Transgender, anyone?

Just to add, David/Diana received an award for that column, very well deserved, imo.

Not me!! But I will look for that column.

Not me either, Im not trans, though I do have a trans grandson. I'll look for the article, thanks phoenix.

Great series of articles, I completely agree. Reading them all would certainly disabuse anyone of the idea that transitioning is something that can be done on a whim.

humptydumpty so glad you agree, I look forward to reading them each Saturday.

Hopefully for those interested in reading them, they should be available on line.

I knew someone once who transitioned (is that the right word ?). During the summer holidays and returned to the same teaching post I thought that was so brave . This was a long long time ago too.

I’ve been reading those columns and they often infuriate me with their stereotyping of what being a woman is.

I can understand that, SueDonim, to a point, but perhaps the "newness" of David/Dianas situation has caused them to focus on what they see as feminine, as opposed to their previous identity?

Sorry, haven't put that very well.

To add, it would seem from the columns that David/Diana seems to be choosing quite "classic" feminine clothes, rather than tarty mini dresses or similar.

I'm an out and TERF. There I've said it.
Do what you want, wear what you want, have sex with who you want, but you can't escape biology.
The whole gender thing is so damaging.

Look up autogynophillia.
Aka AGP
Men who aroused by dressing as a woman. They expect women to collude with this fantasy and often target lesbians.
Women on Mumsnet have been banned for expressing this sentiment.

Brave statement, Fanny Carnforth, not always easy to be so open about one's opinions and beliefs.

Yes it's a deeply sexist column.

Not sure it's actually "sexist" Galaxy, perhaps as I tried (and failed) to explain, it's someone revelling in the newly found feminine aspects of their life?

Yes, David/Diana does write about enjoying "swishing" their expensively acquired hair, and trying to adjust their voice to a more female timbre, but as it's written by someone transitioning from make to female, and hoping for (and planning) the ultimate change, i.e. surgery, which is not undertaken lightly and involves psychiatric consultation as well as consultation with the surgeon who might be carrying out the procedure, I'm not sure that I can support your view of the column being sexist.

David/Diana has lived as a man, is in the process of becoming as much of a woman as he/she can.

To me, the female they seem to be aiming for is a twee 1950’s housewife. Someone needs to tell them such women went out of fashion in approx 1960.

I think the column makes a parody of women and their lives, a vision of what DT thinks women are. DT has not had the experience of growing up as a woman and comes over as masculine in that they are mansplaining what it is to be a woman.

It's just a continuation of a theme really. As david they wrote a book called in defence of men telling us that everything was all the fault of feminists. And of course there comparison of germaine Greer to a member of the BNP.

Their not there.

I’ve read this column from the beginning. I think Diana is trying to be the kind of woman she thinks she wants to be , whether that is the same as women who are happy with their gender , does that matter , what is sexist to one is not to someone else.

I once worked at a charity with someone who had transitioned from male to female and in their job had gone from one day to the next as the opposite gender . That takes a lot of courage and it’s not done lightly . We need to be tolerant .

Oh, I didn’t know that, Galaxy! So that would account for the 1950’s vibe before women became feminists. Interesting.

In what way is it not tolerant to point out sexism.

I wondered how long we could manage kind and support. Not long, clearly.

I agree with Diane's views on transwomen in sport. I think it was diane who opposed this but I may be wrong. Tried to check but it's all behind a paywall.

In what way have I not been kind Gagajo, I find the columns sexist, how is that not kind. I find all sorts of things sexist.

I struggle with the so called radical trans groups. I would fit easily into the group they dismiss as TERF. We worked so hard for a semblance of equality, for women's refuges and safe spaces. I can't get beyond the idea that a man who decides to become a woman in their 60's can have any idea of our lived experience.
I also find the emphasis on frocks, make up, hair etc tedious.I remember when the former athlete transitioned and said the most difficult thing about being a woman was deciding what to wear in the morning.
Having said this, I do sympathise with anyone finding life even more difficult that the majority. I just don't want men to yet again assume they have more rights than women.