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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

Told the diversity and inclusion manager that menopause was a sex, not gender thingbased issue

40 replies

Metabigot · 27/05/2022 17:13

Just started a new role as HR Manager - discussion with diversity and inclusion manager who is creating a menopause policy, and said it was a gender issue. No it's not! you can identify how you f'ing like but if you don't have a womb you won't get the menopause! I managed to get her to agree that it's actually a sex issue, and pushed the point that sex is still one of the 9 protected characteristics under the EA and its important we don't forget that in favour of other newer characteristics.

This is why the changing of language matters - otherwise we can't call things what they are. Anyway hopefully a small victory and I didn't excessively put my head above the parapet. I do think the backlash is beginning - one of my team spoke about how diversity issues could clash 'for example feminist rights and trans rights.' Nearly jumped up and gave him a pat on the back when he said that. They are trying to be an ultra-diversity and inclusion workplace so it's refreshing to see that this sex based rights are included in this. And very unusual to be able to say it aloud IME.

OP posts:
FeminismAndCake · 27/05/2022 17:20

Yhay well done, we need to keep saying this firmly and politely

MuchasSmoochas · 27/05/2022 17:33

Good for you OP. I have been in a diversity/equality field for 15 years. Am retraining 🤷‍♀️

ChubbyNinja · 27/05/2022 17:39

Well done! I think this is how we fight against the prevailing culture of erasure. One step at at time...

ThisIdiiot · 27/05/2022 17:41

My work is very keen on menopause, lol , which is great but I'm also keeping an eye on their language.

MigsandTiggs · 27/05/2022 17:50

I applaud your stance on this important issue. 💪However, to be precise, menopause happens when the ovaries stop producing hormones. The presence/absence (eg from surgery) of a womb is immaterial and only one sex has ovaries.

HermioneWeasley · 27/05/2022 17:54

Well done. I think there’s an attempt to get GC Hr people together via Twitter (DM @LoonyQuine)

Circumferences · 27/05/2022 18:02

More people like you very much needed!

Genesis1v27 · 27/05/2022 18:23

Well done, OP.

But something strikes me just now: By the logic of gender ideology, surely menopause should not be a gender issue, i.e. it can be something that affects those of any gender or none, based only on an individual's biology.

Noisyprat · 27/05/2022 18:40

Well done OP. I used to work for my local council and they have a new D&I person. I had to tell her that 'gender' is not a protected characteristic and ask her to change the HR website. She told me she was trying to be kind.

A woman doing something that directly disadvantages women because she wants to be kind. F. Off

JacquelineCarlyle · 27/05/2022 18:45

Well done Op!

Antarcticant · 27/05/2022 18:49

if you don't have a womb you won't get the menopause!

Not strictly true, as you still go through menopause if you have had a hysterectomy.

FannyCann · 27/05/2022 18:53

Well done OP.

If you find yourself combing through her policies and checking the language you may find this paper helpful if you haven't already seen it.

internal-journal.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2022.818856/full?fbclid=IwAR1GmMyg9yC58i3SargXSSpsw1NgaVoD6raB8cz40YuEgx9VxFTr5A4m4OQ

Peregrina · 27/05/2022 18:53

She told me she was trying to be kind.

And then what happened?

Oblomov22 · 27/05/2022 18:59

Frightening that you even needed to make this point to her.

dworky · 27/05/2022 19:19

Good for you. I hope more women will speak up & object to this misogynist claptrap.

LoonyQuine · 27/05/2022 19:44

We’ve started! I now have a GC private group chat on Twitter for HR professionals. All levels encouraged to join. Doesn’t matter if you’re just starting, senior or anywhere in between. There’s 5 of us in the last 24 hours. Just DM me on Twitter. Security will apply so please don’t be offended. I want to keep us safe and able to trust in the group.

SpringBadger · 27/05/2022 19:50

Noisyprat · 27/05/2022 18:40

Well done OP. I used to work for my local council and they have a new D&I person. I had to tell her that 'gender' is not a protected characteristic and ask her to change the HR website. She told me she was trying to be kind.

A woman doing something that directly disadvantages women because she wants to be kind. F. Off

Imagine misquoting the law and then saying you were just doing it to be kind! Ridiculous. The only reasonable reply is "Thanks for pointing that out, I will correct it".

Original poster
Metabigot · 27/05/2022 22:08

point taken about the womb/ovaries thing - the main thing is transwomen have neither!

I work closely with the D and I manager so will ensure that sex doesn't become the 'forgotten protected characteristic' - i actually think with menopause the current hot topic in the HR world (it's been in loads of seminars recently) this may actually help the cause in getting sex as a protected characteristic recognised again.

Will happily DM re the HR group

OP posts:
Sortilege · 27/05/2022 22:13

LoonyQuine · 27/05/2022 19:44

We’ve started! I now have a GC private group chat on Twitter for HR professionals. All levels encouraged to join. Doesn’t matter if you’re just starting, senior or anywhere in between. There’s 5 of us in the last 24 hours. Just DM me on Twitter. Security will apply so please don’t be offended. I want to keep us safe and able to trust in the group.

DSis will be up for that. Is your Twitter handle the same as your MN username?

ExistentialApathy · 27/05/2022 22:14

At a menopause awareness session at my work, a trans man talked about his experience with menopause. I was quite pleased at the acknowledgement that he is, indeed, biologically a woman. Even if socially he acts as a man. If menopause was a gender issue then "he" wouldn't experience menopause....

SpeedofaSloth · 27/05/2022 22:30

Well done OP.

SpeedofaSloth · 27/05/2022 22:30

ExistentialApathy · 27/05/2022 22:14

At a menopause awareness session at my work, a trans man talked about his experience with menopause. I was quite pleased at the acknowledgement that he is, indeed, biologically a woman. Even if socially he acts as a man. If menopause was a gender issue then "he" wouldn't experience menopause....

Yes, that's heartening.

MuchasSmoochas · 27/05/2022 22:57

LoonyQuine · 27/05/2022 19:44

We’ve started! I now have a GC private group chat on Twitter for HR professionals. All levels encouraged to join. Doesn’t matter if you’re just starting, senior or anywhere in between. There’s 5 of us in the last 24 hours. Just DM me on Twitter. Security will apply so please don’t be offended. I want to keep us safe and able to trust in the group.

Have just followed you on Twitter but can’t PM you.

AtrociousCircumstance · 27/05/2022 23:00

Well fucking done, you star! ⭐️

Sortilege · 28/05/2022 01:07

HermioneWeasley · 27/05/2022 17:54

Well done. I think there’s an attempt to get GC Hr people together via Twitter (DM @LoonyQuine)

Ah there it is. Thanks.