Has J.K. Rowling been misunderstood or is she really transphobic?
There is an interesting discussion on the Rowling supporting Forstater case over at CDL, where one member asked the following pertinent question:
how would it be possible for someone to say ‘we must be allowed…’ without them being interpreted by commentators such as yourself as ‘wanting to invalidate trans women’? you close down respectful discussion by presuming an ugly motive, by seeking to disqualify any opinion other than 'transwomen are women, as much as ciswomen are’ as being too offensive to be considered. having been thus insulted, gender-critical feminists are likely to retaliate with genuinely offensive responses, and the dialog gets still uglier. this is so typical of internet discourse.
Here’s an edit of my response:
Rowling is invalidating trans women. The tweet is clearly in support of a TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminist). She is even using TERF hash tags. So I am not presuming an ugly motive. It is clear and out in the open.
I have been discussing trans issues with TERFs for some years now, and there can be no doubt whatsoever that they are aggressive transphobes who are actively trying to make the lives of trans women a living hell.
Deconstructing the tweet
Here is the tweet as she wrote it:
“Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security. But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya#ThisIsNotADrill. “
It is pretty clear what it means:
1. The first part is the traditional TERF pseudo-acceptance. “By all means dress up as women! We are liberal and open minded, after all. But you are not women.”
In other words: This is not in reference to a philosophical discussion about what constitutes womanhood, this is in reference to a political and cultural movement that is established to attack trans women.
As we know, TERFs think trans men are deluded a lesbian women, androphilic trans women are misguided effeminate trans men and gynephilic trans women are perverted “autogynephiliacs”. There is no common ground that makes an open, tolerant and informed discussion possible here.
2. The second part is a TERF lie. Women are not forced out of jobs for stating that (biological) sex is real. One woman was forced out of her job because she actively promoted the idea that biological sex and gender is the same (which is not true, by the way) in order to invalidate and harass trans women.
And yes, forcing trans women to use men’s bathrooms, stay in men’s prisons, be excluded from the right sport teams and use male identity papers are deliberate and hostile acts meant to force them back into the closet.
3. #IStandWithMaya is a TERF hashtag, used to propagate the view that trans women are men. The hashtag refers to a court case Maya Forstater filed in London against her former employer — and which she lost.
The judge concluded that this was harassment
In a 26-page ruling, the judge wrote that Forstater is “absolutist in her view of sex, and it is a core component of her belief that she will refer to a person by the sex she considered appropriate even if it violates their dignity and/or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.”Here’s more about Forestater’s opinions.
Forstater’s contract with the Center for Global Development was not renewed due to a series of transphobic comments made in multiple forums. She repeatedly tweeted statements like, “I think that male people are not women. I don’t think being a woman/female is a matter of identity or womanly feelings. It is biology.”
In a workplace Slack she wrote, “But if people find the basic biological truths that ‘women are adult human females’ or ‘transwomen are male’ offensive, then they will be offended.”
Forstater also purposefully misgendered a nonbinary councilor on Twitter, and when they complained, she wrote, “I reserve the right to use the pronouns ‘he’ and ‘him’ to refer to male people. While I may choose to use alternative pronouns as a courtesy, no one has the right to compel others to make statements they do not believe.”
TERFs are not debating, they are waging a war
I am all for an open and fair discussion, if your opponent believes in at least some of the same fundamental values of democracy and an informed debate, but fundamentalists and extremists do not, and if that is the case they do not deserve my respect and patience.
In Norway TERFs have published photos of the child of a trans friend of mine, one of the leading trans activists in the country, implying that she is a male child molester. This is not about having (or not having) a democratic debate; this is about defending trans people against bigots who threaten their right to be themselves, who threaten their families, their dignity and their health.
As far as I am concerned, Rowling might as well has come out in support of the Klan. It is that bad.
Rowling has had the chance to explain herself
Let me add one more thing: Several LGBTQA sites and organizations have tried to get Rowling to elaborate on her tweet. They given her a chance to explain herself and present a more positive approach to trans people. She has said nothing, and refused all comments. And given all the criticism that is for me another clear sign that she is on the side of the TERFs.
Please remember that the British feminist scene has become toxic because of the TERFs, much more so than in the US, where a new generation of compassionate intersectionalist feminists are dominating the debate.
You cannot force NGOs to hire bigots
Forstater worked in an organization called Center for Global Development. This is a non-government organization (NGO) working for the realization of the UN sustainability goals. They note that they are “committed to transparency, diversity, and professional and personal integrity.” They “value mutual respect, a collegial work place, and a healthy sense of humor.”
As I see it, you cannot force an NGO with an agenda of tolerance and inclusion to employ someone with the exact opposite values. You cannot, for instance, force an anti-racist civil rights organization to keep someone who is a racist or a nazi on board, nor can you force a feminist organization to hire a male misogynist.
You can read the ruling here. As you will see the judge has concluded that Forstater’s argument that sex is unchangeable is not a philosophical statement in this context, but harassment.
Rowling is not stupid. She knows what she is doing. She knows how to read. This was a deliberate act from her side. Too bad.
Se also: J.K. Rowling’s betrayal of trans people is also a betrayal of her own books
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