I REALLY want to talk about Sall Grover and Tickle vs Giggle. This could be the event of the decade! Or century! Women either lose our rights to claim womanhood for our own or we have to allow men in. Legally. Internationally. This is HUGE in my opinion.
Thoughts? Implications for children and medicalization?
Mia Hughes' mention of apotemnophilia in a recent episode reminded me that I have a book recommendation for you all: Geek Love, by Katherine Dunn. It was published in the late 80s, and I remember the book making the rounds amongst my circle of friends back in high school, but I never got around to reading it until recently. It has proved to be prophetic in regard to what has happened with the gender movement, and reading it in light of that sometimes gave me chills!
It is about a family of circus performers in which the parents deliberately give their children birth defects so that they will be able to earn a living as "freaks" - but that is not even the part that reminds me so strongly of gender ideology. One of the children goes on to found a cult in which his followers willingly "shed" limbs (have them amputated) in order to achieve some kind of transcendence and move up in the hierarchy of the cult. As you might imagine, it is a pretty bizarre and twisted book and does not end very happily, but it's beautifully written and it is a moving, humanizing meditation on "differentness" in our society.
I'll end with a couple of quotes from it: “There are the those whose own vulgar normality is so apparent and stultifying that they strive to escape it. They affect flamboyant behaviour and claim originality according to the fashionable eccentricities of their time. They claim brains or talent or indifference to mores in desperate attempts to deny their own mediocrity.”
Also,
“The truth is always an insult or a joke. Lies are generally tastier. We love them. The nature of lies is to please. Truth has no concern for anyone’s comfort.”
I would really love to hear an interview with Emma Thomas. She is so thoughtful and I would love to hear Sasha and Stella's reflections on her experience of growing up as the child of a transgender father.
I'd also like to hear something about the experience of families where multiple children are deciding they are "trans" and even medicating. It was the shock of my life when I realised that there were families where not just one child but every child is doing this.
Hi, I’m new-ish to Gender a Wider Lens and SUPER new to Substack.
Well done for the bold work you’re doing.
I’m a trainee psychologist and in the process of pitching my research topic to my university. I was recommend to reach out to you as I’m hoping to conduct my research with detransitioners. I’d really welcome a couple of Wider Les podcast interviews with academics or students who have conducted or been prevented from conducting research in this area. I know of a couple of high profile cases - James Esses and Jo Phoenix. But I’m sure there are others.
Quick question - is this transgender day specifically targeting Easter Sunday? Or is that a coincidence as Easter is early this year.
Enjoy the spring flowers… London does still feel pretty cold, but I’m enjoying the signs of spring too!
Imagine this as a cover letter & resume for a trans activist: 17 years lived experience as a trans woman. Initiated full time cross living including legal name/identity change, employment 30 years ago (1994). After the then required 2 years cross living had Gender reassignment surgery 27 years ago (1997). Initially euphoric feeling on top of the world then slowly reality set in. Experienced intensified life long issues of social anxiety, acute shyness,guilt & inferiority complexes. Came to realize "legal" recognition as female as a burden rather than a solution;fighting for untruth. The scalpel and legally identifying as something I wasn't was an external attempt to solve internal problems.Restored born male identity to live in truth for remaining years of life. REPLY: REJECTED
I'm translating the WPATH files into Spanish. I have a reviewer for grammar, but so many words are new and utter nonsense - bigenitals, cisnormativity, etc. In any case, I will need a medical reviewer who is working in Latin America. Recommendations and connections are welcome!!!
I'm from France and I've been listening to your podcast for over a year now. I wish you would talk about how to navigate friends identifying as trans and "queer" social circles as a "gender critical" - for lack of better term. I'm in my twenties, my best friend started identifying as a man two years ago, self diagnosed with gender disphoria and is now planning a double mastectomy. I've also moved into a new town and I have great relationship with my roomate. Two of her close friend - who are adorable - are identifying as non-binary. One is a lesbien who medically transitionned (mastectomy + testosterone) and the other is a very normal young woman. They're about to get married. Also they're helping another twenty year old start testosterone. They're all very nice people and I can't stand the idea of losing my best friend. But I also can't be silent when I'm seeing and hearing harmful things being totally normalize and just plain nonsense ideology. And don't get me started on the feminist groups of my town who are all talking nonsense about trans and queer ideology. I wish there was an episode on this, because it's a real struggle for women of my generation.
1. Could the analogue for trans visibility day be common sense invisibility day? We do hear of perfectly well adjusted, clear thinking and fully realised trans people. Perhaps they can become allied to the cause of reasserting medical accountability and ethical practices in the dysphoric space.
2. Tickle v Giggle is hugely important in my opinion also. I am in Australia and only became aware of it through the new culture forum (NFC) with Peter Whittle.
I am new to the 'wider lens , and listened with much interest to the interview with Colin Wright. He was speaking about applying for jobs and being found perfectly respectable on all accounts for certain positions until reaching the HR stage of the process whereupon he was deemed unacceptable. Not sure if I am going off topic here but this link is an interesting one for insights into the "transition" of HR depts. and their role in creating a climate where lunacy can prevail (coincidentally, from the NCF also) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJz7aBFlygc
The podcast with Scarlet was great and I learned a lot. It was nice to hear from a boy who went through this. Do you have plans to have a guest who is a boy but not gay (but fits that socially awkward, brilliant, likely autistic characteristics)?
I need help! My son told us a year ago he thought he was trans, now tonight we find out that he is planning to transition. I am drowning. I need help. We have been going back and forth on text. He seems set. Spewing all the standard trans lines. Basically saying I have a chance to have a "true connection" with his "real self" . I told him I can't support men in women's spaces and he says "they aren't because transwomen are women". I can't go along with that. I know it to my core but he is threatening the relationship. What can I do? He is brilliant and an excellant debator and even thought I have learned so much over the years I am terrible at debating him. I NEED someone to talk to him, he blows past every thing I send him and discounts it. He was to see peer reviewed evidence that transition isn't the only thing that works. Please help me! Who can I connect him with? I am ok paying, I just need someone who can give him evidence and citations. Please help me before he goes farther down this rabbit hole!!!
HI, GWL Producer here. I am so sorry for what you're going through and totally understand your panic. From experience, there generally does not seem to be anyone that a parent can hire to just talk their kids out of this. And we can't really give individualized advice here in the comments section. If you'd like to set up a one-on-one with Sasha, she might be able to help you build a strategy. https://sashaayad.substack.com/p/book-a-consult-with-me
I'm also looking for recommendations for the best podcast recording or 5 to 10-page document that comprehensively tells the problems with social and medical transition and the impossibility of changing your gender. I'm so deep in this space but need something to share with beginners.
I REALLY want to talk about Sall Grover and Tickle vs Giggle. This could be the event of the decade! Or century! Women either lose our rights to claim womanhood for our own or we have to allow men in. Legally. Internationally. This is HUGE in my opinion.
Thoughts? Implications for children and medicalization?
We would love to hear more thoughts on this from our community, as well. Please, chime in everyone who is familiar with this case!
Mia Hughes' mention of apotemnophilia in a recent episode reminded me that I have a book recommendation for you all: Geek Love, by Katherine Dunn. It was published in the late 80s, and I remember the book making the rounds amongst my circle of friends back in high school, but I never got around to reading it until recently. It has proved to be prophetic in regard to what has happened with the gender movement, and reading it in light of that sometimes gave me chills!
It is about a family of circus performers in which the parents deliberately give their children birth defects so that they will be able to earn a living as "freaks" - but that is not even the part that reminds me so strongly of gender ideology. One of the children goes on to found a cult in which his followers willingly "shed" limbs (have them amputated) in order to achieve some kind of transcendence and move up in the hierarchy of the cult. As you might imagine, it is a pretty bizarre and twisted book and does not end very happily, but it's beautifully written and it is a moving, humanizing meditation on "differentness" in our society.
I'll end with a couple of quotes from it: “There are the those whose own vulgar normality is so apparent and stultifying that they strive to escape it. They affect flamboyant behaviour and claim originality according to the fashionable eccentricities of their time. They claim brains or talent or indifference to mores in desperate attempts to deny their own mediocrity.”
Also,
“The truth is always an insult or a joke. Lies are generally tastier. We love them. The nature of lies is to please. Truth has no concern for anyone’s comfort.”
I would really love to hear an interview with Emma Thomas. She is so thoughtful and I would love to hear Sasha and Stella's reflections on her experience of growing up as the child of a transgender father.
I'd also like to hear something about the experience of families where multiple children are deciding they are "trans" and even medicating. It was the shock of my life when I realised that there were families where not just one child but every child is doing this.
Emma Thomas will be coming on the show later this year! We are excited to speak with her. Thanks for your comment!
Your podcasts are great and I always look forward to listening to them each week.
Hi, I’m new-ish to Gender a Wider Lens and SUPER new to Substack.
Well done for the bold work you’re doing.
I’m a trainee psychologist and in the process of pitching my research topic to my university. I was recommend to reach out to you as I’m hoping to conduct my research with detransitioners. I’d really welcome a couple of Wider Les podcast interviews with academics or students who have conducted or been prevented from conducting research in this area. I know of a couple of high profile cases - James Esses and Jo Phoenix. But I’m sure there are others.
Quick question - is this transgender day specifically targeting Easter Sunday? Or is that a coincidence as Easter is early this year.
Enjoy the spring flowers… London does still feel pretty cold, but I’m enjoying the signs of spring too!
TDV is always on March 31st. So it’s truly just a coincidence that it’s on Easter Sunday.
Imagine this as a cover letter & resume for a trans activist: 17 years lived experience as a trans woman. Initiated full time cross living including legal name/identity change, employment 30 years ago (1994). After the then required 2 years cross living had Gender reassignment surgery 27 years ago (1997). Initially euphoric feeling on top of the world then slowly reality set in. Experienced intensified life long issues of social anxiety, acute shyness,guilt & inferiority complexes. Came to realize "legal" recognition as female as a burden rather than a solution;fighting for untruth. The scalpel and legally identifying as something I wasn't was an external attempt to solve internal problems.Restored born male identity to live in truth for remaining years of life. REPLY: REJECTED
I'm translating the WPATH files into Spanish. I have a reviewer for grammar, but so many words are new and utter nonsense - bigenitals, cisnormativity, etc. In any case, I will need a medical reviewer who is working in Latin America. Recommendations and connections are welcome!!!
I'm from France and I've been listening to your podcast for over a year now. I wish you would talk about how to navigate friends identifying as trans and "queer" social circles as a "gender critical" - for lack of better term. I'm in my twenties, my best friend started identifying as a man two years ago, self diagnosed with gender disphoria and is now planning a double mastectomy. I've also moved into a new town and I have great relationship with my roomate. Two of her close friend - who are adorable - are identifying as non-binary. One is a lesbien who medically transitionned (mastectomy + testosterone) and the other is a very normal young woman. They're about to get married. Also they're helping another twenty year old start testosterone. They're all very nice people and I can't stand the idea of losing my best friend. But I also can't be silent when I'm seeing and hearing harmful things being totally normalize and just plain nonsense ideology. And don't get me started on the feminist groups of my town who are all talking nonsense about trans and queer ideology. I wish there was an episode on this, because it's a real struggle for women of my generation.
Two thoughts.
1. Could the analogue for trans visibility day be common sense invisibility day? We do hear of perfectly well adjusted, clear thinking and fully realised trans people. Perhaps they can become allied to the cause of reasserting medical accountability and ethical practices in the dysphoric space.
2. Tickle v Giggle is hugely important in my opinion also. I am in Australia and only became aware of it through the new culture forum (NFC) with Peter Whittle.
I am new to the 'wider lens , and listened with much interest to the interview with Colin Wright. He was speaking about applying for jobs and being found perfectly respectable on all accounts for certain positions until reaching the HR stage of the process whereupon he was deemed unacceptable. Not sure if I am going off topic here but this link is an interesting one for insights into the "transition" of HR depts. and their role in creating a climate where lunacy can prevail (coincidentally, from the NCF also) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJz7aBFlygc
The podcast with Scarlet was great and I learned a lot. It was nice to hear from a boy who went through this. Do you have plans to have a guest who is a boy but not gay (but fits that socially awkward, brilliant, likely autistic characteristics)?
You will definitely want to listen to our interview with Sascha Bailey! It drops tomorrow.
I need help! My son told us a year ago he thought he was trans, now tonight we find out that he is planning to transition. I am drowning. I need help. We have been going back and forth on text. He seems set. Spewing all the standard trans lines. Basically saying I have a chance to have a "true connection" with his "real self" . I told him I can't support men in women's spaces and he says "they aren't because transwomen are women". I can't go along with that. I know it to my core but he is threatening the relationship. What can I do? He is brilliant and an excellant debator and even thought I have learned so much over the years I am terrible at debating him. I NEED someone to talk to him, he blows past every thing I send him and discounts it. He was to see peer reviewed evidence that transition isn't the only thing that works. Please help me! Who can I connect him with? I am ok paying, I just need someone who can give him evidence and citations. Please help me before he goes farther down this rabbit hole!!!
HI, GWL Producer here. I am so sorry for what you're going through and totally understand your panic. From experience, there generally does not seem to be anyone that a parent can hire to just talk their kids out of this. And we can't really give individualized advice here in the comments section. If you'd like to set up a one-on-one with Sasha, she might be able to help you build a strategy. https://sashaayad.substack.com/p/book-a-consult-with-me
I'm also looking for recommendations for the best podcast recording or 5 to 10-page document that comprehensively tells the problems with social and medical transition and the impossibility of changing your gender. I'm so deep in this space but need something to share with beginners.
Check out this playlist on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLngVCeAoK6vsd4GARG3p6nkageVJhdyj9 Also, look for Sasha's recent appearance on Meghan Daum. Meghan is good at asking "lay person" questions and so this episode could serve as a good primer.