Gender? Sex? Help me out please.

You'd have to ask her volver and I'm not sure what point you're trying to make.

I'm sure she has answered that question somewhere volver I got all my info from her own words

Ilovecheese

This thread is typical though, there seems to be no wish to accommodate the opposing belief and come to any sort of compromise.

How can there be compromise about whether sex can be changed? It’s like asking for compromise about whether straw can be spun into gold. We could all get bored with repeating the facts (or fictions) and ‘compromise’, but anyone wanting to retire on the proceeds of the sale of a haystack is going to be very disappointed.

volver

Why did she call herself JK Rowling and not Jo?

Why not? Kentucky Fried Chicken changed to KFC. Marks and Spencer are now M&S, Asda was that from the start because Associated Dairies was too long and Gransnet posters change their names. Is their something suspicious about that?

I also wonder if Tolkien's success was ever referred to as a one hit wonder GG. JK Rowling's sold over 500 million copies of the Harry Potter series and it's been translated into more than 70 languages.

Not bad for a one hit wonder.

A timely article about JK Rowling and the transgender debate.

www.spectator.co.uk/article/JK-Rowling-trans?fbclid=IwAR2MwPGncfRLXnrg3iO-KA1fPuiGJkS1GJHK5iQzHJN-q_Rn3Y0T5KbtlJs

Doesn't science teach an open mind about such things? No fixed point in science and evidence has been found in the past about differences in trans people

Evidence it is possible already exists in nature

Unless we believe ourselves as superior and evolution stopped when it created humanity... Like "oh yes, this is perfection, let's just stop now"

Let me put forward one of the compromises I think would be a good one.
Regarding prisons:
If a person has been living as a transwoman for some years and has then committed a non violent crime, their request to be housed in a women's prison could be considered.

If a man has been living as a man all his life and then commits an act of sexual violence for which he is convicted, and he then and only then, decides he wants to be a woman and be sent to a woman's prison then his request should not be considered.

Ilovecheese perfect honestly

Smileless2012

I also wonder if Tolkien's success was ever referred to as a one hit wonder GG. JK Rowling's sold over 500 million copies of the Harry Potter series and it's been translated into more than 70 languages.

Not bad for a one hit wonder.

I am eternally grateful to her for getting our two youngest children who were reluctant readers so engaged and enthralled by her Wizard World that they now read many different genres vociferously.

Don't forget that children have been more willing to wear their specs because of Harry Potter.
I am not a great fan of her writing really, my children were too old for Harry Potter but I enjoy a detective yarn. My grandchildren enjoy HP.
She has also said something on another topic which I disagreed with strongly, but that is no reason for a boycott.
(secretly, I think JRR Tolkien was a bit of a one hit wonder!)

I feel the same about Tolkien GG it was 'The Hobbit' that got our DS into reading for the sheer joy of doing so.

volver

FannyCornforth

I did find it odd that I’d never seen you on the trans based threads volver
I haven’t read the thread yet.

Yeah, and I don't think I'll be on any more.

It's a shame, isn't it volver. Such an interesting topic and so policed it isn't a pleasure to debate it at all.

Mollygo

I really shouldn’t let myself be tempted, but if you don’t like an author, for any reason, you can always find things that don’t suit you. But this is a fun deviation from the subject.
trisher
It's not really about the subject but I just looked at the books she's written as RG and one had an audio sample. I fell about laughing when Strike stood "his eyes sweeping the pavement" Oh come on no one writes such tosh!!!

trisher
Oh come on no one writes such tosh!!!
That from you trisher????

One of the absolute no-nos taught in any good writing class (and even in good English classes) is using a phrase like that- the classic being "his eyes swept the room and came to rest on the mantelpiece"
I do wonder when JK Rowling became above criticism.
My criticism of her began way before her stance on trans issues by the way.

Gossamerbeynon1945

Apparently, 15 year old girls are now having double mastectomies. Did all these politicians miss their biology lessons in school. Biggest load of rubbish I have ever read - look at Robert Winston on Question Time. He says what I think, and he is an expert! no-one can change sex - it's impossible!

Have you got a link to this Gossamerbeynon1945? Given that I had to wait 2 years for a double mastectomy, post cancer, despite having the BRCA gene, and had to go through a course of therapy first, I'd be very interested to know how 15 year olds manage to bypass all the 'prevent' intervention.

That person has some concerns about how changes in sex and gender law could have consequences for women and girls

Yup women with disability who under current law can specify female only personal care

Why are people not concerned about changes that affect other vulnerable female born groups?

It isn't being transphobic it is being sensible. Safeguarding shouldn't be affected by changes to law surrounding this issue imo

GrannyGravy13

GillT57

Well that didn't take long. Within minutes we have someone who hadn't even read the bloody book carping on with all sorts of silly conspiracies about why J K Rowling chose to use a nom de plume. Of no relevance and no help.

I do find it difficult to understand how someone can be derogatory about an authors writing style and their books when they haven’t read them.

i fail to see why someone's use of a nom de plume is used as an illustration of her view on transgender issues. Many authors use one or more names, often because they are writing books in a different genre and don't wish readers to have any pre-conceived ideas of their style. JKR writing as RGalbraith is very different. I like both.

I think the truth is she actually isn't all that great of a writer. Couldn't agree more. I'm very grateful to her for getting so many children to read. But no, the quality isn't great. Fair enough, recognise JKR for her achievements, but lets not pretend she's a literary giant.

volver

FannyCornforth

I did find it odd that I’d never seen you on the trans based threads volver
I haven’t read the thread yet.

Yeah, and I don't think I'll be on any more.

I agree. Better off on the 'Boris bashing threads' You know where you are there

GagaJo

Gossamerbeynon1945

Apparently, 15 year old girls are now having double mastectomies. Did all these politicians miss their biology lessons in school. Biggest load of rubbish I have ever read - look at Robert Winston on Question Time. He says what I think, and he is an expert! no-one can change sex - it's impossible!

Have you got a link to this Gossamerbeynon1945? Given that I had to wait 2 years for a double mastectomy, post cancer, despite having the BRCA gene, and had to go through a course of therapy first, I'd be very interested to know how 15 year olds manage to bypass all the 'prevent' intervention.

I've been searching for this Gagajo the only info I can find says the NHS don't do surgery until the young person is an adult. Private double masectomies are available in the UK but I would imagine few 15 year olds could afford them and surely richparents aren't paying for them?

JRR Tolkien's name was John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.

JK Rowling's name is Joanne Rowling. The K is just made up.

I have read that Bloomsbury requested her not to use her real first name as it would put little boys off reading her book.

Pretending not to be female once is interesting, pretending twice starts to get suspicious.

But I'm sure I've got that wrong ?

It's not really about the subject but I just looked at the books she's written as RG and one had an audio sample. I fell about laughing when Strike stood "his eyes sweeping the pavement" Oh come on no one writes such tosh!!!

trisher
Oh come on no one writes such tosh!!!
That from you trisher????
One of the absolute no-nos taught in any good writing class (and even in good English classes) is using a phrase like that- the classic being "his eyes swept the room and came to rest on the mantelpiece"
I do wonder when JK Rowling became above criticism.
My criticism of her began way before her stance on trans issues by the way.

I’m sure it did trisher.???

Ilovecheese

Let me put forward one of the compromises I think would be a good one.
Regarding prisons:
If a person has been living as a transwoman for some years and has then committed a non violent crime, their request to be housed in a women's prison could be considered.

If a man has been living as a man all his life and then commits an act of sexual violence for which he is convicted, and he then and only then, decides he wants to be a woman and be sent to a woman's prison then his request should not be considered.

I would be happy with that. It is sex offenders and those who have a sudden 'conversion' who worry me.

trisher

Mollygo

I really shouldn’t let myself be tempted, but if you don’t like an author, for any reason, you can always find things that don’t suit you. But this is a fun deviation from the subject.
trisher
It's not really about the subject but I just looked at the books she's written as RG and one had an audio sample. I fell about laughing when Strike stood "his eyes sweeping the pavement" Oh come on no one writes such tosh!!!

trisher
Oh come on no one writes such tosh!!!
That from you trisher????

One of the absolute no-nos taught in any good writing class (and even in good English classes) is using a phrase like that- the classic being "his eyes swept the room and came to rest on the mantelpiece"
I do wonder when JK Rowling became above criticism.
My criticism of her began way before her stance on trans issues by the way.

Well, all the literary experts on here looking down their noses at JKR and RGalbraith, has it dawned on you that an audio book is abridged? May not be word for word? I repeat; I like her writing, in both names, and think the sneering comments say more about those who write them than those of us who enjoy her books. Is this all part of the brave new world where anyone can be whatever they want to be, as long as it is approved by the literary police?

JaneJudge

^That person has some concerns about how changes in sex and gender law could have consequences for women and girls^

Yup women with disability who under current law can specify female only personal care

Why are people not concerned about changes that affect other vulnerable female born groups?

It isn't being transphobic it is being sensible. Safeguarding shouldn't be affected by changes to law surrounding this issue imo

Janejudge I share those concerns but safeguarding and DBS checks should apply to all. We can't imply that women are always safe in situations looking after children or vulnerable people or those rules would not exists.

We can't deny someone a job in a profession where they may see multiple clients on the basis they are trans, we don't do that on basis of their birth gender so why would we change that?

I've had male doctors examine me and male nurses attend me and male midwives present. I had to have a word with myself about it because, these are qualified people who have passed relevant checks and training and in the end, it was fine.

Now in a situation where someone is vulnerable and states their needs clearly, I'm sure that they can state they do not want a man or a trans woman and its down to the common sense of those involved to respect that, in a time of fear or vulnerability, this is what is needed.

I haven't seen any male or trans person, in any profession say it should be otherwise and I wouldn't agree with them if they did.