A response to JK Rowling

[Hjft]

J.K. Rowling, like so many others, has recently been accused of transphobia and targeted for expressing some of her opinions on sex and gender. This is a very nuanced issue which many people struggle with, including members of the trans community. Assuming bigotry and shutting down debate is not the way to address these issues. Instead we should engage in reasoned debate in order to better understand the subtitles and find a way to live together with mutual respect.

On 10 June 2020 JK Rowling wrote about her reasons for speaking out on sex and gender Issues ( www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/ ) . It is a welcome calm voice in what she calls a toxic environment and I commend her bravery for standing up to the bullies. The essay explains eloquently what she believes and why she holds the opinions she does. She opens up about some very personal issues, and I hope all her detractors will read it before shouting her down.

An essay, however well written, carries a bias, and a reasonable author will recognise that bias and be willing to consider that they could be wrong. And so should the reader of an essay. By writing this essay, JK Rowling has exposed some very valid points which the other side of the debate wish to brush aside. However, she has also indicated a bias which I hope to address.

She conflates sex and gender, and she conflates the law and medicine. Firstly she worries that trans activism is ‘pushing to erode the legal definition of sex and replace it with gender’. This legal definition is for the protection of the civil rights of trans people and has no bearing on biology. Trans people still receive healthcare appropriate to their individual biological truths. Every trans person is acutely aware of their biological sex because it is incongruous with their gender. Remember when Harry Potter uses Polyjuice potion to take on the form of Goyle in ‘Chamber of secrets”. He does not stop being Harry. Now imagine if Harry had got stuck, and had to live his life with everyone believing he was Goyle. It would be intolerable for him and would likely lead to mental illness or worse. This is what it’s like for trans people, and why the law is in place to protect their right to be their authentic selves. Being Harry is ‘not a costume’.

This conflation is further illustrated when she expresses alarm that ‘A man who intends to have no surgery and take no hormones may now secure himself a Gender Recognition Certificate and be a woman in the sight of the law’. Again, this demonstrates a conflation of law and medicine. If a trans person can find relief from their gender dysphoria by permanently expressing themselves in an authentic manner then why should we expect them to accept medical intervention in order to get legal protection. Imagine you have a migraine. If sitting in a dark room with a glass of water provides you with sufficient relief, then you shouldn’t be expected to take strong pain killers or accept brain surgery. The ‘man’ she describes is not masquerading as a woman - she is living her authentic identity as a woman. The law protects her rights to do so. She is not a predator, and it should not be assumed that she is. Without these rights, her transgender status would be revealed every time she tries to hire a car, or open a bank account, and it is her safety that is in danger. A man masquerading as a woman is not able to legally get a Gender Recognition Certificate - because they are a man.

[redacted*] I hope JK Rowling’s essay will mark a turning point in the tone of these discussions, and people can start to properly address them.

• [edited by MNHQ to remove inflammatory content - we're allowing the challenges to this section of the OP to remain]

How could a transwomen who is so dysphoric be happy to keep their penis despite it being probably the biggest thing that distinguishes them as male?

There is still some way to go before transgender people are accepted by society as freely as BAME and Gay people

Black and Asian people are to be accepted by society? (To say nothing of gay people.)

"Accepted by society."

How dare you write this?

How Fucking Dare You?

Yep, third spaces. 100% behind that, and I'd join in a campaign to have those provided, to ensure everyone's safety. Female spaces. Male spaces. Gender neutral spaces. I'd throw my considerable weight behind all of these.

So why aren't the trans community asking for them?

The ‘man’ she describes is not masquerading as a woman - she is living her authentic identity as a woman.

Everyone should be able to live authentically. However the belief that everyone's identity needs to be defined by gender is just a belief. Many people feel those definitions are harmful and restrictive.

Every trans person is acutely aware of their biological sex because it is incongruous with their gender.

Every woman is acutely aware of their biological sex, and it is usually incongruous with their gender, because gender is just cultural expectations of how women and men should appear and behave.

A man masquerading as a woman is not able to legally get a Gender Recognition Certificate - because they are a man.

Yes they can, because it is impossible to explain what makes them a man.

OP, do you actually, genuinely believe that a person can be born in the wrong body in a literal sense? I don’t believe that at all.

In normal life, whether someone is biologically male or female is irrelevant for most interactions, but is of major significance to a transperson

Are you male?

I just ask because many women who wouldn't write or think that. Someone's sex is relevant to most interactions for me simply because I carry a fear of men. I know lots of nice ones, don't get me wrong, but I'm still wary. I think if you spend time in a room where there are just women (I'm talking sex here), the atmosphere and conversation is very different to a room where there are men and women present. I relax and am myself around just women. And when there are men present it isn't just enough to say I'm possibly scared of them, there might be a man I'm attracted to which can subtly change the atmosphere too.

Sex is rarely irrelevant.

When trans men make the same almighty fucking fuss about their right to stomp all over men's spaces the way transwomen do about women's, I'll take my first step on the road to believing that biological men are actually biological women. Until then I'll stick with the scientific facts I've got already

Men need to stop giving transwomen so much hassle. Men are the problem. Women shouldn't need to be the solution to a problem men have created. Have women only spaces and gender neutral spaces. Given the Hermione's and the Ginny's don't want to be in women only spaces, there will be plenty of women in the gender neutral spaces so the transwomen won't feel uncomfortable any more. Problem solved.

Transmen can choose - I have no issue with transmen in womens spaces but if they'd rather be with Ginny and Hermione and the menfolk, they can.

Transwomen not using womens spaces is only an issue if all women don't use gender neutral spaces - but clearly there is much support for gender neutral spaces so it shouldn't be an issue.

So get rid of male only spaces. Make them all gender neutral. Keep women only spaces for natal women. Prosecute men who are violent towards women and transwomen and transmen.

A man masquerading as a woman is not able to legally get a Gender Recognition Certificate - because they are a man.

Every single GRC which has ever been given to a man (trans woman) has been given to a man masquerading as a woman.

Every single one.

There is no way a man can 'be' a woman beyond by masquerading as one. There is nothing a man can do to 'be' a woman beyond wearing dresses, wearing make up, growing their hair long or having their male body cosmetically altered. It is a pretence, an act, a performance or a costume only.

Just like if I had a mastectomy tomorrow I wouldn't cease to be a woman. I am one. I have XX chromosomes.

There is still some way to go before transgender people are accepted by society as freely as BAME and Gay people

This was a particularly tone deaf thing to say while the US is convulsing in protests over yet another black man being executed by the police. Was that the being accepted freely by society that you were thinking of, not being able to walk around in public without being murdered by the people theoretically meant to be keeping the peace?

Many other countries have had protests too, one would have though you might have noticed.

She is a person suffering from an accident of birth

FFS! Being male isn't an accident of birth. It's a concrete, grounded in reality fact. That some males don't like being male changes nothing about reality ditto females.

She is a person suffering from an accident of birth

Oh stop it.

Bloody chromosomes are not accidental.

I've been reading around this subject for about 18 months now, and still haven't seen sensible explanations for quite a few things.....

1 What does it mean to be a woman, if we're not talking about the biological kind? What is "feeling" like a woman?

2 Why isn't gender dysphoria treated the same way as anorexia? We don't pander to a thin person thinking they're fat by agreeing and prescribing a very low calorie diet and jogs around the park. The therapeutic route is taken. So why the difference?

3 If someone absolutely genuinely believes that they are the wrong sex, and no amount of therapy can change that, then why wouldn't they want to follow through with as much surgery as possible to make their body match their mind? If a man truly believes he's a woman, why would he want to keep his penis?

I'm sure there are more, but they are the ones that spring to mind!

'Changing this convention would forcing big burley transmen to use the ladies toilets! Nobody wants that.'

No amount of operations or surgery can change your fundamental bone structure.

To have access to operations and surgery is to enjoy privilege that isn't available to most people in the world.

Women need sex based rights because of their sex. There is no way to escape the consequences of sex regardless of your identity.

So yes, third spaces, campaign for those and I'll be happy to help. But a complete rejection of the vague, waffly, sexist nonsense that's currently being used to justify stripping women of our rights and sterilizing children is long overdue.

I wonder if transwomen are just being lazy and expecting women to do the work of campaigning for third spaces for them? A bit like waiting for the wife to make them their dinner?

I'd like to note that gender neutral as a term sounds nicer but third space makes it clear that it's an addition to the current two, not a replacement. THIRD. THIRD. THIRD.

Of course I consider I could be wrong. I am commending JK Rowling of trying to de-escalate the debate so views can be shared and understanding reached.

In normal life, whether someone is biologically male or female is irrelevant for most interactions, but is of major significance to a transperson. It's only becomes a wider issue when someone looks like a trans person.

@merrymouse

'Changing this convention would forcing big burley transmen to use the ladies toilets! Nobody wants that.'

No amount of operations or surgery can change your fundamental bone structure.

To have access to operations and surgery is to enjoy privilege that isn't available to most people in the world.

Women need sex based rights because of their sex. There is no way to escape the consequences of sex regardless of your identity.

Furthermore, it's very telling that while there are a lot of prisoners in the male estate in this country (at least 150 at the last count) wanting to identify as women and be transferred to the female estate, this doesn't work the other way round.

There are some transmen, held in women's prisons, but very sensibly they aren't clamouring to be transferred to the male estate. Because they aren't big and burly, and equally importantly, although they may sincerely believe their internal gender doesn't match their body (and I don't doubt their sincerity), they're not stupid.

I really enjoyed reading your post. It's one of the few I've come across that has had a balanced arguement, with no hate or judgement. You have explained points well that I otherwise would not have understood. The whole issue re JKR and the backlash she has faced is something that has confused me. I think she is receiving a disproportionate amount of hate. At the same time, I think those defending her have been doing her a disservice, putting words into her mouth that were never spoken. Both sides have said some terrible things that have been damaging their cause greatly. I do believe that women's rights and trans right can co exist if we can calmly have conversations that view things from both sides.

I'm rambling now. Really just wanted to say I found your post very refreshing to read.

At least post something new rather than cutting and pasting your own comments, OP.

then why wouldn't they want to follow through with as much surgery as possible to make their body match their mind? If a man truly believes he's a woman, why would he want to keep his penis?

I think because despite what children are told, the operations don't work. You can't remove and replace these organs without doing harm and removing sexual function.

'Changing this convention would forcing big burley transmen to use the ladies toilets! Nobody wants that.'

No it wouldn’t. Get rid of men only spaces. Keep women only spaces. Job done.

In normal life, whether someone is biologically male or female is irrelevant for most interactions, but is of major significance to a transperson. It's only becomes a wider issue when someone looks like a trans person.

Good lord. That last post was so stupid that I genuinely can't think of a way to answer it. Educate yourself.

Transmen are welcome in women’s spaces. But if they prefer gender neutral spaces with the men, transwomen and women who don’t feel they need women only spaces (that’s Hermione and Ginny!) then they can use them instead.

No third spaces needed.

Women only.

Gender neutral.

That’s it.

@Morred

OP you need to do some more reading and sort out your own transphobia before you lecture other people.

Every trans person is acutely aware of their biological sex because it is incongruous with their gender.
Using “biological sex” in this way is transphobic - you are assuming there is an easily identifiable “sex” rooted in biology and separate from gender. You probably think there are only two sexes!

If a trans person can find relief from their gender dysphoria by permanently expressing themselves in an authentic manner.
This is transphobic medics gatekeeping. Trans people are not necessarily dysphoric and it is wrong to suggest they would want to live permanently in an authentic manner - trans people want to live as themselves. They don’t need to change anything to do that.

There is still some way to go before transgender people are accepted by society as freely as BAME and Gay people
It’s a failure of intersectionality to separate these out as though there aren’t people who are LGBT+ and/or BAME and trans.

As many people won’t have a discussion with transphobes you might not get for until you address your own transphobia and try to be a better ally.

All of this. Plus this is breathtakingly offensive: "This is what it’s like for trans people"- reducing the trans experience down to a fictional boy taking a potion that changes his body? Do you genuinely not understand how transphobic it is for you to state that?

How would you legislate for single-sex spaces that allow only women and trans women in, but not men? With full, specific definitions to allow the law to remain consistent when tested.