Reply from the Body Shop re JKR... just so dreadful...

[onlywomennotmen]

Apparently men menstruate too...

^Hello, and thank you for getting in touch with us about our recent tweet to JK Rowling. We wanted to respond to everyone who has reached out to us to clarify our position on this issue.

We are longstanding supporters of the rights of women and girls on issues which affect them and believe it is important to keep having conversations around difficult topics such as this. Every person has the right to live their life free from the fear of violence, especially gender-based violence. The Body Shop has been an active campaigner on this issue since 1994.

The Body Shop’s position on menstruation in relation to trans and non-binary people is that we stand with ALL menstruators. People have periods – women, men and non-binary people. And plenty of women don’t. We value learning from everyone’s experience and we believe the conversation needs to go forwards, not backwards.

We disagree with JK Rowling’s view and wanted to demonstrate our support for trans and non-binary people. We understand why addressing the tweet to JK Rowling’s personal account has been interpreted as an attack on her as an individual, and as a domestic abuse survivor. That was absolutely not our intention. We didn’t get the tone right on this one and we do want to engage respectfully and constructively on these important issues.

We believe it is important to keep having conversations around difficult topics such as this, and doing so constructively. We recognise that our engagement with JK Rowling on this occasion wasn’t as constructive as we would like to be. We all need to educate ourselves, be inclusive and stand together so that we can end the shame and stigma around periods for all menstruators and stand up for what is right in our society.

We stand by our position on the rights of trans and non-binary people, and we will learn from this execution to ensure our communication is stronger and more constructive in the future.

We hope this helps you understand our position. We appreciated hearing yours.^

@Nackajory

I just don't get it. Surely we can call women women without hating trans people, and surely we can protect female only spaces without being accused of spreading hate.

No. The submission must be total and complete in ever way. Unvrying and unquestioning. How many finger, Winston?

I wonder why the Transwomen keep saying things like 'Suck my ladydick" and "Suck my genderqueer dick" whenever they disagree with someone.

If they want to be women, surely they'd rather not have a penis?

It doesn't make sense and I don't think the majority of Transwomen actually feel they should be women, but have jumped on the bandwagon to get attention and bully women online.

There are of course some genuine Transwomen but they are unlikely to be amongst those aggressive idiots who attacked JK Rowling.

I think the true Transwomen are more likely to be quite gentle and just want to blend into society. They will not be the ones ranting online, and I feel sorry for the true Transwomen having the trolls giving them that aggressive image.

I think it's a power trip. 'We are insisting we are women and you have to accept it, even if we flaunt the fact that we've got penises'.

I think all of that language is revolting. I'm not prudish at all but it's so sexually aggressive and rapey. It really sets me on edge.

@MrsKypp

I think the true Transwomen are more likely to be quite gentle and just want to blend into society. They will not be the ones ranting online, and I feel sorry for the true Transwomen having the trolls giving them that aggressive image.

That hardly seems fair, to require silence and gentleness if they wish to be viewed as "true transwomen" whatever that is.

'I think the true Transwomen are more likely to be quite gentle and just want to blend into society'

Why?

Are women in general gentle? Why do you assume TW will be gentle?

I don't care if they apologise, they're done and not getting my money. There is no excuse for what they are doing. Same goes for the little rights activists. They know what they're doing and I won't forget or forgive their support of misogyny. Not a chance.

Why the hell are we pandering to a tiny percent of humans who cannot handle the fact that words have meanings? NO MORE.

'I think the true Transwomen are more likely to be quite gentle and just want to blend into society'

I know this is a comforting view, and it reflects a desire to be kind - and to try and find sense in reconciling all the batshittery - but you do need to unpack this a bit.

What is a 'true TW'? That phrase would be seen as highly transphobic. Many older people with full surgery and who choose to term themselves as transsexuals have come in for a great deal of abuse because of the implication that full transition and surgery shows a 'real' transition as opposed to personal identification. 'Truscum' (true scum) is what they're often called.

Take the case of Karen White, who raped a woman repeatedly and injured her so badly that she may not be able to have children, while locked in with her on a women's psychiatric ward based on having self IDd and been respected in that choice. While on remand awaiting court for those rapes, White was placed in a female prison (again based on White's self iD) and happily went on sexually assaulting the females locked up in White's space. There were several more charges of crimes against females by the time White reached court - and a number of wrecked female lives behind White.

It is important to remember that White is as 'true' a TW as any other. And White is as entitled to access to a third space in prison provision or mental health wards or toilets for White's own safety, privacy, dignity, due to the fact that male violence is a terrible thing and White's transition exposes White to it. But this is why third spaces are now the only possible solution. Surrendering female spaces and female rights is badly wanted - White certainly really wanted it and very much enjoyed it - but there is no way it can be framed as in the best interests of female people. Who are as human and real and as entitled to protection under law as White is.

What about the trans rugby player who 'folded a woman like a deckchair'.

Does that sound gentle?

Who was the Aussie rules (or was it rugby player) who broke a womans leg in a match. This player was massive - way bigger than the others on the pitch. No way should they have been allowed to play - it’s like Bid Daddy wrestling Shirley Temple.

@SerenityNowwwww

Who was the Aussie rules (or was it rugby player) who broke a womans leg in a match. This player was massive - way bigger than the others on the pitch. No way should they have been allowed to play - it’s like Bid Daddy wrestling Shirley Temple.

Ah, the ever lovely ‘Hannah’ Mouncey.

The "folds oponents like a deckchair" rugby player plays for Porth Ladies. (I seem to recall they broke their coach's arm, but that bit seems to have been retrospectively removed from the BBC article, so it is possible I am misremembering. "No animal may drink alcohol to excess .")

Hannah Mouncey, who broke an opponent's leg, is an Aussie rules footballer and handball player.