I recently wrote a pair of posts under the title ‘A Question Of Acceptance’ in which I discussed my joy at trying on an outfit in a high street store and the subsequent nagging feeling that entering the women’s fitting rooms was wrong. This was written from a crossdresser’s perspective and at the root of my discomfort was the realisation that I’d entered what was designated a women-only space with the primary intention of ticking another item off the list. Along the way, I found various ways of justifying what I’d done including the effort I put into my transformations to demonstrate that I have the utmost respect for women and the welcome afforded to me by the fitting room attendants who knew full well that I was some flavour of trans but didn’t try to stop me. Contacting the stores was inconclusive – they didn’t say I could use the women’s fitting rooms but they also didn’t say I couldn’t. In the end, I concluded that the effort I was putting into justifying my presence was probably a good indicator that it was perhaps not appropriate for me to be there in the first place.
Before I go on, there are a couple of things I need to clarify.
1. Everything I write here is from the perspective of a crossdresser who currently lives around 99% of their life as a male. Neither the foregoing nor anything I may opine in what follows should be interpreted as applying to everyone, wherever they sit on the trans continuum. The issues for those who live all, or a major part, of their lives in their acquired gender are very different to mine and I wouldn’t want any confusion here. Or to put it another way, you do you and I’ll do me.
2. I don’t pass. I take care with my transformation and the way I present myself and most (but not all) people who walk within a few feet of me will be none the wiser. However, my provenance will be crystal clear to those I interact with at close quarters, the only ambiguity is whether I am full/part time trans or occasional CDer and that’s the way I like it.
What I realised when I was writing the aforementioned post is that there are many wonderful experiences I can have without entering women only spaces. In fact every time I go into a café and am handed my drink with a smile and ‘have a lovely day’ is a wonderful experience from my perspective. And in many respects, ordering a cup of tea and a pastry which I intend to consume feels far more authentic than trying on an outfit I have no intention of buying.
And this hit home during one of my latest outings. I have a love-hate relationship with eyeliner. I love the effect it creates but applying it is a nightmare, particularly with my bad eyesight. For obvious reasons, I also need eyeliner that is easy to remove which rules out anything waterproof. I’m sure things like micellar water will do the job with waterproof eyeliner but the risk of missing a bit in the cleanup is too great. So while I was out, I thought I’d seek advice from an expert.
The first shop I passed was Sephora. Now I don’t doubt that I’d have got very good advice in there but it was busy and there didn’t seem to be many assistants in evidence so I carried on walking. Then I came to Boots the Chemists; I’ve bought stuff from there before and they’re always very helpful so in I went. I had a quick look around and then spotted that the assistant on the MAC counter wasn’t busy. I don’t know much about MAC other than that it’s decent quality with a price tag to match but I thought it’d at least be worth talking to the assistant to see what she suggested.
I explained that I was looking for eyeliner that could do a good job on the waterline but wasn’t waterproof. She asked what colour I was after; I told her black and she produced a sample which she drew onto the back of her hand. It looked pretty good and then I hit the jackpot. She asked me if I would like her to apply some on me so I could see the effect. Would I?!!!
The next thing I knew, I was sitting in front of the mirrors on the shop floor. The assistant then proceeded to disinfect the sample before asking me to look up and then gently applying it to the waterline of my right eye. She then invited me to take a look and that’s when a wave of emotion hit me.
I’ve never previously felt emotional seeing myself as a woman. Of course there’s the euphoria that goes with the territory but this was different. The emotion only lasted for a second or two but it felt like another layer of wrapping being peeled away – wrapping that has hidden the woman within for five decades but is finally being unwrapped layer by layer to reveal something quite wonderful.
She then asked if I wanted her to do the other eye, which seemed like a good idea (!) and the deal was to all intents and purposes done – how could I have walked away without a souvenir of that wonderful experience? I have to say that £20 feels a bit steep for a kohl pencil although the 15% discount took it down to £17 which helped but it was worth every penny for the experience, not forgetting the hug we exchanged before I left.
When I first emerged from the closet, and before that too if I’m honest, I was driven by a need to achieve milestones and I know that I’m not alone in doing that. Bucket lists pop up from time to time and even if we don’t formalise particular things, we set ourselves targets. We take a short walk when no one is around and vow that next time, we’ll go somewhere where there is activity. We use the self-checkout and determine that next time it’ll be a human cashier. Ordering kiosks at McDonalds become sit down meals ordered from waiting staff and so on. These are huge milestones, characterised by fear beforehand and a feeling of ‘what on earth was I worried about?’ afterwards. But as I came to realise, that obsession with affirmation took me to places that were really not appropriate. Fitting rooms are provided for women to try on clothing, not for CDing guys to tick another achievement off the list.
Earlier, I talked about the authenticity of doing something as simple as ordering a cup of tea and a pastry and this latest exchange was another example of that. It was a wonderful experience not because I ticked ‘buy something from a makeup counter’ off a list but because I was treated as any other customer would be treated. The ‘red carpet’ was rolled out for me not because the assistant wanted to virtue signal her diversity credentials but because she wanted to make a sale and satisfy my need. And here my need was nothing more than a decent quality eyeliner – the fact that I got so much more was a bonus I never expected.
As CDers, we yearn to inhabit the feminine world. Driven by a cocktail of admiration, envy and whatever else it is that drives the uncontrollable urges, we transform ourselves into the best representation of womanhood that we can and aspire to inhabit those areas that are the exclusive preserve of women. But what I’m increasingly finding is that the feminine world exists everywhere, not just in the inner sanctums of women-only spaces. And moreover, whilst we may get nice comments from fitting room attendants, we’ll also get them from coffee shop staff, makeup counters, sales assistants and pretty well anywhere else. We don’t have to ‘pass’, just show respect to womanhood in the way we present & act and the door is wide open. Because the fact of the matter is that it’s easier to treat us as any woman would be treated than to make life difficult. All we need to do is to make sure we appreciate those little gestures and do nothing to cause those we interact with to revoke our ‘guest pass’.
But most of all, we need to enjoy every minute of it. Many of us have struggled for years if not decades to come to terms with all of this and these little moments of affirmation are our reward for hanging in there.
30 Responses
Sephora’s own range is really good, although everything else i use is Charlotte Tilbury i use Sephora mascara. Can’t speak about their eyeliners as i don’t use them, but mascaras are about £12
Thanks for the tip. I tend to steer clear of mascara, not least because my eyelashes are very short so there’s not really anything worth mascararing. Even false lashes are a challenge as all of the videos I’ve watched on YouTube seem to involve using the natural lashes to guide the falsies to the right place, a luxury I do not have the pleasure of!
I first went out shopping enfemme in 1980 or 81. It was quite an experience. I was definitely nervous. The atmosphere then was scary at times. Today most people are aware of us. The worst that happens now is a stare from some ignorant people. Life is short. Live it the way that makes you happy.
Well said! It’s sad that many still fear going out because providing basic precautions are taken, the risks are minimal and it’s a fantastic experience.
Amanda, in following this series of posts, I have mixed feelings about “women’s spaces” and CDs. Some people would say that even the makeup counter or the clothing shop are “for women”. But those are more public facing and do not carry the same weight (IMO) as do bathrooms and changing rooms. My personal perspective is that if (a BIG if) I am properly dressed and presenting as a woman, I should be responsible for my behavior in those more intimate spaces. Use them for their intended reasons and nothing else. I also understand that some places are more open and should not be used. As always, use your best judgment and err on the side of respect.
As to the makeup euphoria, having the assistant not only find the item you are looking for, but taking the time to apply it correctly is an immediate high for me too. It is going to be time for me to get some new makeup, as my bag has several older items that should be replaced. I’ve had good experiences at both Sephora and Ulta in the US. My lashes are very short as well, so I have used false ones as well as mascara. Both require a steady hand and lots of practice, which isn’t always easy to do!
Tina, thank you for sharing your thoughts. I think a good yardstick here is to consider whether if, dressed in our ‘normal’ clothes, whether we’d be welcomed into the same spaces. I have no doubt that the MAC lady would have been happy to relieve me of £17 regardless of presentation but the changing room attendants covered previously may not have been so enthusiastic about letting me in. And that then raises another question – if I had marched past the attendant in my guy clothes, would she have felt able to stop me? I completely agree with what you describe as your personal perspective and if we decide to enter these spaces, it’s important to do so with the knowledge that we are entering as guests and behave accordingly.
As regards eye makeup, sadly I have to add appalling eyesight into the mix and no amount of practice is going to keep my hand steady and get my eyes to focus on anything closer than three miles away!
Amanda,
While we might worry about the implications of the High Court Ruling and what equates to women only spaces most shops whether they be catering or clothing apparel have worked well enough with the law already in place . This means that staff are trained to deal with all members of the community , Evans were the first company to realise a high percentage of their customers were male buying female items . If you are a pleasant well behaved customer then you will be treated with the same respect as any other customer , from my own experience we do intrigue SAs , they tend to give us more time because they want to know more about us . It doesn’t matter if you pass or not and as you comment they don’t know where you are on the transgender spectrum and they have no need to question it .
The question of female only spaces or even male only spaces is very hard to define at times , some women aren’t obviously female and some men aren’t obviously male is it right we should discriminate against them ?
On a personal note when I went fulltime I began to realise from a woman’s perspective what the , ” NO GO ” areas were . Over the years I have built home extentions with all the associated trades , I had accounts with a few building suppliers , in male mode I cared little how I looked , I was there to buy the materials to continue the job . When I walked into the local builders merchant for the first time as Teresa , I could feel every pair of male eyes following me , ( I was wearing full makeup , a skirt and blouse with ankle boots and blond hair ) . I knew what I wanted but when I couldn’t find it I had to ask , I felt like an alien , I could see the sales guy behind the counter thinking what does she know about this stuff ? I experienced the same problem in Halfords , eventually I began to enjoy playing the dumb blond , knowing I’d picked the wrong items to get them to explain was so much fun .
While I know you stress that your posts are written from a CDers persective , please don’t forget I have lived through that , I understand the point you make . If I may ask the question do you find my comments useful from a view point after transition ?
Amanda ,
I forgot to comment on makeup especially eyes . For sometime I’ve been using Rimmel Shake mascara it’s just the right weight and stays on as well as any other and it lasts twice as long because it has a weight inside which stops it clumping , I usually use a Boots eyeliner pencil ( I prefer pencils because I know how long they will last ) I wear makeup everyday but I do have good days and bad , sometimes I have long lashes ( especially lower ones ) and some days they have almost disappeared but I have never used false ones .
Regarding women only spaces, whilst the Supreme Court judgement is on my mind, for me it ultimately boils down to the question of whether I’d be welcomed there in my normal persona and clearly there are some spaces where I would definitely not be. As far as the law goes, my philosophy is that it’s easier to make exceptions to a rule than it is to mop up the mess caused by not having a rule. I like to think that I am worthy of an exception being made but that is ultimately up to others to decide. But as I think I mentioned on an earlier post many fail to draw a distinction between using a facility out of necessity and entering it as some form a affirmation-seeking. There’s nothing wrong with seeking affirmation but as this post proved, there are plenty of opportunities to seek it without entering women-only spaces. But if I was out and about and needed the loo, there’s no way that I would even contemplate using the gents when presenting female.
Turning now to your final paragraph, are your comments useful? I would prefer not to have to set out my stall as a CDer in the way that I do but I think it’s important to set context and avoid ambiguity. I think there’s a tendency for a subgroup of those who self-identify as TG to look disparagingly on those who CD on a more recreational basis and that raises the question as to whether these are two distinct groups or just different facets of the same group. For a long time, I saw the two groups as mutually exclusive (although people sometimes moved from one to the other) but I’ve done quite a bit of reading of late and am coming to the conclusion that where we sit on the spectrum is just a product of strength of feeling and impact of consequence. Obviously, the pressures are very different for someone who lives their whole life in their acquired gender when compared to someone who crosses over very occasionally but where your insight is valuable is in demonstrating that even without the fallback of the male identity, it’s possible to live a fulfilled life and not to shy away from doing things just because clothes don’t match chromosomes. Most important though is that there are many more readers here than commenters and it’s important for a range of views and perspectives to be presented because that ensures that posts resonate with as wide a population as possible.
Amanda,
I always make the point of understanding because I’ve experienced it .
I found from social groups that segregation was sometimes self inflicted there are those who really do treat it as a hobby , I admit for a long time I found that term upsetting and annoying , my dressing needs had caused too much pain and heartache for my family to insult them by calling it a hobby . They dressed for fun , the enjoyment of bending the rules , they didn’t understand those that suffered with dysphoria leaving only transition to find peace and happiness .
In the majority of cases consequences are dictated by wanting to remain in a marriage or partnership , I know my circumstances would be different if we’d tried to retain our marriage . I would never criticise anyone for trying to conserve their marriage , it should be for life but sadly it’s not always possible . It’s important to be realistic and consider what is right for all parties if the marriage is dead and happiness can only be found separately . Marriage is an equal partnership not a life of onesided compromises where It can feel like a prison sentence .
I’m really perplexed about hang ups with women only spaces. !st of all-if you go out to dinner etc and have to pee what do you do?Taking a pee does not require any interaction with other “partcipants” . And if you are shopping and find a dress you like do you take a pass on trying it on? I sense that the underlying issue here is the fear factor that we all face and is still there in the background. Dress like a woman-act like a woman-and face the (irrational) fear head on
As I put in a previous post, amongst the CDer community there is a subset of people who see entry to women-only spaces as some form of rite of passage, sharing selfies taken inside ladies’ toilets etc. The reality, as you say, is that providing we look and act like women, we are unlikely to have issues but it still boils down to the simple fact that presentation and behaviour does not define who has a right of entry and it certainly isn’t up to me to redefine the parameters. I don’t avoid these spaces out of fear but rather out of respect.`
Amanda, I had a wonderful day recently. I meet a friend and had a girl’s day shopping. We were invited by the owner of the shop to try on some dresses. Everyone treated us like any woman would be related. I even used the woman’s rest room with no incidents. We had a wonderful lunch and the server asked us “what would ladies like to order”, it made me feel like a normal woman. I know we don’t pass, but it is nice to be treated like that. I know how wonderful a day like that can be.
Love Julie
Julie, thank you for sharing your experiences which were yet more examples of acceptance being there for the taking. It sounds like you had a fantastic time.
Amanda,
A couple of points.
(1) The MAC representative does not earn money from sales, she is paid directly by MAC, not the store. I found this out when I got a complete make-over by a MAC representative (see Halloween story 2024). It cost $100 in MAC products (and she wasn’t allowed to take tips either). Only trouble I did not closely watch what she was doing, so it is hard for me to do it on my own. Lucky for me, I inherited the ‘long eye lash gene’ (so did my kids) so I enjoy the MAC stackable mascara. (If you steam up the shower you can ease it off your lashes). It’s my go-to mascara.
(2) A cosmetologist friend of mine told me that olive oil works as a makeup remover in a pinch. Haven’t tried it.
(3) I think part of your dilemma of ‘woman space’ comes from idea you were not going to buy it, just playing dress up. Nothing is wrong with that, women do it ALL the time. More that 80% of what I wear is women’s, I want to know if it fits me. As a result I have no problems using fitting rooms, even in a crowded VS store in male mode. May times they asked if I want to try it on.
Cali, thanks for the MAC insight & tips. Of course the whole sales thing has many facets but, as far as my kohl pencil was concerned, I like to think that buying it gave her the emotional reward from knowing that she’d made my day.
As regards women only spaces, I know that for 99% (or maybe 99.9% or even 99.99%) of the time, I won’t have a problem, not least because I try to dress in a way that’s appropriate for the surroundings so most people won’t even notice me. But what I don’t know is how someone who sees me and realises what I am will feel, particularly in the UK where people tend to be far more reserved and will rarely say anything. There’s an argument that says that we win over hearts and minds by demonstrating that we’re not a threat (and I’ve got a future post in the works that looks at that) but I think the default message to the CDer community has to be to tread carefully and if it’s just a case of looking for womanly experiences, there are plenty of opportunities outside women-only spaces.
I shop in ‘male mode’ without problems and get asked if I want to use the fitting room to try it on all the time. I put ‘male mode’ in quotes because I’ll be dressed in all women’s clothing (love my bodysuits in the winter) and of course have my nails.
I have nothing substantive to add. I just love being the quiet one who listens to what other woman like myself (I am trans, identify as a woman) talk about.
As of this time I don’t have any of the “out and about” experiences that you all have, whether as a CDer or part time / full time trans woman. Oh I have been out but more as an undercover CI then as a free spirited senior lady.
My femme time is limited, much more is longed for, and as desire with confidence grows it will happen.
It is discussion like these to which you all have contributed which feeds that slow growth. I learn much. You help grow me. I ask, “Well if Amanda, or Kandi, or Lisa, or Theresa, or Terri, or Calli or whoever can, then why NOT me.”
Amanda, I honestly look forward to the moment I have have to decide shall I ask to use a changing room, or use the ladies room, or . . . whatever. But until then you can grow me.
And when I finally “do it,” I’ll be back to share. Mind you, not so that I can say I ticked it off, but to offer my thanks for helping me get to that place in my own womanhood.
Kindly,
Charlene
Charlene, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
Firstly, I am humbled that you mention me in the same breath as Kandi and the other contributors here who have forgotten more about going out and about enfemme than I could ever hope to know. But I would echo your point that if I can do it, anyone can.
I’ve got a short series about going out in the pipeline for posting within the next couple of months so I won’t say too much here. But a couple of unconnected things I saw today underlined that we really don’t have anything to worry about providing we take basic precautions. The first was a model show I went to; for some reason, modelmaking seems to attract trans people and true to form, I saw a few today. Whilst there was no ambiguity in their trans status and they did not pass by any stretch of the imagination, what struck me when seeing them talking to exhibitors was that they were both acting as, and being treated the same as, any other visitor. And the second was when I went to wash my hands in the station toilets; at the entrance to both the ladies and gents were notices advising that staff of both sexes would be maintaining the facilities – in other words there could be women cleaning the gents and men cleaning the ladies. It struck me as somewhat ironic given all of the fuss in the UK about trans people using the ‘wrong’ toilets.
I hope you are able to take your ‘one small step/one giant leap’ soon. As I have found on my own outings, there are wonderful experiences to be had around with people who are only too happy to repay respect with kindness and acceptance.
Hi Amanda , thanks for this great story. I know exactly what you mean about the milestones! I have only recently gone out in public twice now all be it at cross dressing support group and I’m slowly gaining more confidence.
I have found a few times while shopping for clothes in full boy mode , some sales assistants have actually offered to let me use the change rooms to try things on. It’s a fantastic feeling of acceptance. I pick my times and get a feel for the sales assistants.
So far i haven’t had any problems which I’m very thankful for. You make some very good observations and suggestions
I look forward to crossing off more milestones in the future. Love to you and all the fantastic girls here ❤️
Chris, thank you for your kind words.
The realisation of the amount of acceptance out there for the taking was a turning point for me not least because it’s such a confidence booster. Most heartwarming of all is the kindness that’s shown by those we deal with. I know they’re paid to be nice and give service with a smile but what I’ve experienced often goes way beyond that. I would also add that I’m always alone on my outings and that heightens the sense of connection with those I interact with. There’s something quite special about realising that we’re seen as not just a customer but a female customer and experiencing those woman to woman moments that we can never experience in our normal lives.
You’re most welcome Amanda.
When I’m dressed, I know I won’t pass , however, I feel really good about myself and I hope that radiates through and people will see that. Of course not everyone will be accepting, so I would still need to be careful where I go.
Chris, two things you’ve just said really stand out. The first is that you know you won’t pass. That is an issue that affects pretty well all of us – it’s just a fact of life. But change the aspiration to passing as a transwoman and we all pass 100% of the time. Most of society is quite happy to deal with trans people so why should we worry?
The second thing is that you declare that you feel really good about yourself and that’s the magic ingredient. Once we can look in the mirror and love what we see, that’s when we know it’s time for others to be able to draw the same conclusion.
You’re absolutely right about being careful but in the hours of daylight the risks of non-acceptance, or at least non-tolerance – are generally very low.
I have a slightly different view around the concept of ‘women only spaces’ living in continental Europe. Traditionally many toilet facilities in bars and restaurants are shared, usually a communal wash area and toilet at either side for the different genders, and as such mixing in wash rooms is quite a usual occupancy. Also in busy clubs and venues where there and gendered toilets it is quite common for women to use the male facilities to avoid the queues. As such I am not aware of any of my female friends or colleagues having an issue about toilets and this does seem something very specific to North America and the UK. I understand that there is a difference for spas, saunas, and sport facilities where people will be naked, but the restroom issue is a bit of non issue here for the vast majority of the population.
Strangely I would see it as more strange to use the ladies change room in a large store like Bejinkorf or Xara in male mode, mainly as each floor or area is very gendered and to be honest I feel like a guest when there, event when with my partner. I find the thrift stores much more easier to shop in and try stuff on as the vibe is more neutral with the clothes side by side and unisex changing rooms.
Also.my general rule is I present as male I will respect women’s areas, however when out as Tanja in bars or restaurants I will use the female facilities as it would be strange to observers not to, and it is purely for comfort not to tick something off on a bucket list or to take a selfie.
Tanja, thank you for bringing a new perspective to this discussion. I think a lot of the issues have arisen not because they really are issues but because they are perceived as reinforcing a particular narrative. As I put in a reply to another comment above, I recently saw signs on both the ladies and gents toilets at one of the London stations advising that staff of either gender could be working in either toilet. So that’s completely acceptable and yet the entry of trans-identifying individuals is not in the eyes of some which doesn’t make any sense.
I’ve got a post in the pipeline based on an interesting but pragmatic perspective from a natal woman. I just need to get her agreement to quote her and then it’ll be sent to Kandi for publication.
Tanja,
Thanks for making the point about restrooms not being a problem in Europe . I have used both combined gender toilets where women and children have to pass the open urinals used by the men and I have seen women rushing to use male gendered ones when the queue for the female one has grown too long . Also as you comment using male facilities when dressed is ridiculous I haven’t had single problem , in the UK the Suprmeme Court ruling has been badly thought through . As I’m now full time as Teresa I will continue to use female restrooms , that also applies to changing rooms when trying on clothing items but I would still tread carefully when using changing rooms with showers after a sporting activity or swimming . If we all use them with respect and common sense we shouldn’t have a problem .
It’s important to put the Supreme Court ruling into perspective. All it effectively did was to say that, as far as the Equality Act 2010 is concerned, ‘sex’ means biological sex and that a gender recognition certificate (GRC) did not override the sex-based provisions in the act. The judgement was, as far as I recall, based on the premise that ‘gender reassignment’ was a separate protected category in the act so the intention in the act was clear, albeit perhaps not worded as well as it could have been.
What is critical here is that the judgement did not outlaw trans people using the facilities of their acquired gender – it never has been illegal for biological males to use ladies toilets & changing rooms and vice versa and nothing has changed in that respect. As you say, providing we show respect & discretion when using these facilities, we shouldn’t have issues.
Amanda,
I’m not sure if you are correct , the Court ruling states only biological women can now use female facilities , they would no longer recognise a GRC . The SC decision falls short on several counts , the big one being the sitaution with F/M transsexuals , despite hormones and surgery according the the SC they are still considered biological women which is an insult to their new acquired identity . It could mean a well muscled , bearded person is expected to use female faciliies when he considers himself no longer a female . It’s obvioulsy as absurd for an acceptable woman to be forced to use male facilities when she holds a GRC saying she’s female . The ruling also stated that if a M/F transgender person is refused admission a suitable alternative must be offered , in the past I’ve sometimes played safe and used disabled facilities until a very annoyed disabled person questioned my disablility .
What also concerns me is women who have suffered various cancer problems and may have had a hysterectomy and breast removal could be considered less of a biological woman .
The big question is who is fully qualified to enforce the SC ruling , who decides what qualifies a biological woman ? Do the majority of women really feel that strongly about female only spaces ? We could end up with men demanding male only spaces .
Personally I feel this situation has more to do with power and politics and not the actual needs of the majority of society .
The 2010 gender act was not perfect but it worked fine for the majority of people , most unions had negotiated working practices , the transgender community was being allowed to integrate into society now that community is facing segregation , again lets not forget the F/M members of that community . It’s also important to remember that there are transgender peoople working both in political parties and in the civil service , how safe could their jobs be now ?
Teresa, the Supreme Court ruling relates only to the definition of sex within the Equality Act 2010. It was a legal clarification, not the establishment of law which is Parliament’s preserve.
After the ruling, the Equality and Human Rights Commission issued an update which was subsequently withdrawn. In that update it said that people should not use facilities intended for the other (biological) sex but the language used – specifically the word ‘should’ which is very different to the word ‘must’.
The question as to who enforces it doesn’t arise in a legal sense because there is no law to be enforced here. What the ruling essentially does is to enable sex-based facilities to be provided without fear of prosecution for discrimination.
There’s a very good summary at https : // commonslibrary . parliament . uk / research-briefings/cbp-10259/ (remove the spaces if you copy/paste this).
As for who decides what qualifies a biological woman and your concerns about hysterectomies and mastectomies, I don’t think there’s any ambiguity amongst the wider population!
I’ll leave this particular issue alone at this point, I think.
Amanda,
I understand your comment on ending this debate but we now have a siutuation where the SC ruling is being used to dictate who can be and can’t be accepted as members of the WI and now the Girl Guides have had to change their membership policies . While it might not be considered a legal ruling people are jumping on the bandwagon , as I commented the outcome is segregation . None of us want to return to the old days but I fear we are heading that way , I had to fight for my right to have the details on my passport changed , ( I was possibly lucky to apply before the SC ruling ) that government department could easliy be swayed to change their policy on gender recognition .
Please remember I now live fulltime as Teresa , the SC ruling could affect how I choose to live my life , I could be excludied from certain aspects that I enjoy at the moment .