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I know this is a simple post, but deliberately wanted it to be so, to keep it as accessible as possible.

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Ah Julie. Timely as always. A little story about what happened this week. I belong to a country club fitness centre. It’s not posh, it’s a 5 minute drive from my house so nice and handy. The staff are great, you get a good mix of fellow exercises from the weight lifters to the ladies who manage to swim whilst wearing their earrings and lipstick and keeping their coiffed hair in place (how do they do it?)

This week there was a skinny, balding bloke with a ratty ponytail in a bikini with a little skirty thing covering his man bits. Apparently he changed in the womens’ changing room with his female enabler. I hoped I would avoid him but he strutted giggling into the changing room just after me and proceeded to strip off in front of everyone including some elderly ladies. His enabler and he started singing and really drawing attention to themselves, which was clearly an attempt to be provocative. Willing someone to complain so he could cry prejudice.

I picked up my stuff and took myself off pronto. I found the manager and made sure she understood the depth of my sincerity when I told her how completely offensive it was. ‘Ah but he’s transitioning’ came the reply. ‘No he’s a man, he’ll always be a man, it’s biologically impossible to change sexes no matter how much he thinks he wants to. Why are you pandering to the requirements of one without considering the many?’ I responded. ‘Well we’ve sent him an email asking him to use the single family room but he hasn’t responded yet’ she said. So I said I thought they were afraid of upsetting him but not of upsetting the rest of us. I was livid and I could see she wasn’t much happier about than me but just didn’t know how to deal with it. Fortunately when some others saw that I was prepared to take it on, also made complaints. It’s just not going to happen! I couldn’t care less what peoples proclivities are in private but this is deliberately provocative. Rant over. Sharron Davies is doing what she can on this whole thing. She’s good to follow.

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author

I didn’t see this comment earlier.

Wow - that’s incredible! It’s not yet happened to me yet in my gym, but I’m sure the day is coming.

Women (and men too) need to stand up and make a fuss about this or it will only get worse. Thank goodness people in your place did. Yes Sharron is doing amazing things. She was one of the first people on Twitter I noticed who was speaking out about this stuff.

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Oh well done Janette. So sorry you had to go through that 💛

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It would be somewhat more believable if they didn't put so much energy into being disruptive and drawing attention to themselves. It is unnatural. Good on you, how is it being resolved?

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I was infuriated by The Independent's top 50 women today. And very sorry for women 51 and 52 who had to make way for two MEN!!!

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author

Insanity and time this nonsense stopped.

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author

The bit about beauty contests…. I do despair they even exist today to be honest. They feel like a relic of another era.

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I’ll always call out things like this now. I’ve reached an age where I really don’t care, I’ve got nothing to lose. We have to stand our ground.

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We still need work on this, but I keep trying to do my part...

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Fantastic statements all! This one in particular: Ordinary teenage curiosity and uncertainty is not TARGETED and EXPLOITED by those with a monetary or predatory interest.

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author

It was something I wanted to mention because it’s too easy to reduce this trend to mentally ill or perverted adults. I see children and teens caught up in all this as an entirely different group of vulnerable people who are sadly being capitalised upon.

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Mar 8
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Exactly! I was of the habit of thinking of schools being a factory production floor, but more like a greenhouse where curiosity is cultivated and responses are rewarded.

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author

Absolutely this

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And all this emerging in the west at a time when I thought the biggest battles to be fought for women were in the 3rd world.

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And so many still don’t realise we’re fighting this at all, sadly 💔

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Thanks Julie ♥️🐦

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author

❤️

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And imagine, too, a world where ONLY WOMEN get to define womenhood and decide who is and who isn't. I have my own views, but I am much more interested to hear, respect and rely on the opinions of those with the lived experience of cradle-to-grave womanhood.

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Where we are treated as equals and not second rated puppets..

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Abso-bloody-lutely ! Xx

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founding

They may say you’re a dreamer, but you’re not the only one.

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But sadly, too many are just dreaming and not SAYING or LIVING any of this because they fear bullies.

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founding

True. There are many still in fear of their employment or social standing for being open, even though gender critical views are now a protected characteristic in terms of discrimination. I’m proud of you for being in the No Fucks Given category.

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author

Say it loud and proud or don’t bother, I reckon.

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I can't think of anything you've missed out, and not a wasted word.

👏

Happy Women's Day, Julie. x

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author

To you too x

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Find out on Wednesday

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Great idea!

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