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A statement regarding eligibility for the Women's Prize for Fiction

132 replies

HecatesCat · 05/10/2020 13:05

Well it's 'In our terms and conditions the word 'woman' equates to a cis woman, transgender woman or anyone who is legally defined as a woman or of the female sex'

OP posts:
Malahaha · 05/10/2020 14:37

The insanity has no end.

A statement regarding eligibility for the Women's Prize for Fiction
thinkingaboutLangCleg · 05/10/2020 14:34

I identify as a published author. I think discrimination based on achievements is, well, discriminatory.

Sorted!

FairFriday · 05/10/2020 14:26

If you don’t want to enter a woman’s competition then don’t. Enter a non-set specific one. You can’t have your cake and eat it.

RoyalCorgi · 05/10/2020 14:25

But thinking about it, Chaz could be right on the basis that the definition doesn't match the charitable aims.

RoyalCorgi · 05/10/2020 14:24

This is absolutely hilarious:

www.theguardian.com/books/2020/oct/05/akwaeke-emezi-shuns-womens-prize-request-for-details-of-sex-as-defined-by-law

Akwaeke Emezi has declined to enter the prize because they don't want to give information about their sex as defined by law. Oh, the drama. The narcissism.

I'm not sure whether Chaz is right - legally you can have single-sex exemptions (but not single-gender exemptions) for things like employment but I think you can offer prizes to any kind of grouping you want (e.g. people with red hair, people over 30, people whose dad was born in Hong Kong - whatever).

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 05/10/2020 14:21

I think the trustees are on shaky ground. The object of the charity is to further women’s writing. I don’t see how they can impose a definition of women that doesn’t match the legal definition and meet their obligations.

FairFriday · 05/10/2020 14:19

@stumbledin

Can you give the link for this? I cant see it on their web site. Thanks
Not on the website? That’s interesting. So often I see very different themes, topics and voices on the website and the social media account. Almost as if they are trying to engage with two very different audiences, or they don’t really understand twitter and give it to someone who hasn’t had any PR or crisis/reputation management training to run it for them.

It’s on their twitter account only then.

CommunistLegoBloc · 05/10/2020 14:17

Delighted to say I've identified as the winner of the women's prize today ☺️ I'm sure my cheque and trophy is in the post.

lady69 · 05/10/2020 14:17

Let the men win. And watch their credibility plummet with women, the bloody idiots.

gardenbird48 · 05/10/2020 14:16

oh yes, my bad - a prize for ALL people (except certain men).

cis woman, transgender woman, or anyone who is legally defined as a woman or of the female sex.

I wonder what their distinction between the above terms is - I guess the last item ensures that they include trans men?

and it's STILL not enough for some of them.

stumbledin · 05/10/2020 14:14

Can you give the link for this? I cant see it on their web site. Thanks

Helmetbymidnight · 05/10/2020 14:11

But they're saying 'legal women' AND 'transgender women' so as to be sure not to miss out any men, no?

gardenbird48 · 05/10/2020 14:07

@FairFriday

Well it would appear that their statement has hacked everyone off (including those it hoped to please), so a bit of an own goal there.
absolutely - they require a 'legal woman' so that is waay too much gatekeeping for some people!!

Anyway, I though you weren't allowed to ask for a GRC (?) so they will have no idea of someone's legal status anyway.

AND they used the C word - absolute arses.

Helmetbymidnight · 05/10/2020 14:06

It would be really helpful if past recipients of the prize said they disagreed with this...

I know its difficult but ...this is so ridiculous.

FairFriday · 05/10/2020 14:02

Well it would appear that their statement has hacked everyone off (including those it hoped to please), so a bit of an own goal there.

Antibles · 05/10/2020 13:51

Sorry Mind, I've decided to identify as the winner. Bigots and haters who don't agree can go home.

Antibles · 05/10/2020 13:49

I almost want some high profile male authors to enter, claiming the appropriate genderfeelz when they submitted their entry.

Show this up for the nonsense it is.

MindTheMinotaur · 05/10/2020 13:48

I identify as a published author. I think discrimination based on achievements is, well, discriminatory.

I think I've got this is in the bag.

Kit19 · 05/10/2020 13:46

"the womens prize is open to women and men who call themselves women"

same old same old

FairFriday · 05/10/2020 13:32

I really don’t understand - genuinely - how the police this. They can’t quiz people who enter about their credentials.

It’s Boaty McBoatface all over again.

Helmetbymidnight · 05/10/2020 13:29

When I said day, I meant minute. As long as for that minute, he does sincerely 'identify' as a woman, for those 60 seconds, he will be the most oppressed minority the world has ever seen, so that'll be absolutely fine.

Get to it, FairFriday's DS!

Annasgirl · 05/10/2020 13:25

I won't comment on this as I am on a final warning from MN over my involvement in these debates.

FairFriday · 05/10/2020 13:20

DS is a teenager - they don’t know ‘how’ they feel from minute to minute.

BlackWaveComing · 05/10/2020 13:19

So it's no longer a prize for women. They should change the name. False advertising.

Helmetbymidnight · 05/10/2020 13:17

Its for the author of a published book - but yes, any man may enter as long as he feels like a woman on the day of entry presumably.

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