Davina McCall - GC?

[PronounsBaby]

Did anyone notice she mentioned the witch trials of jk Rowling was well balanced? It seems like that's quite a controversial thing to say seeing as anything remotely positive about jk must make you a transphobe.... All her work on menopause must mean she knows what a women is?

https://www.spiked-online.com/2023/06/27/the-witch-trials-of-davina-mccall/

Great that Davina has said this- and it is objectively a good podcast that she recommends. If even maybe a little too ‘balanced’ for my personal taste - eg the Contrapoints section didn’t add much that wasn’t solipsistic. But minor detail I would recommend it as an entry point for anyone

I hope that Davina will make a non-euphemistic documentary with Buck Angel about the physical reality of transition for women- with the effect of male hormones, vaginal atrophy, inevitable hysterectomy to reduce cancer risk and all the other complications openly covered.

Would allow for an important discussion about how ‘appearing to be’ and ‘being’ are two very different things in this context of biological sex and that that is absolutely OK. Biological sex can’t change , only the cosmetic surface can to a very limited degree. And that it’s toxic gaslighting to tell girls and young women that they have to change themselves physically in order to fight stereotypes with any authenticity.

From the Spiked article this grabbed me:

Note the typically Orwellian abuse of language. ‘Anti-trans’, they say, about women who are actually ‘pro-women’. The rebranding of women’s rights campaigning as anti-trans agitation, and feminism as hate speech, and belief in biology as bigotry, is one of the grimmest achievements of the linguistic manipulators of the trans lobby.

So true, and I loathe agreeing with anything Spiked usually has to say. It’s hard sometimes to be a GC leftie.

And this!

Yes, calling a podcast ‘balanced’ makes Davina the moral equivalent of the National Front. ‘This has ripped my heart out, stomped all over it and shat on the mangled remains’, said one trans ally. Dude, calm down. A woman having a view won’t kill you.

Ach, it’s all good. Every word. Damn Brendan O’Neill!

I think the episode with Contrapoints and Noah were absolutely essential - as was the decision to let them talk unchallenged.

Natalie did come off as solipsistic and that is just demonstrative of the ideology, so someone with any critical thinking could spot the manipulations and illogical thinking.

Noah was far more interesting, though. It was almost impossible to listen and not think about what JKR said about transitioning children.

Noah was everything she described, having severe mental health challenges unrelated to gender, having been heavily influenced by the online trans community. I can't help feeling that Noah will come to regret it all. It's all too soon and too celebrated right now for any objectivity. It was hard to listen and not to feel horribly worried for this articulate, intelligent and vulnerable person.

So I think that episode was crucial. It brought the balance while also, accidentally, reinforcing JKR's view.

On this one issue he is absolutely and consistently on the nose.

agree Lifeissweet the interview with Noah- really sad. So unquestioning and this was a kid who sounded like there had been therapy and family support.
I only mean that including Contrapoints was too balanced for my personal taste because I am a raddled and long in the viper tooth T*RF and have a very low tolerance these days for men centering their own validation (or just centering their own access to women and children) to the detriment of others.
But I think the podcast series is a good entry point for anyone new to this area of politics. I agree demonstrating balance in the interviews is a key part of keeping up that openness in approach. People will draw their own conclusions from what they hear.

I hope all goes well with your medical situation, WarriorN