Jenni Murray "Changing sex can't make a real woman"

[Freddorika]

'Those who have lived as men, with all the privileges that entails, do not have the shared experience of growing up female.'

Brave and interesting article in the Times.

Link here behind pay wall I think

It's also made me realise, along with other things I've read, how much I dislike the word transgender as it reaffirms gender (specifically gender stereotyping) as the most important thing in the debate. Other uses of the word trans, I'm totally fine with.

Well done Empress - I was just thinking the same thing. How can we add our voice to your request?

Thanks Flaps, this is the link to my thread in Site Stuff: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/2869957-Can-you-ask-Jenni-Murray-for-a-webchat

Well done Jenni. The truth always finds a way out.

As was said upthread Prue Leith thinking she was unwise as she'll get trolled was a ridiculous victim blaming comment and it was all glossed over very quickly. It just makes the point that real women have to roll over and accept whatever is thrown at us.
I was already reaching peak trans but India Willoughby's hairy legs being unclean on a woman tipped me well over the edge.

I truly hate being referred to as 'CIS' - I am a woman, I am female and I will not be made to feel like I need to apologise for this. Great article Jenni and I really hope more people feel empowered to speak out about it now.

Go Jenni!

Not read the article yet but "real woman" sounds slightly off to me.

Would be great if Jenni could come onto mn.

Twitter not happy. India Willoughby saying that she will replace Jenni on WH. Arsehole

Fantastic article, absolutely spot-on.

Its a really well written and thought out article. She pointed out the ridiculous and offensive nature of trans women saying that their biggest problem as women is deciding what to wear! Its clear that many trans activists are as mysoginistic, if not more so, than some men.

I want to add my support for Jenni too. How infuriating it must be for her to have to sit and listen to these people who have such narrow definitions if womanhood. Ironically, one of the critics in the piece summed it up perfectly - 'In their minds they are women...' Yes - in their minds - not in reality.

I have a login so I can post the full article but I guess MNHQ would frown on that.

Well done Jenni.

I've just been reading the piece in the Sunday Times online - also there's a bit in the main section which shows as the first item under News and in Top Stories - so well done the ST too.

I'm sure Jenni is absolutely aware of the trolling and abuse which will now be sent her way. In the piece she mentions the 'barrage of criticism on social media' following the WH interview with Willoughby. She's not naive - I think she's made a principled decision to stick her head above the parapet at a crucial time.

I'm also wondering if our friend Miranda's break from gender politics may be related to being quoted so publicly- I fear that the resulting trolling of her will be particularly vicious.

There's a really nasty thread of ageism and misogyny going through the criticism.

It's almost as if they don't have anything intelligent to offer, so start with the insults, innit?

Thank you, Jenni. Absolutely spot on.

"Can't wait for all the supposedly left-wing men to show their true colours and call for a woman to be fired for expressing an opinion they disagree with."

Oh yes. That and the cries of her being an 'old bigot' who's jealous of transwoman because they're more woman than she'll ever be. I think that's how it goes.

This was great reading. I'll be writing to JM in support. And as for India Willoughby saying they'll replace her on WH? Oh please do fuck off.

Brilliant and very brave. Will be ready to back her up in any forthcoming shit storm with replies. We are not terfs or bigots for speaking the truth. The TRAs rely on our silence. I'm glad I've also spoken up in my own small way on FB though it was quite hard. Only lost one friend and she was the biggest bigot I know so no loss. She believed in no platforming and silencing any one who disagreed with her view on the world. It wasn't the very clever woman I was debating with though, who I respect immensely.

Great article.
India is insufferable.

Seems India is not happy...

Great article, I'll be writing to The Times in support of JM - I suggest anyone else who agrees does too

India can get to fuck.

India Willoughby, for example, is a fuckwit

That's a great article. Well written, lucid and - above all - compassionate. It's not an anti-trans piece and not in any way derogatory to the trans population. Jenni will still be called transphobic but there is nothing there that is.

kua

This is why the trans-activists are not very smart. If they were smart, they would ignore JM. But they simply can't help themselves, it's so ingrained to bully women.

Particularly when they attack women for not being womanly enough. Their appearance is wrong. They're too old. They are not centring MEN. They need to be enlightened and educatated those uppity bloody women daring to disagree with a man.

I hope the BBC is well aware that the main criterion for presenting Woman's Hour is being in touch with the population of women - and even if you did want to include transwomen in that, they would be a tiny subsection with generally rather different concerns than most.