Why are women so complacent re. trans nonsense?

[JazbayGrapes]

I mean, outside GC or radfem circles, i have heard some of the most outrageous things, coming not from the loony left, but seeming well-meaning, semi-conservative women. Like "What is your problem? Can't you just #BeKind?"

1. Re. sports: "A lesson in inclusion and acceptance for a girl is much more valuable than any trophy. Or maybe your daughter should train harder."

2. Re. prisons: "That's easy - don't break the law and you'll have nothing to worry about."

3. Re. homeless shelters: "Imagine being so ungrateful for a roof over your head that you would complaint about trans."

4)Re. public toilets/showers/changing rooms: "If you are such a prude to undress in front of male genitalia, them maybe you should stay home and never go to gyms or swimming pools or etc."

I'm a a loss...

All the evidence is weak, but from the evidence that does exist we can conclude that transitioning children is a truly terrible idea. My position on children has shifted from "maybe there are some children who would benefit from transition, as long as we are very careful to figure out who they are" to "the downsides are so severe and the evidence of benefit is so weak and it is impossible to separate those who are more likely to benefit from those who aren't .... so we can't justify doing this to children at all". (I should add that my own DC is an adult so this doesn't affect me so directly)

And for both adults and children it's only the psychological evidence that is weak. The evidence of the physical downsides is very, very strong. So big and so strong and so obvious that it's like an elephant in the room - people refuse to see it or talk about it. Or count it up and publish the results in clear numbers.

If your child takes puberty blockers followed by cross-sex hormones then they will be irreversibly sterile. If you take cross sex hormones as an adult then (depending on your sex) you will have various physical health problems in the long term and a shortened lifespan, and you will decrease or lose your fertility. If you have genital surgery then you have all the risks and downsides of extreme surgery on a very vulnerable part of your body. You will have a high risk of needing repeated surgery. You will have a high risk of urinary problems. You will be sterile. If your breasts are removed you will probably not have sensate nipples and you will certainly be unable to breastfeed your baby.

And if you do change your mind about any of these things they can't be undone.

The lack of interest in physical function is shocking.

Re. sports: "A lesson in inclusion and acceptance for a girl is much more valuable than any trophy. Or maybe your daughter should train harder."

Not sure if this has been said yet, but one answer to that is "it is damaging for girls who have trained hard and learned excellent technique to be defeated by someone whose technique is much worse than their own but has the built-in advantages of a male body."

(See interviews with Canadian coach Linda Blade)

Again, this is not about trans people, per se.

This is about safeguarding. And power. And freedom of speech. Women's rights. Evidence based healthcare. Politics.

I fully understand that many people are not involved/interested in politics and those issues, but it's quite important that the issues are understood as not being 'about trans people'.

I can pretty much promise you that the politicians using 'trans people' as a way to pretend they are broadminded do not actually really care all that much about those trans people.

Thanks to all who provided links in my absence!

RapidOnsetGenderCritic Yesterday 14:58

I think there is an inference to be drawn, but it’s easy to assume lazily that the inference is that 48% of TWs are violent or abusive. I don’t think that is true; the subset of TWs who are in prison are not likely to be representative of all TWs.

Ah, I didn't intend it to read that 48% of TW are violent / sex offenders, just that there is almost certainly a higher than average number of them in their group.

I have a good reading list for next week.

I will definitely read the research rather than the sites that share it, baring in mind that people often set up studies to show what they believe to be true.

Thank you to everyone that provided links.

Good luck, Jemima! It's probably worth reading up on Finnish, Swedish, and recent Dutch changes in their approach, as well as the UK's. These are all with regard to children, rather than adults.

• I think these are linked in the Transgender Trend articles above.

I recently read a 15 year old's essay on whether or not it is fair for trans women to compete in women's sport. She laid out the facts around greater height and strength, and the important differences that male puberty brings very well, pointing out that these differences make it unfair to women.
Her conclusion? That trans women should be welcome in women's sport, because it would be very unkind to exclude them.
Critical thinking? I despair.

I just despair that even after all this time, kindness (aka women/girls supporting men/boys in whatever they want at any cost to themselves or other women/girls) has such a hold on young women and girls. How have we not yet managed to teach them that they should aim for fairness rather than kindness?

With my ex estranged band members, I believe it is so they get the cool gigs with the younger bands and so they aren't dismissed as the middle aged women that they are. They know exactly what is going on and there is no way they believe TWAW. It is impossible to get anything creative be it arts or music up in Scotland unless you are willing fully comply.
I agree with other PP's on here that alot of it is privilege . Other women are afraid of losing the jobs especially in relatively lower paid or public sector industries such as in the NHS ,teaching or social care. It's easier to just go along with it than fight it in case you risk getting suspended . Let's face it ,the trade unions are hopeless and I doubt they would defend a woman sacked for "wrongthink". I sense that alot of women are scared of losing their jobs through some lies being trumped up against them. I would be surprised if this hasn't happened already.