Dr Tanya Byron ignoring gendered violence

It's as if she had read the problem as "how can my gd be a better trans ally", than how can I stop my gd being bullied.

Yy

Omg. That is shocking!

It's interesting that she suggests the gd could be being bullied by other people due to her association with the pupil who believes they're a girl. No suggestion that gd's 'friend' is displaying unacceptable behaviour towards her.

It's almost like TB couldn't wait to get a trans question and spew out all the right on stuff she's been saving up to show how in touch she is. Educated professional people ought to be able to keep a sense of perspective when faced with such issues but obviously (and sadly) not.

And the question "where will it end?"

Me? I'm hoping for a backlash of epic proportions but fear it's too far gone.

I'm hugely disappointed in TB I thought she was quite sensible.

Surely it's entirely possible to have empathy with someone else's situation without having to allow yourself to become a personal punch bag ?

This is weird advice.

I'm sick to the back teeth of Trans people (mostly Trans women if we are honest) being positioned as the most vulnerable and fragile in society who we all have to accommodate. They're fucking not and I for one will not pretend for one more moment. Christ on a bike they've done a number on us haven't they what with so many bleating this nonsense unquestioningly.

So many head explosions today. Women should not have to put up with this shit.

Time for the menz to back off.

Have tweeted tb along the lines of why do the rights of transgender people trump that of others?

I've always thought TB was a bit weird and often talked crap, but she's taking it to a whole new level here!!

I find the whole issue extremely worrying, where is it all going to end?

So accept and become an advocate?
Because she's a girl and should be caring?

It's not helpful a bully if we let them continue with the bullying behaviour, and it does not matter what insecurity triggered the bullying. This fails both young people here.

It's not a million miles either from women reporting sexual assault being told that they must have led the man on.

The comments are near unanimous in saying what we are all saying on this thread. Very odd response indeed.

The Crown Prosecution Service has issued a teaching pack for schools that comes out with the same worrying stuff. Girls must accept trans girls in their changing rooms and the girls' loos or it's their fault if the trans girls get beaten up by the boys.

Meanwhile, the BBC initially reported this case without so much as a mention of the fundamental issue behind it, which is that the person convicted wanted to compete in fell racing as female and on being denied that sought out several officials and stabbed them. This will be recorded as a female crime and I assume Lauren Jeska will be sent to a women's prison.

And finally, two more crime reports from last week which totally omitted the trans status of the people concerned. Katie Brannen - 'woman accused of raping a man' (Independent news report).

Lisa Hauxwell case - reported on Crimewatch last week. Born Craig, convicted of rape and sexual assault under the name Lisa. Another boost to the stats showing a huge surge in violent crime committed by women?

It's already led to this heap of steaming bullshit in the Telegraph: The truth about female sex offenders which is anything but.

I was thinking of doing the same. Let us know if you get a decent response Mrskeats

It's very much the new backlash. I am imagining Tanya Byron in The Handmaid's Tale now, as one of the women who train the handmaids.

I'm tweeting TB about this now.
I can't take much more

Don't be surprised. TB's advice fits perfectly with the TA agenda: deny women the right to set boundaries and denounce them as bigots if they try. Oh, and any violence from TW is the fault of women for not accommodating them.

I disagree re the webchat - I think MN webchats are pretty much a waste of time now unless you agree with the guest, given what happened in the Jess Phillips one with posters banned for 'barracking'.
It would just give her a chance to dispense more dubious advice to naive posters who would assume that if MNHQ invites someone they must be sound, and anyone questioning the advice would risk an immediate ban.
I don't think she is worth it tbh.

I actually wonder if she wrote that. Sounds like it might have been parcelled out to a trans charity for input and it's been clumsily cut and pasted. That's no excuse for TB not to have read it and put it in a more sensible context, or for the editor not to have demanded a rewrite.

I agree a webchat would be good anyway.

You can only be a good support for a friend/advocate/whatever if your own needs are being met. We have been through similar with a girl with some sort of communication problem. Fortunately our school was more supportive to DD, and let her have some healthy space.

Bob, that's absolutely what it is. 'how not to be a dick to your transgender bully'. I dare say TB wrote the advice then made up the question.

It's all girls fault. Be nicer to the boys who hurt you.

It's as if she had read the problem as "how can my gd be a better trans ally", than how can I stop my gd being bullied.

It could be the beginnings of a good everydayfeminist aticle. Ten ways 15 year old girls can become trans allies. 1) let your friend ridicule your make up - that's the best way trans learn how to be as bitchy as cisgirls. I could go on, but I don't want to give them ideas.

Also the fact the grandparents write rather than the parents could indicate the parents aren't around or some other issues - so the poor girl might well be going through other difficulties. But none of that matters of course - not when there is a trans issue their feeling have to come first at all times.

That is truly bonkers advice. I thought Tanya was sensible. Seems I was wrong. I wonder if she would say this if the bullied child were her own daughter . I'd guess not.