What does it mean to live as a woman for a year?

[jewel1968]

If I understand things correctly if an individual wants to undergo gender reassignment now they are expected to live in the preferred gender for a year. So, if someone born male wants to reassign their gender they would be expected to live as a woman for a year. What does that actually mean? What would happen if they dressed in jeans and T-shirt and Doc Martens and sported a short haircut and didn't wear any makeup might they be challenged for not living as a woman? Who decides what it means to live as a woman?

she could be recognised as a black woman if she 'lived as a black woman' for a certain length of time, because it was recognised that a white woman can't 'live as a black woman' because she isn't one.

Good point. And it would be considered deeply offensive for a white woman to do this. Appropriative of and disrespectful to the reality of being a black woman.

My understanding is that every time people who think it’s possible to “live as a woman” are asked about Rachel Dolezal, there is a deafening silence.

You have to buy and send all the birthday cards, Christmas cards, thank you notes for a year.

My understanding is that every time people who think it’s possible to “live as a woman” are asked about Rachel Dolezal, there is a deafening silence.

Well, surely that is because Rachel Dolezal actually DID live as a black woman for all practical intents and purposes?

Which, really, is the crux of the matter: yes, she did, but also, yes, she technically had the option to opt out at any given moment, which makes a world of a difference in terms of being a member of an oppressed group!

Anyway, I actually came on here to say something specifically about "feminine" names.

You see, I've a very unusual first name. Now, if you took a poll of 100 people, I suppose that some 65% would accurately guess that it's a woman's name. But I also work in an extremely male dominated profession at an even more male dominated level of seniority. So, when I am contacted by people I don't know, I've a 90% ratio of emails addressing me as "Mr Switzerland". To be brutally blunt, it's probably a massive professional advantage as by the time I meet these people in person I'm usually firmly established as the big shot in charge. But: does this mean I don't "live as a woman"? I look like one! I've given birth to a child, which I don't think men are capable of.

If I were a man wanting to transition, I don't think my name would "pass" as female. So, I'm calling bullshit on this one as a criterion!

Well, surely that is because Rachel Dolezal actually DID live as a black woman for all practical intents and purposes?

No, she is a white woman who managed to dupe some people into believing she was black, while living.

She could never have lived as a black woman because she isn’t one.

So, to become a member of a group holding a protected characteristic under EqA, all you need to do is change the name on your gas bill.

Hard to believe, but it seems that literally is the case. What a shitty joke.

But if twaw, then they have always lived their lives as women. So asking them to live life as a woman for a year is stupid surely because they are already doing so regardless of what they do and how they look, because they are women- because twaw, arnt they? Unless they are not and actually have to play act at being women to even qualify as a tw.

It's all very, very confusing.

It's widely assumed that "living as a woman" includes using women's spaces. Does it?

From what I have seen, this is largely just used as an excuse.

'Well I HAVE to be in the womens changing room as I am 'living as a woman' and if I use the mens I wont get my GRC!!!!!1'

When as pointed out earlier, it really is a matter of paperwork. And a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Thats the horiffic intrusive prcess that trans people have to go through to 'change sex' officially. God, if thats bad and massively challenging, they should attempt applying for a disability benefit..

Or be a parent applying for an EHCP for their child who struggles with learning.

You have to build up evidence over years, with the school putting in and staffing a support arrangements plan, reviewing it regularly, and finally submitting the very extensive paperwork to the local authority with written assessments from the Ed psych, learning and language teacher, etc. Even then it may be rejected and you have to collect more evidence to try again the following year.

And good luck if you want an assessment for your child for autism. That wait here is 18 months, during which time the parents must attend a parenting course. Even with a diagnosis, there will be no extra funding for your child’s support in school unless they have an EHCP - see above.

Or be a parent applying for an EHCP for their child who struggles with learning.

I'm going through this now. It's insain. My ds will never go to mainstream school but we have already been going through this process for a year. The info has to go to a panel of strangers 3 times. He's profoundly disabled, cant understand why his Dr can't be trusted to auth it. Trans people arnt the only ones that have to go through dehumanising, pointless and frustrating gov processes.

But back to the original question - don't they have to put tampons up their bums, harass women on mumsnet and act like pricks on twitter.

And good luck if you want an assessment for your child for autism. That wait here is 18 months, during which time the parents must attend a parenting course.

We've coming up on 4 years of waiting for assessment and reassessment (girls are complicated, apparently), which will now be extended after the ADOS was postponed due to the whole global pandemic thing. It's shit for us, but what can you do? Demand that the doctors give us want we want just because we want it? That would be pretty selfish.

I did laugh when you mentioned parenting courses though. If I had a pound for every time I've heard "have you tried a star chart?" I could probably fund the NHS myself.

If someone is in their fifties they should live as a woman in their fifties. And all that entails.
I'd love to live as a woman in her twenties but biology and responsibilities kinda get in the way.

You have to buy and send all the birthday cards, Christmas cards, thank you notes for a year.
Nailed it!

I did laugh when you mentioned parenting courses though. If I had a pound for every time I've heard "have you tried a star chart?" I could probably fund the NHS myself.

No, not that sort of parenting! It’s about the relationship you have with your child and how you communicate with them and deal with the challenges all families face. I’ve never met a family practitioner who talks about star charts with parents.

I would have been offered positive parenting (I think that's its name) but the nearest place I could do it was 20 miles away. Never been offered any other courses.

It's daft how much it differs between areas.