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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

The Guardian asks: Why is JK Rowling speaking out now on sex and gender?

33 replies

RoyalCorgi · 12/06/2020 08:13

The Guardian, clearly realising it can't ignore a huge story, but on the other hand not wanting to upset the rampant TRAs in its midst, has published a particularly feeble article that attempts to explain the debate between feminists and TRAs. In a painful attempt to be even-handed, it tries to make the TRA case sound reasonable as opposed to the steaming heap of misogynistic nonsense it actually is. (It's a bit like writing a well-meaning guide to why black people in South Africa are upset about apartheid, and giving the white view equal prominence to the black view.)

Here it is:
www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/11/why-is-jk-rowling-speaking-out-now-on-sex-and-gender-debate

No surprise that the piece is by Libby Brooks, who also thought that the important part of the story about Julie Bindel being attacked was Edinburgh University's LGBT committee resigning in response:

www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/06/edinburgh-lgbt-committee-resigns-over-transphobic-hate-on-campus

and who, a few years ago, wrote a piece called "Grooming and our ignoble tradition of racialising crime" which is all about how awful it is that Muslim men are being blamed for the abuse of girls. (Sample quote: "But what has not emerged is any consistent evidence to suggest that Pakistani Muslim men are uniquely and disproportionately involved in these crimes, nor that they are preying on white girls because they believe them to be legitimate sexual quarry, as is now being suggested.")

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/jan/07/grooming-racialising-crime-tradition

OP posts:
SisyphusAndTheRockOfUntidiness · 12/06/2020 09:47

Because they know it will get them page views & revenue. Bet they don't allow comments, the cowards.

Dicotyledon · 12/06/2020 09:47

I’m pretty sure that “Pride Month” is an excellent time to say that sex matters. If you don’t have sex, homosexuality can’t exist. I fail to see how she got anything wrong.

OldCrone · 12/06/2020 09:45

what does it say about her timing?

In it, she reveals for the first time her own experience of serious sexual assault and domestic violence which, Rowling explains, she felt compelled to write about after reading of the Scottish government’s latest progress towards changing gender recognition laws.

I'm not aware of any new developments about GRA reform since the consultation which closed in March, but the definition of women for representation on public boards has been in the news recently, so I assume that's what's being referred to here. I presume it's 'a woman is anyone who says they're a woman' being enshrined in law that she was reacting to.

bishopgiggles · 12/06/2020 09:45

"Others express the concern that the spectrum of people who identify particularly as trans women is expanding to include male-appearing people"

What? Nothing has changed. It's never mattered what trans women look like, they can identify as trans no matter how feminine they look and surely it's really, genuinely, quite transphobic to claim otherwise? (Nb i have always thought bringing anyone's appearance into their definition of identity is very wrong, TWATW no matter what they look like, just as women are women regardless of how they present) .

Am I really going to have to go through this tosh to tear it apart or shall I do something better with my time...

bishopgiggles · 12/06/2020 09:41

I only got a couple of sentences into that article
"Gender critical feminists disagree with the trans rights activists’ view that gender identity is separate from one’s biological sex"

How, how, how on earth could she get this so wrong? Is she lying or thick?

bishopgiggles · 12/06/2020 09:39

Presumably it's due to the Scottish govt redefining "woman" in their legislation? That's kind of a big deal?

Gncq · 12/06/2020 09:27

Sorry I'm not clicking on the link because it's the Guardian, but what does it say about her timing?

I thought it was slightly dangerous timing to sort of "come out as GC" during Pride Month, or do you think she didn't realise or didn't think people would use that against her?

merrymouse · 12/06/2020 08:24

I'm glad it includes this point:

"Others express the concern that the spectrum of people who identify particularly as trans women is expanding to include male-appearing people who – rightly or wrongly – might be perceived as a threat, and feel sceptical about whether inclusion policies have been properly tested or if individual cis women will be too afraid or uncomfortable to challenge male-bodied people in their spaces."