Notable U.K. writer J.K. Rowling has faced sharp criticism for suggesting that gender is not “fluid” but fixed, not a matter of identity but biology and that transgender biologically male athletes should not be allowed to compete in women’s sports.
On Wednesday, the famed author fired back at critics who accuse her of slighting women by writing that “real misogyny was on display when men defined what women should think and feel and how they should act,” according to a report in The Daily Wire.
Transgender activists have targeted Rowling for her comments, which she believes were offered to “defend biological women — particularly from situations where trans-women who are still biologically male could pose a physical threat to them.” The firebrand made it clear she had no intention of apologizing or backing down. Rowling wrote:
“Men defining what a woman is, what women should and shouldn’t fear, what women should and shouldn’t say, what rights women should be fine with giving up and, of course, what constitutes ‘real’ misogyny: get a bloody mirror. That’s real misogyny, looking right back at you.”
Rowling’s post was prompted by India Willoughby, a biological male, who posted, “I’m more of a woman than JK Rowling will ever be.”
Rowling responded to Willoughby’s post with just two words: “Citation needed.”
Rowling has also faced criticism for defending Rosie Duffield, a Labour Member of Parliament (MP) in Kent. Last weekend, Duffield said that women in the Labour Party were being shouted down by their male peers because they defended the right to women-only spaces.
“Being shouted down in the Chamber by @UKLabour men who clearly don’t want women to speak up for our rights to single-sex spaces. How very progressive #Section35,” Duffield tweeted last week.
Duffield added: “[I] Should probably point out that the [Scottish National Party] SNP men were also yelling, but I expected that of course. The protection of single-sex spaces for the very most vulnerable women are at stake, so why on earth are Labour colleagues ok with this?!”
Rowling was reportedly surprised to receive backlash in December when it was disclosed that she donated funds to help launch Beira’s Place in Edinburgh — a female-only support service for victims of sexual abuse and violence.
“I founded Beira’s Place to provide what I believe is currently an unmet need for women in the Lothians area,” Rowling said to the BBC. “As a survivor of sexual assault myself, I know how important it is that survivors have the option of women-centred and women-delivered care at such a vulnerable time.”
Rowling added that “Beira’s Place will offer an increase in capacity for services in the area and will, I hope, enable more women to process and recover from their trauma.”
However, though Rowling was attempting to meet an “unmet need,” critics attacked the author, claiming the “women’s only” center was not “inclusive” and should also cater to trans, but biologically male, individuals.
Noteworthy is that Beira’s Place is the sole women’s only sexual assault support center in the United Kingdom, whereas there are multiple shelters and services for the trans community.
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