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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Why is Harrop suddenly being measured on Twitter?

37 replies

flakeitoff · 07/03/2019 17:12

(I followed him a little while ago when the GMC thread was started here and he's still on my Twitter)

"Although I am someone who is neither an athlete nor a sports scientist, I can appreciate that there is a need to take a fair, evidence-based and rational approach re: the inclusion of transgender and non-binary individuals in sports, particularly at the elite level ...

... there is a need to ensure that sporting competition is as open and as inclusive as possible, for all athletes of all backgrounds, and an understandable desire to see that competitive sports of all types are organised in a fair and safe way ...

... however, what I see is people opportunistically + irresponsibly using this issue to invalidate and delegitimise the womanhood of trans women, dismissing established facts + evidence, + ignoring decades of successful trans inclusion in sports at the highest levels ...

... and obviously, whilst not at all of the concerns and points raised thus far are driven by transphobia, it is clear that many are. This is simultaneously both disappointing and unsurprising, given the current climate in public discourse ...

... as an unqualified commentator, my personal take on the matter is almost entirely immaterial; but, what I do believe is that these matters ought to be handled on a sport-by-sport + case-by-case basis, by the relevant regulatory body, with a focus on fairness + safety for all."

Since when was Harrop interested in fairness and safety for all?!

OP posts:
McTufty · 07/03/2019 17:46

I thought that his hearing was scheduled for 6 March - I wonder what the outcome was

JessicaWakefieldSVH · 07/03/2019 17:45

Why do you think? He’s under investigation. Honestly think we should stop talking about him until the investigation concludes.

AyeRobot · 07/03/2019 17:38

Why isn't he (or anyone else, really) arguing for the inclusion of transwomen in men's sport? That would really be diverse and inclusive.

Bluestitch · 07/03/2019 17:30

I wonder if it's because as a medical doctor he'd make himself look even more ridiculous than usual if he pretended that there is no difference between male and female physiology (even in his trouncing from Posie he conceded that male and female means something for medical purposes). So he's tiptoeing around the issue in the most 'trans friendly' way he can without further career suicide.

placemats · 07/03/2019 17:29

Plus on a deeper level, I believe there is a certain type of person who cannot and never will fully accept that men can dress in the 'opposite sex' (I'm deliberately not using the word gender). They cannot fathom that males can do this without censure or hatred. So they put those men as women. Inverse homophobia.

megletthesecond · 07/03/2019 17:28

He's obviously been read the riot act by the GMC.

McTufty · 07/03/2019 17:27

So Harrop’s view that “trans women are women” is equivocal after all...

placemats · 07/03/2019 17:26

Misogynist is the word that comes to mind.

ZuttZeVootEeeVro · 07/03/2019 17:24

delegitimise the womanhood of trans women

Hmm

If he wants to uphold fairness, why is he not working to ensure that transmen are represented in elite male sport?

He seems preoccupied with the rights of male transpeople at the expense of female people.

O4FS · 07/03/2019 17:17

He still doesn’t give a stuff about it being fair for women.

NotTerfNorCis · 07/03/2019 17:14

It looks like he's had a shock. He says it's because he found a lot of abusive tweets when he got back from NZ, but I don't buy that. He was always in the middle of controversy. I think someone official has had a word with him and told him his job is in danger if he doesn't rein himself in.

AornisHades · 07/03/2019 17:13

Since he realised the GMC were watching him..