Apparently that makes me transphobic, bigoted, fascistic and anti-semitic (and in some cases even anti-abortion). I need to wise up, educate myself, and show some kindness towards the most oppressed and suicidal minority in the world. And if I try to defend my views, I'll be shunned and no-platformed.
But the way "trans" people are currently viewed is relatively recent and very different from how they were viewed (and viewed themselves) just a few decades ago.
In the last century, male transsexuals, as they were then known, lived as women but never for a moment believed they were real women. Neither did they believe they had actually changed sex. There were very few of them and because of that they were fairly easily accepted as make-believe women.
That's all changed and now it's not enough to see them "living as" women. We're expected to see them as the real thing, identical to those women who've been born and brought up as women. If they "feel like" women, then that's what they are, and it's not open for discussion.
Prominent public figures who oppose the new transgender beliefs have been viciously trolled and denigrated, often the target of death threats and in some cases forced out of their jobs. Their requests for an open-minded debate on transgender, recognising different opinions, are ignored.
A huge number of people actually disagree with the new thinking, but hesitate to speak up for fear of the consequences. So the nonsense proliferates.
Pic: Professor Kathleen Stock, who was forced out of her post at Sussex University after a militant campaign by trans activists.
I have been puzzled as to why so many people feel strongly about this. I spoke to some teenage relatives and they say that many people they know seem much happier once they have come out as transgender, so perhaps there were more people feeling that way than we realised before.
ReplyDeleteJenny: I think the problem is all the ideological baggage that goes with trans activism. Like saying lesbians should be willing to sleep with transwomen, and accusing them of transphobia if they insist their partners should be actual females.
DeleteSome people are born neither one gender or the other and the parents have to choose whether their child is more male or female. I think they should just let them be whatever they turn out to be.
ReplyDeleteAs for all this transgender stuff - well, when I was 10 I decided that I was a boy - cos I wanted to wear trousers to school, and not play netball. I grew out of that! Other than for those who are born not conforming biologically to one gender or another, I'm pretty much with J.K Rowling on this subject - and I think she's been cancelled!
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Ms Scarlet: I'm also with J K Rowling. The hatred she's had to put up with since she dissented from certain trans beliefs is extraordinary. And yes, some girls who are tomboys are being told they're really boys and need to "transition".
DeleteSince you mention trousers, Ms Scarlet: My mother had the devil's own job to get me into trousers when I was little (say, under ten) other than when I hit the ski slopes and saw sense.
DeleteTrousers? I was adamant I wasn't a boy. Neither did I want to be a boy. Let me wear a dress with a petticoat and rip it when climbing over a fence. And that was that.
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I wanted to wear trousers so I could get over the fence without getting caught up!
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Nick, sigh. I do believe the clue lies, linguistically, in "trans". As in "transition". Neither one or the other. Limbo. A state not to be envied. Must do one's head in.
ReplyDeleteBiologically, a child being born a boy is a boy, a girl being born a girl is a girl. Even taking into account hormones in varying degrees (some girls feature high on testosterone) facts are facts. So a boy - even if some years down the line he "identifies" (what does that even mean?) as a girl/woman he'll always have strengths (say, upper arm) that a woman doesn't. Neither will he be able to give birth.
However, to widen the discussion and our perception, what of the Hermaphrodite (and I not just thinking snails)?
Next blog post, Nick, a subject I relish: Androgyny. The mixture of female/male characteristics. At least outwardly. Enter one of my sisters. Once upon a time a female David Bowie look-a-like if ever there was one.
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Ursula: Indeed, what does it even mean to "identify" as a woman? And yes, a man remains physically stronger in all sorts of ways, and "transitioning" doesn't alter that. Which is why there is so much protest at transwomen competing against born women in sporting events.
DeleteYes, Hannah. There are many reasons women can't give birth - not all as dramatic as your examples. They are still women.
DeleteHot tip of the day: Do not surmise what others think on matters racial, religious or attire.
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I have a friend whom I supported during her transition to woman. That said, I am even more confused about gender politics than ever. He was all man and fairly wild in a rough valleys town but always felt wrong. That certainty, even against the odds and in the wrong place, seems convincing to me. Yet she is now more mixed up than ever.
ReplyDeleteLiz: It's scandalous that there is so little follow-up of people who have "transitioned", to find out whether they are now happier (or not). Anecdotal evidence is that a lot of them are no happier and still have the same psychological problems as before they transitioned.
DeleteI was amazed that there was no follow-up counselling or anything really. That said she is very careful not to e.g. use female toilets where she's not known. She is considerate of others.
DeleteLiz: If she looks like a woman, then she can use female toilets without any problem. But transwomen who are visibly male-bodied will be regarded with great suspicion and apprehension.
DeleteI have the same view, having looked into the matter fairly deeply over the last few years. So do most people, almost certainly. Don't be fooled by this dangerous movement's bullying, name-calling, and intimidation tactics to silence its opponents, or the fact that it has "captured" some political institutions.
ReplyDeleteThe claim that "trans" young people are likely to be suicidal if not "affirmed", and that "transition" surgery alleviates this, is not supported by evidence.
Rowling is a hero. She could easily have stayed quiet and ignored the issue, but instead she's used the platform she has, and the fact that her money makes her relatively immune to bullying and canceling, to speak out on the issue where doing so would be too dangerous for many women to risk.
Infidel: Unfortunately the bullying and intimidation has silenced a huge number of people who daren't risk saying what they really think. But if they stay silent, trans activists will extend their influence and capture even more organisations.
DeleteGod forbid anyone should have a different opinion! I’m so tired of the hive mind society that we’ve become. I agree with you wholeheartedly, Nick.
ReplyDeleteAnd can we once and for all stop misusing the word, ‘phobic’? I do not have an irrational fear or aversion to anyone, besides maybe serial killers or rapists.
Bijoux: Absolutely, why would anyone be afraid of trans people? I'm afraid of the trans activists though, they're violent and vicious towards anyone who disagrees with them.
DeleteMary says: "I actually feel the same way you do. I think a lot of people do and are too afraid of the backlash to say anything."
ReplyDeleteMary: If you might actually lose your job, speaking out could be very risky.
DeleteMy former son-in-law is now female and I think we are both confused.
ReplyDeleteLinda Sand
Linda: If you're both confused, that suggests to me that there are still unresolved psychological issues that need to be investigated.
DeleteI have missed the kerfluffle. We have the same reaction in the States to anyone not agreeing that a transwoman is a woman.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I just don't know. I do think if male hormones are surpressed and female hormones are given, someone would be female. But you do have to acknowledge they were not female at birth.
There is a lot of thought that is evolving. I do think it is wrong to not allow people to express their perception. My concern with young people being trans is that a certain percentage will change their minds. As a teacher, I remember when many high school girls stated they were lesbians. Lesbians who grew up, got married and had children with a husband.
Ann: It would take a lot more than female hormones to turn a man into a woman. It would take an entirely different physiology. As you say, young people haven't yet developed a mature personality and can not only easily change their minds from one month to the next but may not understand the full long-term implications of what they're doing. Many girls with lesbian inclinations are being told they're really boys and need to "transition". Then years later they may deeply regret messing around with their bodies.
DeleteI agree very often with you but this time not. Why not let people live the life they want to choose. What does Rowling or any other person know how a transgender person is feeling or perceiving his/her own body. Why can we not just accept and listen to them . Our society is so ignorant and not open.minded at all. A boy must not weep and has stronger arms. This makes me laugh, there are very skinny men with not strong arms at all. Let us stop to think in "clichés." Life would be easier if we stop focusing always ön people whose life is considered to be not.normal and do not fit in our so "traditional" thinking.Remember how history shows us where this can end.
ReplyDeleteHannah
Hannah: I think the problem is trans women demanding that they are allowed into women's refuges, women's sports, women's wards in hospitals etc, which can be very intimidating for women who benefit in all sorts of ways from single-sex facilities. And I would have thought that men can live the life they want to without going through a bogus "sex change".
DeleteNick ,idendity doesn't depend on a penis or a vagina , but happens in the brain. A trans woman considers herself as a female so why not integrate her ?
DeleteHannah
Hannah: I'm simply repeating the arguments put to me by feminists who aren't comfortable with male-bodied "women" wanting to share their facilities (most trans women are still physically male and have not taken hormones or had surgery). So it's hard to see how they can be "integrated".
DeleteWhen we were students we were told that if you wanted to unravel a situation, look at who or what is making money from it. And there's plenty of it being made...Stonewall, Mermaids, the drug companies who now have hostages for life....
ReplyDeleteFly: Indeed, follow the money, as they say. "Transitioning" has become a huge industry and more and more people are jumping on the bandwagon.
DeleteI remember my sister-in-law once saying about her experience, "If you are going to use the women's restroom, at least point your feet the right direction."
ReplyDeleteLinda Sand
Linda: Nice one. If "trans" women had their own "trans" toilets, they wouldn't be causing problems for anyone else.
DeleteLinda, thanks for the laugh. I flatter myself to be normally quick on the uptake. Your "feet" took me a moment to compute!
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As you know, Nick, I am 100% with you on this. My concern lies with prisons, shelters, rape centres, toilets and hospitals and care homes where women are more vulnerable to the predations of "cocks in frocks." Of course there are trans who are not harmful to women ( and I had one in my circle in Toronto) but there are many who are availing themselves of these predatory opportunities. Their death and harm threats exhibit extreme male violence towards the "non-believers". J.K. and many like her risk their safety by speaking out. I belong to a group who dare not speak out as they would lose tenure and or their professional standings as its the effing LAW in Canada to hold your tongue in all things perceived as "transphobic" - and no they're not murdered and slaughtered like women are every day of the week. It's absurd to even believe this. I could go on.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Keep knitting and don't tell stupid things. Canada slaughtered more first nation children than transwomen would harm women. What a bullshit. I'm shocked about all this blog posts.
DeleteHannah
Hannah: The slaughter of first nation children in Canada is far more important than the endless self-promotion of "trans" people. Just one example of harm to women: Missouri trans woman Amber McLaughlin, who raped and killed her ex-girlfriend Beverly Guenther, is now due to be executed.
Deletewww: Yes, I know we're of one mind on this. Trans activists doggedly deny that there are predators using the gender identity trend to identify as women and prey on women. But there are numerous instances of precisely that. As you say, there are many more real women murdered than "trans" women, but apparently that's less important than occasional violence towards the latter.
DeleteHannah: I hope we won't fall out over this. I value your perceptive comments on all sorts of issues.
ReplyDeleteOf course not Nick.
DeleteA transwoman killed her friend , she is a murderer, a criminal , but this does not make of transgender persons criminals. More than 300 women are killed by their partners or husbands which does not make each man a murderer. I appreciate your posts and ideas and opinions but ok this time I cannot agree . Did you ever discuss with a person feeling strange in her own body. If you can do it you will probably notice that this has nithing to do with all we hear in the media. I wish you a nice weekend together with Jenny .
Hannah
Hannah: Well, I never said that all trans people are criminals, of course they aren't. But the easier it becomes for a man to declare he is a woman, then the easier it becomes for him to infiltrate women-only facilities and jeopardise women's safety. I have indeed met people with gender dysphoria, and yes, they've seemed quite harmless, but by the same token I've met people who aren't murderers but that doesn't mean murderers are imaginary.
DeleteNick I think all problems can be discussed and that in all communities you have faithful people and abusing people. What I try to say (would be so much easier in my mothertongue) is that we should not put all persons in the same basket. Aggressive persons can be found between heteros, gays, lesbians , transgender, we humans are not perfect but should try to be comprehensive with others if people behave in a correct way.
ReplyDeleteGood night. My husband waits to read the night poem.
Hannah
Hannah: You certainly can't generalise about whole swathes of people, as we're all individuals with our own particular tastes and quirks. As you say every community has the full range of characters - aggressive and gentle, kind and bullying etc.
DeleteReading a night poem sounds like a lovely idea.
What a good post topic, Nick, and you certainly received a wide range of comments. I do also believe people are born either male or female, however, there are those that wish to change this identity and as much as I might not understand, it is not my decision. So, if that would make someone feel better in the long run than he/she can decide.
ReplyDeleteIf you must know, what really irks me is the use of all these non-gender pronoun: they/them/their. These are said not to gender specific and most often used by people who identify outside of a gender binary.
Beatrice: Changing your identity is fine, but changing your sexual identity can cause all manner of problems, especially if a male-bodied "female" wants to access women-only facilities. If what you do to feel better makes other people feel less safe, that surely isn't right.
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