GC thoughtcrime slips through the net at The Guardian in a review of the latest series of Sex Education

[Ingenieur]

I was just reading a review of the laterst series of Sex Education in The Guardian when this delightful nugget appeared:

If Sex Education were staying true to its early, far more radical roots, it might have questioned the idea of surgery on healthy bodies as a cure for anything, but although it hints later at the potential downsides of relentless positivity, here the rule remains absolute affirmation only.

Well done Lucy Mangan!

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/sep/21/sex-education-final-season-four-review-one-long-list-of-frustrations

I started a thread already: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4901704-the-guardian-left-the-comments-on?reply=129347336

I knew she’d be sensible.

Let’s see how long she lasts there now…

@LunaNorth

Indeed! I am smiling to myself imagining LOG sputtering into his Coco Pops reading it!

I'm very glad she's eventually raised her head above the parapet

I mentioned on the other thread that the writer, Laurie Nunn, was on the radio the other day making it clear that it was essential to shoehorn trans characters into the programme in order to educate the young audience.

Well done that reviewer! And yes this shoehorning is rotten drama, but then most propaganda is. It is incredibly rare to see propaganda that is a box office hit so caveat writers.

I enjoyed the first couple of series of this but I won't bother watching this one. The 'enby' characters were so tedious and if they've gone full transition propaganda I'm just not interested. I guess I'm not their target market anyway being middle aged but let's see how many of the youth stay watching!

@nauticant

If that's why Nunn is doing it then it doesn't say much for her artistic integrity.

However, my GC journey began when someone told me to "educate myself" about the issue, which I duly did and became more concerned after every discovery.

I noticed this too. I love Lucy Mangan, she's brilliant. I often read her telly reviews even if I've got no interest in the program itself coz she's such a funny writer. Not surprised that she's gender critical

Or dare we hope that the powers that be at the Guardian can see which way the wind is blowing and are starting to subtly shift their approach to reporting on gender issues in the hope that when the shit hits the fan in a few years time they can claim that they started flagging these issues long ago?

I also like that she describes the GC view as radical. Not sure I agree, although can see how that may feel true for someone who works at the Guardian, but nevertheless seems a more helpful framing than the usual “driven by the transphobic US Christian Right”.

The Guardian regularly publishes GC stuff. Every time people are surprised and suggest a change is happening. The truth is they've never had a single hardline editorial stance on this issue.

Is that really right, Zodfa? Would e.g. Suzanne Moore, Hadley Freeman agree? Were they not driven out for their GC views?

Radical is also a term meaning to go back to the root or origin of something. Lots of GC feminists describe themselves as such - but not in the sense of radical/extreme.
Sex Education was such a good show in it's first series. Even my gen Z teen found the last series a bit tedious.
Another quietly radical article in the Guardian recently talking very clearly about sex and the complexities of genetics.
amp.theguardian.com/science/2023/sep/18/gay-gene-epigenetics-evolution-sexual-orientation

A skilled writer (such as LM) can accomplish many tasks in just one sentence:

• come out as GC
• point out that TRAs are regressive and dogmatic, not radical
• bemoan the way in which art is corrupted by propaganda
• hint at an egregious medical scandal

She’s really good, LM!

The Observer (which sits on the same website, so articles often come up as "Guardian", but aren't actually, and it has a quite separate editorial team I believe) has had some great GC articles and factual reports (by Sonia Sodha for example), but the actual Guardian has generally been far more TWAW, though the occasional GC thing or questioning of the Tavistock for example has slipped through.

There was the recent Guardian thread about this, the OP was alarming! Tras in the staff stopping discussion 'violently'.

Pleased to see the Guardian today has also felt it necessary to not ignore report on Professor Sir John Curtice's co-authored opinion poll of British attitudes and social trends. No matter how much any newspaper spins it, the study shows that an increasingly liberal and tolerant UK is also fast losing patience with the gender-queer theory woo.

Significant.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/21/britain-is-much-more-liberal-minded-than-is-was-40-years-ago-study-finds

That’s extraordinary, @AutumnCrow, that only 30% think trans people should be able to change the sex on their birth certificate, given it’s been law for over a decade that they can.

I had assumed being against the GRA would be an extreme and unusual position (and the only extreme and unusual political position I take, and one I’ve reached slowly and reluctantly) but in fact 70% would agree or not have a view.

Serves me right for being a Guardian reader for so long, I’ve ended up with a distorted view of what normal attitudes look like. Although I maintain that it’s normal and not radical to hesitate at the idea that removing healthy body parts should be a first recourse to treat emotional distress.

No matter how much any newspaper spins it, the study shows that an increasingly liberal and tolerant UK is also fast losing patience with the gender-queer theory woo.

I think it's largely a case of, when people become aware of WTF it is, and the extent of its influence, they will be against it.

I like the disclaimer at the bottom of the review. Seems to sum up how the Guardian has disappeared up its own bum in recent years.

”discussion was opened in error and will now close”

Yes - could apply to their whole coverage on this area! Slightly chilling actually. What will become of Ms Mangan?

Lucy Mangan has been quietly reasonable and balanced for a while - it’s easy to make assumptions that means she’s GC. But it could also be just because she’s a good journalist and writer.

I’d be happy to think she’s on the side of sanity, particularly after all she must have witnessed going in at her employer. But I’m also against forced “outings” of people declaring their position, especially if that then puts them in a difficult position. It’s one of the reasons I don’t like Tatchell after all his activism in outing public figures as gay.

😂”discussion was opened in error and will now close” 😂

What a fitting new motto for The Guardian!

The line in the review about surgery on healthy bodies is now gone?

Funny that isn't it, as the Guardian will always flag up if they have had to edit or amend a piece.