Gender Natasha Giraudel Gender Natasha Giraudel

WHY DOES MY TITLE STILL DEFINE MY MARITAL STATUS? A rant on women’s rights, language and lingering inequality

This article challenges the outdated use of gendered titles for women, Miss, Mrs., and Ms., that tie a woman’s identity to her marital status. It explores the sexist history of these titles, contrasts them with the universal “Mr.” for men and connects this seemingly small detail to wider gender inequalities in leadership, pay, reproductive rights and societal expectations. It calls for the end of titles that reduce women to their relationship status, urging readers to recognise how language shapes deeper systemic issues.

Read More
Gender, Gender Reassignment Natasha Giraudel Gender, Gender Reassignment Natasha Giraudel

HOW TOILETS BECAME THE FRONT LINE OF THE UK’S GENDER WARS

This article explores the growing controversy in the UK over transgender people’s access to public toilets, highlighting how political agendas and media narratives have warped a simple issue of dignity and practicality. It contrasts the hostile debate over gendered toilets with the widespread, unquestioned acceptance of gender-neutral disabled toilets and challenges the logic of forcing trans men or women into spaces that don’t align with their identities. The piece calls for compassion, common sense, and a return to humanity in how we approach public life.

Read More
Gender, Gender Reassignment Natasha Giraudel Gender, Gender Reassignment Natasha Giraudel

STILL ME, STILL A WOMAN: A Reflection on the week that shook my sense of belonging

This article is a deeply personal reflection from a trans woman grappling with the emotional impact of a recent UK Supreme Court ruling that defines “woman” in the Equality Act as referring only to biological sex. She shares the pain and exhaustion of feeling legally sidelined after years of building a life as her authentic self. Despite the hurt, she affirms her identity and resilience, reminding readers that trans people are human, valid, and still here - deserving of dignity, understanding, and respect.

Read More
Gender, Gender Reassignment Natasha Giraudel Gender, Gender Reassignment Natasha Giraudel

Are Trans Women Women Under UK Law? Why the debate deserves More than slogans

This article explores the complex and often polarising debate around whether Trans women are legally considered women under the UK Equality Act 2010. Written in the first person, it avoids taking sides and instead lays out the competing arguments — from those who believe gender identity should be legally recognised, to those who argue for the importance of sex-based protections. It looks at the potential consequences of both inclusion and exclusion, encouraging respectful discussion and thoughtful policy.

Read More
Class, Race and Ethnicity, Gender Natasha Giraudel Class, Race and Ethnicity, Gender Natasha Giraudel

TRYING HARD ISN’T ALWAYS ENOUGH: What it’s really like to navigate work, redundancy and the benefits system

This first-person account tells the story of a young woman from Manchester who, despite working hard and building a professional career, finds herself stuck in a cycle of redundancy, low pay and debt. She reflects on how class background, gender, race and lack of structural support have shaped her journey, raising important questions about whether true social mobility in the UK is really possible. Her story offers insight into the reality of the benefits system and what real support for working-class people should look like.

Read More
Gender, Health, Race and Ethnicity Natasha Giraudel Gender, Health, Race and Ethnicity Natasha Giraudel

FROM THE JUNGLE TO THE HEART: I’m A Celebrity' Proves Vulnerability is the Ultimate Survival Skill

I was gutted when man like Melvin (Odoom) was voted out of the jungle on “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” on ITV earlier this week. Watching TV presenter and radio DJ Melvin in the jungle reminded me how important it is to see people like us on TV, doing their thing and being real with it. Melvin was great TV but more importantly was his representation as a great role model and vulnerability.

Read More