If you’re my Facebook friend you’ll not have failed to see dozens of pics from May 2016 when I was an in-patient at the then new flagship hospital in Glasgow. I had lost a leg years earlier but it took some time to realise that the paralysis overtaking me in 2016 was the result of an unrelated problem with a rib, my spine and rather a large tumour. Without drastic urgent surgery I’d have died.
The medics of Scotland’s NHS who treated me were superlative; they literally searched worldwide for the parts to rebuild me. After a fortnight I left hospital more alive than ever, able to walk, determined to try to live every single day as well as I could; I knew then and know now of many others far less fortunate. I’ve been less than saintly since at times, but understand better how precious is the gift of life, a lesson never to forget.
But in May 2016 was the election to the Scottish Parliament – I was in theatre for my op on polling day so beforehand did my bit with all those pics holding ‘I’m with Nicola’ “Two Votes SNP’ banners. Some of my family were so fed up seeing them they muted or binned me until the election was over. My partner Matt voted on my behalf and had to bring me photographic evidence including pics of pals standing with their SNP banners, boards and rosettes at the local polling stations. I was angry missing the election; it took weeks reading up the results which had come in while I was on a ventilator being kept alive by machines, watched over, sponged down and medicated by diligent, kindly nurses.
Matt was instructed to vote SNP for me in May 2016 because, as in every other election, until this year, I had invariably voted only SNP. I did so because I wanted then, as I still desire now, independence for our country, a Scotland which can be democratic, progressive, decent and fair, free from hatred, bigotry, poverty and pain.
When I was awake in my hospital bed in 2016, after returning from ICU and HDU, I couldn’t get up to walk as my limb was at the other end of the room and I was connected to multiple tubes, drips and oxygen. I’d to be lifted onto a bedpan, a wheelchair, helped to turn over or sit up. I was helpless, like a wee upside down bee puffed out and thirsty on a sunny day. I wanted to be looked after only by women. I wanted to be seen in states of undress only by women. I didn’t want any men, let alone trans-identifying male patients, anywhere near me in those episodes. That’s because I desired privacy, decency and respect. I didn’t want to flash my body at anyone at all, least of all men who require me to refer to them as women when I believe that is not what they are. I was scared at times in that bed, not knowing if or when I might walk again or how changed my life might be. It wasn’t then and it isn’t now my concern to protect the feelings of men who claim they want to be regarded as women when their demands overrule my legitimate and protected rights.
In 2001 I’d been a patient in a different hospital in Glasgow; it was full to overflowing and I was in a women’s orthopaedic ward, awaiting an op for cancer. A & E was full, so patients from there were admitted to my ward. Some were men. They were embarrassed; so was I and so were many other women, staff included. I couldn’t sleep – I did not know these men in my ward; it was better to be safe than sorry, stay vigilant and keep an eye out all night, just in case. What would you have done in my shoes?
In 2016 I was sitting up in bed, half dressed, with the room door left open by staff so they could keep an eye on me – and a male patient walked towards my room; I’d a scramble to find a blouse to cover myself up. Nowadays you might laugh and say that’s more for his benefit than my own, but the point remains – dignity.
Perhaps now you’ll understand why I believe in single sex spaces for me and for every other woman and girl (or man or boy) who wants them. It’s just common decency, no more, no less. I don’t care that a Government Minister can’t or won’t answer my question about protecting single sex spaces; I’ll debate her or any other politician on this any day. What I will never do is surrender the protections that mean so much to so many of my sisters and for which our grannies toiled hard. I lost a leg and part of my spine, not my sanity or my tongue.
Yes Eva , exactly that.
Brilliant Eva , you are articulating what any decent Scot thinks . Unfortunately there are some who do not hold such basic decency principals and there is a great predominance of these people at the heart of this awful Scottish government. Keep on doing what you are doing
👏👏👏 You are a remarkable Adult Human Female!
Very well said I totally agree
We where brought up with that event of decency . .the right to bare our bits with only those we prefer not to have that taken from us by woke politicians and the criminally out of touch … protected (simgle sex) spaces should be that…protected
Excellent, and simply put without any trace of ‘bigotry’ or intolerance.
In hospital, especially with a serious problem, the very last thing you need is someone else’s ‘rights’ being pushed down your throat against your will, or to feel uncomfortable about things going on around you. You need to feel safe and secure, not to be lectured on being a bigot.
The patient’s comfort and wellbeing should be the only thing that matters.
Like Eva, my experience of the NHS has been of fantastic care at my times of need. Never a platform for someone else’s politics or beliefs.
Eva you describe perfectly why single-sex spaces are vitally important to all women. I just can’t understand anyone who thinks differently.
Also, congratulations on having successfully risen above such a horrendous illness.
Very moving Eva, points made 100%.
BLOODY WELL SAID, Eva! ‘Nuff said.
Your a inspiration Eva .
Excellent post, Eva. Although men do get embarrassed, too, and it’s understandable, females’ gynaecology ops, examinations, etc., are so frequent throughout our lives, that it sometimes feels that we are permanently in stirrups. For us, our dignity and privacy is paramount and mixed wards are not welcome. How many times must we say it? We do not want men in any shape, form or dress in our spaces. How difficult is that to understand? What kind of person would deliberately ignore women’s pleas to stay out of our spaces to stop trying to take away our rights in a number of areas?
Brutally, these men are a subset of men; they are not, and can never be, women. We are not interested in their bodies, which, whatever they have done to them, remain male; and their brains are male brains. We know this because they speak and behave like males and they show their total ignorance of womanhood every time they open their mouths.
The worst thing about all of this, though, is the mutilation of children and young people. That can never, and should never be forgiven, because every AGP male who says he knew from age two that he was actually a girl is enabling the unnecessary surgeries and hormone treatment of youngsters who, left alone or given proper mental health treatment, might outgrow this stuff. The thought of an innocent little child being brought under the scalpel makes one want to cry.
Some time ago, psychologists started studies into the brains of people before surgery and treatment and after it. I believe this will prove to be useless information because we already know that the brain undergoes changes in certain circumstances – in situations of injury to the brain, for example, where it will switch to another part. We know that the brain can be stimulated to function differently under stress. We know that it can be fooled into thinking that a limb still exists after it has been removed. It seems that there are those who will go to any lengths to destroy the female of the species – half the population – in order to pander to people who might well have identifiable mental health conditions or who are actually ‘brainwashed’ into believing they are the opposite sex.
Never before, in the history of human kind have we witnessed such cruelty and inhumanity on such a large scale towards females and children that has been sanctioned by so many influencers of that society. It is as if our erasure as a sex is a price worth paying so that a handful of body dysphoric and a mass of AGPs can have their egos massaged to a mental, as well as a physical climax. I am beginning to believe that we are viewed as not being truly human, with needs and wants that pertain to our sex that are very different to those of men. I also don’t think it’s any coincidence that this has arisen parallel to the huge rise in porn consumption – porn catering for every taste, with no restrictions. Females stand in the way of the queering of everything in the public domain, so they must be eliminated.
Eva courageous and enlightening post to illuminate the feelings behind the necessity to RETAIN single sex spaces and NOT submit to the proposed lunacy
Lorna as a male I can assure you most males of my acquaintance would be horrified at even the thought of being a female , I cannot emphasise enough the mere thought of all those personal intrusive situations women have to undergo just to attempt to ensure a healthy body gives me the heeby jeebees
It is IMPOSSIBLE for these nut jobs to ever REALLY realise what it is to be a woman and it is deeply deeply insulting and totally undervalues the REAL female SEX
YOU have said repeatedly that this situation is related to sexual predilections which I entirely agree with , I will not give them the respect to name these various predilections or sexual feels because they do not warrant respect or consideration , to me they are a symbol of the selfish unfeeling entitlement of the current generation too stupid to see they are being manipulated and used by entities for THEIR own selfish ends
The respect they should be showing for generations of REAL WOMEN who fought extremely hard against overwhelming bias and odds is sadly missing , and the women siding with this perversion should be ashamed
I to have been in hospital for a few weeks and can well understand how you feel and I can’t support this as it just doesn’t make sense I’m all for live and let live but to put this into legislation put others at risk which does not make sense
As much as I admire Craig Murray, he says he doesn’t agree with alba on self id. So I’d like to ask him this, Will you apologise to the first female and their families when the first sexual assault rape or murder happens, when some predator claiming to be female attacks them in a female safe space???.
This law is madness, who would give a fox a key to their hen house?.
Very powerful, humbling piece.