I objected to gender ideology at work and now need support

[Hotfeetcoldfeet]

First post but been reading the feminist board for a while. I don’t have any GC support IRL and thought this would be a good place to find some hopefully.

I work in the public sector and have recently seen snippets of Diversity and Inclusion material which will soon be published and widely distributed to staff. I’ve raised concerns to the senior leader who has produced this material as it seems to uncritically put forward a gender ideology view, via language used (eg cis gender women) and resources positing gender ideology.

I’ve contacted them and said that I think that the material presents gender ideology uncritically, as fact, rather than presenting it as an opinion /belief. I’ve said that my GC views are protected by the Equalities Act and should be presented alongside gender ideology, in order to give balance. I’ve said I’m happy to share my GC views with them. Ultimately, I’m worried about gender ideology being accepted by staff in my workplace as fact. Pronouns in email signatures are creeping in and the person to whom I’ve objected has their pronouns stated. They’ve said they’ll raise my issue higher up the chain, which I’m seeing as positive.

I’m probably catastrophising but I’m worrying about putting my head above the parapet, as it’s not something I usually do. I would value any wise words you can give me, and also if there are any resources or anything anyone can think of that might help my case, I’d be hugely grateful. I’ll be reading about the issues in a more targeted way now, in order to be prepared if I get the chance to discuss my GC views further.

Thanks so much in advance

Well done! you have done the right thing. I don't work in the corporate world or the civil service so don't have to worry about my words as such. I do believe that one day there will be a backlash and a reversal of belief in this ideology ( and a lot of wasted paper and time) I also believe that we will come to learn that this ideology was conceived of to damage our society, however, I don't expect others to agree with me on this point.

I’ll Google the mystery link, thank you

The Maureen O’Hara paper (on page 6 of 73!) is fantastic… it’s crystallising everything that’s sloshing around in my brain that I’m not clever enough to verbalise!

I haven't RTFT but in raising it at all you are doing the right thing and will inspire others 🤘

Well done for speaking out. I'm very much in favour of the choice to announce your pronouns, but the fact that women have their own reasons for not wanting to announce the reason they face daily discrimination must be respected. I believe in inclusively and tolerance, but the rights of one group must not cancel out the rights of the women who fought so hard to make the workplace a better place for women. Until women have true equality we cannot afford to let the rights we do have be chipped away.

I thought it might be useful. Glad you found it.

I have got the work inclusion group to agree that GC also needs to be included
Otherwise it's not really inclusion is it. They agreed with my point
Thanks to maya I feel I can make headway now

Working in HR helps as we advise on dismissal _ set policy etc

You can always refer to the 'Single Sex Exemptions' in the Equality act.
So men cannot expect access to ladies wcs, changing rooms etc. Doesn't matter how they dress.
So no, tw are not w.
www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/notes/division/3/16/20/7

policyexchange.org.uk/publication/transgenderism-and-policy-capture-in-the-criminal-justice-system/

Transgenderism and policy capture in the criminal justice system

May 30, 2022

Why criminal justice policy needs to prioritise sex over ‘gender identity’

This report addresses the impact of policies and practices within the criminal justice system in England and Wales which classify and treat suspects, defendants in criminal trials, and convicted offenders on the basis of their ‘gender identity’ rather than their biological sex. In recent years, self-declaration of ‘gender identity’ has been adopted as policy by all of the key criminal justice institutions, despite the fact that this is not aligned with the law. This change appears to have come about largely as the result of policy capture, as it is a widely contested belief and has been adopted without public scrutiny. Current criminal justice policy prioritises the wishes and feelings of those who identify as transgender over the rights of others, and particularly over the sex-based rights of women, such as rights to single-sex facilities. This publication examines the detrimental effects of this approach and makes recommendations about the development of policies which are based on acknowledgment of the significance of biological sex in the field of criminal justice.

This looks excellent. Pdf download at the link. Probably deserves its own thread.

Just to say: proud of you 💪🏼 ! You absolutely rock.

I just tried to link to the Policy Exchange report mentioned by @JuneOsborne . I'll ask MNHQ why they keep hiding the link. Seems an odd thing to hide. It's easy enough to find if you google the title and author.

Transgenderism and policy capture in the criminal justice system
Maureen O'Hara

May 30, 2022

Why criminal justice policy needs to prioritise sex over ‘gender identity’

This report addresses the impact of policies and practices within the criminal justice system in England and Wales which classify and treat suspects, defendants in criminal trials, and convicted offenders on the basis of their ‘gender identity’ rather than their biological sex. In recent years, self-declaration of ‘gender identity’ has been adopted as policy by all of the key criminal justice institutions, despite the fact that this is not aligned with the law. This change appears to have come about largely as the result of policy capture, as it is a widely contested belief and has been adopted without public scrutiny. Current criminal justice policy prioritises the wishes and feelings of those who identify as transgender over the rights of others, and particularly over the sex-based rights of women, such as rights to single-sex facilities. This publication examines the detrimental effects of this approach and makes recommendations about the development of policies which are based on acknowledgment of the significance of biological sex in the field of criminal justice.

If you are based at 102PF and want some support, really happy to chat about it as I’m based nearby in a different civil service org. PM me if so.