Bonjour Twits! In 2020, when one of my idols @jk_rowling was being attacked online, I became fully aware of the shemozzle we are in. I dove in and haven’t surfaced since. I read tweets, articles, books.. I couldn’t look away. And I continue to be appalled every day.
I’ve witnessed women losing their jobs, Gender Critical Reddit taken down, many of my favourite women on Twitter suspended, campaigns to remove @AbigailShrier’s Irreversible Damage from shelves. This is disgraceful, I thought. This isn’t fair. This isn’t right.
In Australia, where I live, there was recent chaos about women-only ocean pools. A bookshop apologised for hosting the wonderful @bindelj three years ago. I won’t be shopping there. But I want to do more. I’ve been wanting to get involved. So here I am.
There is so much I want to say. How heartbreaking and infuriating it is to hear about vulnerable women in prisons and shelters, who have likely experienced trauma and abuse, forced to pretend they’re ok with males in there (lest they be called bigots) and then being attacked.
How angry and disgusted I feel whenever women’s crime statistics are skewed due to trans-identifying males’ sexual violence. #NotOurCrimes
How devastating it is to see female athletes missing out on medals and opportunities because a male says he is female, swoops in and wins.
How annoyed I get when I read about men who “just knew” they were women because they were always very empathetic/tearful, and they loved nail polish/heels/lingerie. Or parents who “just knew” their son was a girl at age 3 since he liked Disney princesses and sparkles.
How nauseated I feel when we are referred to as breeders, chestfeeders, birthing people, and menstruators, but men are still men - it beggars belief. And how incredulous I am when lesbians are called “transphobic” for desiring women. Um, hello?!
How upset and hopeless I feel when I hear about children’s gender identities, and medical pathways set in place. When I see gloating surgeons laughing about removing breasts. I want to cry. I want to yell. I want to fight for these kids.
And oh, the joy I felt when @KLBfax won her case! What an incredible woman. I am in awe of the brave detransitioners who share their stories. You are all amazing, and deserve every happiness.
I constantly see people standing up for what they believe in. This community is so inspiring. To name a few, @janeclarejones @HJoyceGender @Docstockk - your work is so important.
Finally, a woman is an adult human female. If a man says he is a woman, for whatever reason, that does not mean he actually is a woman and has all the experiences and risks of womanhood. I cannot believe this is seen as hate speech by some.
People can like whatever they want. But the things you like don’t mean that you were the opposite sex all along! This is stereotyping! You can be a man who loves lipstick and heels - great! You don’t have to then insist you were actually born female and change laws about women.
Trans people deserve safe spaces. But this should not come at the cost of women’s rights, and we should not be changing the language used to describe women’s experiences.
Across the world, women’s risks include pregnancy and childbirth, domestic violence and homicide, rape and assault, female genital mutilation, trafficking and prostitution, being child brides.. the alarming list goes on. This is all sex-based.
I look forward to connecting with people on this platform, and standing up for what is right. And I have no doubt I’ll be shouted at with mantras along the way - to which I will respond, yep, boring, what else you got?!
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