Eddie Izzard defends JKR

[TundraDweller]

I was surprised to see this -
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/eddie-izzard-jk-rowling-trans-gender-b632044.html

[Helmetbymidnight]

Izzard talks about switching between boy-mode and girl-mode: “I’m gender fluid. Your brain gets coded male or female when you’re young. Mine got coded both ways. I have the gift of both, although it doesn’t feel like a gift at first.” He’s proactively in “girl-mode” at the moment, and hopes the running “makes people look at trans in a different way”.

Why won't he tell us what this male and female coding is? How do we know which we are? What does 'girl-mode' mean? What is it that makes him put himself in a box with my daughter than with ...other men? Why won't he spell it out for us?

[Helmetbymidnight]

Thanks for linking, OldCrone

[ThatIsNotMyUsername]

What more was Eddie in when Eddie wrote this? What has JKR replied (‘awa an boil yer heid ’ - I know she isn’t Scottish but is an honorary one)?

[OldCrone]

From the 'he or she' article:

Has he contemplated transitioning? “I don’t have an answer to that. I do feel female, but if I was only expressing the female side of me, the boy side wouldn’t be represented. Whichever way, I’m slightly under-represented.”

How does a man 'feel female'? Does he mean 'feminine'?

From a man in a dress in the 90s to a man who thinks he's a woman when he puts on a dress. So progressive.

[JellySlice]

The first sentence, most important thing in this article about the controversy surrounding a woman's statement, is to make sure that the readers understand that it's ok to use sex-accurate pronouns in reference to this man. It's ok because he permits it.

Pander to the penis

[SecretsofMine]

I have come across other gender fluid people on Twitter who think the same as Eddie.

Males who admit they are male and who are not ashamed of their gender fluidity ARE brave. I don't care what anyone says to the contrary.

Also women. I wouldn't say I'm a masculine female, though neither am I typically feminine. I'm single and I think many men are/would be turned off by my brand of gender fluidity. Their loss because I'm AMAZING!!

I think we also need to accept that women like this/me are also shunned by unrealistic societal expectations of feminity! The common perception is that it's easier for women to embrace their masculinity. Nothing could be further from the truth - the influences of mass media prove that.

We/people absolutely do need to prove that gender IS socially constructed by actively demonstrating that it's both okay and healthy to dress and consuct yourself in a traditionally feminine or masculine manner... regardless of your biological sex.

[SecretsofMine]

*conduct

[FifteenToes]

I must admit, while Eddie has always come across as a decent and likeable person, he/she's never struck me as a great critical thinker (on political issues for example). I'm thus not hugely surprised that various statements about gender, pronouns etc. seem to contradict each other and don't add up to any coherent position. I'm sure in the past he's been quite clear that he's just a straight, cisgender guy who happens to like wearing dresses. No problem with that. I don't know why the change now though or why the attempt to rewrite the past.

The defence of JKR probably just comes from the fact that he's a basically nice guy who doesn't want to see people fighting. And as he doesn't have a set or coherent position on gender for her to offend, he's not offended by her.

[OldCrone]

We/people absolutely do need to prove that gender IS socially constructed by actively demonstrating that it's both okay and healthy to dress and consuct yourself in a traditionally feminine or masculine manner... regardless of your biological sex.

But once you start using wrong-sex pronouns for someone who doesn't conform to the stereotypes for their sex, you're reinforcing the stereotypes by saying that a masculine woman is somehow 'male'.

[JellySlice]

@JellySlice

The first sentence, most important thing in this article about the controversy surrounding a woman's statement, is to make sure that the readers understand that it's ok to use sex-accurate pronouns in reference to this man. It's ok because he permits it.

Pander to the penis

It's rare I wish for an edit button on MN, but in this case I wish I could redact 'pander to the penis'.

It probably wasn't about allowing a male to dictate how we refer to him, but more about pacifying the TRA Wolf pack who might be expected to come batting after the writers who had the temerity to use sex-accurate pronouns in reference to a man. Tho as the most aggressive TRAs tends to be penis-havers...

[OldCrone]

I'm sure in the past he's been quite clear that he's just a straight, cisgender guy who happens to like wearing dresses. No problem with that. I don't know why the change now though or why the attempt to rewrite the past.

It wouldn't surprise me if TRAs told him he was undermining trans people by saying that men in dresses and make up were just men in dresses and make up.

[MondayYogurt]

I don't want to hear what Eddie thinks anymore.

[ClaireP20]

@JellySlice

The first sentence, most important thing in this article about the controversy surrounding a woman's statement, is to make sure that the readers understand that it's ok to use sex-accurate pronouns in reference to this man. It's ok because he permits it.

Pander to the penis

Exactly ..

[Notts2021]

I thought your pander to the penis comment was spot on.

That's why JKR was called a bitch, cunt, disowned by the actors whose careers she made, and was threatened with credible threats of violence. All because she doesn't have a penis.

If she did she could talk all kinds of nonsense and still be celebrated.

[SecretsofMine]

But once you start using wrong-sex pronouns for someone who doesn't conform to the stereotypes for their sex, you're reinforcing the stereotypes by saying that a masculine woman is somehow 'male'.

@OldCrone Agreed. This pronouns business is a load of hogwash. I refuse to be referred to as 'they'. It's dehumanising.

I've found that those who insist on being addressed by their preferred pronouns and the people who lobby for it, also lack self-respect by the way they conduct themselves, ironically. They're also more likely to lose MY respect because the way in which they degrade and devalue the female experience.

[carlaCox]

I’m gender fluid. Your brain gets coded male or female when you’re young. Mine got coded both ways

I wish someone would point out to Eddie that what he's doing is rebelling against incredibly strict, artificial masculine stereotypes and not having a brain "coded male and female".

Many, many women are comfortable in dresses/heels/make up and trainers/jeans/short hair styles and regularly switch between the two. It's not because our brains are "coded male and female", it's because feminists fought for that to be socially acceptable. What we need is a proper movement pushing for greater acceptance of effeminate men. Men having to claim some kind of female brain in order to wear skirts and nail polish ain't it.

[StillAHarpie]

@Notts2021

Oh, so grateful for a man to not mind being called he, as he has a boy mode as well as a girl mode.

Sorry, I have read too much nonsense that women have to put up with when they speak truthfully to be grateful for crumbs.

^This^

[Riapia]

He makes my skin crawl.
Simple as.

[SecretsofMine]

People who deny, degrade and devalue the FEMALE experience are amongst the most bigoted persons you will ever come across... I also don't care what anyone says to the contrary.

[zanahoria]

but why are we going through hell on this?"

maybe it is because of blokes who like to swan into womens toilets then congratulate themselves about bravely squaring up to teenage girls who had the audacity to challenge them?

[SecretsofMine]

I’m gender fluid. Your brain gets coded male or female when you’re young. Mine got coded both ways

So did mine. But this is not through genetics! It's through environment. Until there is undeniable scientific proof that gender (note: not sex) fluidity is biological, I will sing this on the rooftops!

[iguanadonna]

Mugwump is a useful word I learnt recently.

[SecretsofMine]

but why are we going through hell on this?"

maybe it is because of blokes who like to swan into womens toilets then congratulate themselves about bravely squaring up to teenage girls who had the audacity to challenge them?

If you are male, you use male or unisex loos. If you are female, you use female or unisex loos. Regardless of gender reassignment.

Men need to learn how to accept trans women as fellow males. It's not women who need to accept that trans women are females. Your biological sex ought to determine your use of public facilities. KEEP FEMALES SAFE!

[QueenoftheAir]

Don't want to be too much of a misery guts, but I'm a bit dismayed that it takes a man (Note to lurkers: "gender fluid" doesn't mean "changed sex") to say something in support of JKR and not be villified or sent death/rape threats, or lose their job ...

[Toughie]

Why didn’t he speak up at the height of the JKR ‘attacks’?!?!
Clever he may be, but he’s all over the place with this ‘gender’ stuff.