I'm Jack Monroe. Ask me anything.

[MxJackMonroe]

Hi Mumsnet.

It seems every time I am in the news, a MN thread about all things transgender crops up. I didn't see the last one (yesterday?) as I don't come on here very often these days - people who eavesdrop etc etc. I was cooking in a tent in a muddy field all day, having a ball, not googling myself on the internet!

The thread was deleted - which was nothing to do with me, nor my lawyer. The day I call him about a MN thread is the day I pack everything in for good. So far only the Mail and Hopkins have had legal action taken against them, and both for quite serious statements. I'm not rich enough nor quite bothered enough to call him every time someone says mean words on the internets.

ANYWAY. Threads about me tend to get deleted. So here's a new one. Because there are clearly some questions that keep coming up, criticisms that I could answer, speculation I could clarify and untruths that could do with correction.

So I'm taking questions. I'm an adult and I take an awful lot of criticism and unkindness online, on the chin. I am pretty mentally stable right now, and feel this could be a constructive discussion.

In order to stop this descending into pandemonium, using general 'chair' rules, to start with I'll take one question from each user - if it's quiet and everything gets answered, feel free to add follow up questions.

It doesn't have to be about boobs, dresses, hormones. Literally ask me anything.

MN - please don't delete this thread. I think people have valid things to say and I'm here with my big girl/boy pants on to hear them.

Over to you.

HermioneWeasley: Hi Jack. My question is "is Rachel Dolzeal black? If not, why not since identity trumps biology?"

I'm not sure I've ever said identity trumps biology, but I'm certainly not here to throw anyone else under a bus. With respect, you don't know the specifics of my biology to make sweeping comparisons between me and Rachel Dolezeal.

And I wouldn't even say heels pair of clean nice flats

Sorry, but why would you even ask permission to 'wear a tux'??

It's just boring formal clothing not fancy dress or anything which needs permission

pleasemothermay1

That's nice for you, but I quite like clothes and enjoy dressing up. Is that supposed to be something to be ashamed of? Are we shaming each other for wanting to look nice now? Wow.

poster MxJackMonroe

You have had a son

So unless he's adopted or had buy surrogate your biology is of a female

I am continuing to read the thread when I should be doing things with the dc, as I'm really hoping for the chance to hear the answer to the questions about rejecting gender stereotyping from within your own sex. I feel non binary gender etc operates within much more rigid ideas of masculinity and feminist than feminism does.
Any chance of a response to these sorts of questions? Please?

You were talking about your struggle with formalwear

Just showing there is no struggle needed you can look clean neat and formal with out dressing overly feminine or masculine

Hermione I don't think you made a 'sweeping comparison' for what it's worth.

I wouldn't also ask permission to wear a lovely tux type suit to a formal family occasion. I'd just wear it.

MumOnTheRunCatchingUp: Sorry, but why would you even ask permission to 'wear a tux'?? It's just boring formal clothing not fancy dress or anything which needs permission

[grits teeth]

Because when you're 15 with no income someone else has to buy that formalwear for you and it might suddenly become a big deal. I'm not sure why this is such a focus point. Again, when I was in the Fire Service I wasn't allowed trousers with my parade uniform. There are circumstances where unfortunately how you are perceived impacts what people will 'permit' you to wear and it's frankly shit.

Just showing there is no struggle needed you can look clean neat and formal with out dressing overly feminine or masculine

Or you can just dress overly feminine or overly masculine. But you really don't need to ask permission to do it.

pleasemothermay1: You have had a son. So unless he's adopted or had buy surrogate your biology is of a female

Female enough to carry a child. Male enough to have intimate physical abnormalities (I can't believe I'm posting this) and an alarmingly high amount of testosterone.

Omg THIS THREAD

Actually I'm quite glad I clicked on it as I was feeling a bit morose and self pitying.

The navel gazing here has suddenly made me want to chuck my phone away and take the dogs for a walk in the countryside, followed by some practical tidying up. Thanks all.

...almost like Ziggy Stardust never happened

Am in my 40s, in my youth it was Boy George and Annie Lennox and it wasnt called gender fluidity but gender bending. Later you had KD Lang and Cindy Crawford doing the opposite ends of gender expression.

Plus ca change.

I have to go but please can you give your opinion on the right to safe spaces, have rtft but it hasnt been addressed nor the definition of woman others were asking for. Thanks again.

Sorry but I think if your at Somones wedding for example and dress in a way to draw any attention to yourself

Then your being a bit of a dick (not you personally) anyone hence when my cousin wanted to wear white to my aunties wedding she was told no

These formal occasions are not about us unless it's your do and the aim again unless your a dick is to look nice but not to draw attention

Then the fire service needs, changing to allow women to wear trousers as formal.

Same as any school that won't let girls wear trousers.

So you aren't non binary or trans you are intersex?

Just a few things to add. Thank you Jack for coming on here and answering questions, It has been really interesting. Please don't feel that you need to refer to "dressing up in full drag", surely you are dressing in what you feel comfortable. Plus, never ask permission from anybody as to what to wear to a "Formal occasion", I have never heard of anybody having to do that!

^ Maybe I want to look nice but my idea of nice isn't a bloody camisole?

Impressed this is still going! And, if it's not already clear, I wanted to say there are always plenty of posters defending the trans side on MN, it's not one-sided (that is massively disengenous as there's obviously not one trans side but you know what I mean).

(You are not 15 anymore btw, having to get someone to buy your stuff!)

itsbetterthanabox: So you aren't non binary or trans you are intersex?

The diagnosis I have had is that I am transgender.

MyMurphy

(You are not 15 anymore btw, having to get someone to buy your stuff!)

No, so now I wear what I please.

It's interesting you mentioned how testosterone has affected your mental health. The response to oestradiol in transwomen and testosterone in transmen does have positive results. I did read a paper somewhere where people who weren't trans reacted 'mentally' in a bad way to HRT if it didn't feel right.

I do think that people who say they are trans should be given HRT - I also think that if someone who says they are trans and wants to be seen as a transperson but refuses to take HRT is not 'really trans'. (although there may be some medical reasons)

A man wanting to wear a dress is not transgender.

Good! (no more asking permission, phew!!!!) No more full drag, its what you want to wear! Thank you once again (off now, to walk the dog!)

sorenofthejnaii: It's interesting you mentioned how testosterone has affected your mental health. The response to oestradiol in transwomen and testosterone in transmen does have positive results. I did read a paper somewhere where people who weren't trans reacted 'mentally' in a bad way to HRT if it didn't feel right.

This is really interesting.