Poll: More Scots agree with JK Rowling over trans issues than disagree

[IwantToRetire]

The poll by Savanta found 41 per cent of respondents said they tended to agree with the author's views more than they disagreed, while 23 per cent said the opposite.

More men said they broadly agreed (50 per cent) than women (33 per cent), while older people were also substantially more likely to agree.

https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/poll-more-scots-agree-with-jk-rowling-over-trans-issues-than-disagree-4624146

So more news from Scotland, which seems positive, though shame that apparently only 33% of women in Scotland agree with JKR.

Ah. But what kind of women?

I think a fair amount of people wouldn't know what JKR's views were or maybe would think they were referring to her being against the indy ref or something else. So many people have also believed the lie that JKR hates trans people and wants them dead etc and haven't delved into what she actually said. A lot of people can't stand admitting that they don't know what a pollster is talking about.

My Mum would agree with JKRs views if it was put to her "do you think men can become women" or "do male rapists belong in womens prisons" but if I asked her do you agree with JKR, I doubt she'd know.

There was a great video I saw recently where a teacher is asked whether or not he still likes JKR in spite of her "bigoted opinions" and his rational way of getting the student to admit that she hasn't actually said anything bigoted is just brilliant
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Who are they asking?

I’m a woman in Scotland. No one has ever asked me how I feel about this issue and I’d be willing to put money on the fact that none of my friends have been polled either

I think it's quite credible that fewer women would agree with her. Women are much more likely to "be kind" and also much more likely to enforce social norms, compared to men.

Yep. Social conditioning and stereotyping runs deep.

41% agree, 23% disagree, 17% don't know, 18% don't know her views.

Excluding don't knows, that's a healthy majority who are supportive.

I’m a woman in Scotland. No one has asked me. I haven’t heard of any such poll. I also don’t think any of my friends have either.

'Savanta interviewed 1,080 Scottish adults aged 16+ online between 3-8 May. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of Scottish adults by age, gender, region and past voting behaviour.'

Quite funny to read the response from trans activists on Reddit:

'having spoken to so many cis people as a trans person about JK Rowling I think most people absolutely would NOT agree with JK Rowling if they actually knew what she thought'

Which seems to pretty much mirror 'So many people have also believed the lie that JKR hates trans people and wants them dead etc and haven't delved into what she actually said.' as quoted above.

It's a very broad, vague poll.

What it broadly, vaguely shows is that the majority of people roughly agree with JKR. That's it. It's hardly groundbreaking, but I suppose it's useful to show what most of us know from talking to people at work, at home, in shops, on public transport:

Most people are broadly tolerant and moderate, and agree that trans people should not be discriminated against, and also know that there are two sexes, sex is immutable, and that women need certain rights protected, and that tranwomen are not women, but men.

Everyone KNOWS there are only 2 sexes, and a gazillion different personalities in the human world.
Some people are content to lie, or afraid not to lie, or too complacent to understand that it even matters.

Good summary!

I wonder how many “cis” people would feel comfortable telling a trans person who was on one^ about JKR that actually they agreed with her 🤨

^because, let’s face it, the person writing the post about how in fact nobody agrees with Teh Eebil Wizard Lady was not in Calm Discussion Mode

That guy ended up getting fired from his school. I do hope it wasn't because of that video he made. He was extremely good at helping his student to learn how to think for himself.

I found it fascinating that the student saw JKR's clarification of what she had said as a apology tweet. Obviously he lives in a culture where people say stuff online, get attacked, and then apologise. That was his only frame of reference to understand her follow up tweet - even though she clearly was clarifying, not apologising.

The problem is that most people haven't bothered to find out what JKR said or says. They go on outrage. If they did, I think most people would agree with her.

In fact she was more repeating what she said than clarifying

Not been asked my opinion either.

Just watched his video about him being fired and it was due to that video. He got fired after Elon Musk tweeted it. Seems school were happy he was within their guidelines until then. Trans activist bullies have claimed another victim.

It was a poll not a referendum.

I have no idea how, or even if , this poll created its sampling framework, but social attitude surveys typically only need to survey 1000 people to be considered of good standard.

I posted the survey methodology upthread. Just over 1000 adults polled.

Tbf only people aware of JKRs stance would have a strong opinion and vote so its probably a skewed poll

I wouldn't have answered that poll as I don't feel strongly enough

And people who 'didn't know' or 'weren't sure' were also included.

'41% agree, 23% disagree, 17% don't know, 18% don't know her views.'

'Savanta interviewed 1,080 Scottish adults aged 16+ online between 3-8 May. Data were weighted to be demographically representative of Scottish adults by age, gender, region and past voting behaviour.'

Makes me sad to see him in that shocked state of realising that the rules changed according to who was watching. Someone who clearly bases his system of ethics on rational thinking, getting the gut punch of irrational punishment.

Well there you go, seems like a well designed sampling framework.

Surveys don't exclude people who don't know the answer to a question. If they did exclude those respondents, that certainly would skew the survey. Because it would make it look like a far higher proportion of the population held a certain view than they did. 'Not knowing' is a valid response that needs to be counted.

I do find it depressing that fewer, and substantially fewer, women agreed with JKR though not surprising as this GI relies on women's acquiescence.

I also know from personal experience though, that people think JKR is a bigot often change their mind when I tell them what she actually has said and believes. In fact, they end up agreeing with her.

I’m a woman in Scotland. No one has ever asked me how I feel about this issue and I’d be willing to put money on the fact that none of my friends have been polled either

If you, or your friends, want to have your opinion heard in polls like this one you need to be member of a survey site. They don't pick random people off the street. This one was by Savanta, but Panelbase also does frequent polls on social issues and politics, often with a Scottish focus. I think Wings over Scotland uses Panelbase when they commission a survey. As far as I know anyone can sign up to Panelbase on their website, Savanta membership might be by invitation only, not sure.
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