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

[Metabigot]

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

More people like you very much needed!

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.

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

Well done Op!

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.

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

She told me she was trying to be kind.

And then what happened?

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

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

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.

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".

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

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

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....

Well done OP.

Yes, that's heartening.

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

Well fucking done, you star! ⭐️

Ah there it is. Thanks.