Great British Pottery Throwdown - pronouns

[TheSilveryTinsellyPussycat]

Has anyone noticed that AJ has "they, their, theirs" as their preferred pronouns? It seems to work fine, though it still gives me a moment's pause when the voice-over says things like "AJ is moving their pot into the drying room," or the subtitles say THEY LAUGH instead of SHE LAUGHS.

They (the potters) were making animal related items this week, and they (AJ) called the creature they (AJ) were making: "him."

It's the first time I've come across this particular pronoun choice in real life, so was interested to see how it works in practice.

@TheSpottedZebra

I've been watching pottery and liked, and think AJ seems lovely. And an excellent Potter. I'd call myself gender critical but will happily repsect people's beliefs and feelings and use their desired pronouns. But I won't state mine unless forced to.

I did think the gender thing was interesting interesting last episode when the (all female-born) group had to make self image sculptures, and all of the images in some way were related to womanhood or identity. AJ's was about not fitting in, one was about being a mother but trying to retain a sense of self. The winning sculpture was about coming through breast cancer. And the supportive energy innthe room seemed very female. And that all co-existed with respecting AJ and how they choose to self-define.

Agree with every word you have written. I've just watched that episode - am a little bit behind. It was such a warm affirming show - the affection and care between the all-woman group and the display of their journeys. I perhaps like others would prefer AJ to be comfortable in their own skin as a woman but that is their choice.

I do have more of an issue with Rose and the programme. I do wonder how many female kin technicians there are? And I think the programme/location could have done a lot more for diversity by having an adult female woman but perhaps there were no applicants for that role?

Is everyone on here aware of what is currently happening in the Potteries and the major cut backs being proposed by Stoke Council? It will impact the quality of study of ceramics enormously. I will try to post separately on this.

@Saucery

Strangely, (or not), this week was the first time I slipped up with AJ’s pronouns when discussing the programme with DH. Like all the Female energy in that room made me forget they had opted out, if that makes sense. Which I wouldn’t have done for any other contestant or the judges, because ‘say what you see’ is so deeply ingrained in society.

I’m really cross I missed out on AJ’s shop update of Blobs btw. I want one so much! Still toying with the idea of getting one of Jenny’s butter dishes…… I have a set of tiny pots by Christine I bought a few years ago.

Shops? Are these potters all selling wares? If so please advise! Thank you

@MrsWooster

I thought the energy around the self sculpture task was fantastically interesting. I felt it as intensely feminine, and noticed one of them said “thanks, girls” in a group hug…. It’s interesting to wonder if there would have been a very different vibe if the group remained mixed sex. and don’t start me on bloody Rose’s long skirts. Health and safety nightmare, apart from anything else

I noticed the "thanks, girls" moment too, and I really hope AJ realised how powerful all-female solidarity is. AJ comes across as a lovely, gentle, kind and talented person and I feel sad that today's gender strictures prevent her from embracing what seems crystal clear to me as her being a butch lesbian, oxblood docs and all.

AJ comes across as a lovely, gentle, kind and talented person and I feel sad that today's gender strictures prevent her from embracing what seems crystal clear to me as her being a butch lesbian, oxblood docs and all.

I'm pretty sure that AJ knows who they are inside better than you do @Joolsin. Your post is incredibly patronising.

I'm quite GC but seriously...

I was thrilled by the final result. It was well deserved, and AJ came across as a really lovely, gentle and humble person.

Mainly I still just find it a bit sad that a woman can't just be a woman who wears what she likes, has whatever hobbies, and whatever hair. That someone feels that means they can't be a woman disturbs me.
I agree 100%. We seem to be regressing on this issue, to when I was at school as a kid/teen (80s) and ‘lesbian’ was the insult you most feared and dreaded having lobbed at you.
If the notion of ‘woman’ cannot contain both long hair and cocktail frocks, and short hair and clumpy boots, surely we are a bit fucked.
On another note, I read on here that Rose has said her skirts are specially made to be just the right length to be safe for the cobbled yard/steps

And I meant to say, AJ seems a lovely, warm, witty and kind person, and is seriously talented. I’d have been happy whoever won TBH, but AJ did deserve it.