gra-consultation-easy-read-lo-res_v3.pdf

What do we think about the GRA Consultatation Documents and whether they are biased?
What do we think about the GRA Consultatation Documents and whether they are biased?
What do we think about the GRA Consultatation Documents and whether they are biased?
RedToothBrush · 19/07/2018 14:37

It doesn't follow the Human Right's committee's report out today, thats for sure...

...it does not seek to balance rights.

At all.

Wanderabout · 19/07/2018 14:43

I have major major concerns about it.

It does not seek to balance rights.

It does not define the most basic terms properly e.g. Trans of transwoman

It gives misleading if not down right false information in fact sheets and leaves out other hugely pertinent info.

It includes scientifically questionable ideological language most of the population don't use understand or agree with

The impact assessment looks like it has been half-heartedly started and given up on and there is no clarity on what it is for.

Overall it reads as though written by Stonewall or similar.

I have many other concerns about it but can't post all now.

Wanderabout · 19/07/2018 14:45

Put it this way, if someone with any concern for women's rights had written it the consultation and in particular the guidance would have looked very very different.

loveyouradvice · 19/07/2018 15:09

Totally agree and wanderabout if you do have time later - at any stage - would love to know more.... I am going to take a few weeks to mull my response before sending and obviously listen to Woman's Place and FairPlay guidance when it comes...

OP posts:
RememberMyNames · 19/07/2018 15:35

I've read the full consultation document and all the appendixes.

It's very clearly written in plain English, which I like a lot, and has an extensive glossary to help anyone who need with the terminology. I imagine it was a challenge to find a compromise on acceptable language and I'm happy enough with it, though of course not everyone will be ok to find cis used. In this case it's a necessary clarifying descriptor and it's hard to see how it could have been written without ambiguity if cis were not used at times.

There are references throughout so you can see where info comes from.

There's a lot of clarification about what the GRA is like now, and what the EA sets out in relation to it.

It felt balanced in that it frequently acknowledges that there are concerns, and respondents are encouraged to give their views as fully as they can. It's made clear that they want to hear about potential problems in terms of the interaction between the GRA and the EA, and they definitely want to hear from single sex institutions or organisations.

It lays out the ground rules that everyone's response will be given equal consideration and weight.

There are questions that specifically address areas like women's sport, single sex spaces, the prison estate, spousal veto etc.

For the response document, I liked that almost every question asks for an open response in addition to the yes or no type part, and that there's an end section with a completely open any other comments option. So you could use that bit to protest about language use you object to, or to pin down a definition you thought wasn't clear enough.

Also you can save your response to go back to, so you can take your time to properly consider your answers.

It's a great opportunity to be heard, and definitely helped me think things through and frame a response.

R0wantrees · 19/07/2018 16:06

Also you can save your response to go back to, so you can take your time to properly consider your answers.

It's a great opportunity to be heard, and definitely helped me think things through and frame a response.

THis was just being discussed on the WPUK Brighton thread and it seems it may be worthwhile waiting to submit for a while. The Human Right's Com,ittee report which Redtoothbrush has highlighted has just come out and has relevence.

See end of this current thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3301266-Safeguarding-girls-and-protecting-women-post-Jimmy-Saville-metoo

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