J.K. Rowling’s post on trans-identity and modern misogyny

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else catch the weird paragraphs where she essentially says she wants to be transgender? Just me?

Its not weird at all- I was also a daughter when my parents very much wanted a boy and the thing is- my parents tried to hide it. They loved me and they were wonderful parents but not having boy to raise was a life long sorrow to both. I was a tomboy as a kid and had horrible peter pan syndrome- my dad loved kids and he loved taking me everywhere and i was terrifiedof puberty and the changes that would make me not a little kid anymore- i didn't want a period, or feminine curves and i wanted the freedom that came from being a boy. b/c i was well aware of the way that girl were treated in the world and how that would make my personal journey through life more difficult and being male would make my journey easier. If i'd known then what teens know now- i might also have told my parents that i was really a boy inside and at least have stopped my period and growth of curves/ removed breasts etc. It took going to college, the adjustment of hormones, just being comfortable in the female body and learning to love it and its beauty plus personal accomplishments etc etc to make me really find the joy that I now do in my female body. So yes what she is saying is real- many many girls, especially girls who uncomfortable with being feminine would choose this. I to this day hate frills and feel best in modest androgynous clothing b/c its cool to me and i find it insulting to say that I'm less of a woman b/c i always wear pjs and pants and find jewelry and make up to be annoying unless its a special occasion. Anyways yes- i think that its true that mysogyny is such and teh fear of the consequences of being a fully matured female human are enough to lead some people who are born in a way that would make it the natural progression embrace a way to stop that progression- and if its born of the fear of the poor treatment of females in our society it should be addressed, and if it is a personal fear of being something they don't want to be, feel comfortable being, then that is a genuine case and regardless we should be supportive.

the 'privilege' of being male is even more pronounced than the 'privilege' of being white in american culture- why wouldn't a kid who's still on the other side just throw in the towel and be like nope- i don't want to turn into the 'less than thing' and women are 80 cent on the dollar less than men in america. I'm asian and i know so many asians who'd rather just be white b/c it would make life easier even though they love their culture and even their features but the ease of not having to be asian in america would make that worth it. The ease of not being female in america might make transitioning worth it. That is the issue.

I'm sorry you went through this, but I don't understand how this works because there are people who are born male but identify as female. Under your analysis it would only work the other way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with JKR.

I am also BLM supporter and will vote Democratic. I am for all civil, domestic partnership and democratic rights to LGBTQ community and support seperate bathrooms for them if needed in public spaces.

Separate but equal, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else read it? It’s certainly well-thought out. She essentially says she’s spent 3 years studying the concept of trans identity and while she supports it -

a) she doesn’t think the rights of women who sexually identify as female should be diminished,

b) young adults (under 18) should not be allowed gender reassignment surgery and even adults need to have more rigorous standards for completion since its irreversible, and

c) trans being a identity more than a sexuality is subject to groupthink which is why it’s exploded in culture recently.

https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

To me, this is the equivalent of All Lives Matter. By promoting awareness of and requesting protection for trans women, no one is saying that cis women are worth any less.

Except when it comes to demanding things that might hurt natural born women such as trans women competing in female sports or going into female bathrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is a TERF and the rest of you that agree with her are TERFs too.

Yes, anyone who questions anything at all about trans culture, ever, must be a TERF.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else read it? It’s certainly well-thought out. She essentially says she’s spent 3 years studying the concept of trans identity and while she supports it -

a) she doesn’t think the rights of women who sexually identify as female should be diminished,

b) young adults (under 18) should not be allowed gender reassignment surgery and even adults need to have more rigorous standards for completion since its irreversible, and

c) trans being a identity more than a sexuality is subject to groupthink which is why it’s exploded in culture recently.

https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

To me, this is the equivalent of All Lives Matter. By promoting awareness of and requesting protection for trans women, no one is saying that cis women are worth any less.

Except when it comes to demanding things that might hurt natural born women such as trans women competing in female sports or going into female bathrooms.

I will give you this one, but not the other one. Explain to me, please how allowing trans women to go into "female bathrooms" hurts natural-born women?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else read it? It’s certainly well-thought out. She essentially says she’s spent 3 years studying the concept of trans identity and while she supports it -

a) she doesn’t think the rights of women who sexually identify as female should be diminished,

b) young adults (under 18) should not be allowed gender reassignment surgery and even adults need to have more rigorous standards for completion since its irreversible, and

c) trans being a identity more than a sexuality is subject to groupthink which is why it’s exploded in culture recently.

https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

To me, this is the equivalent of All Lives Matter. By promoting awareness of and requesting protection for trans women, no one is saying that cis women are worth any less.

Except when it comes to demanding things that might hurt natural born women such as trans women competing in female sports or going into female bathrooms.

Well, cis girls and women just need to accept that. If cis girls lose to trans girls in women's sports, then they need to be good losers. Not bad losers.

[Anonymous]

I hope this doesn't affect the CB Strike Series....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else read it? It’s certainly well-thought out. She essentially says she’s spent 3 years studying the concept of trans identity and while she supports it -

a) she doesn’t think the rights of women who sexually identify as female should be diminished,

b) young adults (under 18) should not be allowed gender reassignment surgery and even adults need to have more rigorous standards for completion since its irreversible, and

c) trans being a identity more than a sexuality is subject to groupthink which is why it’s exploded in culture recently.

https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

To me, this is the equivalent of All Lives Matter. By promoting awareness of and requesting protection for trans women, no one is saying that cis women are worth any less.

Except when it comes to demanding things that might hurt natural born women such as trans women competing in female sports or going into female bathrooms.

Well, cis girls and women just need to accept that. If cis girls lose to trans girls in women's sports, then they need to be good losers. Not bad losers.

Troll

[Anonymous]

Who appointed her the expert?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did anyone else catch the weird paragraphs where she essentially says she wants to be transgender? Just me?

Its not weird at all- I was also a daughter when my parents very much wanted a boy and the thing is- my parents tried to hide it. They loved me and they were wonderful parents but not having boy to raise was a life long sorrow to both. I was a tomboy as a kid and had horrible peter pan syndrome- my dad loved kids and he loved taking me everywhere and i was terrifiedof puberty and the changes that would make me not a little kid anymore- i didn't want a period, or feminine curves and i wanted the freedom that came from being a boy. b/c i was well aware of the way that girl were treated in the world and how that would make my personal journey through life more difficult and being male would make my journey easier. If i'd known then what teens know now- i might also have told my parents that i was really a boy inside and at least have stopped my period and growth of curves/ removed breasts etc. It took going to college, the adjustment of hormones, just being comfortable in the female body and learning to love it and its beauty plus personal accomplishments etc etc to make me really find the joy that I now do in my female body. So yes what she is saying is real- many many girls, especially girls who uncomfortable with being feminine would choose this. I to this day hate frills and feel best in modest androgynous clothing b/c its cool to me and i find it insulting to say that I'm less of a woman b/c i always wear pjs and pants and find jewelry and make up to be annoying unless its a special occasion. Anyways yes- i think that its true that mysogyny is such and teh fear of the consequences of being a fully matured female human are enough to lead some people who are born in a way that would make it the natural progression embrace a way to stop that progression- and if its born of the fear of the poor treatment of females in our society it should be addressed, and if it is a personal fear of being something they don't want to be, feel comfortable being, then that is a genuine case and regardless we should be supportive.

the 'privilege' of being male is even more pronounced than the 'privilege' of being white in american culture- why wouldn't a kid who's still on the other side just throw in the towel and be like nope- i don't want to turn into the 'less than thing' and women are 80 cent on the dollar less than men in america. I'm asian and i know so many asians who'd rather just be white b/c it would make life easier even though they love their culture and even their features but the ease of not having to be asian in america would make that worth it. The ease of not being female in america might make transitioning worth it. That is the issue.

I'm sorry you went through this, but I don't understand how this works because there are people who are born male but identify as female. Under your analysis it would only work the other way.

NP. The point is that severe cultural, societal, and familial pressures can make people uncomfortable with their biological sex and for such people (who are actually not transgender), transititioning to the opposite sex may seem like a way out.

And to your specific example, look at Iran. In Iran, the punishment for homosexuality ranges from corporal punishment, imprisonment, and death. Culturally, strict binary gender expression is observed. However, the Iranian government not only recognizes gender dysphoria but pays for sex reassignment surgery. In such a society, a gay man who's not conventionally masculine may feel that it is easier to be a trans woman. And yes, gay people who don't fit with Iranian society's gender stereotypes are sometimes pressured to transition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who appointed her the expert?

No one. She's just speaking her thoughts. You can do the same, anonymously here or on your blog or on Twitter or elsewhere. We can all speak out thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else read it? It’s certainly well-thought out. She essentially says she’s spent 3 years studying the concept of trans identity and while she supports it -

a) she doesn’t think the rights of women who sexually identify as female should be diminished,

b) young adults (under 18) should not be allowed gender reassignment surgery and even adults need to have more rigorous standards for completion since its irreversible, and

c) trans being a identity more than a sexuality is subject to groupthink which is why it’s exploded in culture recently.

https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

To me, this is the equivalent of All Lives Matter. By promoting awareness of and requesting protection for trans women, no one is saying that cis women are worth any less.

Except when it comes to demanding things that might hurt natural born women such as trans women competing in female sports or going into female bathrooms.

Well, cis girls and women just need to accept that. If cis girls lose to trans girls in women's sports, then they need to be good losers. Not bad losers.

Troll

DP. There are threads on DCUM where trans activists say this. I don't think this is a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone else read it? It’s certainly well-thought out. She essentially says she’s spent 3 years studying the concept of trans identity and while she supports it -

a) she doesn’t think the rights of women who sexually identify as female should be diminished,

b) young adults (under 18) should not be allowed gender reassignment surgery and even adults need to have more rigorous standards for completion since its irreversible, and

c) trans being a identity more than a sexuality is subject to groupthink which is why it’s exploded in culture recently.

https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/

To me, this is the equivalent of All Lives Matter. By promoting awareness of and requesting protection for trans women, no one is saying that cis women are worth any less.

Except when it comes to demanding things that might hurt natural born women such as trans women competing in female sports or going into female bathrooms.

Well, cis girls and women just need to accept that. If cis girls lose to trans girls in women's sports, then they need to be good losers. Not bad losers.

Troll

I'm not a troll, I'm stating the only reasonable position to take wrt women's sports and trans women. Some people also think it's problematic, but what's a better alternative? Barring trans athletes, imposing a transition period hiatus, something else? All problematic.

[Anonymous]

Team JK Rowling! I’m stunned at how quickly people are turning on others. Everyone is silent as public opinion/twitter voices gang up on good people.

[Anonymous]

I agree with her completely. It is not about rejecting trans identity. It is about saying that our lives are indeed shaped by our outward-facing gender. A trans woman who passes as their "assigned" gender until adulthood DOES have certain privileges not available to women raised as women from birth. Their experiences are different. They are socialized differently. It is like light-skinned AA who passed for white and had entree into higher education opportunities as a result. Martine Rothblatt is the highest paid woman in American because she used to be a Martin (and had a wife who raised her and Martine's children) so that Martine could benefit from male privilege: https://www.thewrap.com/highest-paid-woman-ceo-used-to-be-a-man/. Intersectionality is often framed as focusing on the most marginalized sub-group with a given group, to the exclusion of other narratives. So, here, we would be being asked to focus on trans women experiences, to the exclusion of other women who were socialized as women from an early age. That doesn't make a lot of sense. It also, in effect, erases the voices of most women. If we frame it as trans women are women and they experiences - but we also need to listen to other women who might have different experiences - I think everyone is on board.