What does 2024 hold?

[LookFor]

I can’t envision the UK post General Election - no outcome fills me with particular glee. I’m worried about what the SNP have in store for gender non-conforming children and women’s rights. Will they get ousted or are we stuck with them forever?

On the popular culture front, I’m looking forward to seeing what Chris Sweeney does for the adaptation of ‘What it feels like for a Girl’ by Paris Lees (in a looking-through-my-fingers way - he’s a brilliant Director) I’ve got a feeling it will create a lot of heat as will Dr Who.

I’m hoping Eddie Izzard will give up on politics although I fear he may be a Question Time fave. I’m hoping Ellie Gommersal will disappear off every Scottish News Producer’s speed dial when they want to discuss women’s issues in Scotland.

I feel a lot has happened in 2023 but every victory for women’s rights seems to be met with another appalling travesty of the law. I’ve been on MN for 15+ years and I’m selfishly grateful my kids have navigated school with critical thinking skills in tact. I hope society doesn’t hamper my DD by further denuding her protections as a female.

And of course I pathetically hope for world peace but can’t articulate any words to discuss that right now. If I was the fundamentalist Christian, Right Wing bigot others might think I am, I might offer up a prayer. But I’m not.

How’s everyone else feeling about going into next year? Any predictions, hopes, recipes??!

Oh and finally a big up for ForWomen Scotland and all they’ve done this year. And the Let Women Speak roadshow that I enjoyed attending in Glasgow - and all the countless, courageous women’s groups/individuals who have raised me out of the pits of despair on many an occasion.

Keep on keeping on!

Really hoping that the Cass Review will finally come out, as well as the Charities Commission investigation into Mermaids.

Hoping for a win for Jo Phoenix

Am cautiously optimistic that the gender questioning children consultation will start the process of removing so many dreadful queer theory adults and groups from influencing schools. Hopefully it will enable parents to stand up to activists in schools and allow schools to be a safer place where children can learn and thrive without being bothered by adults inflicting their fetishes on them.
Maybe....

I'd like all vulnerable, autistic, depressed and frankly all children and young people to avoid all things queer and trans like the plague. I'd like lesbian groups given the freedom to mix n mingle in single sex spaces and for these to be extended to whoever wants them. I'd like the Police to take action against violent and abusive TRAs. And I'd like a latte. Thank you.

And world peace, Stan.

Tbf, 2023 has been a hell of a year.

I'm hoping that with this patently illegal and ridiculous 'genitalia-appropriate haircuts only' school guidance binned, Kemi 'last year's LGBA conspiracy theory is my sincere parliamentary platform today' Badenoch added to the ever growing conga line of failures and the Tories finally given the boot, we'll be able to slowly catch up on a decade's worth of economic and cultural decay.

I'm trying not to get my hopes up, though. Starmer still has plenty of time to screw our future up even further.

I hope my son will rediscover his critical thinking and recognise that he has been sold a fantasy that leads to self harm.

AHLL BE BACK

I'd like somebody pass a law that would see misogyny treated as a hate crime and people who threaten women online and at women's only gatherings and use the term "terf" to face arrest - what's sauce for the goose etc. And institutional misogyny to be recognised, so police forces face consequences for not taking rape/ domestic violence seriously, and the NHS and other providers face consequences for not providing single sex spaces, a failure to use the word "women" in their provision etc. We could see providers ranked on a star system as to how much of an ally they are to women. I'd also like to see a public inquiry into what has taken place in schools.

PS - I realise none of this might actually happen!

Can you explain what you think is illegal about the guidance and what a "genitalia-appropriate haircut" is?

Oh no Margot - don't ask that (about the haircut) . It sounds like another grim fetish that women will be expected to accommodate 🙄

I actually looked in the guidance to see whether haircuts are mentioned.

It says that some schools have different uniform rules for boys and girls, including in some cases haircuts, and that trans identifying students should expect to follow the same uniform rules that apply to members of their own sex.

Obviously any school which still doesn't allow girls to wear trousers is living in the dark ages and needs to be challenged on that.

Otherwise, I assume this means that some schools don't allow boys to wear skirts or have long hair. I think schools should probably relax about long hair on boys as long as it is neat and tidy, but there may be a safeguarding issue if you let teenage boys wear skirts.

Genitalia appropriate haircuts? Erm! If you're male you can't have a Brazilian?

Definitely looking forward to the results of more court cases, here and abroad. People getting braver at speaking up against this nonsense. Tunnocks - the Musical! Under the Duvet of Darkness - the Musical! And volume 3, of course 😁

#GENTILALIA HAIRCUTS ARE DISGUSTANG

BECAUSE ITS MAIR PROGRESSIVE TAE DEFINE PEOPE BY THEIR GENTILS AN YE CANNAE JUST SAY WUMMAN OR MANNIE

School uniform policy (including hairstyles) have been the subject of a number of legal challenges made against schools. There is guidance from the DfE that addresses how schools can balance a school's requirement for a uniform while not discriminating against boys / girls, different ethnic / religious groups. Hair is included if I recall correctly.
I've worked in a school where we struggled to keep gang insignia out of the school - it revolved around certain hair styles (for boys) and carrying a certain colour of gloves at the time. Sounds ridiculous but our boys were being stabbed and attacked on the streets and this spread into the school. So one of our interventions was to formally bar all gang related insiginia. It's a minefield for schools trying to balance so many competing issues.

(sorry for the derail but it's an example of the sheer range of issues schools have to manage)

I'd like somebody pass a law that would see misogyny treated as a hate crime
No. Stella Creasey wants this.just as Annaliese Dodds wants transphobia to be a hate crime.
I want all hate crime to be abolished as a category.

My case (GCS vs Survivors Network) will be in June 2024.

Hoping to win it obviously. Even if I don't win, politicians will have to address the fact that women no longer have single sex rape crisis services.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61958346.amp

Sarah, good luck for 2024, and thank you for what you’re doing 💐

Just because one woman flashed her fake minge Merkin at you this time last year suddenly you hate genitalia haircuts! Here have some merkin bunting to wrap round your holly bush!

As to the actual question of the thread I hope more sanity will be on the cards and less WTF moments.

And I hope that @IamSarah absolutely demolishes the other side in the court case!

@IamSarah Strength be with you. I hope you win big, and your win proves to be a vital domino falling in the right direction.

Schools should definitely not be checking how you style your pubes #whateveritsabovemypaygrade

I want some talent in parliaments. Preferably ones who know what a woman is. Preferably ones who are women

A look back at 2023 from Janice Turner. It’s hopeful.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/4df3b3eb-27c5-4f22-95f0-36f1d505c877?shareToken=91ff394f86a06c268c06e47289f26deb