BBC claim 'Grover is a self-declared ‘TERF’ - an acronym that stands for “trans-exclusionary radical feminist.” TERFs’ views on gender identity are widely considered to be hostile to trans people.'

I don't think explaining the acronym helps much because "trans exclusionary radical feminist" sounds like an angry bra burning activist with a forest full of armpit hair who thinks trans people should be sent to live in ghettos, rather than simply someone who thinks that women's human rights matter and that we should be allowed to have some single sex spaces and sports of our own without being forced to include men who want to be women.

Surely if you’re having to define the word terf, you’re probably speaking to an audience that also requires some explanation of the term gender critical. However, to explain that term would have placed anyone new to the topic on the side of the terf, so better (in the eyes of the bbc) to just leave it as them being hostile to trans people.

I complained about the BBC article. I got this back:
Dear

Thank you for getting in touch about our BBC News website article on the landmark Australian court ruling where a transgender woman won a discrimination case against a women-only social media app, after she was denied access on the basis of being male.

We reported on the background and explained the case had been brought against the app “Giggle for Girls” and its CEO Sall Grover by Roxanne Tickle. We described Ms Grover as a “self-declared Terf”.

Some readers felt our article was biased against women. They objected to our use of the term “Terf” saying it was offensive, which we acknowledged. We explained it stood for trans-exclusionary radical feminist. We later added more context: “Typically used as a derogatory term for those considered hostile to transgender people, it has also been claimed by some to describe their own gender-critical beliefs.”

Grover does indeed use the term to describe herself and has set up an online TV channel called “Terf TV”. She is on record as saying she understands the term is controversial but believes it will become acceptable over time. We believe our reporting was fair and balanced.

Thank you again for contacting us to make your views known. All feedback from readers is shared with senior editors so that they are aware of audience concerns.

Kind regards,

Actually on reflection (and massively overthinking this now), what I said about TERFs, viz:

They believe that women are disadvantaged because of their female-sexed bodies (smaller and weaker; able to give birth), and that ... that disadvantage is not relevant to transwomen, because they do not have female-sexed bodies.

is just as true for conservatives who believe in different roles for men and women as it is for feminists. Neither wants to see men in women's spaces.

Thanks, and goodness knows. Either would do. We need everyone to fight against these men.

Well, she is claiming to be a TERF, and that's what it stands for. But maybe she thinks it just means sex-realist?

Is there anything to suggest Grover is a radical feminist at all? One can want crossdressing men out of women's spaces without being any sort of feminist. I also suspect the BBC has no idea what radical feminism is, any more than the TPAs who use the term "terf" do.

BBC is failing in its educational remit when it introduces a novel political term without explaining it (just telling us what various factions think of it).

If they explain it, readers can judge for themselves whether it's derogatory, or implies anti-trans hostility.

I suggest:

Grover is a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist). TERFs believe that women are disadvantaged because of their female-sexed bodies (smaller and weaker; able to give birth), and that the fight against that disadvantage is not relevant to transwomen, because they do not have female-sexed bodies.

Well, I can dream, I suppose.

Most feminists, most women and I'd wager a majority of Gays, Bisexual and Lesbians (certainly lesbians as they are female) support Grover's views.

Trans supporters are in the tiny fringe minority. Poll after poll shows this, it's a fact, sorry.

Thinking again today, I also reject your assertion that being explicit about who "typically" uses the word TERF as a derogatory term is "superfluous".

Sure, it's superfluous to you because you already know the context (although as noted above, your "neutral" assessment is actually pretty biased), but to anyone who does not know the context it is important to be specific because otherwise they might incorrectly assume the "typical" use is widespread rather than confined to a specific political stance.

And, since someone like yourself who already knows the context already knows what TERF means/how it is "typically" used wouldn't need the explanation at all - ie to such a person the whole statement would be superfluous - clearly the target audience is people who do not have this context and therefore who do need the full picture. The full picture being not just that a certain usage is typical but also within which group(s) it is typical.

To do otherwise is partisan and manipulative, and I'm sure you would not support that. If the Trans Activist case is true and just it should be able to stand up in the light of full information not hide behind half truths and implications.

Sal Grover was peaked by "trans" men's (edit for clarity: men who pretend to be women) behaviour. She used to be in favour of them till she experienced what they're like.

Why the hell shouldn't women be hostile to predatory fetishists? All our hostility amounts to is wanting men to leave us alone and to have sex-based rights - something we here in Australia, among other countries, are fast losing.

They could have added “by transgender people, most feminists and LGBT people” but that is superfluous

Amd also wrong, and partisan.

"by trans rights activists and others who support the replacement of sex with gender identity as a derogatory term for people who do not agree with them" would be accurate.

FlirtsWithRhinos · Today 21:44

Thanks for your excellent analysis there.

It is literally typically used as a derogatory term. That means in most instances of its use it’s derogatory. It’s not otherwise used. This is factual
and indisputable. I do not see what your issue with this is. It makes no difference whether a lot of people use it, or only a few. It’s derogatory.

They could have added “by transgender people, most feminists and LGBT people” but that is superfluous even if it wouldn’t affect its neutrality.

Yes of course. Although might be worth waiting in case @DadJoke helps me refine the arguments ;)

You've missed the point. I didn't say "typically" somehow means "not derogatory". What I am calling out is the BBC's use of the passive voice to obscure the partisan nature of this "typical" use, and the contrast of "typically used" implying a standard, accepted usage, versus "claimed by some" implying a disputed position, when in fact both positions are partisan and disputed.

From the BBC's phrasing one woudl not know whether the phrase is "typically used" as a common phrase across a wide ranging and varied section of society, or "typically used" by a small politically aligned group. These are two very different things. Of course it is the latter that is the case. This is significant so if the BBC were truly neutral they would be clear about exactly who does "typically" use TERF as a derogatory term.

Setting out one position, but not the opposing one is now a neutral position. I see.

"Typically used" means its most common usage. It's most common usage is a derogatory term. It doesn't for a moment suggest it isn't derogatory. This is neutral.

It has been claimed by some (Grover and some others gender critical people) - the BBC doesn't have to lay this out to be neutral.

TERF is used an insult most commonly. It's occasionally claimed by gender critical people. This is neutral.

Not setting out the gender critical position is neutral.

In my view it puts far too much emphasis on Grover and her beliefs, but I can live with that.

Yep I was going to say this Arabella. They are plenty who know fine. The BBC apparently have a higher percentage of trans identified staff compared to the general population so of course they are on the tra gender identity ideology side. Not neutral whatsoever.

It carefully does not say who is doing this "considering".

This is not neutral langauge. The BBC absolutely is taking a position.