5 years ago I listened to BBC Radio 2 tell me that I should not refer to myself as a breastfeeding mother but rather a chest feeding birthing person. As a mother of a 6 month old at the time, who had battled with a latch and was proud for breastfeeding, I was outraged. This was the first I had heard of this.
I searched online for “anti trans” protests - surely this must be being fought in the public forum? Nothing. I found my way to Mr Menno - I wasn’t going mad!!
I left another prominent parent website and discovered Mumsnet. I found this forum. I have lurked and read and soaked up information.
My now 5 year old daughter is in a special school. She has autism, SPD, ARFID, is non verbal and requires personal care.
As part of her EHCP, her specialist nursery were asked “does the child identify with the gender they were born with?”. Armed with the information from this forum I logged a complaint with my LA and the question has been removed from this form.
On visiting each school prior to my daughter joining I asked if they had read, absorbed and agreed with the interim Cass Review.
At work, after returning from maternity leave, I was told that a man is now a woman and he is working towards surgery. Knowing my rights under the Maya Forstater case, without being rude, I did not hide my views from my team (while being perfectly pleasant to him).
After the Supreme Court clarification of the EQA2010, I have asked my daughter’s school if they will abide by my request for single sex care as she moves through the school.
My oldest friend asked me why I didn’t believe in gendered souls and asked if I didn’t agree with gay people. I had done my research, gave my argument, to which she said “But that means any bloke in a skirt can walk into the womens toilets?!”
My mother, from whom I learned feminism and what it means, could not understand why I was so incensed. Could not understand why I did not want my daughter to be exposed to males in the changing room. She is coming around!
To all the wonderful women here, thank you. Thank you for arming me with simple facts, for organising my thoughts, for keeping me up to date. Thank you for the wisdom, the clarity, the outlet for getting away from it all (even as a lurker!).