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13 February - thinking about my safety

There has been a lot in the news today about the death of a young trans woman in a park.  I have no right of comment on that but it has given me pause for thought. 

I live in a pretty safe small town and work on a safe business park in a pretty safe small city and drive between the two in my nice safe car.  When I do step outside, as an adult male and not visibly part of any minority group, I generally don't have to think about my personal safety, I can take it for granted.  The probability of me getting attacked is sufficiently remote that I never have to give it any thought.  

That is not the case for women though.  It should be, but it isn't.  As a woman, my personal safety would very much need to be something I think about.  Everything from harassment, assault, worse...  None of which I really have to worry about as a male.  My wife will frequently rant at me about the problems in society and how men treat women, and I totally agree with her.  

By transitioning, I would be taking myself into these risks that male privilege currently shelters me from.  

Even more so, as a (initially at least), non-passing and therefore visible trans woman, I would also be exposing myself to discrimination, harassment, bullying and hate crime.  Again, something I don't face now, and would be opting into in order to be me.  

It is scary to think of how this aspect of my life would change and how much more vulnerable I will make myself.  It's something I'll have to face.      

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