women's book club apologises for reading 'invisible women'

@WITSIreland / WITS (Women in Technology & Science) is an all-women organisation established to promote women in technology and science. In June 2020 it issued an apology for choosing Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez as its Book Club’s book for discussion. In its statement, it described the book as “deeply problematic” because of its binary approach to gender to the detriment of trans and non-binary identified people. WITS decided to discuss the book as planned. However, rather than discuss the subject of the book, it would instead centre the discussion “in the context of inclusion of our trans and non-binary peers, including the irony of discussing ‘invisible women’ while ignoring trans and non-binary people.”

The remainder of the apology was a classic pick-me-apology and stern warning against exclusionary-feminism.

Ireland is a hub for tech and at one point it was making strides towards meaningful engagement with women in the tech sector but quickly every public or company-specific Women in Tech type group is being rebranded as an LGBTQ+ group.

Irish feminists have imported capitalist, hyperconsumer, liberal feminism from the US and as a result there is a very poor understanding of feminism in an Irish context. Any attempt to speak against the orthodoxy is described as British astroturfing. It’s embarrassing to watch unfold.

Thankfully primary and secondary education, health and politics are largely unaffected compared to the US, UK and Aus but cracks are showing. Irish equality law is finely balanced apart from self-ID which was introduced covertly. Our equivalent of the Equality Act has broad exemptions while “gender” is defined as man, woman or transsexual which ensures a distinction despite being used in lieu of “sex” although we have little by way of case law in this area. It’s just a matter of time before a growing group of activists emboldened by queer theory start demanding more.

#ireland #bookclub #womenintech #invisiblewomen #sexmatters

a shelter for all women, including men

A sign has gone up at the women's shelter I use that says:

'_______ is privileged to welcome and celebrate a diverse range of women. We pride ourselves on providing a safe space for all women. Any behaviour that makes another woman feel unsafe or unwelcome will not be tolerated. This includes transphobic remarks and purposeful misgendering - such as calling someone a "He" when they have clearly identified themselves as "she".'

"Unsafe" is a trans thing. It's men's feels over women's reals.

Problem being, the risk-averse exit themselves, and lots of the women who do still go to the shelter have that issue of being used to risk, and/or being quite unwell enough to not notice much, and/or having a substance or two to fall back on to just charge through things.

#australia #womensshelter #safety #vulnerability

man on meth in australian women's shelter

I am writing to tell you about how there is a transwoman who is still allowed in to the women-only free lunch place, even though he has been involved in three incidents (not at the shelter) - one that police attended after a girl had to fight him off with a knife. This isn't firsthand information but I thought you might listen.

I don't know the legal situation but apparently their funding is contingent upon letting the T in? We have a shower there! And a laundry, food, and programs during the day. It says "women only" in the literature. My friends from when I was homeless go there.

I went to complain about a simple run-in I had with this transwoman but the staff didn't listen, and worse, they corrected my language and speech. The lady said her boss would call me back, but she didn't.

Word is, this person is banned from the shelter, but the staff who work there can't or won't refuse him. All the frail and low-IQ women are basically not coming to the shelter anymore. During my run-in with him he hassled the staff saying that he was being discriminated against. I have a lot of life experience and am not frail about run-ins, but this is different. A man on meth in a female-only space is very unsettling. I have only been back once since early 2018, despite needing to for simple reasons like having somewhere to go.

#australia #womensshelter #meth #safety #maleviolence #homelessness #privacy