Elliot Page undergoes “lifesaving” “top surgery”

[OnWednesdaysWeWearMink]

BBC R1 news beat has just reported that Elliot page has undergone “life saving” “top surgery”.

Here is the related web article: www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-57239448

This reporting perpetuates the narrative that people will commit suicide if they don’t get the right sort of treatment. I find it deeply irresponsible. Does anyone know if Samaritans are tackling this sort of coverage in their media guidelines? I’d hope work is going on behind the scenes as they are a fantastic charity. (I assume they are not captured?)

A double mastectomy is usually lifesaving when it comes to breast cancer... so I find calling an elective cosmetic procedure lifesaving pretty insulting. But that’s just me being petty and not the main point.

'Lifesaving' 🙄, really not.

Teenage girls starving themselves or cutting themselves because they hate their bodies isn't encouraged so why is this? There is nothing life saving about cutting off/damaging healthy body parts.

Therapy and antidepressants can be lifesaving to those who feel suicidal.

@Maggiesfarm "It's not really anyone else's business ". It is, because Paige is a high profile celebrity, has been on the cover of Time magazine and done Oprah after this surgery. This is the age of the 'Influencer' and Paige is acting as one, using their massive media and social media profile to make hyperbolic statements about, for example, child suicide and sport, and anecdotally in my friendship group it seems Paige is already having an influence on young females seeking surgery.

The surgeon posted a selfie of her sad face with the text ''Just realized I only get to yeet 4 teets next week''.

Wtf. I haven't seen this before. Evil woman 😡

It is also profoundly disrespectful to the thousands who have to unwillingly undergo double mastectomies to stop them dying from cancer.

The hyperbolic language around trans rights is infuriating.

I hope EP is happy. I suspect they've kiboshed their career and their marriage is over. I hope it was worth it.

Is there a queue over here for cancer patients needing mastectomy?

TRAs have in fact claimed before that their surgery should have at least equal priority.

@Maggiesfarm

Thank you rubber and leaf. Oooh, that sounds weird! Anyway, I get it now. He is a transman.

I agree about it being fashionable right now to undergo gender reassignment and I disagree strongly with children & teenagers being allowed to make such life changing decisions when they may change their minds later. Funnily enough I do know someone in Canada who has talked to me about this trend, and it is definitely more prominent out there. I'll be very glad when it is no longer fashionable.

The whole thing makes me feel sad, and for some reason a bit anxious, but that's my problem.

However, Elliott is in his thirties. He is old enough to make choices. I'm sorry he was unhappy as a woman, which of course he still is biologically, but it's done and all we onlookers can do is hope he continues to be as pleased as he is at the moment.

It's not really anyone else's business and it isn't as if he somehow jumped a waiting list queue. Is there a queue over here for cancer patients needing mastectomy? I know services have been disrupted but there have still been admissions and operations. Not really relevant because Elliot isn't here, and he has had his surgery.

I think when someone is a role model for young people - and EP is, and is being very public about transition - it isn't just about what makes them happy.

If EP is happy then great (though that's not what came across in the Oprah interview), it's their business. I wish them well. But I do feel concerned with the tone of reporting around it though.

It also looks to me that there has been body sculpting surgery to give a kind of physique not available to those just having 'top surgery', again perhaps giving young people an unrealistic perception of what transition looks like.

Ffs. Maybe it did save Elliot's life. Not all trans people will feel like that but some will.

@IdblowJonSnow

Ffs. Maybe it did save Elliot's life. Not all trans people will feel like that but some will.

How? Please explain.

He seems happy enough, I don't see the problem. Why is anything trans related immediately attacked on here?

@pheebumbalatti

He seems happy enough, I don't see the problem. Why is anything trans related immediately attacked on here?

You don't see the problem with a young woman being so disillusioned with being female that they amputate their healthy flesh? And potentially encourage other young women to do the same?

Do we really not understand the difference between these two headlines?

EP has life-saving top surgery

EP describes top surgery as "life-saving"

Are trans people not even quotable now?

@Pandoraslastchance

How is it lifesaving?

I had a single mastecomy due to breast cancer and wasn't suitable for immediate reconstruction so I asked for them to do a double mastecomy. Got told no as they won't remove healthy tissue. So I spent 2.5 years with one tit. That played a right fucking number on my mental health I can tell ya.

It's a cosmetic surgery. I'm sick of the suicide baiting that takes place at the moment. If I don't get what I want immediately then I will throw a strop and threaten suicide to get it!! Blackmail anyone?

That is really shit (understatement). I’m really sorry that happened to you, I can’t imagine.

@pheebumbalatti

He seems happy enough, I don't see the problem. Why is anything trans related immediately attacked on here?

I think we both know the answer to that.

This thread'll be gone in a few hours, of course.

@pheebumbalatti

He seems happy enough, I don't see the problem. Why is anything trans related immediately attacked on here?

I don’t think MN posting rules allow “attacks” on trans related matters. What they do allow is healthy debate and challenge where trans rights impact on women’s rights and where trans issues affect the well-being of children and young people.

This thread'll be gone in a few hours, of course.

Someone said that a few hours ago and it’s still here. See my above post.

Of course, if MN decide that there have been attacks on EP or trans issues then the thread will go. They deleted one this morning.

@pheebumbalatti

He seems happy enough, I don't see the problem. Why is anything trans related immediately attacked on here?

This thread is about responsible reporting of suicide. I started it because I am concerned that describing a trans surgery as lifesaving implies that those who do not have it may decide to commit suicide.

EP can do what he likes and say what he likes. I take issue with how it was reported by a large news organisation which will have received training on how to ensure their reports do not play into the normalisation of suicide.

@Nellle

Do we really not understand the difference between these two headlines?

EP has life-saving top surgery

EP describes top surgery as "life-saving"

Are trans people not even quotable now?

Of course they are!

The original headline was the one you listed first. Which has been proven to be inaccurate/irresponsible/inappropriate.

I think giving undue prominence to a quote is also irresponsible too tbh.

@OnWednesdaysWeWearMink

I’m a psychotherapist have had a ridiculous amount of mental health training in my time but why not add more? also why (having worked with a number of actively suicidal clients) I’m happy to count something that stops someone from killing themselves as life saving.

Creative education is a training platform aimed at parents/carers/schools so there’s lots of options - but I felt the gender identity one was good just for its statistics and approaches.

Why don't we give "lifesaving" liposuction to anorexic people with body dysmorphia?

@Wannabangbang

It is lifesaving for a trans person. Only on Mn do transphobic people come out for all to see. See. It frequently on these boards.

That is a very binary way of looking at things. Either the trans person has surgery or they die.

They might well be happier, feel like their true selves, less likely to take their own life but it is simply not true that the options are surgery or die.

I’m a psychotherapist grin have had a ridiculous amount of mental health training in my time but why not add more? also why (having worked with a number of actively suicidal clients) I’m happy to count something that stops someone from killing themselves as life saving.

Can we please stop perpetuating the narrative that young women will kill themselves if they don't get this surgery?

It's starting to sound like the old witches trials

Anyone who won't kill themselves can't possibly be trans

Where are all the celebrations of people who have healthy limbs removed?