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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

The latest in UK children's publishing and the racism of gender ideology

130 replies

notyourhandmaid · 09/03/2021 10:19

For anyone not aware, children's publishing is pretty woke...

The current crisis is a 'known transphobe' being appointed to - essentially - write some blogs. Authors, agents and others in the field are earnestly sharing their vague denouncements - sample here.

twitter.com/Magic_Kitten/status/1369064586029240320
twitter.com/claravulliamy/status/1369181157795971072
twitter.com/alibelle/status/1368961402287894530
twitter.com/andtheHare/status/1369067423006097410
twitter.com/ldlapinski/status/1369209722407186432

This is the awful woman they refer to - an award-winning writer for young people, who also runs two charities, one looking at the trafficking of girls and women in the UK, and the other providing funds for refugee aid teams.
www.booktrust.org.uk/news-and-features/writer-in-residence/#!?q=&sortOption=MostRecent&pageNo=1

The accusations of 'transphobia' are based on a speech at a WPUK meeting in Sept 2019 womansplaceuk.org/2019/10/01/the-sheer-audacity-of-our-existence/

"As I look around in today’s world, I see more and more bewildered women and girls feeling confused, alienated and afraid.
Women like myself and my Sikh or Hindu or Jewish friends who need single-space places to safely unveil, wash up and reconfigure ourselves; or women who are breastfeeding and lactating and needing a space to let it all hang out; or women going through the menopause or chemotherapy who need safe spaces to just be looked after, or young girls on their first ever periods or sprouting breasts who need space for support and reassurance."

As with JKR's essay, there is no suggestion that people might actually read things for themselves and make up their own minds. The writer's been labelled as one of the bad ones. That's it.

These are mostly (though not exclusively) white, middle-class women criticising a woman of colour who writes about and works to support refugees, victims of domestic violence, victims of trafficking. But not overtly - perhaps because they know that it would look incredibly racist to do so (many of them have condemned JKR on more than one occasion). Perhaps because 'transphobia' is supposed to come from 'the far right' and be allied with 'white supremacy'. Perhaps because they know that with all the evidence to hand, no one in their right mind would think that someone like this is 'bad' rather than 'good'.

It reminds me of the abuse Hibo Wardere and other FGM campaigners get, for focusing on material reality rather than inner identities. And it reminds me of the ways in which 'black women' and 'trans women' are so often paired together as the groups that must be included in your definition of 'women', as though these are simply two different kinds of women when 'black women' is an obvious subset of 'women'. It just seems so unbelievably privileged and the kind of behaviour that gender ideologues/TRAs claim GC feminists engage in.

The level of DARVO-ing is too much sometimes!

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 09/03/2021 10:40

Right then, off to write to BookTrust in support of their appointment.

NoSquirrels · 09/03/2021 10:38

OR is a really wonderful writer for children. Wonderful. I've given her first book to loads of people and I can't think of anyone better to be the Booktrust Writer in Residence.

I cannot believe anyone can take those comments about women and girls from diverse backgrounds needing private spaces away from men and call her a 'known transphobe'.

It's a hideous bubble of their own prejudice and narrow world-view, but they can't see it.

HermitsLife · 09/03/2021 10:38

I had not heard of Onjali Rauf but she appears to be a brave and inspirational woman who does actual good for her community. These craven idiots remind me of the witch hunts. "Look over there, she's the bad woman. Not like me. Please don't look at me."

Manderleyagain · 09/03/2021 10:35

I think this might be what Rachel Rooney the children's author has tweeted about too:

"Dear children's book industry, I am witnessing in real time a nasty cohort of bullying authors attempting to cancel an author from her role. There's a core of around 10 of them, the same bunch who came for me last year when I wrote My Body is Me. The MO is the same 1/
making unfounded accusations of 'phobia', discuss this publicly on SM, people jump in to express disgust without looking closely at the truth & now they are openly discussing how they are going to contact her employer to get them to 'rethink their appt'. Yesterday, I witnessed 2/
another author be bombarded with nasty messages ( her words) for simply congratulating said author on her appt. She tried to express nuance but has now deleted her account (livelihood) bc the pressure was so great. Most of you can see this happening but are looking on in fear 3/
from these cry bullies. I would challenge them but I'm blocked of course. If you care for the reputation of the children's book industry please stand up to this bullying and support where possible. DMs open & confidentiality assured."

There is an awful lot of positivity from authors & publishers & book people retweeting the book trust's announcement, so the majority are not joining in. But it only takes a handful of zealots to target someone, especially if they demonstrate what can be expected by punishing someone for congratulating her. Hopefully some will start reading up.

Helmetbymidnight · 09/03/2021 10:26

Oh this makes me feel utterly sick.

Those self-righteous arseholes, that Clara, those awful people trying to destroy a woman (a woman of colour!) for her perfectly rational beliefs based on material reality.

Im still shocked and disappointed at the publishing industry. I thought they were better than this.