Do you think JK knew what would happen?

[Alyssum34456]

She's hinted her views before, but this is the most clearly outspoken she has been. The backlash has been pretty awful tbh. I'm not sure I 100% agree with everything she is saying, but I do not like how she has been treated. Why the world is acting like she has made some 'Trump-like' statement I dont know. Perhaps because being trans is the most recent trending vulnerable group to gain support and influence? So it's a very risky thing to talk about? The fact it can't even be discussed is pretty sad.

I wonder if she realised this would happen. Do you think she had higher hopes that some other admirable high profile names would come to her aid, or at least have a healthy debate? Does she know people who have let her down? Perhaps they realised last minute that it was just too risky a move here's looking at you Dan Radcliffe. I can almost see him sending her a private message "Sorry Jo, really can't do this right now! I'm too young and I need the money from my next woke gig!" Or has he really truly lost touch with her and decided to break ties? Or did she really just decide throw it out there and hope for the best?

A part of me thinks she knew it all along. She is very good at standing out from the crowd. She had had incredible lows in her life. Even if she spends the foreseeable future in a downward disgrace, she has publicly planted a seed and now the initial heat is over people are starting to talk. The BBC even has an article on the Dan Rad response and links to articles about gender critical and what this means for women. I think they are being surprisingly unbiased actually.

The future starts here?

I just hope this doesn't scar her too much.

Really good post RevIMJolly

Same thoughts had crossed my mind.

Sarah Paulson's long time best mate is more high profile than her (Pedro Pascal), and his younger brother is gay. Has he said anything? Interesting if not. Also interesting that none of the less one trick pony actors involved in the Potter films have jumped in.

I'd thought the same RevImJolly. Most big names aren't commenting on it.

I'm sure someone will try to pester Eddie Redmayne at least into saying something, as well as Watson.

Agree, Rev.

It's also interesting that the Big Names are stating clearly how they feel about BLM.

It's fascinating to me that fighting against misogyny is not seen as righteous. This is why it is not a hate crime, despite there being 2-3 dead women a week as a result of male VAWG.

Fascinating.

And, fucking outrageous. Thanks JK. More power to you and your bravery.

The way I read the silence from the big names is that they probably think JK is right but aren't willing to take the flak that they'd get for saying so. Considering many of them knew Radcliffe when he was a child I'd think that if they agreed with him they'd be jumping in to back him up.

'It's fascinating to me that fighting against misogyny is not seen as righteous. This is why it is not a hate crime, despite there being 2-3 dead women a week as a result of male VAWG.'

You're so right. Pointing out misogyny just seems to be dismissed as whining by so many, and the focus is often shifted immediately back to 'what about the men? / not all men'. Men are always seen as most important, always

There is clearly SO MUCH work still to be done around racism, but there's no denying that its taken way more seriously than misogyny

Which is a good thing, of course, Lotta. It's not a hierarchy.

But, it is interesting that Little Britain is being pulled, while Mrs Browns Boys carries on.

It's interesting that statues of people who exploited black people are being removed, and there is no observation of how few statues there are of women at all.

It's interesting that companies, organisations, governing bodies, charities and individuals are making statements of regret and promises to improve their inclusion of BAME people, but, nothing about supporting women who suffer from sexism, sexual abuse, or are actually losing rights to privacy and dignity.

It's tumbleweed.

No one matters less in this world than a woman. Except a black woman. Except a poor black woman. It has always been this way, and it doesn't look to me like that is about to change.

Fascinating.

@TheProdigalKittensReturn

I'm sure someone will try to pester Eddie Redmayne at least into saying something, as well as Watson.

I write fanfic based on the Cormoran Strike novels.

One of my followers on Tumblr has written 'an open letter to Tom Burke' (who plays Strike on TV) encouraging him to speak out against JKR as he is an ambassador for Women for Women International.

There's also a male writer on the fandom who wrote a fic spouting his view after the Maya Forstater incident and has now followed it up with his own ramblings based on recent events.

I have been sitting on my hands since 3.30am as I will lose my shit if I start to reply.

'It's not a hierarchy.'

It very much is a hierarchy. It shouldn't be, but it is

Fair point, Lotta.

It shouldn't be. BLM is a thing that men are invested in, and so it is happening. Gay marriage in Ireland was a thing that men were invested in, and so it happened. It's still really very difficult to get an abortion in Ireland, because men aren't invested in that.

Men make things happen for men. No matter how significant the discrimination meted out to those men for whatever their perceived difference - their needs trump those of women.

'Fair point, Lotta.

It shouldn't be'

It definitely shouldn't. Completely agree with your example of gay marriage referendum in Ireland- men involved, so shit gets done

Jkr very politely states some biological facts and gets pasted, Trump talks about grabbing women by the pussy and no one bats an eyelid. I think the problem is a lot of her fans are zealots who will turn on her in an instant. The misogynists amongst them probably never really got over the fact that they loved her books, despite her being a woman.

Men make things happen for men.

And when those men are in massive majority middle class, white, affluent, educated, able bodied and straight, things happen at the speed of light and you see an 'equality' movement achieve regulatory capture in a couple of years. Where as BAME, LGB, women's movements and other forms of activism have gained their ground over decades and centuries in tiny, hard fought bites.

I hope she knew. I hope she knows how amazing she is....

My group of pals - all with daughters - have not been interested in this issue. I have bought it up a few times but they don't believe me, or think about the nice kind transsexual who lived down the road and think I am being mean....

THIS blew up yesterday - they asked why- I answered - now that's seven strong, clever women with daughters who are now engaged and angry..... Well done JK

TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR!!!

Alsison Moyet - go'oan ye:

"Regardless how I feel about anything,I always hated a pile on since schooldays.Even against those that’ve been hateful to me. As it happens JkRowling is not hateful.I see a woman convicted & hung and wonder where the same venom is for the men that do actual harm to all womankind."

From a recently posted chapter of The Ickabog...

‘But it seems so – so unlikely!’ said Fred weakly.
‘It does seem unlikely on the face of it, doesn’t it, sire?’ said Spittleworth, with another bow. ‘In truth, it’s one of those extraordinary, unbelievable ideas that only the very cleverest people can grasp, whereas common folk – stupid folk, sire – giggle and laugh at the notion.’
Fred looked from Spittleworth to Flapoon to Professor Fraudysham; all three men seemed to be waiting for him to prove how clever he was, and naturally he didn’t want to seem stupid, so he said: ‘Yes… well, if the professor says it, that’s good enough for me…

I think she would have known. She’s a very intelligent women she knew there would be a pile on. Maybe she’s happy to be a ‘lone wolf’ or happy to be one of the first to step forward hoping others will follow.

I have a trans woman on my facebook friends list. They posted an article by pink news about what she had posted on Twitter - bleating about how unfair it is she is threatening legal action as she could bankrupt people through lengthy legal proceedings and ruin people’s lives. Oh how I laughed at the irony of that post. (Also apparently thousands of trans women are preparing to flee UK after law changes to TW using female toilets —- bye bye then )

Even though it seems that the entire universe are on Twitter - they are not. Most people are totally unaware there is a war going on with women’s rights and the trans train. So mothers and fathers will still buy her books for their kids and watch her movies.

I'm actually surprised that no one is pestering Stephen Fry to say something, for many he's the voice of Harry Potter more than Daniel Radcliffe.

Draco malfoy has liked one of her tweets

@TheProdigalKittensReturn

The way I read the silence from the big names is that they probably think JK is right but aren't willing to take the flak that they'd get for saying so. Considering many of them knew Radcliffe when he was a child I'd think that if they agreed with him they'd be jumping in to back him up.

I think this too.

So he has tipsyandtim interesting as TF doesn’t seem to “like” often

@Gibbonsgibbonsgibbons

So he has tipsyandtim interesting as TF doesn’t seem to “like” often

I agree with what people have said that a lot of people keeping quiet will actually agree with her. It’s just that it’s far easier to speak o against her because of the nasty mob that claim to be in favour of “kindness”.

I will never look at Philip Pullman in the same way again.

And as for Joanne Harris... I still love her books, but I don't think I'll ever be able to forget her smug sanctimony sufficiently to buy another one.

Well my shit list has grown considerably.