ActionAid UK

[IamAporcupine]

For those of you who were wondering about this charity, this was in reply to my cancelling my donation for their 'inclusive' stance.

ActionAid UK is a trans-inclusive organisation and employer. We aim to ensure that non-binary and trans colleagues feel represented. We are serious about our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion which is at the core of our culture and commitment to universal human rights. When we talk about women we include trans women and when we talk about men we include trans men.

We recognise the reality of physical bodies. We also recognise that most – yet not all – bodies fall broadly into the categories of what we often term ‘typically male’ and ‘typically female’. Sex, though, isn’t a single factor and is comprised of multiple factors including genitalia, internal reproductive organs and chromosomes. These don’t necessarily all match up in ways that we assume, or fall into ‘typical’ ranges.

We believe in everyone’s fundamental right to self-determine their own identity. Enabling bodily autonomy for all is a key part of our work, particularly for those individuals (often women and girls) whose bodies are most likely to be the subject of control. We recognise that trans women, trans men and those who identify as non-binary often face specific discriminations and increased levels of violence based on either their gender and/or perceived gender, and/or their physical body. If you would like to read more about our commitment to trans inclusion please visit our website here: Our commitment to trans inclusion | ActionAid UK.

Saying that I would speak out next time as things have gone too far in my workplace and now I'm 😡.

Charity sector has gone apeshit imo

People do need to speak out and up in a workplace when confronted (eg use of pronouns, forced diversity training). One or two examples might be enough to illustrate some of the issues. It doesnt have to be a 3 hour debate. For example, consideration of those from different religion/ethnicity; FGM example was excellent on another thread, transwomen is spaces where woman have been traumatised by men. etc. I always have a couple of live or recent examples to hand.

But surely you wouldn’t be sacked for pointing out that they’re wrong?

They aren't wrong according to their use of the word "woman" though. That's the loophole that lets them obfuscate and pretend they don't see the real issue

So the issue they need to be challenged with is not whether "women" do or do not do/experience/suffer "X", it is that no matter how you slice and change the language, there is still a group of humans who either do, will do, have done or should but for a medical issue do "X", and a group who will never, under any circumstances, do "X", and no matter where we draw arbitrary lines of language or how we set our socially constructed identities up, if you are a member of the first group you will never be a member of the second and vice versa.

So if "X", or indeed "no X" has a significant impact in ones life, to take away the name for the group to which "X" applies is an act of oppression, disempowerment and erasure.

I’d speak out. I’m absolutely sick of this bullshit and gaslighting.

Very hard to speak out when your colleagues are fully bought in, pronouns on their email signatures voluntarily etc. I detect that there are a few people who share my views, but for a large proportion I'd be a heretic if I spoke out. I do stick my neck out occasionally, and I have been censored.

Is there a word for that? Like when big houses had a priest hole because you had to hide if you were a Catholic? I feel like there's a word, but I can't remember it.

I think for those of us working for charities there's a been a period of wtf and assessment .
Now I know I will definitely be seen as a transphobe, I am prepared. But it takes a period of adjustment to realise you are no longer in tune with those you work with and to have your mind in the right place to be on the opposite side . Especially in a charity where everyone thinks they are on the side of the good.

@Blibbyblobby

But surely you wouldn’t be sacked for pointing out that they’re wrong?

They aren't wrong according to their use of the word "woman" though. That's the loophole that lets them obfuscate and pretend they don't see the real issue

So the issue they need to be challenged with is not whether "women" do or do not do/experience/suffer "X", it is that no matter how you slice and change the language, there is still a group of humans who either do, will do, have done or should but for a medical issue do "X", and a group who will never, under any circumstances, do "X", and no matter where we draw arbitrary lines of language or how we set our socially constructed identities up, if you are a member of the first group you will never be a member of the second and vice versa.

So if "X", or indeed "no X" has a significant impact in ones life, to take away the name for the group to which "X" applies is an act of oppression, disempowerment and erasure.

Thanks @Blibbyblobby

I've only very recently started to be more vocal about this. Luckily, my work place has not seen any pronouns in signatures etc etc, but I do feel that I am prepared to speak up when/if this happens.

Having said that, when confronted in on-line discussions, the use of the 'woman is a social construct' line does throw me off, so your comment is really useful.

I find the most eggregious issue with Action Aid is that they sell themselves as helping women and girls, all their photos (with few exceptions) have obvious girls in them.

I would be fine if they actually didn't use biological women to sell themselves. After all boys and young men also need support and help, and in many places they really need more sympathy to get away from the conveyor belt of violence - for example to take them away from becoming child soldiers.

So, if they want to say it's not about biological sex then fine - remove "women and girls" from publicity material, maybe even put some trans kids in their photos and explain their issues, explicitly. What they are doing though seems underhanded, in my opinion.

@serendipitea

I find the most eggregious issue with Action Aid is that they sell themselves as helping women and girls, all their photos (with few exceptions) have obvious girls in them.

I would be fine if they actually didn't use biological women to sell themselves. After all boys and young men also need support and help, and in many places they really need more sympathy to get away from the conveyor belt of violence - for example to take them away from becoming child soldiers.

So, if they want to say it's not about biological sex then fine - remove "women and girls" from publicity material, maybe even put some trans kids in their photos and explain their issues, explicitly. What they are doing though seems underhanded, in my opinion.

Agreed it feels really deceitful and exploitative of them

How much would a charity pay to be part of Stonewall's cult?
It feels like a question over the appropriateness of this would be a good one to ask of various charities at the moment (even internally) - especially as fundraising streams are so squeezed?

I got an email from them, which included the phrase, "We recognise/accept/acknowledge" (forget the exact verb) "that there is no such thing as a biological woman or a biological man."
What larks I had, telling them that all my adult life I've believed myself to be a biological woman, and I'm so chuffed that they've put me right! I had no idea I didn't exist! Action Aid won't get another penny from me, the nonexistent.

@Enough4me

Large organisations are afraid. They know the emperor is naked, but his penis apparently has to be called a woman's appendage to appease him. They pretend to turn the TRA wrath away from them.

😂 Sandy Draws Badly style cartoon immediately in my mind's eye!

Thanks @Gncq I looked her up on Twitter and she had a previous MN post about her cartoons, very funny cartoons. She should definitely do an emperor with a female cock cartoon.

Action Aid … they sell themselves as helping women and girls, all their photos (with few exceptions) have obvious girls in them. I would be fine if they actually didn't use biological women to sell themselves

Dishonest advertising. And there’s no longer any ‘be kind’ excuse for pretending genderism protects the weakest and is harmless to women and girls.

Bumping this post, just to add Action Aid are busy trolling international women's day.

Feminism is for women, and women are female. Not "cis" and transwomen are not included, they have their own months. Let us have a day

www.facebook.com/100064791098263/posts/pfbid02Wu9fh6tMEexMFaXJL8THc6nnsdADQ5ZGhR3xu4KQYPVqCvk6obZDuW5hcE2Aj2gyl/

No, it's old-fashioned bribery. It increases trade and influence - that's the purpose of aid.

Thanks for bumping this thread @KatMcBundleFace

i haven't been around these parts long enough to have seen it when it first hit the board.
I've often wondered whether it was a charity worth supporting for the sake of women and girls only but it seems not, so this was a useful thread.
I will continue to just support the charities i already do.