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.

Hi Jack
My only knowledge of you comes from the radio play with Jaime Winstone and June Whitfield, which I really enjoyed.
Were you involved in the production and do you think your were portrayed realistically?

Welcome to MN, great to hear from you .

My question is, how do you think society and future legislation should strike the balance between protecting the rights of anyone trans / non gender binary and protecting the right of women (and men) to feel comfortable and not at risk from sexual predators wishing to abuse the system in traditionally single sex areas such as toilets, changing rooms, hospital wards etc?

I also want to echo what other PPs have said about not needing to justify your personal choices to anyone.

See, Shelagh has just done it there. Made an off the cuff joke re. women's valid concerns about their rights by writing them off as "vipers".

Contribute something intelligent Cocole or STFU. There's no need for such small-minded rude bullshit. This is an extremely important issue and Jack is to be applauded for addressing it head on. She has had many questions on a complex topic so let her reply.

I was reading some research at the weekend that said two thirds of women questioned said they had at one point wanted to be a boy. Not because as Freud said they had penis envy, but because they wanted to be treated as human rather than female.
It seems to me that is what being non binary is about. Wanting to be treated as human?
But it is an attempt at an individual solution. What we need is feminism to fight for all women to be treated as human. What do you think?

Hi Jack

First off, don't let the bastards get you down. Love your blog and your books (Mack and cheese is one of our favourite family dinners here, and the only way DD will eat fish!) and think the way you deal with the debate and vilification you seem to garner is really admirable. (Also, I don't think it's attention seeking to talk about gender when everyone is continually asking you about gender!).

Having just moved to Essex (I live about twenty minutes from Southend) we're beginning to explore places to buy food / eat out / take the DC around the area. What are your favourite recommendations, preferably kid friendly?

Good on you Jack. I'd say there's a lot of silent sympathetic readers (like me!) who follow the trans threads but don't like to get bogged down in it all.

Interesting that Daisy has only posted on one other thread, and that was someone who stated that their child felt like both a boy and a girl.
Daisy, Jack is one person, she's not asking the world to bend over backwards to accommodate a lifestyle, to accommodate a way of thinking, to accommodate anything in fact that would have the remotest impact upon your life. A bit of understanding perhaps on the situation in which they have found themselves, that's all. It's not hard. You obviously have a problem with this and are really quite aggressive about it. If you can't cope with it, I suggest not opening the thread. If you've just come on to have a go at someone who is not hurting you, or anybody else, then I'd also suggest not opening the thread.

Also I have noticed that it is working class females who tend to have surgery and take hormones, while middle class females identify as non binary or gender queer. What do you think to the class dimension of all of this? Why do you think that is the case?

Hi jack. Thanks for being real. Your early blog made me cry buckets. Just marking place

Apologies. It's the MN nickname that I fell into the trap of using. Fair point.

The New Scientist article suggests you are the same as 92 - 100% of the population.

their findings suggest that we all lie along a continuum of what are traditionally viewed as male and female characteristics.

The key there is traditionally viewed. So liking boy things doesn't mean you are a boy, it means they are not boy things.

When we tell young children that they are girls or boys because of their genitals (which is true) but that they have to be like X or Y because they are a girl or boy (which is not true), it's not surprising the children will feel uncomfortable with their sexed bodies or even hate the parts responsible for them not being able to be true to their own personality.

Instead of telling children or adults that their bodies are wrong, that they really are the other sex or somehow not their own sex, why not help them to understand their bodies are perfectly fine but society is screwed up?

MNHQ:
This is a fascinating and important thread. Please do not delete due to some of the horrid posts, I'm sure we would all rather you just deleted the horrid posts instead if you feel it necessary!

Hey, come on. coco asked a question, which was answered. It's really out of line to descend into personal insults. Loads of people on this thread don't know who jack is and it's not unfair of them to ask.

practy I am working class, and taking hormones. I'm not sure I've noticed a trend.

Good on you Jack I think people forget there's a real person behind a Twitter account sometimes.

I was just wondering how being pregnant made you feel. I struggled but it must have been really weird and confusing if you don't identify with being a woman?

Not this again.

What's your favourite ?

Hello all,

We've had a few reports wondering if this is Jack - we're happy to confirm that it is. (Hello Jack!)

Since this is looking very much like a spontaneous webchat, a very brief (and doubtless unnecessary) reminder of our guidelines, which are broadly - voice your opinion, but do be civil/polite, and please afford our guests the same cordiality you would if they stopped by your own house. In this manner the discussion will be as useful and enlightening as it can be, for all involved.

Thanks all,

MNHQ

Impressed you are back.
I like your food!
Question from me:
I wear masculine clothes and am female. I am not a Disney princess(!).

Do you think it would be better to define everyone by their sex and just ignore all these gender stereotypes and boxes.
Just be who you are - type thing?
Am a feminist working in a fairly male environment and would hate to be told I couldn't do this because of my sex.

^Spontaneous webchat rumbled 😂😘. There are fewer biscuits at this one....

Thanks Robin.
I've been called worse

Interesting question, SnakeWitch!

Jack!
Good on you! You've had the guts to say what you & many others are feeling. The fact is its 2016, we shouldn't need to have these threads or debates, you should be accepted for who you are without question.
Fuck the haters, there are always the professionally offended twats who like to hand wring & clutch pearls about anything that is 'percievably' different to themselves. Small mindedness, intolerance and unacceptance are not good traits to have.
For what is worth, I think you are a fucking amazing individual & role model. 👌

What are the hormones for? (genuine question as I don't know your backstory, sorry)