Has anyone read this interview with Philippa Perry?

[MalagaNights]

Hopefully a link here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eca202a4-669b-11ee-a4e7-0fb10af55688?shareToken=ad1b029bbdca60d79a336939567f86fc

She comes across as pretty insufferable to me.

She refusues to discuss the Trans issue as it doesn't effect many people and people just like arguing about it.
Translation: it's not an issue for her.

'Choose Guilt' seems to mean 'Be Selfish' which she thinks will lead to a happy and satisfying life, because it's worked for her. Instead of choosing between 'resentment' and 'guilt' maybe we should have a moral compass and principles which indicate to us what is the correct course of action depending on the circumstances?

She's obvioulsy lived this very elite existence where she's been able to curate exactly the lifestyle she wants and she seems to think it's because of her amazing insight that people should be more selfish?

She also dismisses 'labels' as social contagion and mentions ADHD as an example, which I have some sympathy with, but the journalaist does then point out she uses the label dyslexia for herself, and she doesn't seem to see the parallell, because 'its a shame she needs to use this label'....er, just like people with ADHD would say to explain why it's helpful to them? But she seesm to think it's different for her.

That's the overall impression I got from this: she better than all the silly people who argue about Trans, put others first, and who look for answers in diagnoses.

Not like her, who is cool with the trans thing, does what she wants and only uses a label because it helps her...

She wuond me up 😁

As the parent of two children diagnosed with ADHD by NHS specialists, all I’m getting from your post is pot, kettle, black. It seems we all have our own special prejudices?

I'm sorry, I don't understand this. The poster was saying that being able to describe yourself as having ADHD might sometimes be useful, contrary to what P Perry was sort of insinuating (I think she was more railing against self-diagnosis in the interview... it's a bit muddled)?

I've met Grayson Perry, he actually came across very well. In a way I prefer a man who is up front about his dressing up being a fetish, he doesn't claim to be a woman and doesn't claim the right to women's spaces. Although the fact that he chooses "little girl" outfits is concerning.

I've read other interviews with Philippa and she seemed quite reasonable on trans issues - there will be reasons for the dysphoria and these should be explored etc. Also her agony colum advice is often quite on the mark, far better than Pamela Stephenson who she shares the space with.

Sometimes I have a cheeky peek and think ‘nest of vipers, no thanks

I did note that. She's missing out on a very valuable opportunity to challenge herself, there.

It was very much his brand and what got him noticed then, if that helps. When in performance mode artists can be utter twats. coming from an arts background

I'm same, I do like his work and I find him very insightful. I actually wasn't prepared for quite how extremely pornographic his work is till I leafed through a library book of his work.

One issue is that he became popular. Many artists are really grim and totally inappropriate. Few become a nation's fave in the way he did. And part of that was the crafts element rather than being a fine artist; more could relate. It's more accessible. (And more like the 'art' of the past eg Ancient Greece, but I'll stop myself before I start banging on)

Although the fact that he chooses "little girl" outfits is concerning.

I don't track it but has he begin to move away from this?

I enjoy your banging on, Warrior.

The problem for me is not even the outfits. It's that they require audience response/participation.

From the OP:

She also dismisses 'labels' as social contagion and mentions ADHD as an example, which I have some sympathy with…

Yeah I'm still, Nope. Not appropriate even 15 years ago

I guess they wanted to raise a lot of money but he had the choice to wear what he wanted.

I think he has. Although he has also said he can't be arsed to dress up anymore as it's too much effort! I know the feeling.

I buy into her parenting advice - in that sense I think she's great and has a lot of wisdom.

However as a person I cannot help finding her extremely odd. She seems to be really interested in fame and her refusal to engage on trans activism I think is about protecting her position and status. Which I don't admire when you compare with how other famous women have used their platform
(Rosie Duffield, JKR etc).

I actually think she's quite self interested and selfish.

Oh, ok.
There is a recent l trend of self-diagnosis for ADHD, I would say particularly in adult women (or perhaps that's the demographic I just happen to see more of). I can't comment on whether this is accurate or not, or helpful or not. What are your thoughts?

I think this is what P Perry meant in the context of the interview, but could be wrong. That's what I mean by her use of "labels" not making much sense.

I'm sure I've heard, or read, Grayson Perry say on more than one occasion that Claire isn't an alter ego. It's just him in a dress. It was other people, especially journalists, who didn't seem to be able to grasp the idea that even when dressed he was still the same person.

She was getting her arse handed to her on a plate on Twitter yesterday.

As someone whose children have been properly assessed and diagnosed, I would suggest you should be equally concerned by the social contagion element of ADHD diagnosis because such soft, fake diagnoses demean the genuine ones. It makes everyone roll their eyes because “everyone has ADHD these days.”

As a comparison, people with genuine coeliac disease have been majorly negatively disadvantaged by all the people jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon because cafes/restaurants etc think most people are just hipster wankers making it up.

I heard him on the radio, sometime in the last couple of years I think, alluding to there's no point in dressing up for his fetish if he can't get it up anymore.

I agree with PP, I respect that he's apparently open about his fetish but wearing that outfit to a children's cancer charity event is not okay.

As a comparison, people with genuine coeliac disease have been majorly negatively disadvantaged by all the people jumping on the gluten-free bandwagon because cafes/restaurants etc think most people are just hipster wankers making it up.

Yes and no. Yes, many people think they're making it up, but no, because it's helped a far wider range of gf foods be available, especially compared with when my aunt was diagnosed in the early '60s.

I suspect likewise with ADHD, there are benefits to a wider awareness, such as easier access to support (it's all comparative,) as well as everyone having it.

I think she may be right in that labels aren't always helpful - but other times, they really are. However, when it comes to things like the gender and sexuality alphabetti spaghetti - there are people you fancy and people you don't, and this can change over time. Trying to fit yourself into a restrictive little labelled box is way too rigid IMO, and if you feel the need to do that, you probably ought to ask why, which I think Phillipa Perry's view is. My GP was similar, when I was asking about autism - he would have put me forward for assessment if I'd insisted, but he said he wasn't keen on labelling everything, and I should think about why I wanted a diagnosis and what I expected to follow from it. And I realised whether or not i am, what I wanted was for my manager to stop being an arse and accept me as I am, not trying to fit me into some sexist mould of how nice women behave in the workplace. For others, they have different motivations, but it probably still helps to think about why you want it and what you expect from it, rather than just whacking a label on it without really considering that.

Deleted - incorrect post!

Thanks so much for the share token, MalagaNights. I saw all the comments on X/Twitter about it and wondered what was in the full article.

I think she is far too intelligent not to see that if you accept the concept of social contagion, then it applies to more than one phenomenon.

I think she enjoys her status and is concerned about avoiding a pile on. At the same time, I admire her for her ability to shape a life for herself. It shouldn't be a big thing for a woman to say (paraphrased) 'I am a person in my own right, no matter how famous my husband is' but it is as far as a lot of mainstream media is concerned. She can also communicate to a wide audience, which is a skill.

I think the difference between her and JKR is that JKR is hugely principled. Even if you don't agree with her views on women's rights, JKR could easily have avoided the abuse she got during the independence referendum (and paid a lot less in tax) by moving away from Scotland and keeping quiet. By contrast, Phillipa Perry did get herself in knots talking about selfishness and guilt.

This tells me something:

Perry gives the example of when Flo was little and she decided to not bother taking her to extracurricular activities. “I could not be arsed.” Instead she would give Flo’s friends a tea party at home, which was “a lot easier for me. I chose guilt rather than resentment that time. I have no regrets about it whatsoever. It was a brilliant decision.”

Did she consider Flo in this?

I think Grayson Perry is a coward. Perhaps he would admit that himself if challenged, I don't know. He knows the trans stuff are nonsense, and his support could have made things easier for Claudia Clare. But he chose to remain silent.

I don't particularly blame Philippa Perry for not speaking out - though I do a bit - but I find her comment that trans issues only affect a small number of people quite unpleasant. Sure, they only affect a small number of people - women in prisons, women who play sport, women who attend rape crisis centre or domestic violence refuges. Such a small number of women, and hardly any of them are naice middle-class women like Perry, so who's going to care about them anyway?

The Perry family is complex, and whilst I haven't watched recent documentaries he does have interesting things to say on gender.

His take on "default man" is spot on, and I remember him interviewing a man who was on DIY hormones to transition and Perry telling him that it seemed a rather masculine thing to do (like a mechanic looking under the bonnet).

Obviously Philippa Perry has to live with a transvestite and acknowledge that, so at least she has life experience.

Any chance you could cut and paste the text please . I am not signed up to the Times

Try searching for it in an archive site, such as https://archive.today

Here’s a share token to The Times article

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/eca202a4-669b-11ee-a4e7-0fb10af55688?shareToken=cbf525eb293dee8fae184b861efecb0d

I could understand not getting involved but her job as a psychologist means that surely she cannot ignore it? My daughter went to a sports club where a 50 year old male is claiming a right to change with the girls because....well, you know why. If my daughter came to her to say (truthfully) that she doesn't want to shower with male adults what would she say? This isn't hypothetical- it's very real for many of us. It's cowardly to dismiss it.