Stella Prize

[australianadultfemalehuman]

Obviously I've named changed for this.

The Stella Prize for Fiction was established in Australia to champion women's fiction. This year's shortlist has some wonderful writers on it but I would argue it's no longer a prize for women and rather than force people to believe something that isn't true - that we can clearly see with our own eyes isn't true - we should acknowledge that fact.

www.instagram.com/p/Cag0s5qBmf8/

The judges are trolling us and so is a certain author on this list.

Australia has always been a misogynistic country (I'm from there, I can say that from extensive personal experience) and the literary scene is a glaring example.

I just really resent being made to play along with this fiction, to ignore the fact that the emperor has no clothes. I mean, come on. These judges present themselves as intelligent people.

And there is a female writer who could have been on this list who isn't.

Just to be clear, the Stella Prize is for women writing in all genres including nonfiction.

And I am with you in your comments.

Oh yes you're right Sandgroper I was confusing it with the Women's Prize for Fiction.

Interestingly I see that author was published by Brow Books which has since closed down due to murky allegations of dodgy sexual behaviour by someone in power towards aspiring female writers (I think - it was all very much hushed up and kept under wraps, bit of a theme in Australia when it comes to men behaving badly...)

Lovely that the Stella Prize - for women - is promoting such a respectable publishing house.

I am completely confused. This is Lee Lai? The publicity headshot is of someone with short hair and a moustache? So is Lee a transman, which I think I am ok with as Lee would then still be of the female sex?

So is Lee a transman, which I think I am ok with as Lee would then still be of the female sex?

I think so. She describes herself as a woman and a homosexual. The mustache and short hair seem fairly recent.

If she is a transman who knows she's female I don't see any issue with her being nominated for a women's fiction prize.

If she's a bloke who doesn't even try to pass then obviously it's batshit.

The book itself is about a ‘queer’ relationship, I think they are described as 2 aunts, so basically 2 lesbians. One however is a trans lesbian. It’s confusing but I think in the reviews the author relates the story to their own experience (could be wrong). The interview I read was drenched in queer theory so I wouldn’t be surprised if the author presented as male but called themselves a woman. Who knows?

Ahhh OK. Got you.

I was thinking wow, you could at least have shaved. Ignore me.

But this does show the damage this whole no debate and obfuscating language creates. These prizes are set up because women are disadvantaged. In the old days, any woman was acceptable on this kind of short list, and if she was a butch lesbian who looked fairly manly it was irrelevant. Now we are second guessing because we know we are lied to all the time and language no longer has a stable meaning.

Anyway, the book looks pretty trite to me and I love a graphic novel. Anyone who wants a great one by a butch lesbian could read Fun Home by Alison? (Can’t remember her first name) Bechdel. It’s wonderful and heartbreaking.

That instagram page doesn’t mention women at all - it simply says:

“Stella
A voice for gender equality and cultural change in Australian literature”.

Claire G Coleman has been shortlisted before in 2018, has some enlightening tweets, and hates T**fs (their language). Interesting article here: www.womenarehuman.com/aussie-male-who-identifies-as-a-black-lesbian-says-kill-all-terfs-is-equivalent-to-kill-all-nazis/

Coleman also is vehemently against cultural appropriation, as you should only write about what you know so as to not steal another’s story.

www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-28/australian-authors-debate-write-what-you-know/9905754

Claire Coleman is a woman - that article is innaccurate in calling her a transwoman and I posted when I first read it to let them know. She's a First Nations woman of Noongar descent so questioning her 'authenticity' is also offensive. I don't agree with her on everything but that article does not further the cause and she does not deserve that level of vitriol.