Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
We, the undersigned call upon The Hon. Katy Gallagher, Minister for Women, The Hon. Ed Husic, Minister for Industry & Science, The Hon. Sussan Ley Shadow Minister for Women and The Hon. Paul Fletcher Shadow Minister for Science & The Arts to take a stand against the erosion of women's rights and protections and preserve the on-going credibility and legitimacy of science.
On 27 May 2020 The Australian reported that Australia's top scientific body (the Australian Academy of Science) has now adopted the definition of woman to mean 'anyone who identifies as a woman'. The article goes on to say, Chief Scientist Alan Finkel backs the Academy's position claiming this supports 'an inclusive culture within science'. A spokesperson for the Academy claims the definition is in line with treaties signed by Australia that ‘promote equality between women and men’.
We seek to understand how this decision was arrived at. Were all members of the Academy involved in this decision and what specifically is the scientific basis for this unscientific assertion? Further, there are no International treaty obligations Australia is party to that privilege gender identity over biological sex, so what treaty obligations is the spokesperson for the Academy referring to exactly?
If the leading authority for science in this country, has decided that any man who claims to be a woman is now scientifically considered to be a woman simply by declaring so, then what implications does this have for women and for science?
What does this mean for matters pertaining to women's sports, women's leadership initiatives, scholarships for girls and women, women's political representation, women's prisons, women's shelters and more?
What does this mean for issues such as scientific evidence for women, medical treatment for women, statistical data for women, funding for science and medicine for women's and girl's focused studies, and more?
This petition seeks to encourage much-needed discussions with women and women’s groups that understand the importance of upholding sex-based rights for women and girls and ensuring the protection of science as a respected discipline devoid of political influence and subjective hyperbole.
We are concerned about how this arbitrary definition of ‘woman’ will adversely impact the 12.6 million women and girls in Australia now and for years to come.
We ask, how can this unscientific claim be considered 'inclusive' when it ultimately seeks to exclude women?
We believe this matter needs to be addressed urgently and that all women and girls in Australia deserve an explanation. Thank you for considering our petition.
The Academy's definition of 'woman'
Woman/Women: -
Anyone who identifies as a woman, including cisgender (personal gender identity corresponds with sex assigned at birth), transgender (personal gender identity does not correspond with sex assigned at birth), non-binary and intersex persons who identify as a woman (or girl)
Link to PDF 'Women in STEM Decadal Plan'. Ref. page 61
Link to the article in The Australian
Women's Action Group would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for signing our petition. Once we have secured as many signatures as possible, we will seek to have our concerns outlined above adequately addressed by relevant Ministers. Kindly note as a result of this years' Federal election and subsequent change in Federal Government we have updated who will receive our petition.
Please be sure to share our petition to all your platforms so that we can reach our target as soon as possible. Again, we thank you for your continued support.
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Updates
March 20, 2021
WE JUST SMASHED THROUGH 2,500 SIGNATURES!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE AND SHOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE DEMAND REAL SCIENTIFIC RIGOR!! THE MOMENTUM IS BECOMING UNSTOPPABLE!!!
Reached 2,500 supporters
March 20, 2021
December 24, 2020
I HAVE BEEN DIGGING INTO THE ACADEMY'S CLAIMS ALL WEEK AND THE LACK OF ANSWERS IS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING!! WE ARE DEMANDING TOTAL TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THESE POLICY CHANGES BECAUSE THE SCIENTIFIC RECORD MUST REMAIN CLEAR AND ACCURATE!!
November 5, 2020
THIS MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!! PEOPLE ARE FINALLY WAKING UP TO THE FACT THAT SCIENCE REQUIRES REAL EVIDENCE!! I AM BLOWN AWAY BY THE STRENGTH OF THIS MOVEMENT RIGHT NOW!!
Reached 1,000 supporters
June 23, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
June 2, 2020
951 Comments
The Academy needs to stop playing politics with science. It is simply not possible support "an inclusive culture within science" when the demand for "inclusion" means ignoring science. The Academy is seriously risking its credibility. For money?
Woman deserve to be free to compete in their own sporting competitions without the fear of being injured by genetically stronger and bigger biological males. Claiming to be female does not alter the bone and muscle structure of a biological male.
How in 2020 can gender be used to override decades of effort women have put into fighting for sex based rights ? Gender is not sex. How can a scientific organisation call itself a science organisation and take this stance. It’s laughable.
This redefining of what is a woman makes no sense. It has the potential to put back hard-earned sex-based rights for women and children. And where does it claim the same definition for men? Only a patriarchal society could think this is okay. Biology matters!!
Many women fought and died for womens rights. It is disgusting to denigrate these hard won rights to suit a minority of people. By all means Trans people should have rights enshrined in law but not at the expense of women. Biological sex is important too
Biology is not fluid. Post-Modernism has no place in New Zealand.
Crucial
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
We, the undersigned call upon The Hon. Katy Gallagher, Minister for Women, The Hon. Ed Husic, Minister for Industry & Science, The Hon. Sussan Ley Shadow Minister for Women and The Hon. Paul Fletcher Shadow Minister for Science & The Arts to take a stand against the erosion of women's rights and protections and preserve the on-going credibility and legitimacy of science.
On 27 May 2020 The Australian reported that Australia's top scientific body (the Australian Academy of Science) has now adopted the definition of woman to mean 'anyone who identifies as a woman'. The article goes on to say, Chief Scientist Alan Finkel backs the Academy's position claiming this supports 'an inclusive culture within science'. A spokesperson for the Academy claims the definition is in line with treaties signed by Australia that ‘promote equality between women and men’.
We seek to understand how this decision was arrived at. Were all members of the Academy involved in this decision and what specifically is the scientific basis for this unscientific assertion? Further, there are no International treaty obligations Australia is party to that privilege gender identity over biological sex, so what treaty obligations is the spokesperson for the Academy referring to exactly?
If the leading authority for science in this country, has decided that any man who claims to be a woman is now scientifically considered to be a woman simply by declaring so, then what implications does this have for women and for science?
What does this mean for matters pertaining to women's sports, women's leadership initiatives, scholarships for girls and women, women's political representation, women's prisons, women's shelters and more?
What does this mean for issues such as scientific evidence for women, medical treatment for women, statistical data for women, funding for science and medicine for women's and girl's focused studies, and more?
This petition seeks to encourage much-needed discussions with women and women’s groups that understand the importance of upholding sex-based rights for women and girls and ensuring the protection of science as a respected discipline devoid of political influence and subjective hyperbole.
We are concerned about how this arbitrary definition of ‘woman’ will adversely impact the 12.6 million women and girls in Australia now and for years to come.
We ask, how can this unscientific claim be considered 'inclusive' when it ultimately seeks to exclude women?
We believe this matter needs to be addressed urgently and that all women and girls in Australia deserve an explanation. Thank you for considering our petition.
The Academy's definition of 'woman'
Woman/Women: -
Anyone who identifies as a woman, including cisgender (personal gender identity corresponds with sex assigned at birth), transgender (personal gender identity does not correspond with sex assigned at birth), non-binary and intersex persons who identify as a woman (or girl)
Link to PDF 'Women in STEM Decadal Plan'. Ref. page 61
Link to the article in The Australian
Women's Action Group would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for signing our petition. Once we have secured as many signatures as possible, we will seek to have our concerns outlined above adequately addressed by relevant Ministers. Kindly note as a result of this years' Federal election and subsequent change in Federal Government we have updated who will receive our petition.
Please be sure to share our petition to all your platforms so that we can reach our target as soon as possible. Again, we thank you for your continued support.
Updates
March 20, 2021
WE JUST SMASHED THROUGH 2,500 SIGNATURES!! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY MASSIVE AND SHOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE DEMAND REAL SCIENTIFIC RIGOR!! THE MOMENTUM IS BECOMING UNSTOPPABLE!!!
Reached 2,500 supporters
March 20, 2021
December 24, 2020
I HAVE BEEN DIGGING INTO THE ACADEMY'S CLAIMS ALL WEEK AND THE LACK OF ANSWERS IS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING!! WE ARE DEMANDING TOTAL TRANSPARENCY REGARDING THESE POLICY CHANGES BECAUSE THE SCIENTIFIC RECORD MUST REMAIN CLEAR AND ACCURATE!!
November 5, 2020
THIS MOMENTUM IS ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!! PEOPLE ARE FINALLY WAKING UP TO THE FACT THAT SCIENCE REQUIRES REAL EVIDENCE!! I AM BLOWN AWAY BY THE STRENGTH OF THIS MOVEMENT RIGHT NOW!!
Reached 1,000 supporters
June 23, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
June 2, 2020
951 Comments
Women and girls need spaces free from male bodied people. Self-id is an abuser's charter. Note that this does not mean that I believe that trans women are all abusers. We discuss male violence without worrying that it offends non-violent men.
The Academy needs to stop playing politics with science. It is simply not possible support "an inclusive culture within science" when the demand for "inclusion" means ignoring science. The Academy is seriously risking its credibility. For money?
Woman deserve to be free to compete in their own sporting competitions without the fear of being injured by genetically stronger and bigger biological males. Claiming to be female does not alter the bone and muscle structure of a biological male.
How in 2020 can gender be used to override decades of effort women have put into fighting for sex based rights ? Gender is not sex. How can a scientific organisation call itself a science organisation and take this stance. It’s laughable.
This redefining of what is a woman makes no sense. It has the potential to put back hard-earned sex-based rights for women and children. And where does it claim the same definition for men? Only a patriarchal society could think this is okay. Biology matters!!
Many women fought and died for womens rights. It is disgusting to denigrate these hard won rights to suit a minority of people. By all means Trans people should have rights enshrined in law but not at the expense of women. Biological sex is important too
Biology is not fluid. Post-Modernism has no place in New Zealand.
Crucial
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Women and girls need spaces free from male bodied people. Self-id is an abuser's charter. Note that this does not mean that I believe that trans women are all abusers. We discuss male violence without worrying that it offends non-violent men.