There are many females who have a female brain but whose body developed as male before they were born, i.e., transgender. Many females will remain in a male body for much of their life due to prejudice, fear and confusion, rather than by choice. Anti-male attitudes can have a very hurtful effect on the self-esteem of trans females as well as males. Some examples below.
Also there are about an equal number of males who are born with a male brain but whose body has developed female. Trans males, when they transition may experience a lessening in respect due to any anti-male attitudes.
Sexism, whatever gender it is aimed at, hurts transgender people too, something that needs to be taken into account.
Examples of trans females having less respect and dignity than genetic females.
Current rape law uses the criteria of 'insertion of the penis'. This needs to be extended to 'forced to insert one's penis'. As we saw in a recent case a 21 year old woman forced an 11 year old boy to have sex. The case was not classed as rape.
It is very distressing that when 'penis hacking' stories appear in the media they are often treated as humorous. These stories usually involve a man cheating on his partner and the woman then cuts off the man's penis in revenge. I wonder how many women would feel distressed at often reading stories about a woman cheating on her partner and the man mutilating her genitals in revenge, and this story ending up in the 'humour' column of the newspaper.
It is also distressing that depictions of males been sexually groped, male strippers and such are again shown as humorous and do not show any of the same sensitivity that would be shown if the individual was a genetic female.
A Minister for Men is needed, along with the current Minister for Women, to address this imbalance.
