Wording for election candidates on "Define a woman/Women's rights"

[BuzzPeakWankBobbly]

Like many, I have to vote in upcoming local elections.

I want to contact each of my local candidates with a neutrally worded question on the "what is a woman" / GRA/ TWAW question, to solicit their actual opinions, not just whatever they think will placate me.

Each of my efforts so far have failed to hide my bias.

Any inspiration?

This is a great question. Maybe some of the points from a WomansPlaceUK might help?

womansplaceuk.org/about/

What do you believe to be the definition of a woman, and of a man?

As much as I agree with WPUK, I think they will display my position quite clearly, because of the clear focus on women.

I thought it'd be easy to write but after countless attempts and deletions I am no further forward.

What do you believe to be the definition of a woman, and of a man?

I need to add context to that, and also want to weave "what do you think" in the proposed GRA changes etc.

AND all somehow in a local context!

...Without writing a essay!

Ooh fantastic idea

You'll find that candidates will be baffled and try to distance themselves from general questions about their party's stance (Brexit, Julian Assange, ISIS brides wanting to return). They are invested in building homes, waste collection and other local issues.

You'll hit home if you bring up council decisions that may impact on women and children, I believe. For example:

When it comes to council-run services, what is your position on mixed sex changing facilities?

I have looked at the Council's website and see that it promotes a schools pack by controversial pro-trans lobby group Gendered Intelligence. What is your position on allowing boys and girls to use facilities compatible with their gender, without the need for an impact assessment?

The council consults people representing only some of the protected characteristics - LGBT, Race and Disability. What steps will you take to ensure that women are consulted about decisions that affect them?

oooh Pam that is much more what I was aiming for.

But I still need to neutralise it to give them no clue where I sit.

(and my council doesn't seem to have had any dodgy training, and they are annoyingly in this case - spot on correct with their protected characteristics!)

"When it comes to local/council run services and facilities * , how will you ensure equal access and usage by all?

How will you consider:
(a) women's needs
(b) vulnerable/extra assistance people
(c) minority groups with specific needs and requirements, including religious and cultural groups, transsexual people, transgender people

( * eg leisure facilities, sex-segregated areas, health and personal care services...)
------

Maybe something like this, where I am deliberately hiding women in plain sight, and also splitting TS and TG out?

Bumping with hope for the afternoon/evening crowd.... in advance

I'd stick to council issues and how e.g. how they will ensure the equality act is implemented, views on single-sex toilets or refuges (but obviously worded in a more neutral way!). Or if anyone local has spoken out about this ask them for their views on what has been said.

Sorry, just saw your last comment. That's the kind of thing I meant.

BEFORE YOU DO THAT check that the candidates you ask are not town/parish council. They are usually non political and are only responsible for very local things, they have little say in actual policies.

District councillors should be your target, as they are party political.

I say that as there is a lot of misunderstanding round here, with local and district elections behing held so close together. It is causeing a lot of anger and confusion!

We have local elections in May, too. We published this last week, and have emailed a copy to all local candidates (who have made their email addresses public). Have a look, there might be some points that you can raise with your candidates. Best of luck @BuzzPeakWankBobbly, and all who contact your local candidates!

<a class="break-all" href="https://brightonresisters.home.blogbrightonresisters.home.blog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">brightonresisters.home.blogbrightonresisters.home.blog

Oh! Your link doesn't work BrightonReSisters

Oops, pasted it in twice! Try this

brightonresisters.home.blog

yay! Thanks