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Re women's services, here is a selection of some quotes from women on why they need female-only: “I was the victim of a brutal rape and battery, I didn't handle being around any male bodied person for months and I still have deep anxiety around males” “I HAVE used a women’s >
>refuge. I NEEDED that space to be free from males to let my guard down and heal. My child who WITNESSED VIOLENCE needed to be in a place without male bodied people so he could relearn what safe felt like” “I am a survivor of long term violent sexual abuse at the hands of men. >
>In those places, that are supposed to be safe havens for victims, a male would cause inevitable re-traumatisation” “I *have* been forced to use survivor support services where male-bodied people (both therapists and other clients) shared the space and it's literally devastated >
>my life…it's not about 'comfort', it's about *CAUSING HARM* to be living in a state of constant fear in what should be a healing space” “I would feel very, very unsafe. Not only would I not feel safe using it but it would severely affect my PTSD and I would probably never>
> feel safe to use a women’s service again”. As women's organisaitons have not carried out any work to gauge this impact, we hope that sharing this work with them is instructive: @EngenderScot @scotwomensaid @rapecrisisscot @EquateScotland @ZTScotland @closethepaygap
