Allison Pearson in the Telegraph

[terrylene]

www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/wont-kowtowing-gender-neutral-brigade/

Does anyone know if she had anything useful to say about gender neutral? (It is behind a paywall. )

[whoputthecatout]

She's feeling sorry for April Fool's Day. Says there's way too much competition out there. Commenting on Hull University's threat to dock marks for failure to use "gender sensitive language" in essays. She's then had a go at HSBC's absurd gender neutral titles (see other thread on here). Also Dyfed-Powys Police relaxing its uniform code to make life easier for transgender officers.

Then has a go at Cambridge University falling for "the tyranny of conformity". Claims she was told by one student that there are now pubs in town who ask "What's your pronoun?"

She sticks up for Jenni Murray and says her transgender friend agrees with Murray. Is concerned that universities and the police have "capitulated to a left-wing mindset that fancies itself uniquely enlightened, but is actually hateful and intolerant."

She says: "It is the role of a university to educate in the broadest sense, not to bow down before fashionable pieties."

"That outlook is shared by the majority of British people, who look on with mounting disbelief as minor verbal mis-steps by decent people are escalated into witch hunts. Academics and the police should represent the country that pays their wages, not kowtow to a thuggish, politically correct minority."

Etc..

[terrylene]

Hmm - fairly general rant then - difficult to disagree with Jenni .

Thanks.

[anonymice]

Academics and the police should represent the country that pays their wages.
A tricky sentiment to endorse wholeheartedly, cos that depends on where you are and what the wage payers are thinking/doing/saying....

[Kennington]

I disagree with jenni Murray. The point isn't the lived experience - it is biology that makes males and females different.
That will affect the lived experience though, but you cannot magic up some ovaries and fluctuating hormones (among other things). It is simply a nonsense.

[terrylene]

Yes, biology is very much the experience you live.

[notafish]

I don't mind a gender neutral police uniform. That seems like a good thing. So long as both uniforms are cut in styles most likely to fit each sex rather than calling it unisex and expecting the females to wear the men's uniform. I read about gender neutral holding cells though. Not good.

[VestalVirgin]

I don't mind a gender neutral police uniform. That seems like a good thing. So long as both uniforms are cut in styles most likely to fit each sex rather than calling it unisex and expecting the females to wear the men's uniform. I read about gender neutral holding cells though. Not good.

I don't think unisex uniforms are possible. Gender neutral, yes, I want to see gender abolished, anyway. But women with large breasts will need shirts with more space in the breast region than men, obviously, and "one size fits all" will more likely fit no one.
(And this doesn't seem to be a problem? We have gender neutral police uniforms in Germany, I am pretty sure. Haven't seen any policewomen in high heels and skirts.)

And holding cells can be gender neutral all they want, as long as the sexes are separated. (In fact, they should be gender neutral. Gender identity should not matter.)

[WhereYouLeftIt]

I quite liked the imagery of

"The sooner we can get the entire British population wearing burkas so that three transsexuals in Ceredigion feel comfortable with their choices, the better."

Just a hint of exasperation methinks.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

Dyfed-Powys Police making their uniform gender neutral seem to consist of looking to change men wearing ties and helmets, women cravats and hats. Seems sensible.

[Datun]

WhereYouLeftIt

And "When I was a 20 year old undergraduate, there are few things I would have liked less than having a wee in close proximity to some rheumy old don shaking his todger, but who cares? I'm just female by birth and, as such, my wish for privacy comes way down the list".

Talking about the mindset: "...this outlook is not shared by the majority of British people who look on with mounting disbelief as minor verbal mis-steps by decent people are escalated into witch-hunts."

I realise, they are confusing the never ending list of genders, favoured by the youth, with the trans-ideology in general. Most transwomen very definitely want a female pronouns.

Perhaps India Willoughby will now have to distance herself from not only the fetishists, but also the self obsessed youth in general.

Good luck with that, love.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Dyfed-Powys Police making their uniform gender neutral seem to consist of looking to change men wearing ties and helmets, women cravats and hats. Seems sensible

Why is it sensible? As far as I can see it means women now wear the men's uniform. If neither restricted the officers doing their job why should there not be a choice?


[QuentinSummers]

I fucking hate Allison pearson

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

She is fairly awful. She used to be OK on Late Review with Tom Paulin.

[QuentinSummers]

She's written a couple of really ignorant and unpleasant articles that I've read (the Natasha Massey interview and one about Muslims) so I cba to give her the time to read her thoughts on trans issues. Yuck.

[SomeDyke]

"so I cba to give her the time to read her thoughts on trans issues. Yuck."
Yep, really convincing there not being arsed to read the actual evidence before condemning her..................

Might as well criticize her for her shoes or her legs whilst you're at it................

[WhereYouLeftIt]

LassWiTheDelicateAir not necessarily. A lot of current police uniform harks back to the (military) fashions of days gone by, and is overly-formal given the needs of the current-days job. Tie and cravats are ridiculous. Both the helmets and the hats look impractical. And the white shirts are far from sensible. With a bit of luck they'll drop the lot of them and move towards e.g. poloshirts and combats. Tunics have largely given way to stab vests, it's time the rest of the uniform was evaluated for practicality.

[Datun]

Allison Pearson almost, sometimes gets it. She sometimes seems to be heading in the right direction, then her innate sexism fucks it up.

I was she would get on here, she might get it right eventually.

However, we have all seen how the trans-ideology makes for some strange bedfellows.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

Allison Pearson has written some awful stuff in the past. I would not particularly want to be on the same side as her.

Goodness knows I'm very critical of hunting with a magnifying glass for sexism everywhere and complaining about it but much of what she writes even I think is unpleasant drivel.

She doesn't have the saving grace of say Ben Shapiro or Anne Widdecombe (with whom I have unexpectedly shared the odd opinion) of at least being able to construct a well argued point.

[QuentinSummers]

some I don't think me deciding not to read her latest article based on the fact that other articles have been drivel and raised my blood pressure is at all the same as criticising her based on her shoes or legs.

[QuentinSummers]

Here's a good example of her rage inducong misogynistic bullshit

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2016/04/12/the-may-ball-rape-trial-shows-how-men-can-be-victims-too/amp/

Just because she may have written something vaguely relevant about trans issues doesn't make her OK. I'll stick with people like Julie Bindel and Glosswitch for my trans information, thanks.

[organixeveryday]

Not sure but her daughter is incredibly narcissistic , her son is vile and I'm surprised her husband hasn't left her already

[Fairyflaps]

The May ball rape article is one of many where she is more concerned about the men who may have their lives tarnished by the accusation of rape rather than the victims of rape. She was a massive Evans supporter & as a result was chosen to do a very unchallenging interview with his fiancée.

[Datun]

I take it back, that article was bloody awful.

[LassWiTheDelicateAir]

That article is not as bad as the whitewash interview she did with Ched Evans and Natasha.

[Datun]

What is she thinking? She appears an intelligent woman.