Ian Birrell: doesn’t realise many other parents would want same sex carers for their DC?

[BarbaraLSB]

Rather nasty comment piece here from Ian Birrell - behind a pay wall though:

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/an-academic-an-arrogant-minister-and-a-fight-for-equality-that-has-gone-horribly-wrong-3840962

I’ve copied some of it below:

Sadly, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has come to be seen as a partisan in this battle. Its chair, Kishwer Falkner, took a tough line in response to the Supreme Court’s April ruling that legal definition of a woman refers only to biological sex, furthering the fissures on this issue.

She insisted this meant trans women could not participate in women’s sport, use female changing facilities or be treated on single-sex wards — although former Supreme Court judge Jonathan Sumption is among many arguing that it is a misreading of the ruling to suggest trans women must be excluded from single-sex spaces. Now the EHRC is drawing up guidance for public bodies after a surprisingly short consultation of just six weeks.

How can this view square with a parent who will be using carers for their DC? https://unherd.com/2019/10/how-my-daughter-disrupted-my-politics/

Why can’t (mainly) men (NAMALT) understand that a right to single sex carers does not in of itself create toxic divisions etc. What creates toxic divisions is men demanding that they are allowed to/cannot be prevented from caring for women and girls who do not/whose parents do not want this??

Most men would want opposite sex carers.

That's actually not true at all

Absolutely not.

I would.

I wouldn't feel comfortable with a man looking after me if I needed a carer.

Sadly, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has come to be seen as a partisan in this battle. Its chair, Kishwer Falkner, took a tough line in response to the Supreme Court’s April ruling that legal definition of a woman refers only to biological sex, furthering the fissures on this issue.

The EHRC's previous chair being ex-chair of Stonewall did not lead to EHRC being seen as even the least bit partisan. Nope. Not even a smidgen.

My Mum used to work on a geriatric ward. She would regularly get incontinent, toothless men in their 80s flirting and groping her. I think a lot of older men love a younger nurse looking after them. More men than women realise don’t like women - especially ones who don’t do as they are told or defy them or can’t be controlled

Absolutely not true. There are loads of men who prefer male carers.

Most don't ask because they think it is embarrassing to say they would rather have a man. Or they struggle on for as long as possible on their own, or between them and their spouse, because they find it humiliating to be cared for by young women.

We just don't know the figures as no-one bothers to ask men - and depending where you live it may be impossible.

When I worked in London and there were a lot of men working in care, it was much easier for a man to express a preference. Now working in an area where care is 'women's work' the men don't ask as they know it's impossible but will express how embarrassing they find having female carers.

If that’s true, it speaks volumes.

Worryingly every single one of my family wanted a woman to look after them. Men would accept a man whereas women were visibly distressed by the thought. But ALL asked for a woman. It came up about 3 months ago when my gma was admitted to care and she was very very upset that a man might care for her. All the men - she has 3 sons- understood and insisted on 'single sex' care for her but also said they wanted opposite sex care for themselves - it's a hard circle to square.

Existing thread here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/5385877-wec-says-mary-ann-stephenson-is-a-middle-manager-not-a-leader-and-i-paper-agrees-with-them