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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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Kate Tempest - new name, new pronouns and a haircut

189 replies

MarSeeAh · 06/08/2020 21:36

I was listening to Jo Wiley’s show earlier and she announced that Kate Tempest, singer/poet, has announced that she is non-binary, now to be known as Kate, changed her pronouns to they ....

To be honest, I didn’t even know what Kate Tempest looked like, and the only song of hers which I know is “Peoples’ Faces” which Jo had just played - otherwise I wouldn’t have had a clue who she was talking about.

www.theguardian.com/music/2020/aug/06/kate-tempest-announces-they-are-non-binary-changes-name-to-kae

Going by images of Kate/Kae online, she had long hair until recently.

I grew up in the ‘70s and 80s when hair length was no indication at all of sex - because it isn’t!

Now, every time I see a girl or young woman get her long hair cut short, I’m waiting for the new name and pronouns to be announced.

Why this fixation on the superficial?

OP posts:
DialSquare · 07/08/2020 14:55

@JackiFazaki

I'm in the hairdressers. Short haircut. Changing my name to Jai and identifying as a glottal stop.
Grin
HPFA · 07/08/2020 14:56

Anyone wondering why younger people seem so confused about gender should have a read of the comments btl here:

gender.wikia.org/wiki/Demiguy

It's as if they think the key to their personalities is some "gender identity." "I was born female and I like scented soap but not dresses so what does that make me?" "Errm....a person?" It's very alien to older people I think.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 07/08/2020 15:00

Maybe the result of stricter stereotyping in childhood is the idea that if you're not Barbie or GI Joe you're must be some other Thing, instead of realising that everyone is an individual person? And no need to say know one feels in relation to sex stereotypes. It really is regressive. Just seems downright weird to those of us who have never especially subscribed to rigid sex stereotypes.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 07/08/2020 15:02

Apols for repeating 'sex stereotypes' over and over. I think I'm developing an allergy to the word gender. Pity, it can be a useful term when not unmoored from original meaning.

WellIWasInTheNeighbourhoo · 07/08/2020 15:02

I thought I might get a new haircut and declare myself non binary too.

Although I cant help feeling if my third person pronouns are going to be they/them, then my first person pronouns should be we/ours.

So yes we shall be non binary and our pronouns will be they/them.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 07/08/2020 15:04

Weetabix, er, yes.in my head she's about 21. Poets these days are getting younger all the time ...

Beamur · 07/08/2020 15:21

It is a rather sad reflection of the contraction of expression young men and women especially seem to feel able to express.
From talking to my DD I think what my generation thought of as personality, many people now filter through the lens of identity.

BaronEssoStation · 07/08/2020 15:32

@JackiFazaki

I'm in the hairdressers. Short haircut. Changing my name to Jai and identifying as a glottal stop.

I'm nominating this for post of the day.

MarshaBradyo · 07/08/2020 15:40

KT writes very good music / songs.

And I changed the above from she, and couldn’t bring myself to write Kae - I like t too much.

But good luck with it all (removing to her, I find they /them a poor comparison but will avoid).

Chicchicchicchiclana · 07/08/2020 19:57

@Beamur

It is a rather sad reflection of the contraction of expression young men and women especially seem to feel able to express. From talking to my DD I think what my generation thought of as personality, many people now filter through the lens of identity.
Very much agree with this, nicely put.
Justhadathought · 07/08/2020 20:45

It is a rather sad reflection of the contraction of expression young men and women especially seem to feel able to express. From talking to my DD I think what my generation thought of as personality, many people now filter through the lens of identity

Quite! And with added necessity of highly visible & public pronouncements. That's the social media age for you.

ChewtonRoad · 07/08/2020 22:33

Why this fixation on the superficial?
it's a combination of wanting to fit in with the wokerati and quite possibly an indication of unhappiness with KT's current life therefore a way out of an unpleasant situation (that's a guess - I don't know KT).

I was one who never was in sync with my peers and was mocked for it. If there had been social media when I was younger I would have proclaimed my eccentricity far and wide and likely been told to shut up as no one else cared.

Now after a long working life and having done a lot of interesting things it's fine not to have to force myself into others' expectations, and I have no interest in declaring myself "other" as the world won't give a fuck.

If KT is a lesbian then great; if not then also great. If KT gets pleasure from writing songs and poetry then KT should do so. But KT won't get rid of the female sexed body which will always be with KT no matter what label is placed on it.

ContentiousOne · 07/08/2020 22:49

Why are these adults in their 30's considered young? Talk about extending adolescence!

SirVixofVixHall · 07/08/2020 23:31

KT’s wiki page is a bizarre read now, it sounds so odd , the contant use of they and them.

SirVixofVixHall · 07/08/2020 23:32

Surely the gender neutral term is “it” rather than “they” ?

SirVixofVixHall · 07/08/2020 23:33

I think it is really sad that an adult woman would want to reject womanhood itself, rather than rejecting stereotypes.

megletthesecond · 07/08/2020 23:42

We're all non-binary. I suppose if you've grown up in a deeply sexist family you might not realise it.

They've had a haircut and a new nickname.

TheWordWomanIsTaken · 08/08/2020 00:15

@onegirlandherdog

I'm not really into her music or poetry, but the piece she wrote about coming out as non-binary was beautifully put. Good for her, and the courage she will give to other young people (and older people!) who fear coming out.
what do you mean coming out? Isn't everyone non-binary? I mean, what the hell does gender even mean anyway?
Justhadathought · 08/08/2020 00:15

Why are these adults in their 30's considered young? Talk about extending adolescence

Absolutely! I had three children by the age of 28. My daughter is the same as as her, and is fully GC. No shit!

Justhadathought · 08/08/2020 00:15

the same age as her

Justhadathought · 08/08/2020 00:16

Owen Jones seems to think he is still young. Jeez!

DidoLamenting · 08/08/2020 00:50

She is 34. I'd never heard of her. From what I heard on YouTube my life will not be enriched in any way by listening to her.

She has an extremely irritating voice which makes it difficult to concentrate on what she is saying.

DidoLamenting · 08/08/2020 01:39

The poem isn't terribly good. I agree it's very forced

Coffeeandbeans · 08/08/2020 07:06

Perhaps she is fed up with the sexist stuff she has to endure in her profession. Thinks by being non binary it will stop.

LunaNorth · 08/08/2020 07:15

Whenever I hear her doing one of her desperate ranty ‘poems’ I just want to tell her to have a cup of tea and a biscuit and calm the fuck down.

This is the least surprising thing ever. Another wokeface telling the world how shit it is to be a non-girly woman.

Cheers for that, love.