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The Economist on gender ID in the USA & the impact on women's prisons. Thread: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/01/30/putting-trans-women-in-female-prisons-sets-up-a-clash-of-rights
Summary of article: This month California introduced a law allowing prisoners to request to be housed in accordance with their gender identity.
USA needs Federal legislation to protect trans people from discrimination. But policies grounded in the flawed conflation of sex & gender ID will lead to problems. For example women's prisons.
There are 2 obvious problems with housing TW in female prisons: safety and privacy.
No evidence that TW have lower levels of criminality than other males.
Women have the right to disrobe out of the sight of men.
No evidence that TW have lower levels of criminality than other males.
Women have the right to disrobe out of the sight of men.
No one has surveyed female inmates about their views.
This policy of housing TW in women's prisons will be tested at the expense of an unusually vulnerable and voiceless group.
This policy of housing TW in women's prisons will be tested at the expense of an unusually vulnerable and voiceless group.
Note: the Economist is misleading in the presentation of the 'trans wing' at HMP Downview as a satisfactory solution. We will be following this up.
