Confusing, yes, but Girl Guides’ gender policy is about inclusion

THE Girl Guides’ new policy on gender might seem confusing to many but it will make a big difference to the few, writes Susie O’Brien.

LETTING boys be boys and girls be girls is now a thing of the past.

Under their new diversity and inclusion policy, Girl Guides Victoria — a female-only organisation for 110 years — will let in biological boys who have a female identity but not biological girls who have a male identity.

As the Herald Sun revealed on Saturday, that gives biological males the right to share sleeping and bathroom facilities under supervision with girls.

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Like many other organisations these days, the Guides now defines “girl” in terms of gender identity rather than biology. This includes “persons who identify as, and live their lives as, females”.

And yet the Girl Guides still admit only girls and women as members, which makes things interesting.

In their mind, that gives them the right to reject biological girls who are transitioning to male because under their policy, they’d be considered males.

The girls-only policy also means they don’t accept those who are “non-binary/neutral/gender fluid” which seems to go against their commitment to acceptance and inclusion.

web Girl Guide Vic 650 366

It all means they’ll accept boys who want to be girls but not girls who want to be boys and they won’t allow people who aren’t sure.

I am all for this kind of gender inclusion as long as it doesn’t exclude or marginalise the mainstream. Such moves are important and in some cases life-changing to the handful of people involved.

And yet I understand why many people are left shaking their heads. I broke the story and I’m still confused.

It used to be that everyone was either male or female. Not anymore.

Now in some places such as WA there’s even a push not to record a baby’s sex on the birth certificate under a review of gender reassignment laws.

It’s part of a move to reduce pressure on parents whose children are intersex from having to pick a sex for their baby.

In many schools, kinders and childcare centres, staff are not allowed to make any distinction between boys and girls at all.

Other workplaces, such as some public service organisations, insist the gender-neutral pronoun “they/their” be used rather than he and she.

Victorian schools also have a new category of Gender X on student records.

There are now up to a dozen terms used to refer to gender, including trans and gender diverse, non-binary, asexual, intersexual, agender, gender fluid, AFAB, DFAB, AMAB, DMAB and gender dysphoria.

This leaves the vast majority, who are now not known as men and women, but “cisgender” which refers to people who identify as the same gender as their biological sex characteristics.

For most people who think of themselves happily as male or female, it’s a bewildering minefield.

And yet, I can see the point of such inclusion, which makes a huge difference to the small number of people directly affected.

The Guides have 7000 members in this state and only three transitioning girls that officials know about. But imagine the difference it would make to a 12-year-old girl who was formerly a boy to know she will be able to do the things other girls take for granted such as become a Girl Guide. Doing the same things as everyone else — including bathing and sleeping with others — is a key part of this acceptance.

Girl Guides from 1992.

To those who object to such policies, I say this: what do you really think is going to happen?

Let me assure you, trans people don’t change their gender just so they can harass or abuse others. There’s no suggestion boys pretend to be girls just to become Girl Guides.

I know some parents are worried that trans and gender diverse people may be using the same toilets, change rooms or sleeping quarters as their kids. So what? There’s no evidence trans people are using this as an opportunity to abuse others and the Guides have stressed there is a child-safety focus in place at all times.

Don’t forget that trans people much more likely to be harassed or abused themselves. Research shows trans gender young people are 10 times more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety as others and one third has attempted suicide.

That is why it’s important to accommodate those who don’t fit neatly into a male or female category. But there’s no need to take away the categories of male and female.

I proudly send my daughter to a girls-only school and my son to a boys-only school.

Sporting codes are divided along gender lines and in a growing number of workplaces, an applicant’s gender is important if there are quotas to be met.

As long as gender diverse people are respected, there’s no harm in relying on the age-old divisions of male and female which are still relevant and meaningful today.

I’m proud to be a woman. Please don’t call me a cisgender female with sexual characteristics assigned at birth that match my gender identity.

Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist.

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