January 11, 2023 - 3:00pm
An Ecuadorian father recently legally changed his gender to female to improve his chances of gaining custody of his children. René Salinas Ramos doesn’t consider himself transgender, but instead made this decision in order to circumvent his country’s custody laws.
According to Ramos, his two daughters have been forced to live with their allegedly abusive mother, and that he hasn’t been able to see them for five months. Speaking to local media, he explained that fathers are “punished” in the country, and that he is “only seen as a provider”. Given that in Ecuador, as in many other nations, judges are significantly more likely to rule in favour of women in custody battles, he may have a point.
Diane Rodriguez, a notable trans activist in Ecuador, asserted that Salinas Ramos’s legal change wasn’t in “the spirit of the law” but, in reality, his bid to be recognised as a woman exposes loopholes in the policy of self-ID.
Feminists concerned about self-ID laws tend to focus on the dangers of biological males entering women’s single-sex spaces and competing in women’s sports. They argue that gender recognition laws like the one recently passed in Scotland make it easier for men with malicious intentions or severe mental health conditions to attack or disturb women and girls at places where they are at their most vulnerable.
But this case shows that there are other ways in which the self-ID system can be exploited. As Salinas Ramos’s case shows, criminal intent is not the only reason biological men may choose to misuse an easily accessible ‘woman’ label.
It’s not just in the courtroom where biological males can benefit from the system either. Identifying as female could also grant biological males access to advantages in education and employment. EU countries allowing self-ID may see a rise in men identifying as women once employers start implementing the gender quota law recently passed by the European Parliament. The new directive will require 40% of non-executive board positions and 33% of executive seats to be filled by women in the bloc’s 27 countries. The earlier female retirement age may also appeal to many men. Will other biological males transition to advance their own careers?
Ultimately, the archetype of the damsel in distress and her ability to invoke chivalry has no male equivalent. Thanks to self-ID this uniquely feminine power, stemming from women’s perceived weakness, may now be available to men as well. In a culture that labels masculinity as toxic and sends mixed messages to men about how they should behave, living as a woman may seem like an easier way out. The peculiar example of René Salinas Ramos’s custody battle demonstrates that Ecuador’s law, and gender legislature more widely, may well need a rethink.
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SubscribeBrilliant! Anything that highlights the idiocy of trans activism is to be welcomed, although the plight of fathers in custody battles where their partner is clearly less fit to care for their children is another issue.
Whilst vehemently opposing the right of biological males to invade what should be women-only spaces, i welcome this use of transgenderism. I look forward to this particular father – obviously male and given the assumption that the mother in this case shouldn’t be granted preferential status – winning his case, and then continuing to live as a male in every respect, i.e. no changes to his physical appearance. I guess his self-ID might help him when his two daughters need to visit a public loo; he’ll be able to accompany them.
Agreed. And I look forward to hundreds of divorcing fathers in Scotland claiming to change their gender in order to get fairer custody for their children too.
How can a society prevent the intrusion into women-only spaces when it cannot provide a definition of “woman”? I don’t like sitting by and watching this debacle play out, and loathe what it is doing to the biological females of our world.
Oh dear. The word female is a precisely defined biological term meaning producer of large immobile gametes. We really shouldn’t be forced to use the adjective in order for the meaning to be clear!
Oh dear. The word female is a precisely defined biological term meaning producer of large immobile gametes. We really shouldn’t be forced to use the adjective in order for the meaning to be clear!
Agreed. And I look forward to hundreds of divorcing fathers in Scotland claiming to change their gender in order to get fairer custody for their children too.
How can a society prevent the intrusion into women-only spaces when it cannot provide a definition of “woman”? I don’t like sitting by and watching this debacle play out, and loathe what it is doing to the biological females of our world.
Brilliant! Anything that highlights the idiocy of trans activism is to be welcomed, although the plight of fathers in custody battles where their partner is clearly less fit to care for their children is another issue.
Whilst vehemently opposing the right of biological males to invade what should be women-only spaces, i welcome this use of transgenderism. I look forward to this particular father – obviously male and given the assumption that the mother in this case shouldn’t be granted preferential status – winning his case, and then continuing to live as a male in every respect, i.e. no changes to his physical appearance. I guess his self-ID might help him when his two daughters need to visit a public loo; he’ll be able to accompany them.
Whilst I do sympathise with the man (at least from what he has said) this shows how the whole concept of self-identification can be used for any reason, whether it be nefarious or not.
Whilst I do sympathise with the man (at least from what he has said) this shows how the whole concept of self-identification can be used for any reason, whether it be nefarious or not.
There was a guy in Argentina who transitioned to get his pension five years early.
Did he have to castrate himself?
Did he have to castrate himself?
There was a guy in Argentina who transitioned to get his pension five years early.
Isn’t this basically the plot of “Mrs. Doubtfire”?
Isn’t this basically the plot of “Mrs. Doubtfire”?
Insanity is as insanity does. Is any further proof of the idiocy of gender fluidity really needed? The proponents have painted themselves into a predictable legal corner, highlighting the underlying illogic of the whole movement.
Insanity is as insanity does. Is any further proof of the idiocy of gender fluidity really needed? The proponents have painted themselves into a predictable legal corner, highlighting the underlying illogic of the whole movement.
I’ve always wondered if a male small business owner could identify as female in order to get preferential US Government contracts as a woman-owned business.
I’ve always wondered if a male small business owner could identify as female in order to get preferential US Government contracts as a woman-owned business.
Highly entertaining- I hope he wins what appears to be a justifiable case.
Highly entertaining- I hope he wins what appears to be a justifiable case.
“Feminists concerned about self-ID laws tend to focus on the dangers of biological males entering women’s single-sex spaces and competing in women’s sports.”
Must one be a feminist to be concerned about this lunacy?
“Feminists concerned about self-ID laws tend to focus on the dangers of biological males entering women’s single-sex spaces and competing in women’s sports.”
Must one be a feminist to be concerned about this lunacy?
“Uniquely feminine power, stemming from women’s perceived weakness.” Weakness is indeed power in our current nanny state era, so long as its claimant can point to a recognised oppressor – and of course any “privileged” male will do.
Weakness, and victimhood, become claims for power in inverse proportion to having rights. Why emphasize group disadvantage in order to justify resource demands? Because people, as such, are not held to have rights to education, housing, jobs, medicine, old age security, and so forth.
Weakness, and victimhood, become claims for power in inverse proportion to having rights. Why emphasize group disadvantage in order to justify resource demands? Because people, as such, are not held to have rights to education, housing, jobs, medicine, old age security, and so forth.
“Uniquely feminine power, stemming from women’s perceived weakness.” Weakness is indeed power in our current nanny state era, so long as its claimant can point to a recognised oppressor – and of course any “privileged” male will do.
The question is: can a biological male have the title ‘mother’?
If a biological male can self identify as a woman, for legal reasons, calling him a “mother” seems like a very minor step in the process. Heck, call him a vegemite sandwich, what difference does it make at this point?
I hesitate to be controversial on this site, but he were going to call himself anything it would be a Marmite sandwich, if you please.
Why, you mother . . . 😉