Did I go too far? (Work related GC chat).

[ncGCfeminist]

NC for obvious reasons.

I was at a round-table type event today at work. A v senior member from our global leadership team was there to talk about her expectations of us in our new roles.

One of the things she pointed out was that she wanted us to become "critical thinkers". She mentioned someone once quoting to her that "you should never ever believe what is printed in the news" and "possibly the only thing you can trust is information from live broadcasting (I'm assuming any format)".

Possibly without thinking this through, but knowing that I'd probably never have her ear again; with the Harry Miller and @mayaforstrater cases still running around my tiny brain, I went to speak to her in a break. I asked her about "critical thinking" and outlined a little of our GC stance, mentioned the HM case (which she hadn't heard of but asked about, I think she planned on looking it up) and asked whether or not my company would allow freedom of expression. I should say at this point that I very very much respect this woman. She replied saying that she expected respectful dialogue in the workplace and intimated that outside of work to be careful of that even more so (I think that request was fair).

I asked that if my company were to consider things such as gender neutral toilets that they consider the rights of women to have protected single sex spaces. She mentioned that gender-neutral services WOULD be coming but I am fairly sure she had taken on my point.

I am a little disappointed in myself because I wish that I had not rushed in to saying anything - because in hindsight I'm not sure I had the right language. Not worried about my job or anything (when she mentioned respectful dialogue she stated that she could see I would not do otherwise).

Sigh. Maybe a handbook of how to navigate all of this for the sole breadwinners of families would be useful?!

Wow- Well done OP. That’s really impressive that you broached the subject and I’m also impressed that your workplace is asking people to think critically and has female senior leaders. Sounds like you were really calm and also well evidenced when you talked to her. Not easy to do that at all.

I think you brought up the subject absolutely fine and very sensitively. I luckily don't have this in my workplace. My boss is male, late fifties, very traditional. He dismisses it all as bollocks. The youngest person in my dept is late forties. we have briefly discussed self id and I have shown him and another man sports pictures such as Rachel McKinnon and the Australian rugby player and they are of a staunchly GC position. My boss has said we would not have unisex toilets so can't see that happening. My only fear would be if ever my boss left the new one might be all keen and woke.

@refusetobeasheep

I started conversation with one lady in our office who quickly got on board. Second lady clearly thought we were bigots .... until i sent her the link to Michele Moore's A woman's Place Takes Nerves of Steel talk. Now she's completely on board.

Regarding the woman thinking you were a bigot initially, I think that's probably quite common, and stems from social conditioning that women are supposed to be nice and welcoming to all in our maternalness. Is that a word, I don't know. 😁

Also, well-done OP.

I have to remind myself from time to time that most people I know aren't aware of these issues so it's baby steps at first. I talk regularly now to DH about this stuff, he gets the concerns and why many women object to so much of what's happening.

Lobby groups will have presented the changes in wording and policy to be about not discriminating against people for who they are, and obviously most see no problem with that. They will however not have pointed out the flaws and dangers and wider implications of self-id and how it impacts safety and privacy, and the implications to women's sports. That's where we come in. The ones we encounter who shout transphobe and t**f have their head firmly in the sand, smothering on their own wokeness.