An Incomplete List Of Gendered Injustices Against Irish Women, And The People Working To Change Them. Part Two.

CN: Transphobia, transmisogyny, homophobia, VAW.

On International Women’s Day this year, I started writing a post about the areas in which women in Ireland face marginalisation or disadvantage because of our gender, and the people who are working for inclusion and justice in these areas. The post wasn’t supposed to take very long.

Or so I thought.

Instead? My list of topics is growing. Daily. I decided to split my post into two on Tuesday. As of right now, it’s looking like a three-parter. However.. who knows? We might yet hit three. Or four. Maybe more.

If you haven’t read it, here’s part one. Give it a read and then get back here, ’cause we have a lot to get through.

8. Support for trans girls and women

This summer, Ireland passed a Gender Recognition Bill. Overall it’s a fantastic piece of legislation, allowing for everyone over 18 to self-declare their own gender identity and have their legal documents, including birth certificates, updated to reflect this.

Despite this, trans people- especially trans women and girls- continue to be marginalised in Irish society. The Gender Recognition Bill doesn’t recognise anybody under sixteen, and if you’re between sixteen and eighteen you need a court order from a Family Court as well as parental consent to apply. We’re failing our trans children when we tell them that we won’t recognise them for who they are. Children shouldn’t have to learn to navigate the risk of being outed to and by everyone in their lives. Being recognised as who they are shouldn’t depend on being lucky enough to have a supportive family.

It’s not just young trans girls (and boys) who still face marginalisation here in Ireland. Transphobic abuse and workplace discimination is rampant. Trans woman are seen as threatening in spaces where they’re most at risk of violence. Healthcare professionals are largely ignorant of trans issues, and 3/4 of trans people have had a negative experience with them as a result.

I could go on.

TENI do fantastic work to support and advocate for trans people in Ireland

9. Violence against queer and non gender-conforming women

Continue reading “An Incomplete List Of Gendered Injustices Against Irish Women, And The People Working To Change Them. Part Two.”

An Incomplete List Of Gendered Injustices Against Irish Women, And The People Working To Change Them. Part Two.
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