Guardian interview with Juno Dawson

[RoyalCorgi]

The Guardian is once more peddling male fantasies of what a teenage girl is:

www.theguardian.com/books/2020/may/11/juno-dawson-trans-alice-wonderland-interview-spice-girls

Dawson has written a novel based on Alice in Wonderland, but with a trans lead character:

'Wonderland is also a wake-up call to anyone who believes gender reassignment might be a happy-ever-after. Alice has recently returned to school after three months in hospital following a suicide attempt. “While I’m delighted with my perky little boobs,” she says, “I was profoundly disappointed that my urge to cut myself didn’t vanish with the first milligram of oestrogen to pass my lips.” Her problems, Dawson points out, are those of all too many young women. “When I’m at the Hay book festival or at Yale, these teenagers come into my signing queues and they are scarred. It must be talked about because it permanently affects girls.”'

Yes, teenage girls are really delighted with their perky little boobs, you misogynist little creep.

‘I’ve never got out of the chrysalis’ - yes, mentally by the sound of it

Our awareness of our female bodies is from the inside, as part of the mapped nervous system. Proprioception.

Such a good point. Becoming aware of yourself as a sexual object in the eyes of others is one of the trials of being a young teenager. My daughter got shouted at from a passing car walking home from school for the first time last autumn, and it upset her. Her mind is as far as it can be from "enjoying" the supposed power of being an object. She doesn't hate her developing body (thank God), but she does hate the way some people react to it.

Ah right, thanks.

I just never did my puberty. And as I transition I’m finally going to get to do the puberty I should have had.

Of course Dawson did their puberty, that's how they know they have an adult sexuality.

It's physically impossible for Dawson to have any other kind of puberty. Dawson will never develop a female reproductive system.

I suspect what Dawson means is the whole pyjama party, squealing at boys, Hollywood construct of 'girl puberty'. Not agonising period pains, fear of pregnancy, random and ill timed weight gain, unwanted attention from creepy men who are determined to attach your self-worth to your sexual allure.

I just never did my puberty

Dawson taught Primary school year 6 & was a PSHE coordinator:

20/4/2018 inews interview by Rebecca Armstrong:
'Juno Dawson on sex education: 'Nobody had thought to tell these young people that sex was pleasurable'
(extracts)
“I became a teacher straight out of university. I started my teacher training when I was 21 and I was in the classroom by the time I was 22. I went straight into a very professional role, which meant that I had to grow up quite quickly,”

Anyone who has read This Book is Gay (her non-fiction title about what it’s like to grow up as LGBT), or Being a Boy (everything you wanted to know about puberty, but were too afraid to Google) will know that Dawson is happy to tackle topics that many would shy away from when talking to children.

“As a teacher, one of my areas of speciality and interest was in PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education). I became a PSHE co-ordinator, and during that first year I did some work with Brighton and Hove Council putting together a scheme of work for sex and relationships education. I taught Year Six of primary school – the last year before secondary school. That’s the year in which, at that particular school, sex education was taught.”

“By 10 and 11 years old, most children knew that you needed an egg and a sperm to naturally conceive a baby. However, nobody had thought to tell these young people that sex was pleasurable or that it could be making love, not necessarily sex. What they always asked, in different ways, was ‘Why do people have sex if they don’t want a baby?’ That unearthed a really fundamental issue with the way that we teach SRE (Sex and Relationships Education). We’re not really giving them the whole story.”

inews.co.uk/news/education/juno-dawson-young-adult-fiction-sex-education-300420

The more I read the icker I feel

However, nobody had thought to tell these young people that sex was pleasurable or that it could be making love, not necessarily sex

Where on earth do these people get their information from?

I wonder if talking to shy, nervous or cheeky young teens has skewed their thinking.
It is quite likely they affirmed everything the teacher said out of embarrassed duty.

Current thread discussing Mimmymum's latest targetting of MN advertisers, this time 'Audible' based on Juno Dawson's complaint

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3907235-TRAs-targeting-mumsnet-advertisers

Recent similar failed attempt with Arla Dairies:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3882314-To-think-this-doctor-really-really-hates-mumsnet

“By 10 and 11 years old, most children knew that you needed an egg and a sperm to naturally conceive a baby.

An egg (female gamete) and a sperm (male gamete) is needed to conceive any child regardless of method of conception.

All teachers should know this.

If I say anything I’ll be deleted

If I say anything I’ll be deleted

That does seem very likely. What did Datun say to get deleted? (Obviously nobody can tell me or they'd get deleted as well)

I just looked through the thread to see if any more of my posts have been deleted, and the one with the link to the NSPCC website has gone. Seems an odd thing for anyone to object to.

A certain someone is obviously having fun, targeting members that they feel threatened by.

Horses require attention

Not entirely sure what I was deleted for. Although I think it was for clarifying something for someone else that another poster said.

Mumsnet should be ashamed of themselves.

I think it was for clarifying something for someone else that another poster said.

That's what I was doing with my NSPCC post.

I just looked through the thread to see if any more of my posts have been deleted, and the one with the link to the NSPCC website has gone. Seems an odd thing for anyone to object to.

There have been problems in the past when MN members are aware of Safeguarding & discuss NSPCC:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3725552-NSPCC-Again

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3611569-Is-NSPCC-school-guidance-for-kids-re-sexual-abuse-shifting-the-Overton-Window-Need-expert-advise-to-break-this-down

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3611447-Potential-Systemic-Safeguarding-failures-in-NSPCC-Childline-illustrated-by-appointment-ending-of-relationship-with-Munroe-Bergdorf-Thread-2

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3605120-Munroe-Childline-s-first-LGBT-campaigner

Peter Wainlass CEO NSPCC
"When appointing an ambassador we are required to consider whether the relationship supports our ability to safeguard children and be influential in safeguarding children. The board decided an ongoing relationship with Munroe was inappropriate because of her statements on the public record, which we felt would mean that she was in breach of our own risk assessments and undermine what we are here to do. These statements are specific to safeguarding and equality."
www.nspcc.org.uk/what-we-do/news-opinion/munroe-bergdorf

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3353658-AIBU-to-be-shocked-that-the-NSPCC-cancelled-their-Facebook-Live-session-with-Mumsnetters-because-they-didnt-like-the-questions-That-they-cant-explain-why-they-arent-putting-children-in-danger

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/womens_rights/3612619-Barrister-Sarah-Phillimore-and-the-NSPCC

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/03/nspcc-mumsnet-row-defending-girl-guides-transgender-policy/

“By 10 and 11 years old, most children knew that you needed an egg and a sperm to naturally conceive a baby. However, nobody had thought to tell these young people that sex was pleasurable or that it could be making love, not necessarily sex."

Sex for a 10 or 11 year old girl would not be pleasurable.
Who thinks that 10 or 11 years olds are making love or could understand what making love means?

Dances, they do indeed.

Who thinks that 10 or 11 years olds are making love or could understand what making love means?

Peter Tatchell. Although it was 9 year olds.

There have been problems in the past when MN members are aware of Safeguarding & discuss NSPCC

Although I just provided a link to an NSPCC information page in order to avoid using what appears to be a banned word here.

Datun

I don't know about safe guarding, what i know is what i have learnt from women on this board.
Telling 10 & 11 year olds that sex can be pleasurable is wrong.
It is not legal under 16.
10 & 11 year olds can not consent.
For 10 & 11 year olds it would not be pleasurable.
Why didn't the article mention that?Isn't this important?

Why didn't the article mention that?Isn't this important?

Indeed it is.

Dawson says

What they always asked, in different ways, was ‘Why do people have sex if they don’t want a baby?’ That unearthed a really fundamental issue with the way that we teach SRE (Sex and Relationships Education). We’re not really giving them the whole story.”

They seem to be under the impression that whatever questions children ask, requires an in-depth answer.

"I'll tell you about that when you're a bit older and can understand it" appears to be an alien concept to Dawson.

My son asked me what a prostitute was when he was about seven...