Gender, Gender Reassignment Natasha Giraudel Gender, Gender Reassignment Natasha Giraudel

Are Trans Women Women Under UK Law? Why the debate deserves More than slogans

This article explores the complex and often polarising debate around whether Trans women are legally considered women under the UK Equality Act 2010. Written in the first person, it avoids taking sides and instead lays out the competing arguments — from those who believe gender identity should be legally recognised, to those who argue for the importance of sex-based protections. It looks at the potential consequences of both inclusion and exclusion, encouraging respectful discussion and thoughtful policy.

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STILL BELIEVERS, STILL LEFT OUT: Being Gay and Catholic in 2025

This blog shares the personal reflections of a gay Catholic man in the UK who, alongside his partner, wants to be married in the Catholic Church. He describes the inner conflict between his strong faith and the Church’s exclusion of same-sex couples. Despite knowing supportive priests and wishing for reform like that imagined in the film Conclave, he remains caught between tradition and progress. The piece calls for deeper inclusivity in religious spaces, not just tolerance.

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Religion and Belief Natasha Giraudel Religion and Belief Natasha Giraudel

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EMPLOYERS TO CELEBRATE CULTURAL CALENDARS: A UK Muslim Perspective

This article offers a British Muslim perspective on the importance of recognising cultural calendars in the workplace. While celebrating events like Ramadan and Eid fosters visibility, the author argues that true inclusivity requires deeper change fair policies, representation and cultural understanding. The piece calls for a balance between celebration and meaningful structural progress in the UK workplace.

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Class, Race and Ethnicity, Gender Natasha Giraudel Class, Race and Ethnicity, Gender Natasha Giraudel

TRYING HARD ISN’T ALWAYS ENOUGH: What it’s really like to navigate work, redundancy and the benefits system

This first-person account tells the story of a young woman from Manchester who, despite working hard and building a professional career, finds herself stuck in a cycle of redundancy, low pay and debt. She reflects on how class background, gender, race and lack of structural support have shaped her journey, raising important questions about whether true social mobility in the UK is really possible. Her story offers insight into the reality of the benefits system and what real support for working-class people should look like.

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Age, Disability, Sexuality, Parents and Guardians Natasha Giraudel Age, Disability, Sexuality, Parents and Guardians Natasha Giraudel

CAN WE TALK ABOUT SMARTPHONES, ADOLESCENTS AND THE LIMITS OF BLANKET BANS?

This article explores the growing debate around banning smartphones for under-16s, sparked by the Netflix series Adolescents. Drawing on her experience in education and pastoral care, a teacher argues that while concerns about screen time are valid, blanket bans risk ignoring the diverse needs of young people. She highlights how age, neurodiversity, parenting situations, and class all affect how children use and depend on smartphones. Rather than one-size-fits-all policies, the article calls for inclusive, age-sensitive guidance, better support for families, and more equitable digital education in schools.

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Health, Race and Ethnicity Natasha Giraudel Health, Race and Ethnicity Natasha Giraudel

PROSTATE CANCER KILLS BLACK MEN MORE. So why are we left out of the cure?

How, in 2025, are we still here? Still testing life-saving treatments on groups that don’t reflect the actual risk pool? Because here’s the thing—and it's not new information—Black men, particularly those of African and Caribbean heritage, are twice as likely to develop prostate cancer as white men. Twice. Yet we’re invisible when it comes to research that might one day save our lives. 

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Gender, Health, Race and Ethnicity Natasha Giraudel Gender, Health, Race and Ethnicity Natasha Giraudel

FROM THE JUNGLE TO THE HEART: I’m A Celebrity' Proves Vulnerability is the Ultimate Survival Skill

I was gutted when man like Melvin (Odoom) was voted out of the jungle on “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” on ITV earlier this week. Watching TV presenter and radio DJ Melvin in the jungle reminded me how important it is to see people like us on TV, doing their thing and being real with it. Melvin was great TV but more importantly was his representation as a great role model and vulnerability.

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