‘Pageboy’ – reinforcing stereotypes in the new WJEC English specification - Merched Cymru

[IwantToRetire]

The extract from Elliot Page’s ‘gender transition’ memoir Pageboy, included in the new WJEC English GCSE specification, promotes tired gender stereotypes and pushes a highly-controversial view about sex and gender. Using this text in the classroom risks violating schools’ responsibility to be politically neutral.

‘Pageboy’ is a memoir written by actor Elliot (formerly Ellen) Page, most famous for an Academy-Award nominated role as a pregnant teenage girl in the film ‘Juno’. In the book, Page talks about experiences of sexual assault, objectification and harassment, and how becoming a ‘trans man’ through hormones and surgery has been a liberating experience.

Statement continues at https://merchedcymru.wales/2025/08/26/pageboy-reinforcing-stereotypes-in-the-new-wjec-english-curriculum/

On the other hand, this might be an opportunity to write critically about the transliberation ideas in her memoir.

And how many marks do you think a pupil would get if he or she did such a thing?

O Lord. It's not exactly an uplifting read. I find it impossible not to come to the conclusion that Page's shiny new identity is a maladaptive response to her trauma history.

I hope Page finds a happy place. But she doesn't seem happy.

Excellent review here of Page's movie Close To You, from Lady Marienna's excellent channel of radfem reviews:

I'll say about the above:

• If you don't know Marienna's channel, please consider subscribing - she's very good
• The clips are good at showcasing Ellen's narcissism, but also (something Marienna doesn't mention) it's impossible to miss how feminine her mannerisms, body language etc are