Are Transwomen male or female? Ask the BBC

Something I see in the girls I know who identify as boys is that there has often been group bullying or exclusion by other girls. I don't know if this is more likely in girls who are autistic.

Thank you, this is eye opening.

@Sweden99 I am concerned, though, about women's (or, mostly, girls') motivation for transitioning. It seems that many girls transition not because they feel they are male, but to avoid abuse or unwanted attention from men. I am also massively concerned about the increasing acceptance of so-called "top-surgery", i.e. double mastectomy, which seems to be far more common than surgery for male transgender people.

My comments aren't really about what people call themselves, nor whether men should be accepted as women and welcomed into women's spaces, or vice versa for women in men's spaces, just to say that I do have massive issues with gender ideology for young women who say they are men.

Thank you for the replies. I was asking in good faith and it was kind of you to take it that way too.

Exactly. It isn't a gender issue. It's a sex issue.

If the objection that in permitting men to be declared women, that it is allowing wolves to don sheeps' clothing?
Yes

Is there much thought on female to male, or serious concerns?
No because the female transitioners pose no threat to men's safety, sports records etc.
plus the female transitioners are ironically behaving exactly like women do, and just get on with it, without making a fuss.

Stuck to your common sense. As once you see what's going on it feels like going through the looking glass, like Alice in wonderland

Please, excuse me asking a dumb question. I struggle with these issues and only know one transsexual person (female to male) and I am happy for him(?).
If the objection that in permitting men to be declared women, that it is allowing wolves to don sheeps' clothing?
Is there much thought on female to male, or serious concerns?
I am a man, so I might be missing things that should be very obvious. Thank you.

Using facts is not a view or opinion. So the BBC would rather lie then and pretend men can magically change to women on a say so or feeling or by popping in a dress and lipstick.

So many lies to keep men happy.

I currently don't have a TV licence, as I don't watch any TV that would require it. I am aware that the TV licence does also pay for other services such as radio and websites from them, which I do use. But for this reason above among others, I certainly shan't be rushing to get one again. Whatever 'man' and 'woman' are currently taken to mean, male=biologically male, in humans and all other organisms that have two sexes.

Male/female: sex.
Masculine/feminine: gender.

To me,

• sex
• gender
• masculine/feminine

are all different things.

I've submitted a complaint. (You have to include your full address and phone number(!!))

Thank you to the poster who highlighted the need to verify your email address and look out for the relevant email in your inbox. Otherwise your complaint won't be submitted.

Good. Glad it's getting pushback from within.

Male/female can refer to either gender or sex.

If it’s gender, it’s “masculine” or “feminine”.

This might also be useful for complaints:

https://murrayblackburnmackenzie.org/2024/03/01/the-bbc-ruling-on-justin-webb-ignoring-public-confusion-and-scientific-fact/

Interestingly (or worringly), from this group’s research fewer than 2/3rds of people understood the meaning of the terms “transgender woman” and “trans woman”.

I've written to complain as well using @AlphariusOmegron 's link. I selected "General BBC" and then "Bias" the categories.

03301234346 is the WhatsApp number for the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.

@SabrinaThwaite Thank-you.

Thank you to PPs for posting your letters. They have inspired me to send my own to Tim Davie. And I've also sent a message of support for Justin Webb to the R4 Today programme on WhatsApp.

The text from Robert Jessell tweet:

Word is that the BBC newsroom is in absolute uproar over the BBC's upholding of the complaint against Justin Webb.

Just a reminder that the broadcaster isn't a monolith. There are plenty of Justin Webbs at the BBC

Such a clear letter, thank you for the example you set here both in writing it and its content.

I’ve also complained:

I am appalled that Justin Webb has been found in breach of the BBC guidelines on impartiality for stating ‘trans women, in other words males’.

To try and frame this as ‘endorsing one viewpoint in a highly controversial area’ because it was ‘without qualification as to gender or biological sex’ is quite frankly nonsense.

The World Health Organisation defines the terms ‘woman’ and ‘man’ as referring to gender and ‘male’ and ‘female’ to biological sex, therefore Webb’s statement is factually accurate and correct.

Under the WHO definitions, it is clear that Webb was clarifying that a trans woman’s gender (woman) is not the same as their biological sex (male) and therefore no further clarification was appropriate or necessary.

When I listen to R4 Today I want to hear clarity and facts, not obfuscation. Stating a fact and by doing so clarifying that trans women are males in a discussion about males entering the female category in sporting competitions is what I would expect a R4 presenter to do - otherwise people who do not know that trans women are male would not understand the discussion.

If the BBC’s remit is to remain to ‘inform and educate’ then you should at least allow your staff to accurately state facts.

So sick of this shit.