A bit of a stir Downunder with the visit of Kellie-Jay Keen, the noted British women's rights activist. Currently in Australia, will she be allowed into New Zealand? Does NZ still have free speech?
Showing posts with label TERF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TERF. Show all posts
March 21, 2023
June 11, 2020
J.K. Rowling Essay
People interested in reading the essay by J.K. Rowling on gender issues can read it here: https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/
If I was marking this essay I'd probably give it an A-. She loses me when bringing her own experiences of domestic violence into the debate. I don't exactly see how this fits. As an aside, I've only read her first book and did form the impression then that she'd been the victim of abuse. I can't point to any one piece of that work, it's just an overarching feeling that emerges.
Where I think her argument stands up well is her addressing issues around privacy. There are real concerns that any man can now instantly claim status as a woman and turn up in a swimming pool changing shed amongst the girls, or anywhere they like really. Often laws that are now proposed entrench that new right. And what of girls? Do they have no say in any of this, or their parents?
While her essay is a thoughtful work, I'd like to have seen more argument around these gender and sex issues, rather than an account of her own life experiences. Otherwise, a good effort. Note, I'm not saying I agree with her in everything she's saying, just assessing her ability to say it and her absolute right to do so.
If I was marking this essay I'd probably give it an A-. She loses me when bringing her own experiences of domestic violence into the debate. I don't exactly see how this fits. As an aside, I've only read her first book and did form the impression then that she'd been the victim of abuse. I can't point to any one piece of that work, it's just an overarching feeling that emerges.
Where I think her argument stands up well is her addressing issues around privacy. There are real concerns that any man can now instantly claim status as a woman and turn up in a swimming pool changing shed amongst the girls, or anywhere they like really. Often laws that are now proposed entrench that new right. And what of girls? Do they have no say in any of this, or their parents?
While her essay is a thoughtful work, I'd like to have seen more argument around these gender and sex issues, rather than an account of her own life experiences. Otherwise, a good effort. Note, I'm not saying I agree with her in everything she's saying, just assessing her ability to say it and her absolute right to do so.
November 29, 2018
Rachel Stewart on TERF's
Rachel Stewart provides some interesting perspectives on the term TERF. One point is that Big Pharma stands to make a fortune out of changing basic biology. I'm not knowledgeable enough on the subject but would suggest this is one to watch, pharmaceutical companies may come into their own down the road.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12166957
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12166957