Survey suggests public back 'third spaces' for prisons

[ArabellaScott]

yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2021/11/16/transgender-prisoners-what-do-britons-think-should

'There is no public consensus on what factors should determine where a transgender offender is housed, regardless of whether they are a transgender man or a woman. The most common answer was that there should be a specific wing or prison for transgender inmates, with a quarter (25%) of Britons choosing this. The next most frequent responses were that it should be based on the individual’s current physical characteristics (15-16%), their sex at birth (12-13%), or the gender they identify as now (11-12%). Another 9% say placement should be determined by a person’s legal gender.'

''The next most frequent responses were that it should be based on the individual’s current physical characteristics (15-16%),''

I take from this that people still believe that full SRS is the norm and that transwomen are men with diagnosed gender dysphoria.

Well, here's a YouGov survey from 2020 on the subject:

'By 41-46% to 26-30% people oppose those who have not physically transitioned being able to use their new gender’s changing rooms. Likewise, 39-41% oppose them being able to use their new gender’s toilets, compared to 31-32% who are in support.'

yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2020/07/16/where-does-british-public-stand-transgender-rights

I am going to guess that 'physically transition' means SRS.

Do these surveys really have any influence though? Lobby groups seem to, even if what they lobby for is highly unpopular.

Don’t prisons have a ‘third place’ ie a secure section anyway?

Those results suggest the questions weren't that clear and that the public at large are unknowledgeable. More direct questions tend to give results that show the public generally do not want male intact people in women's spaces - any spaces.

Third spaces are an obvious answer to a lot of things. It’s important though, that such spaces don’t continue to place men in the women’s estate, such that they continue to have access to women, as in Downview.

If men are women, and it’s argued they need to socialise with other women, then socialising with other male women is sufficient. After all, they are just as much women as women, according to their own arguments.

@KittenKong

Don’t prisons have a ‘third place’ ie a secure section anyway?

I think in some situations. There is at least one unit created for transwomen, but in many situations transwomen are just in the female estate. I think sometimes with some adjustments/extra supervision.

I believe pre-assessment everyone is assigned prison according to their preference/declaration of gender. It is all quite confusing and opaque, though. Some of it is unknowable as MoJ won't share the details and males with GRC are called 'female' for all purposes.

@Gncq

Do these surveys really have any influence though? Lobby groups seem to, even if what they lobby for is highly unpopular.

I don't know, it's interesting to hear someone like Ellie-May from CLASS argue that most women support self ID, for example, when we have plenty of evidence that that statement is untrue.