We have come too far to give away women’s rights

I READ ‘‘When an argument is a croc’’ by Liz Breslin (Weekend Mix, 7.6.21). Please do your columnist a favour and buy her a copy of Sue Kedgley’s new memoir about her life as a feminist activist in New Zealand.

She will discover that, as incredible as it now seems, women were largely invisible and powerless in the 1960s and ’70s.

Women doctors and lawyers were a rarity. Few women were MPs, let alone cabinet ministers. And they certainly were not prime ministers, governorsgeneral or chief justices.

Career options for girls were largely limited to secretarial work, nursing or teaching. And after a brief career, they were expected to marry and raise children.

If a woman made an unfortunate choice, she might have had a husband who could lawfully rape her. If she left with the children, there was no welfare support. Nearly all the marital property would belong to her husband. When she found a job, she’d have had to put up with being paid less than men.

Thanks to feminists and their tireless campaign to win the public to their cause, our world is very different and very much for the better.

These are the people Liz Breslin calls evil ‘‘terfs’’. And contrary to her claims, they do not hate trans people or deny their right to exist.

Far from it. They support the rights of everyone to be whatever they want with whomever they want without facing prejudice or violence.

But indeed, they say in some instances the rights of women should take precedence over the rights of trans women. Such as the right of girls and women to play sport with fair (female) competition. Or to be in safe spaces without having to see male genitals.

I am certain fairminded people would agree. Hugh Barlow

Masterton

BIBLE READING: Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others. — Matthew 6.1.