What this academic gets wrong about trans rights in Britain (spectator)

[Winesalot]

www.spectator.co.uk/article/what-this-academic-gets-wrong-about-trans-rights-in-britain

Debbie Hayton in the spectator today.

^It was clear that Lavery’s research had been limited. For example, GIDS does not typically use Lupron to block puberty – as Lavery appears to suggest – but triptorelin, a different drug. It is also deeply irresponsible for a professor of English to repeat the claim that the effects of puberty blockers are reversible. As a teacher of physics, I defer to the NHS who explain

that 'little is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria.'^

Perhaps the real reason for Lavery’s concern is that the progress made in the UK to protect children from making life-changing decisions before they are old enough to understand the consequences might be picked up in the USA?

I have noticed in the past month Lavery has become the go-to for commentary on the UK medical treatments, court cases and on British feminists. Not sure why, maybe it is the Berkeley effects. However, they hardly come over as having any balance or being capable of empathy. (And surely, if you are going to make yourself a spokesperson and submitting articles you would check the facts.)

Thank you Debbie for your efforts. I might not agree with everything you publish or publicly say, but I think having your opposing voice in this instance is appropriated.

Apparently, it was noticed by others.

twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1339237220553809921?s=21

And Lavery has seemed to now threaten Singal with defamation for pointing out the errors.

My problem is that this is just continuing to spread misinformation and with so many media outlets publishing syndicated pieces, where does the fact checking start?

Grace Lavery seems to be connected with various British academics or US academics working here. For example, Lavery has contributed to an edited volume recently published by Charlotte Lydia Riley, an academic and twitter personality famous for a BBC clip in which she spoke about ‘Karens’ (disparaging term for white, middle-aged women) and told them to ‘go away’. Riley has also repeated misinformation on the Bell judgment (e.g. that the judgment would have impact on abortion provision - which it clearly doesn’t). By training, she is a historian of the British Labour Party. (No medical or legal training.)

Lavery has orchestrated (if I recall correctly) various twitter pile-ons on ‘terfs’ and also an attempt to deplatform Selina Todd at Kent Uni. What other credentials as a UK expert GL has, I don’t know.

It’s a real problem when academics think they are journalists without appreciating basic standards of fact-checking.

It’s a real problem when academics think they are journalists without appreciating basic standards of fact-checking.

Yes, it makes me think Berkeley’s reputation must be built on shaky foundations if a becoming more prominent everyday professor is publishing without even adequately fact checking.

Thanks for the background.

Riley is an immensely tiresome person who is overburdened with confidence. Makes me realise that teenage me clearly underestimated her own academic potential.

@Winesalot

Apparently, it was noticed by others.

twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1339237220553809921?s=21

And Lavery has seemed to now threaten Singal with defamation for pointing out the errors.

Yes I observed their twitter spat this morning ... Katie Herzog (who IMO talks a lot of sense on this matter) has been commenting on it.

Grace Lavery is an embarrassment.

To be sure, academics behaving badly is not a new phenomenon. Not a profession known for humility.

Lavery tweeted this last month.

twitter.com/graceelavery/status/1327350356683202561?s=20

actually what we could do is find copies of Abigail Shrier’s book IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE in our local libraries, rip out the interiors without consent, and install the texts of our own propaganda before sewing the jacket back up. stop this rubbish from reproducing itself

Lavery is an Associate Professor in the English department at the University of Berkeley. I wonder if any FWR posters who work in universities would like to comment on the profile pic. I don't think many female academics would risk a pose like that. They would be afraid of not being taken seriously.

english.berkeley.edu/profiles/386

Don’t like personal comments on people’s appearance but of course you are right, female academics often think very carefully about how they present themselves, as their intellectual authority is more often put into question.

GL seems to be a person who loves pushing boundaries - “see what I can get away with?”. To be a tenured prof at a US elite university is to be in an extremely powerful position. You can get away with a lot.

Lavery certainly seems unlike most women academics.

I did see Lavery’s comments on Irreversible Damage and also on their contribution to the Atlantic article (if you can call it an article).

[quote Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]Lavery tweeted this last month.

twitter.com/graceelavery/status/1327350356683202561?s=20

actually what we could do is find copies of Abigail Shrier’s book IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE in our local libraries, rip out the interiors without consent, and install the texts of our own propaganda before sewing the jacket back up. stop this rubbish from reproducing itself

Lavery is an Associate Professor in the English department at the University of Berkeley. I wonder if any FWR posters who work in universities would like to comment on the profile pic. I don't think many female academics would risk a pose like that. They would be afraid of not being taken seriously.

english.berkeley.edu/profiles/386[/quote]
I am a female academic and that picture is infuriating. Women have to work hard to get taken seriously and this just demonstrates (male) privilege.

It's interesting to see that Debbie's very good Spectator article has been taken remarkably seriously by commentators below the line. Normally the comments are a real cesspit on there (and there are a few predictable ' 'this is what feminism has resulted in' ) comments but generally there's an intelligent and sympathetic debate below the line.

Riley is an immensely tiresome person who is overburdened with confidence.

You put it more politely than I would have, which is probably for the best!

rip out the interiors without consent, and install the texts of our own propaganda before sewing the jacket back up

When people reveal everything you need to know about them...

Perhaps the real reason for Lavery’s concern is that the progress made in the UK to protect children from making life-changing decisions before they are old enough to understand the consequences might be picked up in the USA?

I wonder if there is genuine fear amongst TRAs and those who make their living from an ever-growing population of 'trans' children that this judgment could have effects outside the UK.

A few days ago, the Endocrine Society in the US revised their transgender health position statement from 2017. The new version includes lots of references to children and adolescents which weren't in the original and how much they 'need' puberty blockers.

www.endocrine.org/advocacy/position-statements/transgender-health

I am a female academic and that picture is infuriating.

Ditto.

I've had this conversation in real life - we have colleagues who wear clothes & make up that we could not wear, and be taken seriously. I can't help but see it as a form of masculinist privilege.

I've had this conversation in real life - we have colleagues who wear clothes & make up that we could not wear, and be taken seriously. I can't help but see it as a form of masculinist privilege.

Exactly this. However, everyone can see it too- even if it is not acknowledged.

I think it is counterproductive for them - in a way they just don’t seem to get a picture says a thousand words

I, too, have had this conversation. It is very much like it is a poke in the eye. ‘See, I can do and say this and still get more respect than you’. However, self objectification for ‘likes and traffic’ is becoming very common in many professions and profile shots like this are beginning to pop up. I often wonder when sense will prevail and I have realized that it will be a long time.

It also concerns me that Grace’s husband is transman Daniel M Lavery, who has a rather large audience as the current “Dear Prudence” in Slate. They have been Prudence since pre-transition.

The advice being given out here on Slate by them is often controversial (I’d say something stronger but it will cause a problem), and very much in following with their “religion”, for want of a better word.

slate.com/human-interest/dear-prudence

twitter.com/daniel_m_lavery

Thanks Misfit. I did not realize it was a so called ‘power’ couple.

I can see how the picture could be rage inducing, I presume that is the purpose?

The choice of pose and clothing seems to be mocking women in my opinion. I get a sense that women are despised and ridiculed but maybe that is just me.

Well.... it certainly is provocative.

This article seems to be problematic in many of its facts. Maya Forstater has been attempting to get the facts corrected by Foreign Policy but they have blocked her on twitter and are reluctant to make adequate changes.

twitter.com/mforstater/status/1339894886758289408?s=21

My point remains. This is supposed to be a Berkeley professor, one of the esteemed universities. Yet, what they seem to be stating or publishing is shoddily researches and makes what should be considered outlandish and defamatory inferences.

Academics should be pushing boundaries! But not with this type of falsity. The hypocrisy is so clear but the emperor is free to continue in naked glory.

Jesse Singal (who is great) has been on the case. As a journalist, he's aghast at the fact-checking or lack of it. GL has threatened to sue him in response. In response to that, he and his readers did some more digging that suggests this article wasn't written about the judicial review in the first place. It's possible it is an article GL.wrote months and months ago and couldn't sell, that was hastily given a new paint job to capitalise on Kiera Bell's case being in the news.

twitter.com/jessesingal/status/1340329161588617217?s=19