To ask about JK Rowling - can someone tell me what happened?

[christmaspigeon]

Just that really. I like her. I like how she gives so much for charity and how she put Trump in his place, but I know people's views on her have changed. Something to do with trans comments?? Can someone explain (in really simple language!) what happened? Thank you!

[quote MrsGrindah]@christmaspigeon You don’t want to filter bias so you thought you’d ask on Mumsnet instead?! Yes we are well famous for our non biased options on here! [/quote]
Also this 😂😂

Thanks @nothereoften I did read the link a PP gave to her website but that summed it up even better. At least I have a better understanding about it all now (not that I'll ever risk mentioning her name again! )

What kind of mindless conspiracy theorist do you have to be to think she chose the pen name Robert Galbraith for her crime mysteries as an "homage" to a gay conversion therapist that nobody has ever heard of? What would that even have to do with any of the other bollocks?

I remember when she was revealed as Robert Galbraith, and I thought - trust JK Rowling to pick the perfect name, as always. It sounds like a serious, vaguely Scottish male crime writer, which sounds like just the sort of author I'd easily picture writing crime novels (not that I have read hers, or much of the genre, so apologies to crime fans and/or serious-minded Scotsmen). And of course she's lived most her adult life in Scotland, so that was my sole "aha, of course" moment.

Basically its transphobic to believe anything other than 'trans women are women' and should be treated exactly the same as women in all circumstances. If you have realised there are biological differences and reasons why different protections may be needed for trans people then the woke on twitter will think you an evil terf. Its best to read JKRs essay and decide for yourself if it is hateful (I dont believe it is)

She hasn’t defended Johnny Depp.

www.jkrowling.com/opinions/grindelwald-casting/

Transmen ARE women. That’s why they menstruate. To try to tie yourself up in knots and deny biological reality is why we are in this shitty hole now. Sure, whatever, take drugs to grow a beard and call yourself Skyler, be my guest. Your biological reality is that of the sex class female - you can get pregnant and birth babies. You might not like that - it might cause you a great deal of discomfort and mental anguish. Still true though. And the female babies being murdered for their sex, and the endless flood of rapes and murders of women prove that the human race knows exactly that sex is immutable. It’s a really horrific privilege to be able to pretend to vulnerable children that sex can be changed. It can’t. Transmen still get raped because of their sex. They still give birth and petulantly demand that this still doesn’t make them women and want to be listed as father on the birth certificate.
Ridiculous privileged bollocksery, and thank fuck that JKR is rich enough to be able to state that biology is real and violence against women is based on their sex.
Like she said - paraphrased - live how you want, have sex with who you want - but don’t sack a woman for claiming that biology is real.
And that’s why you are partially correct that raising JKR in conversation is dangerous. Because we aren’t allowed to mention biology. Groupthink is clear. Big brother has spoken. Death threats and doxxing are de rigour - speaking up about women’s rights will literally cost you your job. Don’t dare to ask if men in rape shelters is a good idea. They must be welcomed. Throw the terrified women into the streets. Fucking terfs.

What's all this shit 'trawl the Internet'??? I thought we'd moved on from that.

Thanks for starting the thread, op, I needed clarification too.

You musts not read mumsnet on this because this will give you a strongly female perspective

@Quaagars

Yawn. There is always a bias when you don’t get the answer you want and perhaps need

Just tickled me, t'is all - I mean, MN is well known for not having any opinion on trans issues at all, I don't think this topic has ever been done on MN before lol
ahemm

For people like you, Mumsnet would have been the saviour of humanity if you had got what you wanted. Shame it’s a forum with real women who actually can think for themselves.

I'm not a fan of JKR but she is right to bring awareness of the potential erosion of rights of people born female as opposed to those that transition.

It's very thorny. There is potentially an underlying assumption that transgender females could be doing so for nefarious reasons. At the very least any man with nefarious intent can state they identify as female.

The whole sports issue is extremely difficult.

I seem to recall a big furore on Twitter about a journalist who said something along the same lines and was flamed...but reacted by saying 'fine cut off your dick and be more female than me'..anyone remember it?

It's really hard to balance inclusion here. In the back of my mind is the thought that the strides taken by trans gender are largely based on individuals who identified as male..largely white male. In the same vein gay men have made amazing progress..still largely white men. Whereas have we who identify as women since birth..well have we made progress? Have BAME people made progress? I think not. It can't always be that others make progress except women identified as from birth. Especially progress made at our expense.

It’s quite sad that you’d feel afraid of mentioning an internationally renowned children’s author and philanthropist, christmaspigeon. Even if people disagree with you and thinks she’s evil, you’re allowed to have an opinion, and you shouldn’t be made to feel bad for it. Speak out!

I totally accept that to many people, these actions don’t constitute transphobia. In my view they do, however.

You know that words have meanings, don’t you? You don’t just get to redefine them so that you can be offended?

Lol, according to Gardenia as I no longer menstruate I should be insulted by the word 'women' being used to describe ... women.
No dear, not insulted in the slightest. That's because I can accept reality.

You know that words have meanings, don’t you? You don’t just get to redefine them so that you can be offended?

This is one of the biggest issues in gender ideology though. People very much confusing 'I am personally offended' with 'this is offensive'. Not the same thing.

She didn’t do anything wrong. She’s fantastic and I’m a huge fan.

She said she’s worried about girls transitioning at huge rates and taking untested puberty blocking drugs, she said it’s not hate to speak the truth and that women can’t name our sex based oppression if we’re no longer allowed to talk about our biological sex.

And for that the trans rights activist community have hung her out to dry. The woman is a hero. And she’s right.

For people like you, Mumsnet would have been the saviour of humanity if you had got what you wanted

People like me? Also, seriously not actually got a clue what this is even means - what I wanted?
No idea what you're talking about, sorry

Shame it’s a forum with real women who actually can think for themselves
So confused as to what I am then - could have sworn I was a real woman who is doing the thinking for herself thing too!

Yep, still am

The whole sports issue is extremely difficult

It's not.

World Rugby did an exhaustive survey of the current state of scientific research. Having undergone male puberty confers a 10% (running events) 30% (muscular strength based events) right through to 50% (baseball pitching) advantage over female athletes. Taking androgen blockers and cross-sex hormones reduces transwomen's performance relative to other male bodied athletes by a small amount, but does not bring it anywhere near down to the female range.

You can have "trans inclusive" policies for women's sport, or you can have fair and safe competition for women athletes, but you cannot have both. If you opt for the former, be under no illusions - you have just voted for the destruction of women's sport.

You will be left with two categories - sports for really outstanding male bodied athletes and sports for male bodied athletes who have chosen to impair their performance just a little bit.

racial insensitivity in some parts of the Harry Potter series
Really? What parts? Can you give examples.

Calling a Chinese character Cho Chang - a name comprised of two Korean surnames, which doesn’t make sense and is indicative of no actual research into real Chinese names / culture

Continuous appropriation of First Nations culture in her mythology of American magic despite efforts made by First Nations people to explain why its offensive / inappropriate to treat their very real history and culture as a magical fantasy

Association between goblins and finance which is drawn directly from Nazi propaganda about Jewish people

Use of stereotypes about submissive / exotic Asian women in the portrayal of Nagini

There are other issues as well. Rowling has talked about how Lupin’s werewolfism is a metaphor for HIV / AIDS. She was trying to show the prejudice faced by people with that condition. But the only other character in the book who is a werewolf is a disgusting predator who specifically seeks out opportunities to infect others and who targets children. She reinforces a horrendous stereotype even as she tries to challenge it.

I don’t think these instances prove that she sets out to be racist or homophobic. I think it’s tone-deaf and ignorant rather than deliberate (save, perhaps, the First Nations issue because she continues to do that even after being informed of why it’s so offensive). But lack of malice doesn’t mean lack of harm, so I think it’s right to challenge these latent prejudices.

And while I think it’s a fair comment that the books are old, and might be written differently today, in the absence of any acknowledgement from Rowling that she should have done better, it’s a fair criticism to make imo.

@Gardeniaofdelights

racial insensitivity in some parts of the Harry Potter series Really? What parts? Can you give examples.

Calling a Chinese character Cho Chang - a name comprised of two Korean surnames, which doesn’t make sense and is indicative of no actual research into real Chinese names / culture

Continuous appropriation of First Nations culture in her mythology of American magic despite efforts made by First Nations people to explain why its offensive / inappropriate to treat their very real history and culture as a magical fantasy

Association between goblins and finance which is drawn directly from Nazi propaganda about Jewish people

Use of stereotypes about submissive / exotic Asian women in the portrayal of Nagini

There are other issues as well. Rowling has talked about how Lupin’s werewolfism is a metaphor for HIV / AIDS. She was trying to show the prejudice faced by people with that condition. But the only other character in the book who is a werewolf is a disgusting predator who specifically seeks out opportunities to infect others and who targets children. She reinforces a horrendous stereotype even as she tries to challenge it.

I don’t think these instances prove that she sets out to be racist or homophobic. I think it’s tone-deaf and ignorant rather than deliberate (save, perhaps, the First Nations issue because she continues to do that even after being informed of why it’s so offensive). But lack of malice doesn’t mean lack of harm, so I think it’s right to challenge these latent prejudices.

And while I think it’s a fair comment that the books are old, and might be written differently today, in the absence of any acknowledgement from Rowling that she should have done better, it’s a fair criticism to make imo.

Funnily enough no one gave a flying fuck about any of that until she started speaking up in defence of women and children.

She hasn’t defended Johnny Depp.

She described herself as ‘genuinely happy’ to have him cast as Grindelwald: www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/16/jk-rowling-johnny-depp-fantastic-beasts

That is an endorsement of a wife beater.

Association between goblins and finance which is drawn directly from Nazi propaganda about Jewish people
???
Why are you comparing Jewish people to goblins?

@NuniaBeeswax

Bait.

Yes, another one today.

She’s made a series of transphobic comments

Could you cite those, please? I follow her on Twitter, I"ve read all her books (including the latest Cormoran Strike novels) and I"ve read her extended essay on women's rights.

Nothing transphobic in any of them. So could you cite what she's said - a URL link will do - that is transphobic?

Funnily enough no one gave a flying fuck about any of that until she started speaking up in defence of women and children.

Maybe not in your circles. I’ve been reading about these issues for donkeys years, since long before the transphobia controversy.

She reinforces a horrendous stereotype even as she tries to challenge it.

You should always call out horrendous stereotyping when you see it, even if the person doing it thinks they're not stereotyping in the slightest if anything 'celebrating' what they're in fact being offensive about.