Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

To agree with JK Rowling?

999 replies

StraightenUpAndFryRight · 20/12/2019 09:22

mobile.twitter.com/jk_rowling/status/1207646162813100033

‘Dress however you please.
Call yourself whatever you like.
Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you.
Live your best life in peace and security.
But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real?
#IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill’

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
TheProdigalKittensReturn · 21/12/2019 01:59

A person with a female name can dream, eh?

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 21/12/2019 02:00

PJ I always think it’s super funny Aubrey is now considered an exclusively female name, when it means king of the elfs.

Thanks for this btw, I love that kind of linguistic trivia.

ArranUpsideDown · 21/12/2019 02:01

'Many examples' (and you've only given one) doesn't make it 'exclusively female' though, does it?

You didn't say exclusively female originally - how odd.

I gave two instances (the first is a well known song) - Another one for starters.

Aubrey Frances Anderson-Emmons

I thought it would be unkind to list more examples. I'd suggest that you're well versed in how to search for evidence against your own thoughts about this name.

QuantumEntanglement · 21/12/2019 02:03

VMisaMarshmallow I know, it’s bizarre, right? [shocked]
Anecdotal evidence is not conclusive obviously but I know 3 female Aubreys and not a single male one! I found though, if you (you general - not aimed at any particular poster) were to make a little effort and google ‘female Aubrey’, it not only generates links to lots of famous female Aubreys, there’s even a wiki where it says Aubrey is now predominantly a female name!

PJsatMidday · 21/12/2019 02:06

Can I self identify as King of the Elfs? Can you be elf gendered?

Still want to know the difference between being female and identifying as female. I thought there wasn't any difference according to New Think.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 21/12/2019 02:06

I'm just hoping any male Aubreys have suitably LOTR-like hair.

QuantumEntanglement · 21/12/2019 02:06

And yes it is very heartening that so many here are supporting JKR and, by extension, Maya.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 21/12/2019 02:06

Not because it would validate their inner elfness, btw, I just like long hair on men.

Nunsnetting · 21/12/2019 02:07

You didn't say exclusively female originally - how odd.

Quite right - it was VMisaMarshmallow who claimed that distinction for the name. I was arguing that the name wasn't 'exclusively female'. Your anecdotal evidence has so far failed to refute that.

JanesKettle · 21/12/2019 02:14

It's a sad win, when the only claim that stacks up is that Aubrey isn't an exclusively female name.

Luckily, the name Aubrey has nothing to do with Maya or JKR standing up for Maya, and by extension, 94% of us!

VMisaMarshmallow · 21/12/2019 02:25

Originally Aubrey was a boys name, an unusual one but traditionally male. That’s dated though, say way back in 1800s or something. It’s currently became a very popular girls name- just look at baby band threads here or other parenting forums, top names of year articles, and teen mom franchise where Aubrey in a variety of ‘unique’ spellings is the most popular choice of baby name- there’s about 5 of them throughout the various shows all girls. I know 3 Aubrey’s at my kids (small) primary school, all girls and several others through other local groups/schools. As this is an off topic ramble I’ll let you search yourself for Aubrey data, but these days it’s almost always thought of as a girls name, which is of course ironic considering the meaning. This isn’t part of the main thread but just to show how stupid a concept a ‘female’ name is.

I have a unisex name, with the typically ‘female’ spelling. One of my girls has a unisex name with the typical ‘male’ spelling (because I prefer how it looks) and my other girl has a typically ‘female’ name. None have anything to do with our biological reality or our ‘identity’ (which is a stupid fucking term imho for people who have the luxury of wasting time. Identify means fuck all to who we are imho.)

Nunsnetting · 21/12/2019 02:25

Luckily, the name Aubrey has nothing to do with Maya or JKR standing up for Maya, and by extension, 94% of us!

Yes, because the majority is always right, obviously.

The majority voted for Brexit - does that make it right?
The majority - entirety - of North Koreans voted for Kim Jong-Un - does that make it right?
In the 19th Century, the majority didn't support women's suffrage - did that make it right?
The majority on Twitter et al don't support gender critical views - does that make them right?

JanesKettle · 21/12/2019 02:30

The majority is NOT always right. It is this time though.

Sex - immutable.

Nunsnetting · 21/12/2019 02:34

The majority is NOT always right. It is this time though.

Well, that's a convincing argument - not.

The majority isn't always right but, this time, it is because ... er ... er ... oh, I know - because I say it is.

Come on, can't you do better than that?

JanesKettle · 21/12/2019 02:37

Actually, it's your assertion - that sex is mutable, that males can turn into females (in humans) - that is extraordinary, and so it's your assertion that must be supported by equally extraordinary evidence.

That's the way these things go.

Yours is the claim that makes a radical departure from what is already known.

Nunsnetting · 21/12/2019 02:45

Actually, it's your assertion - that sex is mutable, that males can turn into females (in humans) - that is extraordinary, and so it's your assertion that must be supported by equally extraordinary evidence.

My assertion? Where have I asserted this?

I have said repeatedly on this thread that I don't believe it's possible to change sex biologically. I do not believe sex is mutable and have never believed this.

All I am asking for, all I have ever asked for on this thread, is that courtesy be shown to those who identify as a gender other than their natal one, by not misgendering them.

But, no, you want to revel in a bullying pile-on to anyone who dares to disagree in the slightest particular with your narrative.

This may be an overuse of abbreviations, but I feel it to be sufficiently apposite to be justified - RTFT, FFS!

nolongersurprised · 21/12/2019 02:47

Actually, it's your assertion - that sex is mutable, that males can turn into females (in humans) - that is extraordinary, and so it's your assertion that must be supported by equally extraordinary evidence.

I don’t think nuns ever actually agreed that this was their belief - a bit of skirting around the issue (pun intended) - but more that everyone should lie and pretend that people could change sex.

And that this lying should be enshrined in workplace law to protect hurty male feelz.

nolongersurprised · 21/12/2019 02:50

I actually think it’s worse that nuns wants to compel everyone to lie.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 21/12/2019 02:51

The majority - entirety - of North Koreans voted for Kim Jong-Un - does that make it right?

I'm sorry but this is hilarious. Total lack of understanding of geopolitics for the win!

Nunsnetting · 21/12/2019 02:55

I don’t think nuns ever actually agreed that this was their belief - a bit of skirting around the issue (pun intended) - but more that everyone should lie and pretend that people could change sex.

Thank you for having actually read what I posted and having the integrity to confirm this, even though you disagree with my overall stance. And you can call me 'she' and 'her' - as I have said, I was born female and continue to identify as female.

JanesKettle · 21/12/2019 02:56

everyone should lie and pretend that people could change sex

Also an extraordinary claim, that requires extraordinary evidence as to why this should be the case.

Nunsnetting · 21/12/2019 02:58

I'm sorry but this is hilarious. Total lack of understanding of geopolitics for the win!

Are you saying that you approve of brainwashing en masse, and being thrown into prison if you don't go along with the majority?

JanesKettle · 21/12/2019 03:00

*is that courtesy be shown to those who identify as a gender other than their natal one, by not misgendering them.

But, no, you want to revel in a bullying pile-on to anyone who dares to disagree in the slightest particular with your narrative*

People might be less annoyed with your 'kindness' narrative, if you'd bothered at any point to consider that courtesy is a two way process.

Tell Murray to stop calling women cunts.

Agree that female victims of violence should not have to put their attackers dignity before the evidence of their own two eyes.

Denounce book burning, and the absolutely vicious abuse that JKR has received.

Then I might do you the courtesy of thinking your assertions are worth remembering.

TheProdigalKittensReturn · 21/12/2019 03:01

Are you saying that you approve of brainwashing en masse, and being thrown into prison if you don't go along with the majority?

Oh, come on, you're not even trying now.

Cookieflavoredbiscuit · 21/12/2019 03:09

Annoying derailers aside,
Even in my younger, more naive days, I wouldn't have been surprised that there are a lot of people who think it's perfectly reasonable for women to get fired for daring to express opinions or beliefs which some men don't like. Or who think it's reasonable to label women who stand up for other women's right to express opinions or beliefs (which some men don't like) without getting fired with various misogynistic slurs.
But even in my older, somewhat less naive days, I'm still flabbergasted that many people think that one of the things that women aren't supposed to say, and should lose their jobs for saying, (because some men don't like it) is that sex is real.