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Is Gender Critical the new Pro Life?

(752 Posts)
GagaJo Fri 12-Nov-21 16:55:32

I was musing this while playing lego with DGS this afternoon.

Pro life individuals claim to be anti abortion because they want to protect the life of the unborn baby, but resent public spending on the baby once it is born. They're judgemental about single-parents. In the US, they want to deny access to free contraception to women, BUT refuse to hold men accountable for paying child support. Doesn't sound very pro anything to me.

Gender critical individuals claim to 'follow the science' but then refuse to accept any science that shows that human and animal life forms are born in categories other than just male and female. They're critical of other cultures that have accepted alternative gender expressions beyond the binary. While claiming not to be totally anti trans, they want to shut off any access to support or treatment (the hooha about the Tavistock Clinic and Kiera Bell) at a point in a young person's life where it could help them avoid developing the unwanted sexual characteristics of the gender they want to transition from. After all that, they will only accept trans individuals who are 100% post surgery, despite not wanting those individuals to be able to access surgery, hormones or treatment. They also deny the evidence and existence of these individuals historically, prefering to see the visibility of trans as a patriarchal plot to deny cis women their rights.

I'm sceptical. It is a 'damned if you do and damned if you don't' position for trans individuals within the eyes of the gender critical, in my opinion.

Let the battle commence.

Disclaimer
I am a life-long feminist.
I will not be responding to demands and insistence for answers.
I will, however, enter into polite discussion.

Rosie51 Thu 18-Nov-21 18:54:30

VS if you work with children with autism (for most the preferred descriptor, person before qualifier, the same as person of colour not coloured person) then you will know that it is a wide spectrum, and any additional learning difficulties are on a wide spectrum. There will be many, many children who would struggle in the 'Alex' situation, and I know my grandson would. That would be despite the right support at home. Do you work in a special school for children with complex needs, because SEN in mainstream schools is totally different to SEN in a dedicated school?

Doodledog Thu 18-Nov-21 18:55:01

VioletSky

Doodledog

I have never followed or supported Stonewall... I don't follow or support any one group, I read whatever is current and make my own mind up

I've always recognised issues over women's safety and have never advocated for taking it away.

My daughter is autistic, I am very educated and I also work with children with SEN. I truly believe that most autistic children could understand that concept with the right support. This would both need to be at home and at school.

If you are a soldier in the war against gender critical thought then you have absolutely advocated taking the rights of women away. Maybe you should have a little look at what Stonewall is up to before you go into any more battles?

The point of 'Alex's' case, I think, is that law does not operate on the basis of what should happen - it operates on what does happen. It is not a defence to claim that a situation wouldn't arise with the right support in place at home. Something is either legal or it isn't. There can be no ambiguity if the system is to work.

Chewbacca Thu 18-Nov-21 18:59:17

Only just caught up with your post at 16.38 Doodledog, thanks for sharing. Those examples are all too real for society in general - other minorities suffering because of a louder, more aggressive minority.

Chewbacca Thu 18-Nov-21 19:01:04

What do you think would be the right support VioletSky? Could you provide some examples of what that would be?

trisher Thu 18-Nov-21 19:10:21

Doodledog

Well, much as you are all-knowing, trisher. I'd prefer to take the work of practising solicitors and barristers that the scenarios are not fanciful.

Humour me, now you're here? You mentioned 'gender signals' earlier - I'm still confused about what they are. Can you help me out please?

Actually I did get something wrong . A child with a disability now has an EHC issued by the LA this folows them if they move school. There is a set process for complaining about a school and the way it treated a child. It's here www.gov.uk/complain-about-school/disability-discrimination
If the parents chose to go straight to court I think their refusal to use the established process would count against them.

trisher Thu 18-Nov-21 19:14:39

Gender signals are the things you do, say, or write which give an indication of your gender

VioletSky Thu 18-Nov-21 19:25:00

Chewbacca

What do you think would be the right support VioletSky? Could you provide some examples of what that would be?

Life changes. What children in general and especially children with autism can process depends on the child.

It could be a big change like them moving house or a small change like their teacher getting new glasses.

So how I would deal with it depends on the individual child.

The methods would be similar for getting new glasses, a hair cut, changing name due to marriage, big changes in their lives like divorce or bereavement.... depending on the individual child's needs.

We would start talking about changes before they happen (if possible). What the possibilities are, what might change and what might stay the same. We would talk about when it would happen, where it would happen and who would be there when it does. We could use social stories which exist for many situations so that they can have examples of how someone else might think or feel in their situation that they can relate too and that explains the situation well. We use visual cues, pictures that express changes, reminders, time lines. We keep good contact with the parents and provide resources they can use too. Above all, we would remain positive about the changes while still acknowledging any struggles they are having.

Apart from that we just make sure that their routines are kept the same as much as possible and that there are safe places for them to go when they are overwhelmed.

I remember when I got new sofas. We had to carry them out with our then 5 year old daughter attached to them. She still has a piece of fabric I cut off for her to keep somewhere. She still mentions to me that she misses them lol

VioletSky Thu 18-Nov-21 19:31:45

doodledog I accept trans women as women.

You do not get to tell me what I think/feel/support

It doesn't work that way.

In the last when I have asked if not accepting trans people equals discrimination, that's been enough to boil your bones without me even saying it was so, so please don't do it to me.

Mollygo Thu 18-Nov-21 19:45:57

Not accepting transpeople as what?
I’m curious. No one on here that I’ve read says they don’t accept trans people, only that transpeople are not the biological sex of the gender they choose and because of that there are certain restrictions that apply if, and only if, those transgender people try to take roles, places or rights which belong to adult human females (women) and, where applicable, adult human males (men).
As far as I’m aware, the majority of trans people make no moves to take the female roles, places or rights mentioned above. Other posters of course may know differently -and provide examples of hordes of trans people all insistent on rights, roles and places which are particular to the sex that they are not.
Of course, discrimination against adult human females has been going on for a long time, usually by men, but now by TW and their supporters.

Doodledog Thu 18-Nov-21 20:12:00

How can you be simultaneously fighting a war to allow men to become women and not be advocating the removal of women’s rights? I’m not telling you what you support - you said it yourself loud and clear.

GagaJo Thu 18-Nov-21 20:27:35

Mollygo

Yes GJ that’s what I’m saying. Very perceptive of you.

And amazingly unself aware of you.

VioletSky Thu 18-Nov-21 20:28:02

Doodledog

How can you be simultaneously fighting a war to allow men to become women and not be advocating the removal of women’s rights? I’m not telling you what you support - you said it yourself loud and clear.

This is why I generally decide not to engage unless people are polite.

Chewbacca Thu 18-Nov-21 20:33:10

VioletSky your post @ 19.25 was, although somewhat prescriptive, comprehensive on how to work with children with behavioural challenges but it didn't actually address how a child like "Alex" could come to understand the fact that his teacher has changed gender, particularly if he didn't feel comfortable around women. As touching as it was, I can't see the connection in your analogy of a change in sofas in the home and a child who, because of his condition, just cannot cope with a monumental change in his daily school routine. Or are you suggesting that Alex should be given a piece of Mr Hawthorn's old suit as a comfort blanket? Or would that be an infringement of Miss Hawthorn's rights now that she's "a woman"? Surely you must know that autism is a spectrum (unlike sexuality)? You cannot be prescriptive as to how all autistic children, or any child for that matter, will react.

VioletSky Thu 18-Nov-21 20:38:15

Chewbacca I didn't say it would work for all children, what I did say is that unfortunately changes happen and we do our best.

It's not anyone's fault a lot of the time, it just is

Chewbacca Thu 18-Nov-21 20:38:24

This is why I generally decide not to engage unless people are polite. WHAT?? What on earth was "impolite" about "How can you be simultaneously fighting a war to allow men to become women and not be advocating the removal of women’s rights? I’m not telling you what you support - you said it yourself loud and clear.?"

This that's been enough to boil your bones without me even saying it was so, so please don't do it to me. on the other hand was impolite, rude and snarky. hmm

Chewbacca Thu 18-Nov-21 20:40:02

It's not anyone's fault a lot of the time, it just is I'll take that as you don't have an answer. Fine.

VioletSky Thu 18-Nov-21 20:52:11

I wish gransnet had a block option.

Chewbacca Thu 18-Nov-21 20:56:48

It has. Just turn it off and don't turn it on again.

VioletSky Thu 18-Nov-21 20:58:24

I can laugh at that because it is my own joke

Iam64 Thu 18-Nov-21 20:59:24

Chewbacca

^This is why I generally decide not to engage unless people are polite.^ WHAT?? What on earth was "impolite" about "How can you be simultaneously fighting a war to allow men to become women and not be advocating the removal of women’s rights? I’m not telling you what you support - you said it yourself loud and clear.?"

This that's been enough to boil your bones without me even saying it was so, so please don't do it to me. on the other hand was impolite, rude and snarky. hmm

What and which posters are you wanting to block VioletSky. You say you only want to engage with ‘polite’ posters, claim you are often accused of passive aggression when you’re trying to be pleasant. That’s my word not yours, I apologise I don’t recall your exact wording.

Chewbacca Thu 18-Nov-21 21:01:26

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

VioletSky Thu 18-Nov-21 21:05:35

I can't keep up, one minute people are willing to have a discussion and the next, "it is either you are with us or against us".

I enjoy discussion, not black and white thinking.

The blocking comment, well that's personal and no matter how hard I try to engage it will be made personal on any thread I comment on... Which is a shame but ultimately it is not my problem.

Chewbacca Thu 18-Nov-21 21:11:38

Getting back on track.... If the "war" for transgender has already been all but won, we have a great deal to be concerned about. Whilst this took place in the USA, it sits in with the recent Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill this week. I'd be interested in hearing Stonewall's opinion on this:

A transgender university professor in Virginia has been placed on leave after defending pedophiles as 'Minor Attracted People' and saying they shouldn't be ostracized because they can't help their natural urges.

Dr. Allyn Walker, who goes by the pronouns they/them, was placed on leave by Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on Tuesday after a swell of outrage over their remarks and views.

Walker has written a book that tries to destigmatize pedophilia. It encourages people to refer to pedophiles as 'Minor Attracted People' and says they shouldn't be ostracized for their urges, which they can't help.

In a video to promote the book, Walker said: 'A lot of people when they hear the word pedophile, they automatically assume that means sex offender. That isn't true. And it leads to a lot of misconceptions.'

They suggested pedophiles should be able to use childlike sex dolls to satisfy their urges and stop them from targeting actual children, and they 'didn't ask' to be sexually attracted to kids.

The remarks sparked outrage immediately, but the university at first refused to remove Walker from their post.

GagaJo Thu 18-Nov-21 21:11:59

I enjoy discussion, not black and white thinking. Agree.

I think the brow beating is designed to make us shut up. No one posts 500 plus words on a forum unless they are massively over invested in dominating.

It's a shame. This is such an interesting topic with so many angles. I don't mind others not sharing my opinion. I CBA to argue most of the time tho.

Chewbacca Thu 18-Nov-21 21:14:48

I think the brow beating is designed to make us shut up. Now you know how natal women, gay men, lesbians and bi-sexual feel.