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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

I think I have a GC colleague : )

48 replies

Vebrithien · 17/01/2023 19:35

Work in a big secondary school. My department (science) know I'm GC, but I don't really discuss this with other staff.

We have very limited numbers of staff toilets. The womens toilets I use are in a different block, as the closest ones are next to where the students sit and they can hear us.

The toilets in the old, 1910's block, have an ancient plaque on them with "Ladies", plus a small round metal sign saying 'Staff".

This morning, there is an A4, laminated white sign stuck firmly on the door saying "Female Staff Only".

I grinned.

There is someone else here!

I did wonder if it was in response to the news yesterday 🤔

Cheered my morning right up 😊

OP posts:
Nothingandnowhere · 17/01/2023 19:41

Love this :)

VeronicaBeccabunga · 17/01/2023 19:50

Excellent!

I work p/t in a school and I was looking at the database of pupils with a member of the SLT.
She said: 'This column is for gender...'
And without thinking I said 'Sex'
She said: 'Yes, sex, of course' and we carried on.
*happy dances for knowing I have an ally high up.

I had to ask the school secretary about a child with a name which, to me, wasn't obviously a girl or a boy and she made some comment about pronouns.
Again, without thinking I casually remarked that the day I'm asked for pronouns is the day I resign and she vehemently agreed.
Another ally!

ScrollingLeaves · 17/01/2023 19:53

😀🎉🥳

Boiledbeetle · 17/01/2023 19:57

Remove the sign then keep an eye out. Look for members of staff lurking by the laminater, because you know she'll have to make another sign.

Masterofcats · 17/01/2023 20:11

I'm NHS. My manager neatly sidesteps ever saying " pregnant people ".. Despite it being written in various things she has to present at team meetings. I have never heard any of my all female team say it either!
We are a quitly rebellious lot in my specialty though. We also rolled our eyes and ignore "chest feeding" and promptly put up more "breast feeding" information with extra anatomy information.
We talk about differences in development between boys and girls also, to actual real parents. So probably really pushing our luck.
We await a complaint.
Senior male (gay ) manager never comments either and he is head of diversity stuff.
Maybe it's the chocolate biscuits we keep feeding him? or he actually supports women? Quite frankly In his profession he should support women and know what they are.
Btw we are "kind" to everyone. We just also base what we say on scientific evidence. As we are meant to!

Tonsiltrouble · 17/01/2023 20:19

I had a chat with someone recently who said (based on some things I had interacted with) that she thinks I am not someone who reacts positively to compelled speech. Felt like a dog whistle to me. I hope it was!

LadyMary50 · 17/01/2023 20:19

I love the fact that so many women are quietly rebelling in the workplace.Small step for women,giant step for womenkind 😊

JeannieDark · 17/01/2023 20:46

I'm in an industry where I can't be open about my views outside of my team but I've recently dropped a couple of things into conversation with both my bosses and they've completely agreed with me and I know one of my colleagues does as well. I've been getting braver about speaking to people I know about it and not a single one believes it so far.

Original poster
Vebrithien · 17/01/2023 20:46

Your replies have all made me smile.

I noticed last week that the system we use for recording student data (in line with GDPR), has read sex, rather than gender, since it's upgrade about a month ago. 💖

I have access rights to the spreadsheet we use to record students test data. It has a column for gender (M or F). I am rather tempted to change it for SEX!!!

OP posts:
Boiledbeetle · 17/01/2023 20:49

I have access rights to the spreadsheet we use to record students test data. It has a column for gender (M or F). I am rather tempted to change it for SEX!!!

@Vebrithien do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it.

HootyMcboob76 · 17/01/2023 20:49

The cynical pert of me would think that, as some people include males in their definition of female, that it doesn't really mean what we might hope.
(yes, TW now refer to themselves as "female").

I would LOVE it if it had said "biological females".
No room for error there.

I can also see why that was probably not going to happen.

Tinkeytonkoldfruit · 17/01/2023 20:53

I found a member of my team who is fully signed up to GC - we were like skirting around the subject for a while, eventually I said are you the kind of feminist who likes authors of wizarding books...reader she was. Sadly she retired recently I bought her a suffragette silk scarf as part of her leaving present, my little rebellion.

BriceNobeslovesMurielHeslop · 17/01/2023 20:55

I think I have encountered two proper GCs at work, one from the very deliberate usage of the word sex in place of gender (in fact, I think she might have said gender first and then corrected herself), and one from a very diplomatically worded conversation regarding a case where transitioning was a very pertinent factor. I also had a very esteemed colleague (now sadly, not for her, retired) who raised her eyebrows in a knowing matter when the subject came up.
I also have a lot of colleagues who might not be knowingly “GC”, but are very “you wot??” at the whole thing.
It gladdens me as the institution higher ups seem a bit in thrall at the moment.

Original poster
Vebrithien · 17/01/2023 21:00

Boiledbeetle · 17/01/2023 20:49

I have access rights to the spreadsheet we use to record students test data. It has a column for gender (M or F). I am rather tempted to change it for SEX!!!

@Vebrithien do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it.

So. So. SO. Tempted.

We had data collection sheets for all staff to fil in by hand.

I crossed out the gender heading, and wrote sex instead 😆

OP posts:
SleekMamma · 17/01/2023 21:03

I cross out gender on NHS forms and write SEX.

I discovered today a GC colleague yay!

FlowaPowar · 17/01/2023 21:08

I think the majority of the population are GC but just can't be arsed to be verbal about it thinking it'll all blow over 🤞

dapsnotplimsolls · 17/01/2023 21:21

I think you'll find that that sign is Literal Violence ... 😁

Original poster
Vebrithien · 17/01/2023 21:28

dapsnotplimsolls · 17/01/2023 21:21

I think you'll find that that sign is Literal Violence ... 😁

It will be, if it causes a paper/laminator cut...

OP posts:
KCandtheSunlightBand · 17/01/2023 21:29

I am the most vocal of my colleagues, although we are all (5 of us) GC. One colleague in particular is aware of all the issues, and I love working with her, where we have little huddles to discuss the latest WTF moments.

I have become bolder in discussing this due to Maya Forstater and joining a union which is prepared to support GC employees.

Greensleevevssnotnose · 17/01/2023 21:31

What does GC mean?

SleekMamma · 17/01/2023 21:36

GC means gender critical. Meaning one thinks having a gender identity is a load of nonsense. We have all have a body that is male for female. And that affects many parts of our lives.
Wear what you want. Do whatever job that you want. But your body is your body.

Original poster
Vebrithien · 17/01/2023 21:53

SleekMamma · 17/01/2023 21:36

GC means gender critical. Meaning one thinks having a gender identity is a load of nonsense. We have all have a body that is male for female. And that affects many parts of our lives.
Wear what you want. Do whatever job that you want. But your body is your body.

👏yes indeed

OP posts:
Original poster
Vebrithien · 17/01/2023 22:55

Boiledbeetle · 17/01/2023 19:57

Remove the sign then keep an eye out. Look for members of staff lurking by the laminater, because you know she'll have to make another sign.

Oh?
Oh!

I LIKE it!

It'll be Maths, or Admin staff.

I shall be scanning the staffroom.

OP posts:
Boiledbeetle · 17/01/2023 22:58

You'll need a card with all staff on so you can rule them out. It will be like cluedo. It was Mrs Smith in the Maths block with the laminator.

terriblyangryattimes · 17/01/2023 23:03

In a job I started recently we had a system change that changed the text 'breastfeeding mother' to 'chest/breastfeeder.'

The lady who was training me pointed it out rolled her eyes and said "what a pile of shit" and everything we have to write regarding it in the office is still 'nursing mother'. Most of the team are 50s and 60s and everyone else agrees apparently as they all talked about it when it got changed!

I was a bit worried but in a large building all the loos are still single sex too 🙌