> Rowling opposes trans women’s rights to enter women’s spaces, because she thinks they’re men and she thinks men are dangerous rapists.
If you make a rule saying "anyone who says 'I am a trans woman' is automatically allowed to enter women's spaces", that *in theory* allows trans women to enter those spaces, but *in practice* allows anyone to enter those spaces (as long as they are willing to say the words).
Basically, before you establish a rule, instead of only thinking how people will use the rule as intended, also think about how people will abuse the rule in ways it was *not* intended... because that definitely *is* going to happen, especially if it is a law.
From 2018: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-018-0335-z "This study presents findings from matched pairs analyses of localities in Massachusetts with and without gender identity inclusive public accommodation nondiscrimination ordinances. Data come from public record requests of criminal incident reports related to assault, sex crimes, and voyeurism in public restrooms, locker rooms, and dressing rooms to measure safety and privacy violations in these spaces. This study finds that the passage of such laws is not related to the number or frequency of criminal incidents in these spaces. Additionally, the study finds that reports of privacy and safety violations in public restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms are exceedingly rare. This study provides evidence that fears of increased safety and privacy violations as a result of nondiscrimination laws are not empirically grounded."
"By using public records and statistical modeling, we found no evidence that privacy and safety in public restrooms change as a result of the passage of [gender identity inclusive public accommodations nondiscrimination ordinances]."
Second, based on the dates, we can see that this empirical information was already available and public when J.K. Rowling made her fears known. Fearmongering about a phenomenon which demonstrably does not exist would seem to fit a basic understanding of the term "phobia", wouldn't it?
"Basically, before you establish a rule, instead of only thinking how people will use the rule as intended, also think about how people will abuse the rule in ways it was *not* intended"
Great point! Empirically, what is actually happening as a result of trans bathroom panic is that women who look a little bit masculine are being confronted in women's restrooms by transphobic women, like J. K. Rowling and her followers.
So by making a rule that we should all be afraid of men dressed as women trying to enter women's bathrooms, it turns out the unintended consequence is that a lot of women who don't look feminine are being confronted and humiliated in public. So much for women's rights!
And again, this was already in the news when Rowling had her little tantrum. She has empirically made cis women less safe *and* trans women less safe by spreading her baseless phobia to millions of people.
> Rowling opposes trans women’s rights to enter women’s spaces, because she thinks they’re men and she thinks men are dangerous rapists.
If you make a rule saying "anyone who says 'I am a trans woman' is automatically allowed to enter women's spaces", that *in theory* allows trans women to enter those spaces, but *in practice* allows anyone to enter those spaces (as long as they are willing to say the words).
Basically, before you establish a rule, instead of only thinking how people will use the rule as intended, also think about how people will abuse the rule in ways it was *not* intended... because that definitely *is* going to happen, especially if it is a law.
First of all, this is not true.
From 2014: https://www.mediamatters.org/sexual-harassment-sexual-assault/15-experts-debunk-right-wing-transgender-bathroom-myth
From 2018: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-018-0335-z "This study presents findings from matched pairs analyses of localities in Massachusetts with and without gender identity inclusive public accommodation nondiscrimination ordinances. Data come from public record requests of criminal incident reports related to assault, sex crimes, and voyeurism in public restrooms, locker rooms, and dressing rooms to measure safety and privacy violations in these spaces. This study finds that the passage of such laws is not related to the number or frequency of criminal incidents in these spaces. Additionally, the study finds that reports of privacy and safety violations in public restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms are exceedingly rare. This study provides evidence that fears of increased safety and privacy violations as a result of nondiscrimination laws are not empirically grounded."
From 2019: https://escholarship.org/content/qt4rs4n6h0/qt4rs4n6h0_noSplash_8740e92d7f24b6c89dbd4bd4d27fbbcb.pdf?t=qecca2
"By using public records and statistical modeling, we found no evidence that privacy and safety in public restrooms change as a result of the passage of [gender identity inclusive public accommodations nondiscrimination ordinances]."
Second, based on the dates, we can see that this empirical information was already available and public when J.K. Rowling made her fears known. Fearmongering about a phenomenon which demonstrably does not exist would seem to fit a basic understanding of the term "phobia", wouldn't it?
"Basically, before you establish a rule, instead of only thinking how people will use the rule as intended, also think about how people will abuse the rule in ways it was *not* intended"
Great point! Empirically, what is actually happening as a result of trans bathroom panic is that women who look a little bit masculine are being confronted in women's restrooms by transphobic women, like J. K. Rowling and her followers.
From 2016: https://www.vox.com/2016/5/18/11690234/women-bathrooms-harassment
From 2022: https://www.advocate.com/news/2022/11/01/cis-woman-mistaken-transgender-records-being-berated-bathroom
From last week: https://www.yahoo.com/news/cis-woman-confronted-police-officers-115522988.html
So by making a rule that we should all be afraid of men dressed as women trying to enter women's bathrooms, it turns out the unintended consequence is that a lot of women who don't look feminine are being confronted and humiliated in public. So much for women's rights!
And again, this was already in the news when Rowling had her little tantrum. She has empirically made cis women less safe *and* trans women less safe by spreading her baseless phobia to millions of people.