From having a well-documented history of liking TERF (Trans-exclusionary radical feminist) tweets to possibly writing transphobic satire, it’s not news that J.K. Rowling may herself be a TERF. Her TERF-ness is once again in the spotlight after she posted a series of extremely questionable tweets, starting with a sarcastic and transphobic “joke” in response to an article on Devex about people who menstruate.
‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?
Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate https://t.co/cVpZxG7gaA
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
This initial tweet itself gained a lot of backlash, with many people (especially trans folk) pointing out that not all who menstruate are women—and not all women menstruate, either. Some also pointed out that reducing womanhood to biological functions is against what feminism stands for. They also presented the fact that even cis women don’t bleed.
In a thread she wrote an hour after her initial tweet, Rowling went on about how erasing the concept of sex is also erasing the lived reality of women.
If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction. If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 6, 2020
Another issue regarding Rowling being a TERF surfaced in December 2019 when she stood in support of a sacked U.K. politician. Using #IStandWithMaya in her tweet, she questioned the need to fire women for stating that sex is real.
Editor’s note: Preen.ph does not support transphobia in any shape or form. We assert that trans women are women and that womanhood should not be reduced to having the biological functions (i.e the ability to menstruate and give birth)—something that hurts cis women, too.
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