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.

My point - in response to someone saying that they "didn't know why you were getting such a hard time" - was that you yourself initiated this entire discussion about yourself. It didn't have to happen at all

Kind of smacks of "you were asking for it" Magical. The kind of rhetoric we hear about, say, miniskirts and walking home alone and rapists.

BTW for those waiting for the "What Is A Woman" answer, it's coming. We seem to have derailed somewhat, but it's coming.

I think that's unfair re your response to Magical
She fairly answered why you were getting a hard time... You came to answer all the questions and have given it a bloody good shot (I think). But surely you courted the discussion for the good and negative views on your transition/thoughts/views and were aware you were courting negativity as much as confirming positivity?

Jack assuming you have input into / write your own wiki entry? i.e. you approve it and don't think it's misrepresenting you?

i have nothing to do with it, it is against wikipedia rules to monitor your own page. it has some spoof crap added to it now and again, but its generally okay.

Overuse of courting there... But you get my drift. I think to liken it to 'asking for it' I think indeed you were... But to reaffirm your views rather than to be verbally raped in the proverbial mini skirt

I'm sorry if this isn't really a proper contribution to the discussion, but I really wanted to thank you Jack. Your writing is inspiring and your recipes are fab- A Girl Called Jack has helped me hugely.

You struggles aren't easy for me to understand because they are so far outside my experience (apart from the financial ones and those I can definitely relate to) , but you've clearly had a rough time one way or another and I wish you well.

You have never responded to the question I asked you. You have just asked me questions instead about statements I did not make to you, and I have done the courtesy of answering each one. You set up the rules that you would respond to one question each.

I don't believe for one moment, that Julia Long said all transwomen are rapists.

She is one of the most intelligent women I've ever met.

And I know loads of intelligent women.

Are you sure you're not misremembering/ misinterpreting something she said, Jack?

I, er, turn down 95% of media interviews and never seek them out myself. I have never called a newsdesk or rang a journalist to sell a story.

Right. But you still do interviews and write in depth articles about deeply personal stuff like your mental health, sex life etc. Why would you choose to do any of this if media attention has caused you so much distress?

I'm assuming the thread (or at least that comment) was deleted, Jack?

I was pissed off at your comments about MN in the Guardian. One of the things I really like about MN is that people don't usually drag up stuff from old threads, especially when there have been deletions and posters can't check what was actually said. I've been 'slaughtered' on here a few times. I've gone on to have perfectly amicable conversations on other topics with the same posters.

So to have old (presumably deleted) threads not only dragged up but spread in the mainstream media - it grates.

I have...er...a friend with a problem. Their quiches come out flat as panckaes. I can do They can do the cases fine, but the actual eggy bit doesn't fluff up at all. They have similar issues with omlettes. Can you help me?...er...sort out my friend's problem for him or her?

Kind of smacks of "you were asking for it" Magical. The kind of rhetoric we hear about, say, miniskirts and walking home alone and rapists

You haven't been raped though

You've been questioned and challenged on views you've expressed publicly. There's no moral equivalence.

Thank you Jack. This thread has only three pages to go! Tick Tock Clarice.
I really don't expect you to engage for another forty pages on a follow up thread but would truly appreciate it if you would reply to What feminism means to you and What a woman is via new thread or blog link before page 40....No pressure then....;-) Thanks again. Not the best adjective to use in light of the topic/gender stereotyping etc but you are one ballsy Mensch.

Q.What does feminism mean to you ?

A.I answered this yesterday. I'll dig it out.

Sorry, I've looked back over this thread for a mention by you of 'feminism' either last night or today and can't find it. Can you direct me to where you answered this please? Would save you time. Am sure I've just missed it because it's such a fast-moving thread

Thanks for your thread. I don't think you have to explain to anyone, esp when it can be distressing, but imagine you do for the people who have less of a voice & who might be helped by you shining a light on an area that many people don't understand. I'm not lgbt but always thought gender is very fluid & in a way defining bisexual/lesbian/gay/heterosexual is a bit annoying cos sexuality & gender are so complicated & not everyone's mishmash will fit into a neat compartment, or stay the same year on year. I think in terms of rights & legal stuff it's important to have the debate. I personally am not "girly" & don't conform to gender stereotypes, which was a bit confusing as a teenager. I am heterosexual but always been open to not being if it came up. I've never felt like I'm not a girl despite living boy stuff & getting in better with boys & i suppose that's the difference.

I think the general consensus on MN is that we were all born babies and that is the most relevant fact about us. We therefore have a lot of common ground.

The difference of opinion would be on the existence of gender and the changing of body parts to fit in with a perceived concept of gender, or, where relevant, gender identification superceding biological sex.

Even then I don't think anybody cares what an individual does - we all have our own issues and whatever gets you through the night if it doesn't harm others. The problem is the wider effect of gender stereotypes seeming more entrenched than 30 or 40 years ago - of people not just being allowed to be who they are if they don't conform to some kind of norm, particularly as nobody has clarified through social or scientific research whether that norm exists.

Kudos for doing this impromptu AMA, Jack.

My question is:

What does it mean when you call yourself "non-binary" and "transgender"? Are you aiming for somewhere in the middle of the two sexes, with both male and female physical attributes?

Do you feel that you are going to be content with your body when you reach there? (Where is there? Do you know?)

No, I meant when you were born, did your parents give you the name Jack Monroe?

Waitrose, Jack has said on the thread that she changed her name five years ago.

Jack, I called you a self-obsessed navel gazer in the deleted thread.

I regret that now. Thank you for starting this thread. While I know you don't give a crap about what I think about you, you have won me over

I don't understand being non-binary for many reasons already stated but I wish you well. It's a tough crowd here and it must have taken some guts to start this thread.

I want to second cotes last question, do you know 'where you are heading' - do you have an end point in mind? I don't necessarily mean to share with us btw.

Yes, I do think they have an equivalence.

As does Jack, as she has in multiple interviews compared her breast reduction to breast enhancement surgery had by other women, including a member of her own family, and how that was to do with the family member's state of mind.

Hi Jack - logged on today just to read this thread. Just wanted to say mumsnet is a bit of a sick place these days and good for you standing up for yourself. I really dont care about gender discussions but do admire your spirit and resilience.

Not a question, just a weird fan girl thing from me: I dreamt about you last night! And it was quite weird. Think as a result of watching C4's very strange Naked Attraction programme.
Anyway, Jack think you're fab. Keep on doing what you do so well.