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Original poster

Juno Dawson book for teenagers - review

43 replies

Xanthangum · 24/03/2021 04:28

The Lies They Tell have reviewed Dawson's book What’s the T?: The no-nonsense guide to all things trans and/or non-binary for teens.

the-lies-they-tell.org/2021/03/21/review-of-whats-the-t-by-juno-dawson/

Much to take in.

Unsurprisingly it seems to be full of errors and dodgy advice.

The scientific analysis of what might be at the heart of transitioning is introduced with this: To be honest, a lot of this stuff is SUPER-SCIENCY and SUPER-COMPLICATED.

Here is the conclusion of the review:

Well obviously it’s a terrible book with an over reliance on celebrity plugs to patch over the lack of factual information and balanced opinion about life changing treatments and surgeries. It also occasional lapses into very bad advice – sort of suggesting that children should sign up to adult dating apps being a particular low point. Incorrect information is given out about UK law. So yet again it seems like no one bothered proofreading the book.

My bold refers to this quote:

Back to online dating. First things first: pretty much all the dating apps I know of insist on users being over eighteen, but that doesn’t stop younger people from naughtily signing up.

WTAF? This book should be withdrawn from sale, surely.

OP posts:
Eyesofdisarray · 24/03/2021 18:47

WTAF flippin autocorrect

Eyesofdisarray · 24/03/2021 18:46

Won't be buying it for my teenager
What indeed

Juliesipadwillcallyouback · 24/03/2021 18:41

This is a book for teenagers?

So what Juno is basically saying to impressionable young people about something that is age restricted for safeguarding reasons is 'everyone is doing it'.

WTAF?

Juliesipadwillcallyouback · 24/03/2021 18:39

My bold refers to this quote:

Back to online dating. First things first: pretty much all the dating apps I know of insist on users being over eighteen, but that doesn’t stop younger people from naughtily signing up.

Eeeeeeeekkkkk!!!

Erkrie · 24/03/2021 18:04

If you check JD twitter page you can see the references of the lucky giveaways into our children's schools. It's somewhat relentless really isn't it. It's like the Fortnite stuff with mermaids ads popping up in the middle of it, as a way to get directly to kiddies.

Erkrie · 24/03/2021 17:58

Gosh do we need to check our school libraries

Yes. I've already instructed DD to 'borrow' it 🤣

FemaleAndLearning · 24/03/2021 12:46

@Erkrie

This is the book JD has been offering free copies of to school libraries.
Gosh do we need to check our school libraries?
Cwenthryth · 24/03/2021 11:54

@Xanthangum

I remember reading something by Juno which talked about not passing and embracing transness, which would be a far healthier and more thoughtful attitude to pass on to kids

Yes.

It's so odd that there is quite clearly a need for thoughtful, respectful, honest and accurate resources for everyone - teachers, parents, kids, school boards, local councils and so on.... but that the resources being pushed by trans activitists themselves are so often nonsensical, dishonest and dangerous.

They are the ones doing damage to their own movement.

I agree

I follow quite a few transwomen and transmen on Twitter who are GC. I’d be really interested to hear both their take on the kind of advice being discussed here but also a book along these lines written by a transgender person who doesn’t believe TWAW.

Erkrie · 24/03/2021 11:34

This is the book JD has been offering free copies of to school libraries.

Original poster
Xanthangum · 24/03/2021 11:30

I remember reading something by Juno which talked about not passing and embracing transness, which would be a far healthier and more thoughtful attitude to pass on to kids

Yes.

It's so odd that there is quite clearly a need for thoughtful, respectful, honest and accurate resources for everyone - teachers, parents, kids, school boards, local councils and so on.... but that the resources being pushed by trans activitists themselves are so often nonsensical, dishonest and dangerous.

They are the ones doing damage to their own movement.

OP posts:
jellyfrizz · 24/03/2021 08:35

@AnyOldPrion

”Dawson tells us that the world treats [they] just like ‘any old woman’ in terms of ‘street and online sexual harassment’ but it is so much worse for [them] because sometimes [they] gets a side order of transphobia too.”

Bit of a contradiction in terms. If transphobia is elicited, then the person clearly is not treating Dawson as a woman. Indeed any non-passing person will inevitably be treated as someone of their own sex, even if a few choose to pretend otherwise. It’s not possible to go against your ingrained reactions.

I remember reading something by Juno which talked about not passing and embracing transness, which would be a far healthier and more thoughtful attitude to pass on to kids.
NotBadConsidering · 24/03/2021 08:29

I’m reminded of when EL James, infamous author of Fifty Shades of Grey, did a Twitter Q and A, and the best question was “which do you hate more, women or the English language?”

Berthatydfil · 24/03/2021 08:21

@Xanthangum

“Back to online dating. First things first: pretty much all the dating apps I know of insist on users being over eighteen, but that doesn’t stop younger people from naughtily signing up.”

That’s grooming surely? Its nothing short of telling kids to line up to be exploited by adults. Shocking

Biscuitsanddoombar · 24/03/2021 08:18

“Super sciency and super complicated”? I hope JD isn’t appropriating super identities!

Books aimed specifically at teens must be legally accurate and robust when it comes to safeguarding but somehow when a trans author is writing, those things seem to be how can one say it - less rigorously applied

UppityPuppity · 24/03/2021 08:11

The sex of some people just ooze from every written word.

PandorasMailbox · 24/03/2021 07:54

Precisely what I thought @AnyOldPrion.

Good old sexism and misogyny aren't enough for Dawson, they also need the extra bit of trans victimhood too, for that extra bit of oppression Hmm

TeckanandMultra · 24/03/2021 07:50

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

AnyOldPrion · 24/03/2021 05:49

”Dawson tells us that the world treats [they] just like ‘any old woman’ in terms of ‘street and online sexual harassment’ but it is so much worse for [them] because sometimes [they] gets a side order of transphobia too.”

Bit of a contradiction in terms. If transphobia is elicited, then the person clearly is not treating Dawson as a woman. Indeed any non-passing person will inevitably be treated as someone of their own sex, even if a few choose to pretend otherwise. It’s not possible to go against your ingrained reactions.