Having Difficult Gender Diversity Conversations
Life and business are filled with decisions, trade off's and finding the middle ground in difficult discussions. We would refer to this as a compromise, which means no one is happy that they didn't get all they wanted but got an answer somewhere in between opposing viewpoints.
In the recent article The Difference Between Fear and Acceptance: How Straight and Transgender Women Find Safety I discussed the commonality between women having hen-do's or bachelorette parties at LGBTQ+ establishments and sharing bathroom facilities with drag queens and transgender women without incident or concern. In contrast, a very different discussion happens when we discuss public facilities with the same folks.
The core of that discussion centres around safety, as neither wants to encounter attack and harassment. No data exists to support claims that Transgender women are of concern, including going as far back as 2004, when the Gender Recognition Act first came into law.
So what are the top five safety concerns for all women?
Violence against women and girls: includes domestic violence, sexual violence, and stalking. According to the Office for National Statistics, 1.6 million women in England and Wales have experienced domestic violence in the last year. 1.3 million women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. And 2.4 million women have been stalked in their lifetime.
Street harassment: This includes unwanted comments, catcalling, and following. According to a survey by the End Violence Against Women Coalition, 97% of women have experienced street harassment at some point in their lives.
Online harassment: This includes cyberbullying, trolling, and threats. According to a survey by the Fawcett Society, 44% of women have experienced online harassment.
Discrimination: This includes workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, and gender-based violence. According to a survey by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, 45% of women have experienced discrimination in the workplace.
Unsafe transport: includes being harassed or assaulted on public transport or feeling unsafe walking alone at night. According to a Women's Safety Network survey, 62% of women have felt unsafe walking alone at night.
It is important to note that these are just some of the biggest safety risks for women in England and Wales. Women face many other risks, such as poverty, homelessness, and mental health problems.
If you face any obstacles in your work related to this topic or other gender-related topics, feel free to contact me at cynthiafortlage@cynthiafortlage.com for expert consulting and advice. I am always ready to offer my assistance.