BACP Gender,Sexual, and Relationship Diversity by Dr Meg-John Barker

[R0wantrees]

Good Practice Guide, British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
(extract)
2.6 Gender identity: woman
Definitions
"Whether trans or cisgender, intersex or not, many people identify as
women. However, what this means varies a great deal depending on their other intersecting attributes. It is important not to assume, for example, that being a woman necessarily involves being able to bear children, or having XX sex chromosomes, or breasts. Being a woman in a British cultural context often means adhering to social norms of femininity, such as being nurturing, caring, social, emotional, vulnerable, and concerned with appearance.
However, of course, not all women adhere to all these things. For example some neurodiverse women (on the autistic/aspergic/ADHD spectrums) may struggle to express emotions, or with social situations. In some northern working-class contexts femininity is associated with strength and aggression. As always an intersectional understanding is vital and we need to be mindful that what is culturally regarded as the epitome of femininity is white, middle class, youthful, non-disabled, heterosexual, cisgender, and thin. This strongly shapes all women’s experiences of womanhood.
Common concerns
While gender may not always be relevant to a woman’s presenting issues, mental health struggles are often gendered. Women have such high rates of body image issues that this has been labelled ‘normative discontent’.
It has been related to both narrow ideals of feminine beauty, and the
contradictory pressures on women today to conform to stereotypical
femininity and to be independent and successful. Food and body
can represent one potential area of control in an uncontrollable and
contradictory world. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and many other emotional disorders. This has been linked to the way women’s identities are often bound up with other people, for example, rates of depression often peak for mothers when children leave home. Therapy with women may well involve exploring their relationships with others, and with being desirable, pleasing and/or approved of" (continues)

My understanding is that the majority of counsellors in the UK are BACP accredited. There is a great deal in this document to consider.

The author is the partner of Edward Lord who identifies as non-binary see recent threads:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3323475-Surprise-The-Masons-now-welcome-Transwomen-but-not-women
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3317922-City-of-London-Corporation-consultation-is-out-this-covers-Hampstead-Ponds
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3316098-Childrens-Convenor-Elected-Councillor-calls-women-cunts-on-Twitter-rants

Scheoedinger- that tweet deserves a thread of its own.

Another thing to remember is that information was really limited at the time. Word of mouth, actual physical meetings and leaflets were all there was. That's why trade union and student activism was so vibrant and vital-because they were the only groups really who were in a position to share information. It really was another world.

My Mum lived through that time and has no knowledge of it. I bet my Nan’s would’ve had some thoughts though if they were still alive to ask.

Julie Bindel mention's Ken Plummer in this article

standpointmag.co.uk/node/6193/full

Apparently he "was a member of PIE in the late 1970s for “research purposes”."

August 1st 2018 article on convicted paedophile's release from prison with new identity features comment by Claude Knights, Safeguarding expert (recently retired head of Kidscape charity):

clicky link to article:www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/3006679/paedophile-jailed-transgender-christyl-knight-christopher-nobile/

(Extracts)
'The con is desperate for a fresh start but child protection expert Claude Knights said: “Allowing these individuals to hide a secret past is a dangerous practice.”

"[Margaret-Ann Cummings, a campaigner whose son was murdered by a convicted sex-offender] added: “It’s not unusual for sex offenders to want a new identity but this is the most disturbing case I’ve heard of.

“When someone, so soon after getting out of jail, is trying to change not just their name but their sex and appearance too, it sounds like they’re trying to hide rather than reform.”

Echoing her calls, child protection expert Claude Knights said: “Anyone who’s fuelled the vile trade in indecent images of children and therefore contributed to their sexual abuse should not be allowed to change their name.”

Claude Knight retired after 15 years as head of Kidscape: www.kidscape.org.uk/news/2016/may/ceo-claude-knights-announces-her-retirement/]]

cf Claude Knight's comments and also her experience in Safeguarding and child protectionand knowledge with James Morton who is also quoted in the article:

"James Morton, of the Scottish Transgender Alliance, said: “Our understanding is that transitioning does not erase your past if you’re a sex offender.

“You have to give your new name to police. Trans people usually encounter greater suspicion. I don’t think it helps people blend in.”

James Morton plays a key role in advocating trans rights in Scotland:

Article June 2018 'Schools 'forget' girls in rush to adopt pro-trans guidance campaigners claim as Christian group threatens legal action'
(Extracts)
"THE rights of Scottish schoolgirls are being undermined by rules allowing pupils to adopt a different gender and share changing rooms, it has been claimed, as it emerged schools are unprepared for the controversial overhaul.

A series of Freedom of Information (FoI) requests have revealed that councils have widely backed guidelines produced by organisations campaigning for the rights of transgender people but have not considered how the new approach will affect children – particularly girls.

The new guidelines tell teachers that if a transgender pupil wishes to share a changing room with "other young people who share their gender identity," they should be allowed to do so.

"There is no reason for parents or carers of the other pupils to be informed," it adds.

The guidelines say young people should be able to compete in the sports events for the gender they identify with, and says if other pupils are uncomfortable using changing rooms or toilets with transgender pupils, they should use other facilities or wait until the transgender pupil is done.

However none of the councils involved, nor the children’s commissioner, nor Education Scotland have carried out an equality impact assessment to ensure the rights and wellbeing of other pupils are unaffected. This means the impact on other students has not been taken into account. (continues)

Among the councils which have endorsed the guidance produced by LGBT Youth and the Scottish Trans Alliance, Glasgow, West Lothian, Clackmannanshire and South Lanarkshire said they were unable to publish an assessment of the likely impact on other pupils as they had not carried one out. Edinburgh City Council failed to respond. The office of the Scottish Children's Commissioner, Education Scotland and the Scottish Government have all also backed the LGBT Youth guide.

Scotland's Children's commissioner said: "We did not undertake and therefore do not hold" any research looking at how other pupils might be affected by the guidance.

Education Scotland said it did not have any policies itself relating to transgender pupils and therefore "there has been no requirement for Equality Impact Assessments in relation any new or revised policies or procedures regarding transgender and non-binary school children."

The Scottish Government said it had not carried out any equality impact assessments and said the responsibility for carrying them out lay with councils. (continues)

James Morton, manager of the Scottish Trans Alliance, said EQIAs had generally not been carried out because the document distributed by councils was guidance, not an official policy.

"If it became an official policy position they should do an EQIA and I'm sure it would show that there isn't any negative impact on other pupils," he said.

He claimed critics hostile to trans people were presenting a distorted view of the guidance. "There has always been a very small number of people hostile to trans inclusion. They say they are concerned about the impact on girls but they are not just standing in the way for progress for trans people they are actively trying to roll back trans rights."

www.heraldscotland.com/news/16311379.schools-forget-girls-in-rush-to-adopt-pro-trans-guidance-campaigners-claim-as-christian-group-threatens-legal-action/

from thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3324391-Paedophile-expert-warns-of-transitioning-as-a-ploy

Scheoedinger - that tweet deserves a thread of its own.

Yes. But remember, we aren't allowed to point out any parallels between TRAs and Paedophilia. Because there are none, right?

Of course not. Maybe put a reminder of that on the new thread. In big letters.

If we stick to discussing campaign tactics employed, would that be OK? I agree a new thread would be better.

I remember PIE, in my 20s, too inexperienced to fully understand what it was about. I think I was in my 30's before I REALLY understood what consent was. That it had to be FREELY given and be FULLY informed. Or it's rape. Children cannot give fully informed consent to sex, nor to life changing medical treatment that will sterilise them. If we let those boundaries shift we let the predators in.

The online version of the guide seems to be no longer available.
link shows message in screenshot:
www.bacp.co.uk/media/2334/bacp-gender-sexual-relationship-diversity-gpacp001.pdf

Although there has been focus on the definition of women, there was a great deal more in the document deserving of scrutiny.

I don't know if there is an archived version anywhere?

Word Version of the Guide still avalable from BACP:
(extract)
3.7 Sexual practice: BDSM, kink, and beyond
Definitions
BDSM stands for Bondage and Discipline, Dominance and Submission, Sadism and Masochism. The umbrella terms ‘BDSM’, ‘kink’, and sometimes ‘fetish’ or ‘leather’, encompass a range of consensual erotic, sexual, or sensual practices which may involve heightened sensations or pain, and/ or the exchange of power, and/or some form of restraint or role-play, and/or watching other people (exhibitionism) or being watched (voyeurism). Role-playing such as being an animal (furry) or being older or younger (age-play) are also common, although not always considered part of kink/BDSM. Some people regard their BDSM status or kink to be an identity, e.g. being a top or dom/me (dominant), a bottom or sub (submissive), a switch (who tops and bottoms), or a kinkster or sadomasochist. Others regard it as a practice they engage in which is not an identity. Some may keep their kink in the realm of fantasy and/or erotic reading/writing/viewing, while some engage in kink practices in solo sex and/or with others." (continues)

"Common concerns
While a person’s kink identities or practices will often be irrelevant to their presenting issues, they may well be nervous about working with a therapist – or revealing these interests – due to the continued pathologisation of BDSM (1.6), and the likelihood of having bad prior experiences with therapists (Kolmes, Stock and Moser, 2006; Kelsey et al., 2013). Kinky people are no more psychologically unhealthy than anyone else. Indeed the most recent research suggests that they may even be more healthy (Wismeijer and Assen, 2013). Nor do their childhoods differ in any meaningful way from non-kinky people (Nordling, Sandnabba and Santtila, 2000).

If people do want to discuss their kink practices or identities in therapy it may be because they are struggling due to cultural kinkphobia or people in their life who are unaccepting of their kink. Kink-affirmative therapy can be very helpful under such circumstances, as is an awareness of the various online and offline kink communities that people might find useful and supportive. Some people find their kink practices to be healing and/or therapeutic, for example as a form of stress reduction, as a way of dealing with past shame or trauma, or as a way of accessing different sides of themselves. In such situations therapy working in parallel with kink play can be very useful"

www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/good-practice-across-the-counselling-professions/

pdf version still available here (on the page linked by R0wantrees)

www.bacp.co.uk/media/4185/bacp-gender-sexual-relationship-diversity-gpacp001-aug18.pdf

Cheers have downloaded.

What complete and utter drivel that is. It reads like a below average gender studies undergrad essay, not a document from a supposedly professional body. Utter, utter bilge.

It IS utter bilge, but it was written with a purpose in mind.

And now I’ve just read the stuff on BDSM. Kinkphobia, FFS. Once again the hectoring tone of “there’s nothing wrong with you it’s just society/your partner being mean.” Given that fetishes are much more common in men I found the subtext of “struggling due to...people unaccepting of their kink” particularly sinister. I can just imagine a couple in relationship therapy where the woman is having her boundaries “corrected” because she doesn’t want to tie up and whip her partner or pretend he’s a 10 year old girl. And they have the nerve to talk about shaming.

Long way back in the thread but ReluctantCamper can I just say I genuinely wept laughing at your comment.

YY Poppyred. You can hear the therapeutic conversation. 'And how does it feel to you to hear your partner say he is most turned on when he is hurting you? Why do you think that is...?' Urgh.

Current thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3352843-First-there-was-Jess-Bradley-then-the-Challenors-now-Edward-Lord

The assertion that being Northern (English, I assume - it’s not clear but the stereotype fits) is akin to being GNC illustrates so clearly how gender is constructed differently across societies and places, and is not something one can categorically feel.

The OU appointed this person as the head of a department? Standards have certainly slipped.

I don't think they ever clarified whether a person from the south of Scotland would count as Northern or whether she'd have to be from Inverness.

The assertion that being Northern (English, I assume - it’s not clear but the stereotype fits) is akin to being GNC illustrates so clearly how gender is constructed differently across societies and places, and is not something one can categorically feel.

Yes, exactly.

Article in Times today about the BACP Guide by Chris Smyth, Health Editor
'Women are vain (except in the north)'
(extract)

Share
Save
It’s enough to make Nora Batty reach for her broomstick: the counsellors’ and therapists’ professional body has issued guidelines suggesting that women are emotional and concerned with their appearance — unless they are from the north of England.

Guidance on gender, sexual and relationship diversity issued by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) said that northern women, by contrast, are aggressive and strong. It was accused of using “ludicrous” stereotypes to define men and women." (continues)
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/women-are-vain-except-in-the-north-ghhwq5z3q?shareToken=61578a8ffad975efde4a174c3e0eecaf

thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3354366-The-Times-reports-on-BACPs-regressive-sexist-guidelines-for-therapists

this thread linked in comments below the article

Edward Lord discusses the influence of their partner in article:

'Pride in London and my Queer journey – a personal perspective and response to LondonLGBTPride'
(extract)
"And through all of this, I got to meet my partner, the awesome Meg-John, and, over the last five years, they have helped me change my life. MJ is a writer, therapist, and activist-academic, they are non-binary in gender and proudly bisexual. And I love them. Their support and encouragement has enabled me to feel comfortable in my orientation, to explore far more widely how I express that sexuality in practice, and to open myself up to all sorts of other relationships and connections with some wonderful people. MJ has also enabled me to open up the way I think about my gender.

Earlier I wrote that in my 20s I began to feel uncomfortable with gay male identity. Over time, it has become much clearer that I feel uncomfortable with cis masculinity, be it gay or straight. The toxicity attached to the commonly held concepts of what it is to be a man constantly upset and frustrate me. The expectation that men must be strong, and that showing emotion is incompatible with being strong, or that a man cannot be a victim of abuse, and that talking about it is shameful. I simply don’t feel that this idea of masculinity represents me, or that it is my gender. Moreover, I don’t accept that gender is a binary in any event. It is so obviously a spectrum and we all have our individual place on that spectrum.

That doesn’t mean that I am dysmorphic about my body or that I want to become more physically feminine. In fact, since growing a beard and accepting my presentation as a big queer bear, I have been a lot happier with the body I inhabit. But it is the intellectual concept of my gender that remains the challenge. I know that in appearance I am a man. I recognise fully that I have grown-up with and still receive male privilege, which I try to check constantly. But I do not see myself as wholly male and that is why in the last eighteen months or so, I have slowly started saying ever more publicly that I identify as non-binary or genderqueer as much as I identify as male, if not more so" (continues)
edwardlord.org/2017/08/17/pride-in-london-and-my-queer-journey-a-personal-perspective-and-response-to-londonlgbtpride/

A summary of the article might be that Edward Lord is bisexual, strongly attracted to "soft masculinity of those beautiful butch dykes" , identifies as male, non-binary, trans and gender queer.

Edward Lord also describes rejection of both gay male identity and 'cis masculinity' (they are an active open member of the brotherhood of Freemasons):

"Earlier I wrote that in my 20s I began to feel uncomfortable with gay male identity. Over time, it has become much clearer that I feel uncomfortable with cis masculinity, be it gay or straight. The toxicity attached to the commonly held concepts of what it is to be a man constantly upset and frustrate me. The expectation that men must be strong, and that showing emotion is incompatible with being strong, or that a man cannot be a victim of abuse, and that talking about it is shameful. I simply don’t feel that this idea of masculinity represents me, or that it is my gender."

its difficult not to think of cake, both the eating & having of

I was reflecting earlier that a person calling themselves 'doctor' ought at least to know that a clitoris is not a small penis.

a person calling themselves 'doctor' ought at least to know that a clitoris is not a small penis.

There have been some serious concerns raised on the board recently about other 'doctors' though... including honourable and medical.