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.

When are you releasing a vegan cookbook?
🌱💚🌱

I think it will be a pity if the thread ends up deleted because certain posters who are late to the thread and/or new to MN try to hijack it

How are recent posters "hijacking" rather than just posting?

Isn't everybody entitled to post on an open thread regardless of whether it's on the first page or the last? And why would any recent contributions cause the thread to be deleted?

What on earth do you imagine could happen as a result of the way Jack identifies?

Not Jack specifically, but the things people fear are reinforcement of gender stereotypes and lack of recognition of physical differences caused by being male or female.

Personally I'm not too bothered about toilets, but I think women who are have been left out of the discussion. Women have also been left out of the discussion on why men and women compete in different sporting events and the definition of a woman.

Basically, in many areas change has started without a clear body of scientific research to back it up or inclusion of all relevant parties in the discussion. Women have most to lose, both through reinforcement of gender stereotypes and because they are physically more vulnerable.

On that note, it is great that Jack started this thread. (Even though I joined it rather late!)

No question. But this thread has reminded me why I stopped referring to myself a feminist.

Good luck with everything Jack.

"Isn't everybody entitled to post on an open thread..."

Of course. But I'm sure jack doesn't want to answer for herself fifty times who she is and why she's here either!

To give an example for merry mouses post, there was a recent discussion about the ioc regulation change (hopefully someone can remind me where!). It was a panel of men, with two transwomen - one of whom was a Mtt specialist in gender reassignment no vested interest there!!

No "born" women. Not one.

"...replacement member of union j"

I had to google. I don't know how you think that, when none of them are bleach-blonde haired women!

Bit at those asking who Jack is or saying this thread is attention-seeking. Fair enough if you've missed something on MN, we've all got lives away from here, but there's clearly a back story to this which you could easily find out by reading the thread.

"He looks like a replacement member of Union J"

Hmm. Your google-fu needs work.

Bit hmm at those asking who Jack is or saying this thread is attention-seeking. Fair enough if you've missed something on MN, we've all got lives away from here, but there's clearly a back story to this which you could easily find out by reading the thread.

Oh had someone else already asked JM why she actively seeks attention despite the seemingly negative impact that media exposure has had on her mental health?

I didn't realise she'd answered that one :)

Google images brought up a young lad with one of those hairstyles like Union J. Didn't bring up a blonde woman!

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Jackmonroe.jpg/220px-Jackmonroe.jpg

Okay, admittedly on the first page of google images her hair is brunette. But cut in a bloody Bob for some of the pictures!!

Jack from her most recent article, the one people were discussing...

Or here's google images...

Were you born Jack Monroe?

I've waited patiently as you asked us to and I see you are answering follow up questions so I will ask again my original question, which may have been one of the ones you wanted to think about before answering:

What does feminism mean to you ?

I appreciate you're getting a huge volume of replies but it would be really nice if you could acknowledge my question at least, so I know you've seen it.
Thank you.

Ps I mean, was that the name your parents gave you?

When I 'All' Googled Jack Monroe, on an iPad it brought up the first row of images as shown in Beyond's Google Image search. That first row of images was at the top of the page with no other images on the page.

When I do the same on my laptop that I'm using now so different device,browser and OS, at the top of the page it brings up the Guardian pic and headline.

To be fair, one of the members of Union J is pushing thirty, so it isn't that implausible.

I don't understand why Jack is getting such a hard time on here....

She is a relatively young woman, who has forged a fabulous career and is providing for herself and her son despite some enormous difficulties - this alone deserves a modicum of respect.

She doesn't claim to be an authority on all things trans/non-binary (nobody can) and is replying to questions succinctly based on her own experiences, whilst bearing in mind that anything she says can be reported out of context in the media.

Look at the Mumsnet Relationships board and see how many women and children are in horrible, desperate situations. Jack is doing what she can to be happy and IME a happy parent makes for a happier child.

Jack I wish you all the best and don't let the bastards grind you down.

Jack was mostly, everyone has a few non-fans loved by mn as far as I remember, both as a blog-come-book chef and prominent lefty
The coming out as transgender was somewhat of a shock and affected some people's opinions, given their strength of feeling about the recent upsurge in transactivism.

I think that is a fair way to describe it?

Yes.

I did consider Jack to be a really positive role model for my teens - young single mum and out lesbian. I remember her book being in the window of my local bookshop and it being amazing that a young woman was doing this.

There are really very few young lesbians in the public eye.

Then she was on testosterone and planning plastic surgery, as celebrities are inclined to do I suppose. And stupid me for expecting otherwise.