Definition of ‘Woman’ Made Redundant
Australia’s most important non-statutory scientific body, the Australian Academy of Science, recently adopted a definition of women which includes ‘anyone who identifies as a woman’, without regard to the fundamental biological characteristics of women.
Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur has expressed her support for South West Victoria’s Women’s Action Group’s online petition that was calling for the Minister of Women and the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology to “take a stand against the erosion of women’s rights and protections and preserve the on-going credibility and legitimacy of science.”
The petition has since been removed by Change.org, without an explanation provided.
Quotes attributable to Bev McArthur MP:
It is most unfortunate that a body as highly-regarded and reputable as the Australian Academy of Science would blatantly politicise scientific definitions, particularly without properly considering the pernicious consequences that it could have for biological women.
The prevailing far-left ideology of intersectionality and identity politics that seemingly now permeates all of our institutions, is out-of-touch with mainstream Australians.
As I expressed in the Parliament when opposing Labor’s legislation allowing Victorians to change the sex on their birth certificate at will, I support the rights of individuals to live their lives according to their identified gender, but this cannot come at the cost of scientific fact or the rights of women.
The potential impacts on women’s sport for instance, cannot be understated. There is nothing to stop biological males citing the definition provided by Australian Academy of Science and asserting that they will participate in women’s competitions, to the detriment of fairness and women’s safety, due to the undeniable physical advantages possessed by males.
We need to have an honest discussion about biological realities and the potential harm that can be caused to women when scientific definitions become politicised.
I feel extremely sorry for the Women’s Action Group in my electorate who had their petition removed, in what was a blatant silencing of free speech and political expression.
16 July 2020
The new petition can be found here.