What does living as a woman actually mean?

[astrowars]

So if the Scottish parliament votes for the new law, and someone can obtain a certificate stating they're a woman because they have lived as one for 3 months ... is there a definition, description or checklist to ensure the individual has done everything needed? I have a horrid feeling I may now not be a woman under such a definition!

I am just failing to see how something so vague, not based on fact but feelings, can be enshrined in law. How has it got this far??

This ideology only stands if gender stereotypes persist. 'Living as a woman' means fuck all in reality but ,doubtless ,some offensive stereotype will be held up as evidence of womanly living.

It means "pretending to be a woman". Women have no need to do it.

So women don’t “live as women”...

Yes, pretending should be referenced much more in these policies.

Being mocked for being unhappy about being placed in a subordinate position compared to men in yet another system, like: World of Warcraft has fallen! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/4702882-world-of-warcraft-has-fallen?msgid=122450242#122450242

So women don’t “live as women”...

I've been a woman for a long time and I've never hear the phrase "living as a woman" applied to me or any other woman.

No need, you see. We just are.

Can I apply to be a woman? I have boobs and tubes, eggs and legs? Does that allow me to be a woman or will I get caught out when I wear trousers?

Living as a woman... sounds like what Method actors do when they are preparing for a part.

Yes, pretending should be referenced much more in these policies.

When, in my head, I substitute "pretend to be" for "identify as" or "live as", it always seems to make the meaning clearer.

In England & Wales it has traditionally meant gas bills in the new name and gender.

In Scotland it will apparently mean pronouns and presentation. That will go down well.

I asked my DH this in a recent discussion. His response was, firstly, "dressing as a woman." I said, what, you mean like this? as I sat there in a fairly unisex jumper and jeans. I also said, I don't "live like a woman," I am a woman. That's it.

There is an absolute hierarchy to living ‘as a woman’.

1. Natal woman - bottom of the pile. No one cares when they speak about the reality of a myriad of different lives lived.
2. Man in a long wig, dress, stockings that he ‘oh whoops matron’ flashes whilst speaking in a high pitched voice— top of the pile.

That is probably what the criteria will consist of.

Got a nasty feeling it will end up meaning using women’s spaces as a precursor to getting a GRC - not a bug, a feature

I must be a man then- fleece and jeans, sensible shoes, very short hair, no make up and I love DIY and fixing things…

Good quality research using a large sample of natal women would reveal the following facts about what living as a woman entails:

-Earning less than men
-Being responsible for how everyone around you feels
-Being kind
-carrying the mental load of how the house is run (even if the man in the house is really ‘helpful’)
-caring for sick children and relatives
-remembering birthdays and Christmas

etc etc etc

Funny that these things are never claimed as reasons why a man is really a woman.

Practically I think it means presenting yourself with the basic language markers we use for women. So publicly using a name that is female, forms of address like Miss or Mrs, and female associated pronouns. Usually also more feminine clothing etc.

Of course if you dig down into this at all these are very superficial things. They are the accidents of womanhood, not the essence of it. They are, though, I suppose, the kinds of things you'd do if you were disguising yourself as a woman to escape the draft, or some other reason.

Just a minute, what if you're not connected?
Do levy or oil bills not count?

Heat pumps?
Solar panels?

'Living as a woman' is a hugely offensive thing to even say. Which Nicola would know if she was the feminist she claimed to be.

I wish the mainstream media would ask this question it's kind of important!

Playing with their fake tits for a bit and being really good at fake eyelashes?

Please tell me the gas bills thing isn’t true.

It's all acting.

TWACM

I’ve felt a lot of sympathy for trans women when they’ve pointed out that they just can’t win regarding personal presentation. If they wear a dress, heels and make-up, they’re accused of seeing womanhood as a stereotype or costume. If they wear unisex clothes and no make-up, they’re accused of not being genuine.

However, might this suggest that it’s impossible to square the circle? Is there any definition of “woman” that makes sense other than “adult, human female”?

How about just being yourself in the body you've got? You're either a man or a woman, even if it's the 'wrong' body it's still the same one after you've tinkered with it.

If black face isn't allowed then woman face shouldn't be either. We've been oppressed by men forever, now our oppressors want to have fun with our image? No thanks very much!