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!

What about women who identify as men? It is still reinforcing gender stereotypes. But men don't have the same life experiences as us.

Women cannot become men. They can dress like men and act in more typically masculine ways if they wish but they cannot ever become male, as this would involve altering the chromosomal make up of every cell in their body. They can have their breasts removed and have a nonfunctional pseudo-Phallus constructed out of flayed skin from their arms if they wish, but they cannot be men, ever. If they as teenagers, take puberty blockers and cross sex hormones they are likely to undergo irreversible damage to their fertility and long term health, and suffer from reduced sexual function. All because the don't conform to increasingly narrow ideas about what it is to be a woman, which according to Eddie Izard is wearing short skirts and heel.

There is no LGBTQ community as lesbians are being pushed out of it due to tra.

JK Rowling is sticking up for one of the most marginalized group: women.

People who don't gender conform are not discriminated against due to their biology.

Protections have been put in place to counteract this.

Rowling knows this, had to use refuges etc. She worries those hard fought rights are being given away.

But because she wrote a nuanced argument rather than a sound bite the woke lemmings want to push her off the cliff.

Thank god she's got integrity.

I think she's a dog whistling shithouse but that's not a popular opinion on here.

@yelyah22

I think she's a dog whistling shithouse but that's not a popular opinion on here.

It's an unpopular opinion because it's untrue

@yelyah22 maybe you're the one who can finally provide evidence for that then?

I think she's a dog whistling shithouse

Don't beat about the bush, tell us what you really think lol

"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."

Women- you must do better and be penitent 🙄😡

I don't know much about writing bestselling fantasy novels but I do like fluffy kittens.

@TheBuffster

I don't know much about writing bestselling fantasy novels but I do like fluffy kittens.

But what do you think abite the gold standard, Buffster?

I imagine what Google tells me?

I don't have an opinion on the gold standard, I know my limits.

I would never of course offer a wild and dangerous opinion of my own because I know my limits.

@UserEleventyNine

Merchant of Venice- anti-semitism

I am a Jew. Hath
not a Jew eyes? hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions? fed with
the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject
to the same diseases, healed by the same means,
warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as
a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
if you tickle us, do we not laugh? if you poison
us, do we not die? and if you wrong us, shall we not
revenge?

It also has Shylock literally wanting to cut a pound of flesh off Antonio and refusing to have mercy, despite Portia's pleas.

He's not being portrayed as the good guy here.

I actually thought gardinias posts were interesting

I don’t necessarily agree, but interesting ( like the karate kid thing)

But for all the anti semitism, wife beating support, conversion stuff that gardinia ‘explains’

Still no transphobia ‘proof’

She had the gall to say that she believes in lesbians’ rights to be same sex attracted and that women have a unique lived experience based on their biological. The horror!!

Maybe transphobic is like arachnophobia. I mean, my social media doesn't show it, but I've gone at those 8 legged hairy freaks with no remorse.
Perhaps someone has seen JK flushing TRA down the loo or chasing them with a rolled up newspaper?
If they ever add a S for spider onto the umbrella I'm screwed.

It also has Shylock literally wanting to cut a pound of flesh off Antonio and refusing to have mercy, despite Portia's pleas.

Because of the way he's been treated by the other characters, who have described him as a 'dog Jew', among other things.

He's not being portrayed as the good guy here.

Neither are most of the other male characters. No-one is entirely good or bad; Shakespeare is much more subtle than that.

@UserEleventyNine

It also has Shylock literally wanting to cut a pound of flesh off Antonio and refusing to have mercy, despite Portia's pleas.

Because of the way he's been treated by the other characters, who have described him as a 'dog Jew', among other things.

He's not being portrayed as the good guy here.

Neither are most of the other male characters. No-one is entirely good or bad; Shakespeare is much more subtle than that.

This is still enough to cancel him though. If JK is to be cancelled for the goblins, then our William isn't getting out of here.

Also... Othello...

Maybe consider that JK’s books are now being over scrutinised and that coincidences in names or badly phrased events are being inflated and made to fit the transphobia trope? Honestly it’s somewhat ridiculous to accuse her of plotting a transphobic conspiracy since the 90’s when HP series was written.

JK isn’t being transphobic, she’s defending her own identity and asking that the rights and equality women have fought for aren’t erased in the trans communities ongoing fight for their own rights.
The comment she made that apparently triggered everyone was over a feminine hygiene advert who decided “people who bleed” is more appropriate phrase to use than women/ female.
I’ve researched this whole movement and debate and am saddened that very vocal trans-activists chose to insist everyone not agreeing with them are Terfs or transphobic, discriminatory and exclusionary. It’s become phobic to express a preference towards the genitalia of people you’re intimate with. A penis is a penis whether or not it’s owner is female.
There are areas of the proposed gender Identity legislation that give the trans community certain rights and dispensations by completely erasing the rights of the CIA female population.
Absolutely the trans community are marginalised and discriminated against currently- that needs to stop, no question at all. I’m just shocked that apparently the only way for that to happen is through erasing the identities and rights of other discriminated against groups- cis women, lesbians and gay men.

Are the trans discriminated against more so than women or are they just unused to dealing with misogyny?

@TheBuffster

Are the trans discriminated against more so than women or are they just unused to dealing with misogyny?

They don’t have to deal with misogyny.

No, not in truth. However I imagine catcalling, assumption that they are incapable of doing things themselves, not getting boys club privilege may come into it at times.
In no way am I saying they are experiencing the biological disadvantages put in the way of women.
However, I imagine some treat them as women and as we are second class citizens that may come as a shock to those who've never experienced it before.

I can understand the irritation with feeling that language is erasing women. I particularly dislike it when the term "pregnant people" is used. It's supposed to be inclusive but it doesn't sound that way to me.

HOWEVER Jk lost me at that letter she wrote in defence of her comments about women being the "people who menstruate". Because suddenly she starts talking about trans women, who might attack her in the bathroom, and her fear of this being the basis of her anti-trans position. That really is "phobic" to see transwomen as a homogeneous group of potential attackers, and then to use that fear to justify comments about trans men is bizarre, how is a trans woman in a bathroom relevant to a discussion about trans men, women and menstruation? She's lost me there.

Her point was as an abuse survivor, she wants men out of safe spaces. Note that JK does not hate men. She's straight, but like all society she recognises that statistically men are more likely to abuse than women. This pattern of offending is why we tell young children to always approach a woman. I.e most men are not sexual predators, but the vast majority of sexual predators are men.
These offending pattern is the same for transwomen. (Interestingly transmen do not offend at this rate.)
I don't hate men I'm married to one. But do I want one following me into a confined space where I'm vulnerable and need privacy. No.
If transmen offended at the same rate as women, had the same physical power as women and were socialised as women perhaps there would be no problem.
But if you recognise we need single sex areas you must recognise that is a biological protection and not an identity right.