Possibly just outed myself as GC at work

[crunchermuncher]

I work in a large NHS trust. A menopause policy has been developed by HR and circulated for comment.

I was pleased about this development, until I clapped eyes on it. It talks about cis people, doesn't mention sex and explicitly includes transwomen having side effects from their "HRT" (Yes, I know! they get more space than trans men, who actually experience menopause).

I sent a carefully crafted reply that focuses on the importance of clear language, and refers to other health organisations who have approached the topic differently (ie not centring men). I have focused on potential risks of their approach, not just had a whinge.

I am now steeling myself for fall out!

Its ridiculous that I should feel this way for pointing out that sex matters in healthcare but we all know what's likely to ensue. But having been asked to reply I couldn't in conscience keep silent.

Please send me some encouragement!

As an aside, what happens when a trans women stops taking hormones? Do they now identify as post-menopausal women?

" What's not ok is force your unwanted views on others "

Rightbackatcha! @maddy68 rightbackatcha! With bells on!

Good for you @crunchermuncher you did the right thing and you can't do more than that.

You've done the right thing, and doing the right thing isn't always easy. Thank you. 😊

There is absolutely no reason why separate health care advice and resources cannot be written for the 0.02% identifying as 'trans'.

It’s offensive if you are a chap

What's not ok is force your unwanted views on others and be offensive to trans people.

If by offensive you mean stating that they're men, that is not only ok but should be compulsory. The only acceptable reply to the question, "Are transwomen women?", should be, "Are you nuts?"

Most chaps I know don't think this is offensive.

No its not. At least, not to the vast majority of us, who are quite relieved we don’t have to go through it. You seem to be right about a few, who claim to be women, but have a slight lingering doubt about that …

Well done OP
@ScrollingLeaves thank you for that link. It broadened my knowledge by showing how desexed language impacts on health care, data collection and research in an unemotional manner.

Err ... excuse me - isn't that exactly what this policy is, forcing unwanted views on others and being offensive to actual women?

Sounds like you could be in for trouble.

@MadamAndTheAnts why's that?

I was asked for my input and have some factual feedback about the risks of going ahead with the current wording...

You know what's offensive to trans-identified people? Ignoring them and their medical and emotional needs. The article was about menopause. Prioritising people not experiencing menopause over the people having a chemically-induced menopause is offensive. TW do not go through menopause. They experience the side-effects of cross-sex hormones. TM go through a chemically-induced menopause. It is offensive to de-prioritise them in an article about menopause.

Thank you for doing that OP. I also need to respond to my work one this week (also large NHS Trust) but have been putting it off!

Ours talks about cis-women, those assigned female at birth, intersex people, as well as trans women taking hormones. It's really not very clear, particularly for those who don't speak English as their first language (of whom there are lots if my department is representative of the hospital as a whole).

The rest of the document is much clearer - almost as if the first few paragraphs have been copied and pasted from somewhere else

I can't tell whether you're being serious, but I'm assuming you're not.

Then why is it OK for trans activists to force their unwanted views on others and be offensive to people who believe womanhood is a biological reality, not a costume you can choose to wear?

Good on you OP.

Well done OP. Hopefully this will at least get the policy writers to engage their brains with this issue.

Every time this is challenged within the NHS I am hopeful that the penny will drop about how important language is.
I challenged my trust in April 2021 when they invited people who menstruate to a menopause workshop and pointed out that that language was risking the exclusion of women with English as a second language or those with learning difficulties. They added the word women to the list of invitees, not quite what I was wanting but a small improvement.
I also fill in my staff survey every quarter and in the box asking for my gender write 'I do not have a gender but my sex is female '

Well done @crunchermuncher. I hope you get a response that allows for meaningful discussion and acknowledgement that menopause is a sex-specific phenomenon.

Well done op, and thanks for doing that. I hope you get a sensible response 🤞

Just had my first deleted post! Basically op, I said Brava to you and I salute you. It was not a nazi salute, fgs.....

Only 0.2%?

The ONS said 1.1% of the population speaks Polish as a first language. We should enforce everyone using Polish language to make Polish people feel more comfortable/"safe".

And 1.7% of the population are Hindu. We should make everyone pretend to believe in Hindu philosophy (sorry, I'm out of my depth here) to make Hindu people feel comfortable/"safe"/not offended.

Jestem Hindusem mówiącym po polsku i postanawiam, że wszyscy inni też muszą. Idę zrobić flagę…

”TM go through a chemically-induced menopause. It is offensive to de-prioritise them in an article about menopause.”

This from JellySaurus is hugely important. FtM transitioners on testosterone (or even puberty blockers) can undergo very early menopause, which can have significant, detrimental effects on their health and well-being. Including them and explaining this ought to be a priority.

I could do with this research as well if you do find it, please.

Where has she been offensive about transpeople?