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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Fantastic comment in the Times - I've never seen so many likes!

66 replies

SueBridehead444 · 17/04/2023 17:42

There's a not-very-interesting article about Emma Watson's birthday in the Times this evening and the comments are generally very negative about her - so many likes for this excellent comment!

Fantastic comment in the Times - I've never seen so many likes!
OP posts:
WarriorN · 18/04/2023 09:59

@verystablegenius any woman who centres men in her feminism doesn't understand feminism.

I don't like name calling but I will critique her whimsical privileged ideas whenever she's make believe play acting at being a feminist icon.

Criticising her her statements considering her enormous platform is not bullying.

She has never experienced the kind of life that the women who find themselves fearing a violent male housed in a prison cell next to them or women's shelter experience.

She's middle class woman splaining and as such perpetuating narratives in the public sphere that enable those men pretending to be women to abuse women.

At least JK put her money where her mouth is and set up Beira's place. That's grass roots feminism.

WarriorN · 18/04/2023 09:52

That daily mail front page is genius

RoyalCorgi · 18/04/2023 09:28

I agree that Watson et al don't necessarily owe anything just because JKR's work led to them having fantastic opportunities that made them rich and famous. But people who have spoken about JKR's involvement in those films has mentioned how kind and supportive she was to the child actors. You would think that they would have some gratitude for that. And JKR herself has never once criticised any of those actors for taking a different view from her. She is a model of kindness, courtesy and decency, and if any of them possessed a 10th of her qualities they could consider themselves to be fine human beings. As it is, they have shown themselves to be empty-headed, virtue-signalling dimwits, prioritising likes and approval on social media over critical thought and the courage to stand up for what is right.

Datun · 18/04/2023 08:55

TomaytoORTomahto · 18/04/2023 07:24

Totally agree. Apparently it's ok for JKR to air her abhorrent views but nobody is allowed to challenge her nasty rhetoric? I mean this is why the later HP books are so overwritten and lazy, nobody dared edit them bc she was so nasty (and yes a friend was an editor and Bloomsbury back in the day) so it all tracks.

See, this is what people are talking about. Being fed nonsense from the likes of the HP trio, leads to women needing a rape refuge to recover from sexual assault, being described as 'abhorrent.'

They use their influence provided by JKR to encourage misogyny. It's not 'gratitude' people are expecting from them. It's to not actually leverage their relationship with her to both criticise her and fan the vilification of vulnerable women everywhere.

RadicalFern · 18/04/2023 08:27

*death and rape threats.

Thanks autocorrect, I'd rather not be typing that either.

RadicalFern · 18/04/2023 08:27

As with others, I don't think that EW needs to agree with JKR on every particular, but one would have thought that condemning the death and take threats towards a woman you grew up knowing wouldn't be a step too far.

And you'd better believe I'm going to say she's dumb as fuck for thinking that the position of the planet Saturn has had any influence whatsoever on the shape of her life.

crunchermuncher · 18/04/2023 08:22

SpecialControlGroup · 18/04/2023 07:27

What abhorrent views? That biological women exist?

You'll never get an answer to this that reflect sanything she's actually said.

She's been judged guilty of wrong think by the mob. No debate is required 🙄

zanahoria · 18/04/2023 08:12

I think any child who got picked for those roles should consider themselves lucky. When they recast them for the TV series there will be a queue about fifty miles long.

It does not mean that they have to agree with everything JKR says but it is truly disgusting how they have gone along with US media narrative of JKR being anti-trans and smearing her without even giving any impression of actually reading her essay.

SpecialControlGroup · 18/04/2023 07:27

What abhorrent views? That biological women exist?

TomaytoORTomahto · 18/04/2023 07:24

PussBilledDuckyPlait · 17/04/2023 19:19

I don't support EW's criticisms of JKR but nor do I agree with the theory that EW owes JKR loyalty/thanks because EW made her name in the HP films. The films were a commercial enterprise and made a great deal of money for all involved, JKR included.

Totally agree. Apparently it's ok for JKR to air her abhorrent views but nobody is allowed to challenge her nasty rhetoric? I mean this is why the later HP books are so overwritten and lazy, nobody dared edit them bc she was so nasty (and yes a friend was an editor and Bloomsbury back in the day) so it all tracks.

SueBridehead444 · 18/04/2023 07:20

nettie434 · 18/04/2023 06:45

I don't expect unquestioning loyalty to JKR from them, especially because child stars sometimes feel ambivalent about their success. It's the way they have expressed their disagreement that irritates me. Ralph Fiennes and Robbie Coltrane focused on condemning abusive and threatening behaviour and upholding JKR's right to hold her own opinion. All they had to say was, 'I disagree with JKR's opinions on this topic but I don't support the threats she has faced.'

Yes I agree with you - they could have approached it in a much better way.

Personally, I think the three of them are entitled toerags and I will never watch anything else they are in again, but you are much more dignified 😆

OP posts:
Righthandcider · 18/04/2023 07:14

Busybutbored · 18/04/2023 04:12

I agree with this

If they genuinely disagreed then surely at last one of them would also disagree with the way she's been vilified.

It doesn't come across as genuine when three different people have identically "right minded" views.

I also agree with PPs that they don't owe her a lifetime debt of gratitude, but it's not really "ingratitude" I'm seeing. It's more that they're using her huge profile to their own benefit by publicly denouncing her views. If they were denouncing anything else it would get them far fewer column inches and adoration. So they're going for her, to make themselves look good and to shore up their own careers at her expense. It's parasitical.

nettie434 · 18/04/2023 06:45

I don't expect unquestioning loyalty to JKR from them, especially because child stars sometimes feel ambivalent about their success. It's the way they have expressed their disagreement that irritates me. Ralph Fiennes and Robbie Coltrane focused on condemning abusive and threatening behaviour and upholding JKR's right to hold her own opinion. All they had to say was, 'I disagree with JKR's opinions on this topic but I don't support the threats she has faced.'

verystablegenius · 18/04/2023 05:51

Is there a rule that says that because someone is female we're never allowed to say anything mean?

Of course, we’re largely free to call people all sorts of nasty names on public forums, but I’d question whether calling Emma Watson “dumb as fuck” is constructive.

Busybutbored · 18/04/2023 04:12

EarthSight · 17/04/2023 22:36

I actually don't agree with a lot of women here about these three people. It is true they owe their careers to her, but just because someone picked you to act in their film as a child, doesn't mean you should be indebted to them for the rest of your life, and it doesn't mean they own you.

If they genuinely disagree with her, then they should be free to say so.

I agree with this

Kokeshi123 · 18/04/2023 03:54

Is there a rule that says that because someone is female we're never allowed to say anything mean?

If EW were being disproportionately attacked compared to DR and "the other one," criticisms of this would be valid, but that's not the case. DR has come in for just as much stick as EW, if not more. EW is basically less than bright, latches onto every trend that's out there, and has never been a very good actor. There, I said it. And getting to your early 30s before learning how to cook is indeed sad.

Codlingmoths · 18/04/2023 03:31

verystablegenius · 18/04/2023 01:51

I disagree with Emma Watson, but please have a think about whether these kind of personal attacks are healthy, especially on the feminism board. Thanks

I agree with this, please think twice before vitriolic attacks.

verystablegenius · 18/04/2023 01:51

Jux · 18/04/2023 01:38

😂😂😂😂😂

Poor little Emma; she tries so haaaaard and still she comes out dumb as fuck.

I disagree with Emma Watson, but please have a think about whether these kind of personal attacks are healthy, especially on the feminism board. Thanks

Jux · 18/04/2023 01:38

😂😂😂😂😂

Poor little Emma; she tries so haaaaard and still she comes out dumb as fuck.

Codlingmoths · 18/04/2023 01:22

I saw her Instagram post. LOTS of we love you hermione posts and how much Harry Potter meant to them, so clearly there is a large fan base who know nothing about any of this discussion. Also, zero responses from her about how hermiones creator is problematic, she’s not silly enough to do that. We will see where her public statements go.

GrimDamnFanjo · 18/04/2023 01:14

ColdMeg · 18/04/2023 00:15

I think when you have a lot of personal wealth as a child and a teen, it can innoculate you from reality to some extent.

I'm only speaking anecdotally here, but the people I've known who've experienced wealth as youngsters don't seem to have a very firm grasp on the practicalities of existence, even when they are extremely intelligent and find themselves in very different financial circumstances late on in life.

I suppose it's being young in a situation where your choices don't necessarily have a significant opportunity cost.

Agreed.
To me they all come across as really rude. JKR has been someone they'd known for years, yet they don't speak up for her when she's received really horrible threats? They don't condemn those that wish her harm?
They could have stayed out of it, yet they joined in.
Almost as bad as those fan sites who have warnings yest are happy to make money out of jkrs intellectual property.

ColdMeg · 18/04/2023 00:15

I think when you have a lot of personal wealth as a child and a teen, it can innoculate you from reality to some extent.

I'm only speaking anecdotally here, but the people I've known who've experienced wealth as youngsters don't seem to have a very firm grasp on the practicalities of existence, even when they are extremely intelligent and find themselves in very different financial circumstances late on in life.

I suppose it's being young in a situation where your choices don't necessarily have a significant opportunity cost.

crunchermuncher · 18/04/2023 00:13

Yes, you can disagree with someone without mocking them (well, adults usually can).

Datun · 18/04/2023 00:05

circleback · 17/04/2023 22:49

It’s also the way they went about it. Rupert Grint likened her to an aunt you see at Christmas who comes out with dodgy stuff. It was so offensive and patronising.

Yes this. It's the condescending attitude that she doesn't really understand.

circleback · 17/04/2023 22:49

It’s also the way they went about it. Rupert Grint likened her to an aunt you see at Christmas who comes out with dodgy stuff. It was so offensive and patronising.