As a feminist for over 50 years, I was delighted to see Sonia Sodha defending the right of a female nurse to dignity and privacy when changing within an NHS hospital. (“No woman should be forced to change her clothes in front of a male colleague”, Comment)
The issue here is not about being anti-trans but being pro women’s rights. We have established protected female-only spaces not because all men pose a risk, but because some, indeed many, do. As it is not possible to know which men pose that risk, we exclude them all. The reality is that a man remains a man, irrespective of his gender identity, and should not therefore be allowed access to places that for very good reasons are designated for women only. It seems extraordinary at a time when violence against women and girls is so high, we should even contemplate violating this boundary.
Gerison Lansdown
London N10
As a trans person, I was appalled to read Sodha’s column. The consistent misgendering of Dr Upton, alongside [references to sex crimes], lent a cruel and offensive tone to what I assume was intended as a piece on the very necessary debate around single-sex spaces.
The debate around single-sex spaces can never be constructive without those on all sides accepting that sex is not a binary experience, and chromosomes do not dictate gender, as Sandie Peggie reportedly suggested. Both of these women contribute to a very necessary, life-saving role.
Women need to fight patriarchal oppression in a united format, accepting both cis and trans experiences, instead of punishing each other for a perceived lack of adequate “femaleness”.
M Spring
Bath, Somerset
The victims of surrogacy
There is no doubt in my mind that surrogate mothers are largely influenced by the prospect of transactional gain (“Sorry, Lily Collins, but when people outsource childbirth, their motives really count”, Comment). Surrogacy tourism is particularly distasteful because willing candidates are often financially desperate. Surrogacy cannot be justified as a career and offering a large sum of money and supervised care where the state fails is not a benevolent act, it is a calculated trade-off in which the surrogate feels they have little choice if they are to survive.
Lily Collins’s reasons for using surrogacy are her own business and while I’m not making any judgment about her wish for a family, people who think it is acceptable to exploit those with the least in life should harbour no illusions they are helping the surrogate mother.
Mona Sood
Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Saved from the Nazis
I was fascinated to learn of the belated recognition of Sally Carson, whose 1934 novel Crooked Cross predicted the rise of the Nazis (“English writer’s forgotten ‘masterpiece’ predicting rise of Nazis gets new lease of life”, News).
I am reminded of an equally prescient, yet unsung hero, John Sturge Stephens, member of a prominent Cornish Quaker family. In 1929, he wrote a book, Danger Zones of Europe: A Study of National Minorities, warning of the dangers to world peace of fascism and of the unfair treatment of cultural minorities. Working from the Quaker office in Vienna in the late 1930s, he wrote to his father, “countless gifted… people ruined simply because of their Jewish… blood. The cultural life of Vienna will be annihilated.”
Stephens helped to save the lives of numerous Viennese Jews, including those of artist Albert Reuss and his wife Rosa, to whom he offered a home in Cornwall. Like Carson, Stephens deserves recognition for his visionary and humanitarian work.
Susan Soyinka
Penzance, Cornwall
The treasures of Tahiti
In your story on Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander you say that in 1769 they became the first European botanists to explore the island of Tahiti (“Groundbreaking botanical discoveries on Captain Cook voyage were thanks to Indigenous people”, News). In 1767, the French botanist Philibert Commerson had visited the island as part of Louis Antoine de Bougainville’s circumnavigation. On board was a woman called Jeanne Barret, disguised as Commerson’s valet, who became the first known woman to sail around the world.
Barret was crucial in assisting Commerson with collecting thousands of plant specimens and her significance in French history was marked by her being one of the golden statues that emerged from the Seine during last year’s Olympic ceremony in Paris.
Doina Cornell
Dursley, Gloucestershire
Comfort was aware of Aids
I was delighted to learn that Sharon Maguire will be directing a film about the making of Alex Comfort’s The Joy of Sex (“‘They were trying to do 200 different poses during power cuts’: Bridget Jones director takes on The Joy of Sex”, News) but I take issue with the statement that “he was completely blindsided by Aids”.
As a physician and research biologist, Comfort was aware of the Aids epidemic from the start and was determined to act responsibly. Research for my biography of him shows that when he and his UK publisher were considering an updated edition in 1984, he wanted to revise it thoroughly and have a warning added to all copies of the original edition. If he were alive today, Comfort would be encouraged that new generations are nevertheless finding new paths to explore their needs and desires in loving and collaborative ways.
Eric Laursen
Charlemont, Massachusetts, US
Taking on Trump
It is right that Donald Trump and his actions must be challenged and it is imperative that all non-rightwing media and individuals take a stand (“Vengeful and reckless, Donald Trump must not go unchallenged”, Editorial).
We cannot wait for the ships of governments to start moving. Echoes of the past remind us of the dangers of complacency. Platforms were used to manipulate vulnerable individuals into believing that their lives would be transformed if they brought a potential despot into power. Meanwhile, the powers that be cower in their wealth, afraid to disrupt the new status quo. Unlawful orders are being followed and this is not the first time in recent history that such events have unfolded. It is crucial that we wake up and the media is our main hope in this endeavour.
Marie Bryson
Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland
A better way back to work
In the 1970s, there was a much more humane and effective mechanism to help the long-term unemployed into work (“Labour to ‘fix benefit system to get people back into work’ ”, News,).
I was an occupational psychologist in a ministry of labour industrial rehabilitation unit (IRU) where people had their abilities assessed in supervised work settings, tests and interviews, helped by a disability resettlement officer and social worker. This is much better than punishing people with sanctions or benefit withdrawals, a “carrot” rather than “stick” approach.
Michael Miller
Sheffield
Just the exciting bits, please
Penalty shootouts? Great idea (“Straight to penalties? Greed is football’s real shortcoming, not extra time”, Sport). Just do away with tedious 90 minutes of kickabout first. The whole season’s league could be condensed into a weekend of thrilling TV. Good for the environment, too. Just think of the tonnes of newsprint saved each year.
David Duell
Durham
• The second letter on this page was amended on 16 February 2025 to better reflect the content of the column on which it comments.
