It may be nice if everyone could freely determine their gender every day, and some feminists may also like it if women generally receive advantages in hiring, promotion, or even in refusing certain tasks. However, combining both can lead to bizarre reactions, as recently happened in Spain.
There, within the last year, several dozen police and military officers have legally redefined themselves as women. As a result, they received various benefits, including in their careers, barracks accommodations, and pensions.
Gender Dysphoria without Proof
The Spanish police officers and military personnel now considered women are apparently not acting illegally, as the new Spanish Self-Determination Law allows this.
According to this law, in Spain, any person aged 16 and over can change their legally recognized gender and first name at will, without needing to provide any medical or other proof. Neither name nor appearance need to be changed, and the family situation can remain as is.
Equal Treatment Thwarted Through the Back Door
The motives of the resulting female officers and soldiers are understandable, as they now benefit from the advantages the Spanish government has granted to women.
- Women in Spain are more likely to be promoted due to gender quotas
- Career acceleration leads to a higher salary
- Women in the police and military can refuse physically strenuous and dangerous tasks and missions
- Women with menstrual discomfort are allowed to take "period leave" every month
- If a person who identifies as a woman is passed over for promotion, she can sue for "gender-specific discrimination."
The controversial law was passed by the socialist government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez in December 2022 with a narrow majority. The initiative was led by then-Equality Minister Irene Montero, who was the youngest member of the Spanish government at 34 and had implemented several - some controversial - women's rights.
The Self-Determination Law is Being Utilized
Army Private Roberto Perdigones is one of those who have taken advantage of the right to self-determination. He told the newspaper El Español, "Externally, I feel like a heterosexual man, but internally, I am now lesbian. And the latter is what counts. That's why I took the legal opportunity to declare myself a woman. With the gender change, I was told that my pension entitlement has also increased because women receive more pension to compensate for inequality. In addition, I already receive 15 percent more salary because I am now also a mother."
Perdigones was previously the father of a 16-year-old boy. He lists further advantages he can now enjoy as a woman: "I even have my own room with a private bathroom all to myself in the barracks. This is because, as a woman, I cannot be accommodated with men, and I also do not find it appropriate out of respect to be with biological women." Perdigones seems not to have changed much externally; he continues to wear a full beard, according to the website Schwulissimo.
According to the website, Australia, which has also introduced a very comprehensive self-determination law, has seen similar effects. In the state of Victoria, there is reportedly a surprisingly high number of police officers who identify as non-binary.
As it goes: Too many sweets for children are not a sign of love but have unwanted side effects. It seems the same applies to too much self-determination and granted advantages. Moreover, Spain's police and military can now boast a high female quota. But does that help us?
Anke Dembowski is a financial journalist and author of various investment fund-related and other financial books. She is also a co-founder of the "Fondsfrauen" network.