AIBU about Hadley Freeman?

[NoSquirrels]

She’s a bit of a crush of mine.

I’ve always loved her writing. But this week she wrote this about 80s movies which is so good.

www.theguardian.com/film/2018/mar/27/1980s-favourite-film-decade-top-gun-stand-by-me-hadley-freeman

She’s been all over the anti-Semitism protests and other issues.
And now she has articulated what I’ve been trying politely to say for ages about the Self ID issue.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/mar/31/man-explains-what-means-be-woman?CMP=ShareiOSAppOther

Please have a read! Then if she’s convinced you sign the petition.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/214118

If she hasn’t feel free just to ignore or talk about 80s movies here, or general women-journalists-who-rock, or your own inappropriate crushes.

She had time off recently (was it twins or was it studying time?) and there's been a sea-change in her writing. Used to be brilliant humorous fluff mainly about fashion, since her return she's been allowed on to the serious stuff. Previously I read he for light amusement, now she is thought provoking.

I hope that eventually the ridiculous hyperbole of the TRAs will collapse in on its own hollow argument. Whatever misconceptions people have about MN that article is transparently not a 'vile anti-trans hate-screed'.

The reason I like her so much is she still does the humourous 'fluff' too - her range is amazing. In fact I wish she'd write more about fashion again although I understand her wanting to move on. If I remember correctly (and it was a few years ago) , Karl Lagerfield tried to ban her from his shows after one of her reviews.

I can take her or leave her but it was ballsy to have that published today.
I assume they chose to take comments off because of the flak.
Should it have gone out today, not sure, it seems a bit goady.
Also it should have made it clearer if she is pro transwomen who will also be chucked under the bus...as it is, making liberal men the enemy seems a bit of a cop out when I was under the impression from here that it was transgender transactivists who make the most terf slurs?

Yes @Floisme - she’s like a regular person with a range of interests you could hang out with in the pub and have a great night discussing all sorts from fashion to feminism and everything in between. I ❤️ her.

She iis getting a MASDIVE amount of flak on Twitter, as is the Guardian for publishing it. Because it is “anti-trans”

Anything that isn't boot-lickingly, handmaidenly, pro-transideology is considered anti-trans. And transphobic. And bigoted.

yawn

Absolutely brilliant, spot on from Hadley.

The headline makes it sound anti-trans, I grant you - but actually the thrust of the article is against liberal men pushing causes they don’t fully understand. The wording in the article is extremely sympathetic- “self-identified transwomen and other women” leaves plenty of room for trans women with a GRC, transsexuals etc. It’s anti-self ID but it isn't anti trans.

Anyway, I think she’s ace.

Anyone Karl Lagerfeld wants to ban from his shows, must be OK

Great article, more people need to write stuff like this!

Not sure whether Guardian care about the flak. She has written about it before. I assume the timing of it has caused a greater reaction this time around and the fact that it is less neutral than previous:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/11/caitlyn-jenner-transgender-feminism-woman

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/18/identity-issue-our-age-talk-more-honestly-trans-women

Hello Mission
I think that was Marina Hyde. I remember reading it a while ago.

What a cracker of an article. I think I ❤️ her.

I love this article!! I'm so excited by the fact that the Guardian has cracked, even if it's only a little bit.

www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/nov/20/tiaras-navigate-gender-minefield-tabloid-hysteria-kids-antiquated-stereotypes
I liked the above article she wrote.
It is certainly better than her dream casting of 'girly' (her words) Mindy Kaling as
''A super feminine Ghostbuster, trapping ghosts but simultaneously worrying about her manicure would be adorable alongside McCarthy’s more bossy persona.''

@Threewheeler1

Hello Mission
I think that was Marina Hyde. I remember reading it a while ago.

It was. I googled it when challenged and posted my apology upthread ^ to Hadley when I realised my mistake.

Hadley’s fashion pieces have always been brilliant. And her willingness to wade in below the line and defend her right to talk about fashion as a subject against the whinges of the “how dare you talk about something that isn’t Syria” brigade (who I can’t help noticing never post that on the cricket or football blogs) is hilarious.

She is wonderful.

And she's right.

People are deliberately misunderstanding the concerns around self-ID and using TERF, transphobic, and anti-trans and the rest of that crap to shut women down.

TERF is the new Feminazi when it comes to telling women to shut up.

I still don't get what's so radical about talking about women's bodies either.

I've just ordered two of her books.

It's my first experience of her writing and it's impressive. Quality journalism is getting harder to find and this stands out. I'll definitely be looking for her books.

www.amazon.co.uk/That-Extra-Half-Inch-Everything/dp/014102920X?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Did you buy this one?!!

The twitterer who wrote:

She also spreads deliberate disinformation about the reform of the Gender Recognition Act. The @guardian* should be better than this

Could perhaps have a wee read of the fab piece by the wonderful transwoman, Debbie Hayton:

quillette.com/2018/03/30/plea-trans-activists-can-protect-trans-rights-without-denying-biology/

Thank you Nosquirrels excellent article, just signed the petition too

I bloody love her for this. My first thought when I read the piece this morning was MN.

I hope she sees this outpouring of love!

Thanks for link. I usually read her pieces (in an increasingly unreadable guardian 😕, always used to love it).

Think she has nailed it and dont undersrand why this is seen as anti-trans when its clearly against 'woke bros'...

I am another one who loved her first!