Is J.K. Rowling Even a Feminist?
A response to Robin Dembroff.
In “Trans women are victims of misogyny, too...”, Robin Dembroff correctly argues that trans women, like cisgender women, experience misogyny [1]. Dembroff criticizes those who define womanhood based solely on biology and instead promotes mutual solidarity and understanding amongst all women.
However, my point of contention lies in the portrayal of the discourse on misogyny as a good-faith conversation between feminists and those labeled as trans-exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs). The idea that these groups are equally invested is flawed, and wrongly gives an impression of a feminist divide over the inclusion of trans women. By painting TERFs as misguided feminists, we overlook the damage they inflict on the trans community and the wider feminist movement. TERFs aren't just excluding trans women; they are fueling misogyny and patriarchy, which is harmful to all women.
What does Dembroff argue?
Dembroff asserts that patriarchy, the force behind misogyny, rests on three pillars:
1. Sex is unchanging and binary.
2. Males should be masculine, females feminine.
3. Masculinity is superior to femininity.
These beliefs sustain the marginalization and oppression of various groups, including trans and cis women, trans men, non-binary folks, and feminine men.
They argue that those who exclude trans women from the definition of womanhood actually bolster the patriarchal structures they claim to fight against. Such exclusion not only perpetuates harmful stereotypes but also undermines the aims of feminism.
What are TERFs?
TERFs are a subset of radical feminists who exclude trans women from their definition of womanhood. They believe gender is strictly defined by biological sex and view any challenge to this classification as a threat to feminism. They exclude trans women from feminist spaces and activism, arguing that their presence undermines the feminist movement.
The origins of these beliefs can be traced back to the second wave of feminism and the works of so-called ‘feminist’ thinkers like Janice Raymond and Sheila Jeffreys, who argue that the inclusion of trans women in feminism erodes the boundaries of womanhood and undermines women's rights [2].
J.K. Rowling and modern TERF-ism
In her manifesto “J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues,” Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling, articulates her ‘concerns’ about the impact of gender identity discourse on women's rights and the potential implications for the safety and well-being of women and girls [3]. In this piece, Rowling's views on transgender individuals come to the forefront, sparking considerable debate and controversy.
Regarding transgender women, Rowling has been quoted acknowledging their right to live free from discrimination and violence, but she has also argued that the push to recognize self-identified gender over biological sex may pose risks to cisgender women's safety and privacy. Trans activists have correctly argued that these concerns contribute to the stigmatization and marginalization of transgender people.
When it comes to transgender men, Rowling speculates that young AFAB people may be drawn to identifying as transgender as a means of escaping the limitations and expectations associated with traditional gender roles. She contends that these individuals might be better served by questioning and challenging societal norms surrounding gender, rather than pursuing medical interventions such as hormone therapy or surgery. This perspective minimizes the complexity and legitimacy of transgender experiences and obviously perpetuates harmful stereotypes about transgender men being ‘confused’ or ‘misguided.’
It seems intuitively true that Rowling’s beliefs about sex and gender align themselves clearly with TERF ideology. Specifically, modern TERF ideology and Rowling both hold that:
1. Sex is immutable and important, such that gender self-identification is not sufficient for group membership.
2. Cisgender women need to be protected from transgender people.
3. Gender-affirming care should be banned, especially for young children.
4. Transgender activism undermines women’s rights.
5. Inclusive language is harmful to women (e.g., “birthing person,” “people with uteruses,” “pregnant people,” and so on).
6. “Woman” refers only to cisgender women and trans women are a distinct category.
With all this to consider, one might start to wonder whether J.K. Rowling and her beliefs are even in line with feminism at all.
Is J.K. Rowling even a feminist?
Returning to Dembroff’s pillars of patriarchy, there's an unsettling alignment between these and the beliefs of TERFs. Both uphold the idea that sex is immutable and binary and that gender is not socially constructed. While TERFs might not believe overtly in the superiority of masculinity, Rowling’s stereotyping of trans men and women does raise questions about her true feminist leanings.
By labeling figures like Rowling as mere ‘concerned feminists,’ we distract from crucial issues that feminism need focus on—domestic violence, sexual assault, silencing, police brutality, abortion access, and so on. It is important for feminism to be a safe harbor for those harmed by patriarchy and to reject those it benefits. If that means a stricter definition of who is and isn't a feminist, then so be it.
A feminism that includes the likes of J.K. Rowling isn't one that can survive.
— C.
Notes:
[1] The Guardian (05/19): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/may/19/valerie-jackson-trans-women-misogyny-feminism
[2] The New Yorker (07/14): https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/08/04/woman-2
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