Maya Forstater

No it was more of a test case wondering what people think the definition of 'woman' is in a practical setting. The thing with the #manels thing is it is already based on saying lets get women to the point of being at least *underrepresented* on panels (1 person out of 3+)

That seems like a low bar already we are shooting for, given that women are 50% of the popn. Obviously everyone who takes the pledge is using their own guide. there are no rules. But I think in general when 'gender identity' is substituted for 'sex' it means women pushed aside

Given the many ways in which women are under-represented and trans people are discriminated against, worry about trans people being favored seems like a very strange place to focus ones energy on when fighting for women's rights.

I know it does Dina, and I don't think that there is a conflict between supporting trans people *and* women's rights (and obvs the manel question was more of a thought experiment than a suggestion that manels is the place to focus energy) but I do think the move to equate...

We can do both. But you are insisting very forcefully that for many cases, we should privilege the use of sex over gender. I think in this way you are hurting a small and very oppressed minority and doing very little to help those of us born in a female-perceived body.

Yes i think there are limited situations where we allow a facility or programme to be selective about sex (in most situations someone's sex does not matter & whether you are male or female shld not be taken into account in your suitability for employment, entry, membership etc..)

It sounds like you had some bad experiences related to trans women. I imagine they were not about too many trans people appearing on public panels. What's your underlying experience that leads to you feeling so strongly about this issue?