Advice please - TIM teacher just arrived at DD’s school

[KnottyAuty]

DD reports that the new teacher has asked to be referred to as she/her and Ms Smith. They are obviously male. DD isn’t happy about the power imbalance of potential behaviour points and detentions for non compliance.

I’ve got no idea how to advice DD how to handle this but obviously know from reading here that using this language is a safeguarding problem. Ms Smith should follow the same rules as all the other male teachers. If everyone must use this language, then it looks like the school is unable to tolerate GC beliefs.

Suggesting that DD respectfully avoids pronouns doesn’t seem workable as using the teacher’s name will include “Miss”….

Is there a gender neutral way of referring to a teacher like “Professor”?!

What do I advise DD so she can work within her GC beliefs? And what should I write to the school to say about this?

eta clarification

Such a relevant perspective. Thank you.

No it is like saying that there is no research that says people with blue eyes are more likely to crash cars, so we don't need to charge them higher insurance.

Has anyone said that this group of male people ‘become violent predators if they transition’?

Safeguarding principles are based on the risk that a male person can harm a female person.

If you believe that laws are only there for privacy and dignity, why do you not fully support female people having single sex spaces away from all male people?

A pink one with a fluffy toilet seat cover and a Barbie in a woollen dress in a toilet roll?

What men specifically? Men who are sex offenders?

I think you might be arguing that these men are just trying it on and are not sincere.

However, the fact that they have drawn support from organisations like Stonewall and politicians like Lisa Nandy suggests that the last thing any of these people worry about is sincerity.

It is not so much about danger as about privacy and dignity, and if you, as a woman, don't understand this I'm not quite sure what to say.

Do you really think that the introduction of single sex spaces( in certains types of circumstance, predicated upon the body and/or its biological function) were introduced because women were prissy and frigid or something?

You mean like men having higher insurance premiums until it was decided it was sex discrimination and ruled unlawful?

Are you happy to undress in front of strange men in public places?

Who says that I don't?

Yes several people have alluded to an idea that this teacher is more likely to be sexually predatory because they are a trans woman.

I personally avoid undressing in front of any strangers.

And that was likely based on solid research. So imagine when you don't have any research to support discriminatory practices?

All men, but the LGBT organisations are claiming it is impossible to keep men who identify as women out of women’s toilets despite the fact those men would be breaking the law if they did so. They clearly think men who identify as women are very likely to break the law and enter women’s spaces which is itself sexual harassment.

I was the one who said these laws are more about privacy and dignity than the idea that men will attack women.

All men who transition remain male. Theye are not female. They are 'other'.

Have you ever experienced being in a women's space or facility with an autogynephile who is using your presence for kicks? If so, how did you feel about that?

Do you mean that they are saying some trans women pass so well that they will use female toilets undetected and nobody can really do anything about it?

yYes, imagine if the census didn’t exist then we wouldn’t know that men who identify as trans are five times more likely to be sex offenders. But we do.

Do they. It’s not actually what most “trans women” want, though, I don’t think. Why do you think that might be?

Where did I say that men who transition are not male? Answer that and then I will answer your next question.

Hahaha very funny.

You are not the only one. People have been saying that for many years on this forum and elsewhere. But there are also many women who have suffered sexual abuse in their lives for whom the issue of men in women's spaces and the potential risk they pose is very real.

If you are happoy to use mixed sex facilities that is your choice, but you cannot consent on behalf of other women.

Male violence against women really, really is one of the reasons for single sex spaces.

One would hope that men who work in healthcare roles are subject to a higher level of scrutiny, but even then they aren't allowed in all healthcare roles.

It's not just about violent physical contact, but the increased likelihood that men will engage in crimes like indecent exposure and voyeurism.

But the “so you can’t do anything about men invading your spaces” is noted, thanks.

From what I understand, a lot of people are against "third spaces", not unisex toilets.

Sp it is ok to commit an offence if you deceive you victim adequately? Fine to place a hidden camera in a changing room so long as it isn’t spotted? To speed so long as you aren’t caught? To commit fraud so long as you get away with it?