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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

UPDATE: CONTACT/VISIT YOUR MP FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

61 replies

CandidPeel · 27/02/2019 23:03

Update on this action ......

Here is the event page www.facebook.com/events/2199432710322104/

VISIT your MP on International Women's Day - March 8th (or contact them and visit them later)
PRINT out a card to give/send them bit.ly/2IBU4Nc
TALK to them about women's single sex spaces
GIVE them this briefing bit.ly/2GPDjws
ASK them to write to the Minister for Women calling for guidance to be published on single sex exemptions to the Equality Act
SHARE photos, cards, tweets with hashtag #IWDQuestions #askyourMP

UPDATE: CONTACT/VISIT YOUR MP FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
UPDATE: CONTACT/VISIT YOUR MP FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
UPDATE: CONTACT/VISIT YOUR MP FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
OP posts:
LatinforTelly · 08/03/2019 08:05

I'm going to see my mp today. Bit nervous I'm going to get tongue tied. Wish me luck!

StarSpangledAnna · 08/03/2019 09:14

Good luck Latin!

RiverTam · 08/03/2019 09:20

my MP (extremely senior woman MP) is so terrified of being deselected by Momentum that she's not prepared to stick her head above the parapet on this. Momentum have taken over Labour in my area, a lot of older members have simply stopped going to meetings. It's a mess.

howmanybiscuits · 08/03/2019 09:41

How's this?

Dear [my MP's name],

I am writing to you as my constituency MP. Please could I request a meeting with you to discuss the issue of single sex safe spaces.

The Equality Act 2010 is clear that it is lawful to provide single sex spaces if there is a genuine need. However, many businesses, organisations and schools seem to be confused about the legislation and are misinterpreting it, putting the safety of women and girls at risk.

Please see attached a briefing note outlining the issues.

Please let me know when it would be convenient to visit you?

Yours sincerely,

RepealTheGRA · 08/03/2019 09:43

Brilliant biscuits thank you and well done

howmanybiscuits · 08/03/2019 09:46

Actually. I don't like the word "safe spaces" sounds too woke!

Dear [my MP's name],

I am writing to you as my constituency MP. Please could I request a meeting with you to discuss the issue of single-sex spaces for women - for example in women's refuges and support sessions, in changing rooms at leisure centres and schools and in sports at amateur level.

The Equality Act 2010 is clear that it is lawful to provide single sex spaces where there is a genuine need. However, many businesses, organisations and schools seem to be confused about the legislation and are misinterpreting it, putting the safety of women and girls at risk.

Please see attached a briefing note outlining the issues.

Please let me know when it would be convenient to visit you.

Yours sincerely

howmanybiscuits · 08/03/2019 09:47

Do you think that's OK?

And if it is, I hope people feel free to steal it!

RepealTheGRA · 08/03/2019 09:49

Definitely think it’s OK! Smile The important thing is that as many people as possible email with the resisters IWD stuff and request a meeting and then at that meeting physically put the stuff in their hands.

ReSistersUnited · 08/03/2019 09:59

Excellent, thank you so much, I'll share that via ReSisters.

Happy International Women's day everyone!

Oldstyle · 08/03/2019 10:04

Great leaflets, excellent briefing sheet and seriously useful action. Face to face conversations with MPs are essential. Otherwise they just stick their fingers in their ears and pretend we aren't here. Unless we are blokes of course.

ChattyLion · 08/03/2019 10:09

Done- have written to my MP.

ReSistersUnited · 08/03/2019 10:11

If you've emailed your MP, please let ReSisters or For Women Scot know and which MP you're visiting - it'd be great to know how many women are doing this today, thanks :)

You can PM me here, or contact ReSisters on Facebook www.facebook.com/resistersunited

Or twitter - @ReSistersU

R0wantrees · 08/03/2019 10:54

Worth asking if your MP will support the Declaration of Women's Sex Based Rights which be launched on March 15th and if not why not?

The scope is international .

summary:
'Declaration on Women’s Sex Based Rights

The Declaration outlines current international laws and policies on women’s rights and how they are being threatened by organisations that are trying to change the definition of woman. It reaffirms existing women’s rights and suggests ways that states should promote and protect them. It was drafted with input from women internationally. Launching in March 2019, the Declaration is a clear call to law and policy makers to retain the sex-based biological definition of woman.

The Declaration on Women’s Sex Based Rights is a statement on the importance of keeping the current sex based definition of woman.

Women’s rights, set out in the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and subsequent international agreements, are based on our sex, defined by the UN as “the physical and biological characteristics that distinguish males from females”[1].

In recent years organisations have been quietly trying to replace the idea of biological sex with the idea of “gender identity” in human rights documents; and to include men who say they have a female “gender identity” in the word “woman”.

Many women’s rights are related to our biologically female bodies e.g. the right to abortion, and maternal rights. Other women’s rights are aimed at eliminating discrimination against women in public life e.g. women’s rights to education, political representation, work, equal pay. Further women’s rights are to protect us against violence or harmful practices e.g. rape, and FGM.

A key way women and girls are denied rights is by gender or sex role stereotyping (e.g. girls should help at home while boys go to school). The UN recognises this is harmful and works for “the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women.”[2] The Declaration raises concern that the term “gender identity” reinforces sex role stereotyping because it is only possible to have a “gender identity” by choosing between sex role stereotypes for men and women.

In recent years some governments have been substituting “gender identity” for biological sex in law and policy, and including men who say they have a female “gender identity” in the word “woman”. This enables these men to access spaces and services set up for women and girls. This includes single sex victim support services, single sex sport, women’s shortlists designed to increase women’s participation in political and public life, scholarships and prizes for women, single sex toilets, changing rooms and sleeping areas aimed at protecting the safety, privacy and dignity of women and girls. Using “gender identity” instead of biological sex threatens maternal rights, women’s right to assemble and organise without including men, and data collection on violence against women and girls,. Furthermore, “gender identity” is being used to “transition” girls who do not conform to sex stereotypes."
www.womensdeclaration.com/

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3527477-Declaration-on-Womens-Sex-Based-Rights-IWD2019

ForwomenScot · 08/03/2019 11:19

We tweeted our first photo in from what we hear was a very successful meeting with a Labour MP. Smile

twitter.com/ForwomenScot/status/1103967614995447808

LatinforTelly · 08/03/2019 12:01

I had a very positive meeting with my (male, conservative) mp this morning. I have written to him before over the GRA and he expressed support. Even so, I was quite nervous of being clear and specific enough and not waffling on.

He seemed to be on board quite quickly but when he asked for an example I talked about Girl Guides and he peak transed was quite shocked that this policy had come about. I will email For Women directly and give more details - don't want to be too outing on here.

I didn't get a photo though. Sad

ReSistersUnited · 08/03/2019 13:03

Excellent, this is all sounded very positive!

Estcarpwitch · 08/03/2019 16:08

Have sent an email to my local MP. Felt good to do something besides putting stickers on toilet doors.

WaddIelikeapenguin · 08/03/2019 18:04

Still time to drop an email people Smile

ChattyLion · 08/03/2019 21:37

Bump Smile

RepealTheGRA · 08/03/2019 21:51

Just emailed mine, thanks for the bump Smile

Everythingsr0sie · 08/03/2019 21:51

I just wanted to say, I work for an MP and I really would encourage anyone to go to see theirs if they want to, and do not be nervous or feel they are not interested.

This isn’t the first MP I’ve worked for and IME they’re in it to make a difference and genuinely do care and like to hear about constituents concerns. As an office we can talk about a subject months after it has been raised, and if an opportunity becomes available for my member to raise something a long time down the line, then they do.

My point being, if nothing appears to happen straight away, then it doesn’t mean it won’t and you haven’t achieved anything.

RepealTheGRA · 08/03/2019 21:57

Everythingsr0sie thanks that’s good to know and I agree with that! I liked mine when I met him and found him quite genuine Smile

ChattyLion · 08/03/2019 22:05

R0sie does your MP have to meet with you if you ask? I’ve offered to meet with mine before if they want to talk about this area and they’ve not taken me up on it.
Do i need to rephrase it that I want to speak with them, or it is their prerogative?

Everythingsr0sie · 08/03/2019 22:13

They don’t HAVE to meet with you, but it is not the done thing to refuse. And unless you have done something worthy of a refusal (generally threatening behaviour-which I’m sure you haven’t) then I am unsure as to why they wouldn’t want to, it is what they are there for after all.

Generally, and especially in the first instance, it is best to meet them at a surgery. Perhaps try ringing the constituency office and asking when the next available surgery appointment is?

Are they very high profile?

ChattyLion · 08/03/2019 22:55

Thanks R0sie I will look into a surgery appointment. I am always polite, rational and non scary when I write Grin - so I don’t think it’s that. My MP is a low key backbencher.