Expressing 'gender critical' views

[ArabellaSaurus]

If you hold gender critical views-

-There are two sexes
-Sex is immutable
-Biological sex matters, and laws relating to sex should be based on sex not 'gender'

• please tell me if you feel able to express these views:

-To friends and family
-On social media
-In a professional context

I'm keen to hear whether women in particular feel that their right to freedom of belief and freedom of expression is upheld in the UK today.

Many thanks.

To family yes
to friends - not anymore as I've lost a few good ones so I just don't bring it up
at work - to one person who I know is GC other than that no though I did have a few conversations about men in women's sports after Paris 2024 - they almost got it....
on social media - other than MN no way

@ArabellaSaurus I hold GC views based purely from safeguarding children from misunderstanding the trials and tribulations of growing up won’t be avoided by changing gender and puberty is a natural progression through to adulthood.

I understand adults may feel more comfortable presenting as a different gender. I am fine with that as long as there is no hidden unsavoury agenda. AGP males as an example.

I would not express these views to anyone as I know if someone disagrees with these views nothing I could add - even from the science perspective-would change their minds. I speak from experience.

There are some fantastic people now discussing this and Nick Wallis the investigative journalist has raised his head above the parapet recently. He is referring to is as the subject of a whole generation and bearing in mind he covered the debacle at the Post Office he knows a thing or two about looking out for the people who matter….in this case vulnerable people.

So no I haven’t felt as a woman able to express my views but I do feel like the tide is turning.

I'm retired, and don't use other SM. However, whilst I can express my views freely to some friends (after a cautious sounding-out), I have to remain silent with others, and with important family members, on pain of shunning.

I don't see it as a political free speech problem, so much as a problem of dealing with highly emotionally invested cult members. I've never known anything else like it.

Interesting question!

Answers:

-To friends and family. Mostly yes - certainly to family, who are all either moderately or strongly GC. A handful of friends are also on board, but if I don't know where the person stands, or I think they disagree, I simply don't raise the topic.

-On social media. I do express my GC views on social media, but very mildly and cautiously.

-In a professional context. No, definitely not - though I do have a colleague who broadly shares my views, and I mention them to her occasionally.

I express my GC views openly - they are my sincerely held beliefs and I have a legal right to hold them.

I am fairly well known for being a 'difficult' individual though, which actually makes it easier. What this means is that I am not a pushover that says yes to whatever others want me to do, that is almost never in my own best interests.

-To friends and family:

Mostly. Family yes (they're stuck with me regardless ) although I do have a relative who has a trans person to whom they are related by marriage. I wouldn't provoke a row with them, but I can't be bothered to pussyfoot around them either because I don't really like them. Everyone else knows my views and is probably fed up of me wanging on about it!

Friends, mostly too although there are some with whom we agree to disagree, and agree not to discuss it either.

-On social media

Amongst certain people and in certain ways. I have a FB list for people I know I can trust, either because they feel the same way or because they can respect a difference of opinion. But - having nearly been drummed out of a group - I'm very careful of 'pile ons' as social media does lend itself to virtue signalling so I limit what I say and to whom. I comment on Sex Matters/FPFW etc articles under my own name, though.

-In a professional context

Generally not. I know of other GC people in my work place and/or colleagues who've become friends and we might discuss things privately but I'm not open. I did mildly stick my head above the parapet on a policy issue a while back and I've been glowered at by a few (although agreed with by more). Academia is pretty captured and can be quite vicious at times so I'm not jeopardising my career for this!

In all written contexts, I'm very conscious of never writing anything contentious even if it's something I would fully stand by - I don't want screen shots being sent anywhere (either to my employer or to groups (on or offline) that I'm part of. I'm well aware of instances where trouble has been caused by those who feel their feelings being hurt is enough for complaints and investigations.

Yes to family.

Yes to close friends although it has caused some issues and there are particular less close friends/acquaintances who I deliberately don't talk about these topics with because I know their views and I can't be bothered with the inevitable row.

No to social media in my own name as it's not worth potentially being monitored by work.

No to work unless someone else raises it first - it's too risky and if you said the "wrong" thing to the wrong person it could be extremely damaging professionally. However, they've recently opened a new office building and have provided a third neutral space for toilets/changing as well as single sex spaces so I hope are resigned to complying with the law despite some pretty active lobbying from special interest groups.

I feel able to express those views -

(1) To family, with the caveat that with a couple of young family members (30s) I would wish to make sure I chose an appropriate time to tell them that I don;t believe that they believe that men can be women however much they claim to (one, worryingly, works for the CPS). Also with the caveat that some elderly family members simply could not get their head around how batshit gender ideology is so I would neer talk to them about it.

(2) To friends, with the caveat that I love time to myself, and do not believe a friend is worth having if you can't be honest with them, or if they are so bonkers that they believe men can be women... I don't see a downside in risking losing friends for good - worst case I have no friends and more time to myself! I appreciate my introversion frees me, and many who need others more than I do don't have that luxury.

(3) On social media. But only with a degree of anonimity, because I believe that their are dangerous vindictive extremists out there who are close to, if not actually meeting, the threshold of "terrorists".

(4) In a Professional context... but only in person or on the phone, with the odd email to people I know aren't full on TWAW. Again, like friends, I don;t worry too much about losing Professional contacts, and I have no boss or colleagues to answer to so I can do what I want to a large extent. I have done some minor work challenging my Professional body, but not much.

To family mostly yes.
On social media I have an anon gc account. On my main accounts I occasionally like or support other gcs but only post in relation to free speech/bullying, not getting into my own beliefs.
Professionally I keep pretty quiet as I work in a very captured sector. If I was asked directly I would be honest but I have avoided it as at times it would have been career suicide.
Its been absolutely horrendous and has definitely constrained my career and social relationships. I believe the tide is turning though. We need some collective courage and I'm in awe of those who have had the courage to stand up and stand out.

Family and friends — yes. One academic friend sees me as extreme and eccentric on the subject, but I was always centre-right so she expects no less from me.

Social media in my name — I wouldn’t. I hold a few representative positions and don’t think it would be helpful as it’s not directly relevant to my roles but is divisive (this feels like a principled position but may just be cowardice, as the ‘other side’ seems to have no such qualms and maybe I should be balancing them out).

Professionally — yes very cautiously, and I do. I’m male though and not in a super captured space, so feel I can to a greater extent than many.

My closest friends - yes as I know they feel the same

Other friends - not really, it’s not something that tends to come up in conversation but I would probably gently express my views if it did

Family - some yes some definitely not (very “woke” brother and SIL

Social media - I don’t post or like things really but have followed a couple of GC pages

Professionally - maybe, don’t work in an industry where this would come up much but I have said a couple of things like I’m not keen on the gender neutral toilets idea (and people always agree!)

I would add that for me part of the problem is that I am left wing, very much a gay ally, involved in antiracist politics for years and to be GC is seen as very right wing. Its hard to break out of that orthodoxy which cuts across everything, family, friends, professionally. Its no contradiction for me. But it is for others.

To friends and family - yes, close ones
On social media - only anonymously
In a professional context - never in a million years

Social media, yes, but it cost me a number of friends
Family - I don't talk about it anymore because my children vigorously disagree and keeping on good terms matters more than being able to talk about it at home.

To friends and family Yes
-On social media No, I like a quiet life, not worth the grief
-In a professional context I'm mainly retired but do some bits and pieces of work in a creative field. No, unless I'm fairly sure how it'll be received.

I’m not in the UK…. But - immediate family, yes, my in laws yes as we’re all on the same page. In my extended family we just don’t talk about things like that, I suspect they wouldn’t disagree with me though.

Publicly/professionally absolutely no way. Certain close friends I can be open with, others I don’t bring it up and I don’t post anything at all on social media. I have one friend who I think knew I was a sex realist before I did. They have a trans child and distanced themselves long before I actually formed a position. Perhaps because I asked a few questions, in pure sympathetic curiosity, when she first told me.

You are not alone!

With family: they’re all in agreement now, I feel like an expert which usually never happens.
in laws: not GC but still love me dearly and let me speak.
work: I’m pretty open about it and most are happy to listen and agree with certain points (usually sport).
friends: I don’t consider it a matter of opinion but more of a scandalous abuse of women’s rights, ie: a no brainer. So I naively thought I could speak freely but have learned since that there are people who are very happy to ostracise you with even listening to what you have to say.

-To friends and family
Some friends and family, not others. I have attempted to discuss with some. I don't hide my views but I don't want to create conflict.
I had an experience a few years ago where my sister expressed a very negative opinion of JK Rowling clearly expecting me to agree with her. I simply said 'Actually, I agree with JKR'. It turned into one of the worst arguments I've ever had. She went completely on the attack and accused me of all sorts of insane beliefs that just didn't make sense. Our relationship has never fully recovered. I can't look at her the same way.

-On social media
Hell no. I've always been very careful about that. We've all seen how ordinary women are being targeted by some utterly deranged individuals for expressing perfectly polite and respectful views. There is a very real risk to doing this under your own name and face.

-In a professional context
Same as social media. I don't hide my beliefs but I am very careful about expressing them too. I am aware of a couple of GC colleagues but we also have NB colleague who I'm aware has put complaints to HR, including non-events like not everyone putting pronouns in their signatures, so we tend to just avoid it completely and get on with the job.

I've lost friends because of my views but I really don't care. I express my views on SM and just assume people will scroll on or unfriend me if they're not happy with my posts. The fact I wear very feminist t-shirts which clearly state the definition of a woman or that XX = female means that anyone who looks will see my viewpoint.

-To friends and family - yes absolutely
-On social media - I don't I never post anything political on social
-In a professional context - yes gently, after sounding people out

I feel professionally that everyone who says absolutely nothing on this topic with a neutral expression on their face is firmly gc. Those who buy into it can’t help but signal their virtue while there seems to be a silent understanding among the rest of us.

To my husband yes.
To my friends only those I know share the same views.
Professionally, no it’s not relevant.

I don’t want to lose friends over this as I’m hoping they will come round (I’m sure they feel the same about me, though). Most of my friends who are fully TWAW are too busy talking about themselves and their own opinions to ask about mine so it’s easy to keep schtum!

and I wouldn’t post about it on any social media where I am identifiable.

Family and Friends - yes I'm happy to discuss my views

Social media - I use anonymous accounts

Professional context- I run my own business and I will discuss with clients if they raise the matter (I don't tend to discuss political/social matters with clients in general unless they raise it first). I have complained to my professional regulator about surveys that only ask for gender identity and not sex