escaping sexual assault

When I was nine years old a group of boys chased me and held me down and put their hands down my undies and up my skirt. I don't remember how I got away but I did, and the chase was on again - I remember getting a bloody knee while tripping but I just got back up and kept running to the girls toilet. The reason why those boys (monsters) stopped chasing me was because it was the girls toilets. Can you imagine what would have happened to me if they allowed boys claim to identify as girls into the girls toilets at that school?

It was a Yr-1 to Yr -7 school in Perth WA, and when I told my teacher she didn't believe me - even when I pointed to the bruises and bloody knee. She told me to stop making up stories. Those boys didn't get in trouble, I did. The teacher said "even if you are telling the truth I bet you deserved it". I'm the quiet girl people forget.

#australia #perth #westernaustralia #sexualassault #toilets #bathrooms #escape #safety

self-ID and pub bathrooms

Recently I was out to dinner at a pub with my male partner. There was a quite obviously male person there in a dress and high heels, making them well over 6 feet tall. In itself this wasn't an issue; the issue was that the women's bathroom was a distance away and down a corridor. I was nervous to use it in case this person came in. Like many women I am a survivor of childhood abuse, and the idea of a large man potentially being in my personal space was intimidating to the point of leaving the venue earlier than planned. This wouldn't have been an issue (i.e. another human being having dinner and drinks in the venue) if I had certainty that this person wouldn't be allowed to use the female toilets, but self-ID has changed that.

All in all I am becoming more concerned day by day about gender identity ideology, not because I want to discriminate against individuals, but because of legislative changes, the safety of women and children, and freedom of speech. I am at the point where I may have to choose between my beliefs and my job.

#australia #safety #survivors #bathrooms #toilets #ideology

online surveys

I'm not sure if this information will be of value to others, but it has really impacted me.

I went to fill out a survey about England Rugby's transgender policy and found there was no category for my sex, only 'cis woman'. As such I had to write "woman" in the "other" category. I literally had to "other" myself to be included. I was bra-less, not wearing make-up, and in blue shorts and a black T-shirt when I was completing the survey - I'm not "cis" and I find the term insulting.

Another survey was regarding menstruation experiences for the group Share the Dignity. This survey included the categories 'male' and 'transgender woman'. I could not believe it. For a group who apparently cares about the menstrual needs of vulnerable women and girls, I was dumbfounded that they would entertain the notion that males menstruate, and also deal with consequent issues around menstruation such as heavy bleeding, taking time off work etc, etc.

As such I didn't complete the survey, and they lost information about my 33 years of menstruation (including difficulties in adolescence and with contraception).

#australia #surveys #language #woman #menstruation #notcis #data