Thread by @NicESpurling

Richard has either failed to read the declaration he’s signed, or he’s adopted the position of being anti-science and anti-human rights. I think it’s time for a breakdown thread…

https://twitter.com/richarddawkins/status/1465324057277173772

The declaration states that signees are pushing for “all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations customs and practices which constitute discrimination against women.’’

That seems fine, right?
Keep reading…

Signers also want “appropriate measures, including legislation, to ensure the full development and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men.’’ Also fine, right?..

Here’s where things go sideways. At first, the declaration seems to want equality, yet it goes on to state the ways in which men and women are different and should be treated differently. So, equality isn’t the goal, but maybe equity is?

The declaration associates “sex” with “physical and biological characteristics,” while it associates “gender” with “the roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society at a given time considers appropriate for men and women” (stereotypes).

As a trans woman, my physical characteristics lead people to, correctly, assume that I’m a woman, whereas my roles, behaviours, and activities, are stereotypically masculine. That’s because being trans is not about dressing in costume, or adhering to stereotypes.

The declaration claims that gender and sex are being conflated, and calls for that to change. Yes, this is an issue, however it’s being conflated in the sense that transphobes will claim gender-based discrimination is sex-based, in an attempt to justify their bigotry.

Discrimination based on people’s sex assigned at birth exists, however sexism is rarely associated with the sex we were assigned at birth, because very few people know what that was. Discrimination generally occurs based on our appearance.

The declaration then claims “the concept of ‘gender identity’ has enabled men who claim a female ‘gender identity’ to assert, in law, policies, and practice, that they are members of the category of women, which is a category based upon sex”
#TransWomenAreWomen

Within our society, trans women face discrimination for being women, and we also face discrimination for being trans. In instances where discrimination is based on sex assigned at birth, “cisgender,” “AFAB,” and “AMAB” provide terminology for it to be called out.

The declaration claims “‘gender identity’ is used to challenge individuals’ rights to define their sexual orientation on the basis of sex rather than ‘gender identity’, enabling men who claim a female ‘gender identity’ to seek to be included in the category of lesbian”

This point is just silly. Anyone can claim any sexual orientation they want to. There are no sexual orientation police, nor should there be. How would you even craft a law that prevents people from inaccurately portraying their sexual orientation?

As for transgender lesbians, I am one of those. I even designed a #TransLesbian flag, which is for sale at @TheFlagShop. I date women (cis or trans) who are attracted to other women. I’ve tried being with trans men, but they’re men, so it didn’t work.

pride.flagshop.com/products/trans…

The declaration claims “some men who claim a female ‘gender identity’ seek to be included in the legal category of mother.”

I’m not sure why this is being brought up. The stated goal of the declaration is equality between men and women, so this label should make no difference.

The declaration claims “maternal rights and services are based on women’s unique capacity to gestate and give birth to children.”

As someone who was adopted, this is insulting. My mother is the person who raised me, not the person who birthed me.

The declaration claims “explicit recognition and reaffirmation of the right of all women to control all aspects of their health, in particular their own fertility, is basic to their empowerment’’.

Yet, the declaration seeks to control trans men, who the author(s) view as women.

“The exploitation and commodification of women’s reproductive capacity also underpins medical research which is aimed at enabling men to gestate and give birth to children” is just too weird of a statement to leave out of this breakdown. Make of it what you will.

I can’t be bothered to break down the entire document, so I went for the general overview. There’s easily enough, in the first page alone, to discredit the declaration, and certainly enough, if @RichardDawkins read it before signing, to show that he’s a raging transphobe.

Based on some of the responses to this thread, I feel the need to clarify that I don’t actually believe Richard was unaware of the document he was signing, That’s just the only other plausible reason for signing this declaration.