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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

JKR Didn’t Have an Opinion. She Poisoned the Well

1000 replies

CSIRCP · 28/08/2025 14:32

This post will likely be a little too long for most, but if you can spare the time and have a cuppa handy let's sit down and have a chat, shall we?

Firstly, let’s stop calling this a debate. It’s not. This isn’t two sets of ideas clashing. This is one woman’s fear and confusion being weaponized against an entire community.

What J.K. Rowling has done is not just share an opinion. She’s poisoned the well. And that poison is spreading through politics, education, the media, and even the courts.

At the beginning, it might have looked like a tweet. Then a blog. But what she wrote in that essay was revealing: “If I’d been born thirty years later, I too might have tried to transition. The allure of escaping womanhood would have been huge.”
That’s not neutral. That’s projection. It was a confession, repackaged as concern. She projected her own dysphoria and personal battles onto the entire trans community and used it as the foundation for a movement built on suspicion and fear.

She said she cared about women’s rights. Then aligned herself with those who believe all trans women are predators.
She liked racist and Islamophobic tweets. She repeated antisemitic tropes. She cast activists as violent men in dresses. She accused anyone who challenged her of misogyny while branding herself the face of feminism.
All the while she built up a devoted audience that now includes some of the most extreme anti-trans voices in Britain and beyond.

This “gender critical” movement is not about safety, and it’s certainly not about truth. It’s about control.
Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull (Posie Parker), one of Rowling’s ideological allies, has welcomed neo-Nazis to her rallies. Actual Nazis. The kind of people Rowling once wrote villains about.
In one case, people connected to this movement were linked to the satanic terror group 764 — a group that has influenced teen suicides and violent attacks in UK schools. Let that sink in. This is who she’s empowering.

She didn’t just turn away when that started. She doubled down. She gave this movement a gloss of legitimacy. She used her fame to funnel people toward disinformation, fear, and cruelty—and dressed it all up as feminism. But it isn’t feminism when it excludes, vilifies, and harms other women. Especially trans women. Especially intersex people. Especially anyone who doesn’t fit into the narrow fantasy of who is acceptable.

Rowling’s language now echoes in government documents. Her phrases like “gender ideology” have been lifted from far right sources, including the Vatican and authoritarian regimes, and mainstreamed into British law. Her influence helped set the stage for the UK Supreme Court to redefine the word “woman” based on sex assigned at birth, stripping rights from trans and intersex people under the Equality Act. That’s what happens when the well is poisoned. People stop thinking. They start reacting.

Meanwhile, her cult chant her slogans as though they are scientific fact. But science says otherwise. Peer-reviewed studies show that trans people’s brain structures do not align with their sex assigned at birth. They show that gender identity forms in the womb, shaped by hormones and biology not ideology. Large-scale DNA studies have found gene variants linked to gender incongruence. And intersex people exist. That is biological fact. Not one of these truths can be erased by Rowling’s fiction.

What makes this so dangerous is how calm it all sounds. Rowling doesn’t scream. She whispers. She calls it “concern.” She says she’s “just asking questions.”
But it’s never neutral to question someone’s right to exist. It’s not a debate when one side is simply trying to live and the other is trying to strip away their legal recognition and healthcare.

This isn’t just a disagreement. This is a slow campaign of erasure, led by someone with a global platform and millions in the bank.

She’s not some deluded soul from MN; she’s a multi-millionaire author whose words shape global policy. She’s not being silenced. She’s being echoed by judges, by pundits, by politicians trying to climb the ladder by stepping on the backs of trans, non-binary, and intersex people.

And let’s not pretend it stops there. Her influence has allowed people to feel safe expressing open homophobia, biphobia, and hatred toward anyone who challenges gender norms. Some of the same people aligned with her have mocked survivors, denied racism, and claimed slavery was “fine” if it was “kind.”
This is not a group grounded in empathy. It’s a movement that thrives on exclusion and resentment. Some of them now openly identify as neo Nazis. That’s where we are.

So next time someone says “she’s just worried” or “she’s not anti-trans” or “can’t we just disagree,” consider these words. Show them what poison looks like. Not just hateful speech but the deliberate seeding of doubt, division, and cruelty, all wrapped in a soft voice and a smug smile. J.K. Rowling didn’t protect anyone. She infected people. And when she’s gone, her legacy won’t be literature it will be the damage she left behind.

You don’t need to cancel her. You just need to see her clearly.
And if you blindly follow Rowling and her ideas then you need to reflect on what you’re really endorsing.

Because ignorance is not an excuse. Not anymore.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
34
BackToLurk · 28/08/2025 14:58

Igneococcus · 28/08/2025 14:53

I think we need a roll call of the posters who've been here before JKR got involved in this debate. I mean I was here since the legendary langcleg (albeit under a different name).

And me. Also with a different name.

If the OP cares, the first Women's Place UK meeting was November 2017, and they were set up as a response to growing unease around trans activism and the erosion of women's rights.

sanluca · 28/08/2025 14:58

In Germany a neo nazi transwoman is now campaigning to be moved to the womens prison.

Whereas KJK did not invite or have or is aligned with neo nazis, the trans cult has actual neo nazis in their numbers.

Charabanc · 28/08/2025 14:58

Oh look, another man has come to tell us wimmins that we are weakminded and are being led by a mean lady.

NeverOneBiscuit · 28/08/2025 14:59

@BeLemonNow

Well let me see. As has been exposed we are a very secret cult, a hive mind moving as one. So I could surreptitiously sneak you a bingo card ……

Or, a couple of hours on MN & the ‘numbers’ will be plain to see, as I know you know. Just a selection

Nazis
Kelly Jay Keen (& adjacent Nazis)
Intersex
just allowed to exist
most marginalised
JKR = evil world dominator, grifter
racism
antisemitic
islamophobic
you think all transwomen are predators
anti trans
suicide
dressed up as feminism

There are bonus points for full on hilarity. Such as in this case, JKR setting the stage for the Supreme Court to redefine the word woman to make the men feel hurty. 🤣🤣

House!!

Abhannmor · 28/08/2025 14:59

Your post falls at the first fence. What if - as in my case - your concerns about young gay people being drugged and cut up , or about women's spaces being invaded , had nothing to do with Rowling? You think if you could er , magic her away , the spell would be broken and we would all cheer the men punching women at the Olympics. Doubtless singing Koombaya the while....
But that is simply not the case.

Helleofabore · 28/08/2025 14:59

Oh noesss! Did a woman say 'no' when she should have said 'yes'?

VaddaABeetch · 28/08/2025 15:00

BeLemonNow · 28/08/2025 14:42

Where's my bingo card? Do I get one if I join this JKR cult no one's invited me to join yet?#sadtimes

Next you’ll be telling me you haven’t received your money from the Far Right.

Greyskybluesky · 28/08/2025 15:00

VaddaABeetch · 28/08/2025 14:39

Twaddle, twaddle, twaddle. Reeks suspiciously of AI.

Must try harder.

Is AI always this condescending and patronising?

Someone needs to switch it off and on again.

SidewaysOtter · 28/08/2025 15:01

BackToLurk · 28/08/2025 14:58

And me. Also with a different name.

If the OP cares, the first Women's Place UK meeting was November 2017, and they were set up as a response to growing unease around trans activism and the erosion of women's rights.

I'd peaked around the end of 2018/beginning of 2019 and was here under a different user name. I was radicalised by Mumsnet, not JKR (sorry Jo, I still think you're fabulous though Grin )

deadpan · 28/08/2025 15:01

CSIRCP · 28/08/2025 14:37

You were warned it was a little too long for some people; perhaps the implication was a touch on the subtle side.

But let's make it clearer for you.

What JKR has done is create a kind of "activism dopamine"; a hate activity which makes people feel like they're doing something without actually doing anything (or actually helping the thing they should be fighting against, in this case the patriarchy).

TERFism generally appeals to women who are enraged at the patriarchy but too comfortable with our current patriarchal society to try to make any changes by deconstructing the concept of gender, by portraying trans people as an acceptable lower class that they can punch down on and feel like they're doing something when actually they aren't. Talia Bhatt has some good writings on this in her book Trans/Rad/Fem.

For JKR specifically, it probably also helps that she can grift more social media attention and money out of being the figurehead for the movement.

If that's what you think you haven't read her thoughts thoroughly enough. One thing she isn't about is hate.
If you want to direct your distaste, direct it at stonewall, mermaids etc. they have been misrepresenting the law for a long time. This has given trans people false hope and false information.
Now that's what I call hate.

CassOle · 28/08/2025 15:02

So, it's JKR's fault that mammals (including Humans) evolved as they did and that they cannot change sex. No one would have noticed this fact if JKR hadn't pointed it out... and we are all big meanies for not pretending that Humans can change sex.

SidewaysOtter · 28/08/2025 15:03

VaddaABeetch · 28/08/2025 15:00

Next you’ll be telling me you haven’t received your money from the Far Right.

Now look here. I've STILL not had mine and I gave my bank details to that nice man who rang up about the accident I'd had, when I mentioned it he said he could help with this too but...nada.

TERFing ain't cheap, you know, so where's my Far Right Money?

teawamutu · 28/08/2025 15:04

Am I the only one enjoying the aptness of the username?

Anyway...

JKR Didn’t Have an Opinion. She Poisoned the Well
CommanderVim · 28/08/2025 15:04

C'mon now Mumsnet, let's be helpful... Maybe we should provide directions to Flouncer's corner?

Charabanc · 28/08/2025 15:04

CSIRCP · 28/08/2025 14:37

You were warned it was a little too long for some people; perhaps the implication was a touch on the subtle side.

But let's make it clearer for you.

What JKR has done is create a kind of "activism dopamine"; a hate activity which makes people feel like they're doing something without actually doing anything (or actually helping the thing they should be fighting against, in this case the patriarchy).

TERFism generally appeals to women who are enraged at the patriarchy but too comfortable with our current patriarchal society to try to make any changes by deconstructing the concept of gender, by portraying trans people as an acceptable lower class that they can punch down on and feel like they're doing something when actually they aren't. Talia Bhatt has some good writings on this in her book Trans/Rad/Fem.

For JKR specifically, it probably also helps that she can grift more social media attention and money out of being the figurehead for the movement.

Lovely bit of trans-splaining there. A true example of the art.

Theswiveleyeballsinthesky · 28/08/2025 15:04

I think I was here pre JKR because I remember the disappointment when she initially seemed to back down

before coming back very much not backing down

ArabellaScott · 28/08/2025 15:04

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 28/08/2025 14:38

Cor

last hurrah before UK term time begins do we think?

My, with this patronising bollocks, you are spoiling us, ambassador.

MistyGreenAndBlue · 28/08/2025 15:04

unwashedanddazed · 28/08/2025 14:52

Jkr didn't even get involved until about 5 years ago. I've been at this 10 years and there's many more been fighting it longer.

Just fuck off you know nothing arsewipe.

I came in about the time of the Sparticus threads. That's oooh about 2 or 3 years before JK got involved I think.
She didn't invent this movement? She joined it. (I even remember threads on here where some people were actively annoyed at JK for sitting on the fence - "senior moment" anyone?

But of course we're all just a load of daft brainwashed mummies here.
Remember the good old days when we were "radicalised by mumsnet"?

They never even entertain the possibility that we might have looked at the situation and decided for ourselves what we thought about it and what we might do about that.

BackToLurk · 28/08/2025 15:04

I've been looking through old emails strolling down memory lane. The Labour Against Transphobia Facebook Group was January 2018. Doesn't time fly

ScrollingLeaves · 28/08/2025 15:04

This thread seems to be back lash from the OP after someone on the Catholic church shooting of children thread posted all the vicious trans tweets against JKR as an example of the fury some men feel when they are told they are not women. This was so as to show how the trans shooter in question may have similarly felt fury against the Catholic church which is known to be against the idea that anyone can change sex.

BeLemonNow · 28/08/2025 15:04

Thanks I'm starting on my bingo card.

And I'm very grateful for those who have been campaigning for me, and all women, for a long time. 🙏🙏👏

I personally ended up on this forum via the Sandie Peggie case back in February. I googled it as the BBC article was obvious bullshit.

pontefractals · 28/08/2025 15:05

Greyskybluesky · 28/08/2025 15:00

Is AI always this condescending and patronising?

Someone needs to switch it off and on again.

Oh please, can't we just switch it off and stop there?

ArabellaScott · 28/08/2025 15:05

ArabellaScott · 28/08/2025 15:04

My, with this patronising bollocks, you are spoiling us, ambassador.

Sorry, Bernard, not you, obviously.

ScrollingLeaves · 28/08/2025 15:05

MistyGreenAndBlue · 28/08/2025 15:04

I came in about the time of the Sparticus threads. That's oooh about 2 or 3 years before JK got involved I think.
She didn't invent this movement? She joined it. (I even remember threads on here where some people were actively annoyed at JK for sitting on the fence - "senior moment" anyone?

But of course we're all just a load of daft brainwashed mummies here.
Remember the good old days when we were "radicalised by mumsnet"?

They never even entertain the possibility that we might have looked at the situation and decided for ourselves what we thought about it and what we might do about that.

Similarly people think it is all because of Trump!

BernardBlacksMolluscs · 28/08/2025 15:06

Yes, pre JKR here too. 2016ish I think. did street campaigning for Fair Play for Women in 2018 around self ID.

I’m afraid the brave and talented JKR had nothing to do with me coming to the radical conclusion that no men are really women (and that pretending otherwise is stupid and dangerous)

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