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!

I don't don't menstruate any more- I am post menopausal.
My sister doesn;t have a cervix- she had a hysterectomy for medical reasons.
Does that mean we are not women?

Why would it? Only women menstruate. Not all women.

Edge I suspect the question was not going to gc feminists but to those who think it's ok and inclusive to rename women as people who menstruate

Describing women as 'enstruators' rather than 'women' suits transwomen because it keeps up the idea that transwomen are also 'women'.

Describing men as 'men' rather than 'prostate havers' or 'penis owners' suits transwomen because it keeps up the illusion that transwomen (who do have prostates and penises but shhhhhhh!) are also women.

Exactly this.

Ok but there will be a way to describe this that includes everyone it needs to and doesn’t offend like: ‘women and all people with a cervix‘ or something.

The problem is that menstruation doesn’t cease to affect you because you cease to menstruate. The social and health impact of having menstruated doesn’t end with menopause or a hysterectomy.

If you are female there will always be further implications to not menstruating - pregnancy, breastfeeding, post menopausal health, infertility. The same is not true of men.

The impact of sex can’t be ‘kindly’ chopped up into little discrete slices without causing harm, particularly if this is done at a policy level. Happy to be corrected, but I think the article that prompted the JKR tweet was about policy.

You can only apply that meaning to JKR’s words if you think that obscuring the existence of sex is benign, which it isn’t,

Is a tiny fraction of the population transitioning to live as the opposite sex really ‘obscuring the existence of sex’? Does JKR really think that no one should be allowed to legally change their sex? Does she think that trans women should not ever use women’s toilets or changing rooms or wards? We don’t really know. Her words are used by people who do think these things.

Maybe she is trying to raise awareness of these things and isn’t bothered about convincing people whether she is transphobic or not. But it has raised questions about her own views.

Does she think that trans women should not ever use women’s toilets or changing rooms or wards? We don’t really know. Her words are used by people who do think these things.

So? I think those things. It isn't possible to change sex. I have rights too.

@Passmeabottlemrjones

It can be done in a way that isn’t just an excuse to have a dig at trans people.

If describing women as, um, 'women' is having 'a dig at transpeople' then by that logic, transgenderism is 'anti-women'?

I can safely say that anyone who believes that the tweet was having a dig at transpeople (no), instead of the publishers for adopting dehumanizing language (yes), will completely miss the point you’ve just made.

Why shouldn't I expect the privacy and dignity of a female only space?

@midgebabe

Edge I suspect the question was not going to gc feminists but to those who think it's ok and inclusive to rename women as people who menstruate

Most people think it is okay. I don't care if I am called a person rather than a woman as I am both.

Most people think it is okay.

No, they really don't

I don't care if I am called a person

I do care if I am called a person who menstruates

Most people think it is okay. I don't care if I am called a person rather than a woman as I am both.
If most people think it is ok, what really is the argument about then?

Also, you didn’t tell me what does it feel like if I cal you a pooper or a man a wanker.

Most people , well I suppose if persons who menstruate are not considered fully human then maybe most people ( men) are happy

BellaDonna what makes you a woman if not your biology?

Is a tiny fraction of the population transitioning to live as the opposite sex really ‘obscuring the existence of sex’?

If only a tiny fraction of the population are transitioning, why does the language of the rest of the population need to change?

@Passmeabottlemrjones

Ah yes, 'black birthing bodies' was particularly grim. As if black women aren't dehumanised enough

As if the women and girls referred to in the linked article in that tweet aren’t dehumanized enough too!

That is the point most often dismissed in this outrage against JKR.

@Ereshkigalangcleg

Most people think it is okay.

No, they really don't

We will have to agree to disagree on that one.

The problem is that menstruation doesn’t cease to affect you because you cease to menstruate. The social and health impact of having menstruated doesn’t end with menopause or a hysterectomy.

If you are female there will always be further implications to not menstruating - pregnancy, breastfeeding, post menopausal health, infertility. The same is not true of men.

This is very true. My periods stopped for the period I had chemotherapy, and for a time afterwards as well. I was still a woman, I was now a 'woman whose periods have stopped due to chemo', I didn't cease to be a woman.

It was significant. I was told it would happen, I was asked if I wanted fertility options before starting treatment, I said no because I had finished having kids, I was told it would be 50:50 if my periods would return, they did return but I could no longer continue with hormonal contraception because of the type of cancer I had, so now I have 'raw' periods which are very different to what I was used to before!

All of this, because of my female sex.

And with all the violence and assaults happening to women why is she focusing on trans people? Terrible things happen to women every day and the vast vast majority has nothing at all to do with trans women.

It’s such an odd hill on which to stand. Which is why people are suspicious.

We will have to agree to disagree on that one.

I think you must have a very homogeneous little filter bubble if you think your views are at all representative of the wider population. They are not.

Ok but there will be a way to describe this that includes everyone it needs to and doesn’t offend like: ‘women and all people with a cervix‘ or something.

So why use dehumanising language for the rest of us.

Women and ...

Why isn’t this acceptable?

As if the women and girls referred to in the linked article in that tweet aren’t dehumanized enough too!

Yes, this is very true.

Anyway, this witch won’t burn.

And trans men do not wish to be referred to as women. There was no need to do it.

On an individual basis that is fine, as long as their doctors are able to communicate clearly.

At a policy level, it’s wrong to deny others the use of a neutral word that refers only to sex.