Louise O'Neill

[notyourhandmaid]

www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/columnists/louise-oneill/louise-oneill-on-jk-rowling-is-this-how-we-are-going-to-define-women-from-now-on-1004548.html

"...with a reputation for hard-hitting books tackling feminist themes."

• deliberately misreads the 'only women menstruate' as 'menstruation equals womanhood'
• imagines her history with anorexia has nothing to do with gender (when previously having acknowledged the role of toxic expectations)
• Stonewall reference
• "You can talk about the unfair advantage trans women will have in female sports, but how then do you explain the lack of trans Olympians, despite being allowed to complete since 2004?" - um - Caster Semenya
• " their true gender" - what does this even MEAN?!
• "There has been a lot of talk about the need to Be Kind; well, why can’t we be kind to our trans brothers and sisters? You may not understand this issue but surely you can understand the need to treat another human being with empathy and compassion. " Yes but the menfolk keep wanting to rape, either vaginally or orally, women with opinions. This is carried out in the name of 'trans rights'. Where exactly is that empathy and compassion?

Oh btw if you are anything other than a size zero, her fiction thinks you're gross. She hates fat women. She hates medium-size women. Only thin women deserve empathy. This is obviously coming from her own issues, and sympathy to her, but it's horrible for readers.

I skim read her little article but she kept saying 'cis'. Wtf is 'cis'?
Who even is she?
Sounds like she is desperate for male approval tbh.

She's not a real journalist surely?
Real journalists have to state facts.

I agree destroyed. Desperate for male approval.

I guess she knows what side of the bread is buttered.

Well no that little piece wasn't journalism. So mealy mouthed and.....just.... pathetic in the true sense of the word.

I've sent in a correction about the suicide stats, the NHS has said its not true and the actual rate is 1% not 45%, its so dangerous and shoddy reporting like that goes against the samaritans guidelines.

I didn't have the energy to correct all the other misstatements she made, if anyone feels inclined to do so [email protected]

Wtf is 'cis'?

It is what transgender advocates call people who are not transgender.
Based on the chemistry designation of isomers.
It centers trans as the norm the same way man as default does. No surprise.

I don't think that Caster Semenya is trans.

the Irish Examiner is a rag. The standard of ‘journalism’ is leaving cert student, can do better.

Turns out Semenya knew for years they were cheating and didn't care. They are male and claim to be female so I guess that makes them trans.

So stupid. It's actually physically painful to read, it's so stupid.

I was so disappointed when I read this - I thought Louise might have pointed out when she said "Be Kind" that we also ought to be kind to people whose views are different from our own - at least condemn the abuse JK is receiving!

The menstruation point is bizarre and I don't know why people keep clinging to it. I haven't had a period all year but I'm pregnant so wtf does that make me?!

Why no trans Olympians taking women's medals? Because until 2016 trans athletes had to undergo full sex reassignment surgery before competing. This means at least a year out of elite competition and training. Plus the added physical toll on the body of such invasive procedures. Very few trans people have surgery, so the number who would also be elite athletes would be miniscule. That's why no trans Olympians.

This year's Olympics would have been the first test of the new rules.

Laurel Hubbard and the Iranian women's football team would have peaked the world.

Is this Louise person anyone of note or influence?

I gather she wrote some ' chick lit ' or somesuch.

She's an author of Young Adult novels. The publishing industry is really toxic at the moment, especially the YA end of things.

She’s not a chick lit author, she writes excellent books about feminist issues, both young Adult and Adult adult. Which is why this is disappointing.

Oh ok well I will have to take your word for it Louise. ..

Ha ha . I can see why you wouldn’t believe me based on this article!!

And hey don't diss chick lit too much ...Marian Keyes is excellent for example. (Irrelevant)

Oh I wasn’t. I love Marian. I don’t really like the phrase chick lit tho! I think it minimises women’s fiction. Marian Keyes writes about very serious issues. Anyway...

I was just saying LON wouldn’t be what would usually be described as chick lit

Can’t stand her. Her ego astounds me every time I see her interviewed.

Yes fair I agree about Marian and I WAS using the term to be mean....
This article is truly dreadful stuff. Do intelligent women actually believe this guff?

She is fawned over by the Irish media.

Yes I agree Anois. While I like her books and think Asking for It in particular is very important, she has written some nonsense in that columns.