BBC guidelines: "Protect the Dolls" is a slogan

[BridgetYourFortyDaysAreUp]

The BBC has defended its decision to remove a trans rights slogan from an episode of Strictly Come Dancing, saying the move was "in line with our editorial guidelines".

Interesting... the BBC is now "hiding" behind its editorial guidelines. I don't watch TV anymore, especially because I gave up on the BBC being impartial on anything years ago. However, I think these have always been their guidelines, so why is it such a big deal now? I wonder...

https://news.sky.com/story/bbc-defends-decision-to-remove-trans-rights-slogan-from-strictly-come-dancing-episode-13598070

The slogan "Protect the Dolls", which appeared on a T-shirt worn by actress Bethany Antonia, was edited out of Saturday's broadcast of the popular show....

A BBC spokesperson said: "As is standard practice on any entertainment show on the BBC and in line with our editorial guidelines, appropriate steps are taken to reduce the inclusion of any overt branding or slogans that may be present, regardless of the wording or statement in question." [my bold]

Apparently, according to Not A Phase CEO, Danielle St James [Not A Phase is a "UK-based charity offering programmes, events, and support spaces for the trans community"], "Protecting trans+ people isn't a slogan or a controversy."

Spectacularly, deliberately, missing the point that putting something on a Tshirt makes it a slogan!

It is a political slogan representing a movement which wants to strip women and same sex attracted people of their existing rights under the Equality Act. Our publicly funded broadcaster were absolutely correct to remove it.

They did the same thing with Ricky Wilson's t-shirt on Michael McIntyre's show a couple of years ago. He was the subject of a candid camera type set up, the producers must have been a bit stressed when they saw what he was wearing.

Spectacularly, deliberately, missing the point that putting something on a Tshirt makes it a slogan!

It's also controversial to describe anyone as a 'doll' and not it's not a phrase that bears any scrutiny.

Honestly, 'Not a Phase' should be grateful. (And maybe they are)

Well good.

I really don't see why anyone would be up in arms (well, I do, because we know they'd be offended about anything they see as 'anti-trans') because it's perfectly reasonable. They wouldn't have anyone on wearing any political slogan and would do the same if someone had a pro-Gaza slogan, or an anti-Tory slogan or [insert fashionable cause here], so why would this be treated differently?

I've not heard of the slogan, don't know anything about it, and would rather have pins stuck in me than watch Strictly come dancing.
However, as far as I'm concerned to describe any one as a Doll is to use outdated and derogatory language and I don't understand why anyone wouldn't be insulted by it's use. But then, in a world where a lot of adult women seem to think it's acceptable for themselves and others to call them girls nothing surprises me.

The "dolls" in question are not women. They are men. Who LARP as women.

In which case it is extremely offensive terminology directed at women imo.

Let's not forget that "dolls" in the language of trans activism refers to those trans-identifying men who are so feminine that they successfully pass as women. It doesn't refer to the ones who don't pass who (again in the language of trans activism) are apparently known as "bricks".

It’s a stupid phrase, and I’m very rarely on this board. Since when were women “dolls”? They can fuck off with that.

BBC getting something right for once.

They’re not women.

It doesn't refer to women!

I am all for this stupid misogynistic self-objectifying slogan to be trumpeted everywhere as loudly as possible, it's a brilliant illustration of what the trans movement is really like and a fantastic way to put people off it. However I understand the BBC's position.

Well, in their view, trans women are women, and dolls refers to trans women, so they clearly believe at least some women are dolls.

Extremely offensive slogan I’m glad it’s been challenged. Women have fought for centuries to be treated as full human beings rather than decorative objects. Doll is exactly the kind of word used to keep us small, pretty and passive, something to look at and play with. Males claiming it as a badge of womanhood rewrites that history as if it were some kind of style choice. I think men should be able to wear whatever they like and call themselves dolls if they want. But the one thing they are not and will never be is women.

At a time when our rights are being rolled back, I don’t think it’s too much to ask that the language of women’s oppression isn’t repackaged as some kind of male sexual rights slogan. And anyone wearing it might want to spend some time with the history of the women’s movement before deciding what womanhood means.

It is such an inane slogan, and anyone who gives it even a millisecond’s thought would wonder why it has even been adopted by the trans rights movement.

Who are the Dolls? Trans identifying men who (some would say) have done such a good job of impersonating the opposite sex that they (almost) pass as women (in photos, possibly filtered ones). Very few trans identifying men achieve this.

Who doesn’t the slogan seem to want to protect? Any trans identifying man who doesn’t “pass” (aka the vast majority of them). Don’t all trans identifying men deserve this “protection” that trans activists want?

And, of course, the slogan does nothing for trans identifying females, as once again they are overlooked in this men’s rights movement.

That’s a long winded way to say I’m glad the BBC removed this.

Given the impetus behind the word Dolls in the 'trans' community, I find it revolting, and I'm glad they've scrubbed it out of footage that will be seen by, well a reasonable amount of people at least, with their viewership crashing, I'd hate to put a figure on it.

I was pleasantly surprised.

Oh I know, it's so tiresome isn't it?

I see that. My point stands.

It's confusing that this term has been embraced considering it's contemporary opposite (Bricks) would probably be seen as pretty offensive. And so the slogan just means protect the dolls (the very feminine TIMs, generally those who would previously identify as gay men) and don't bother with the bricks (non-passing TIMSs, generally heterosexual men, and the vast majority.
It's really weird this has support at all.

@royalcorgisorry I see you already said this

Good.
Strange that the PTD wearers ignore the 'non-dolls'?
Could be regarded as pretty transphobic, hmm?

Agree.

Call most women 'dolls' (outwith Glasgow) and you may not get the warm fuzzy glow of sisterhood reflected back at you.

I do find it quite funny that some men claim this daft name as some kind of badge of honour. For a start, a lot of them are not, according to the purported definition, 'dolls'. It seems to be mostly the 'bricks' that wear these Ts.

It’s such a creepy slogan, to boot.