Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality

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Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality
Trans When Ideology Meets Reality cover.jpg
Author Helen Joyce
Audio read by Helen Joyce
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Subject Gender studies
Publisher Oneworld Publications, Simon & Schuster
Publication date
July 2021
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback)
Ebook
Audiobook
ISBN 978-0-86154-049-5
OCLC 1264139440

Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality is a 2021 nonfiction book by journalist and gender critical activist Helen Joyce that criticizes the transgender rights movement and transgender activism. It is published by Oneworld Publications, their fifth book in the Sunday Times bestseller list. [1] [2] Reviews of the book ranged from positive ( The Times , The Telegraph ) to critical ( The Guardian , Publishers Weekly ). In 2023 it was shortlisted for the John Maddox Prize. [3]

Contents

Summary

Joyce writes that the book is about the idea "that people should count as men or women according to how they feel and what they declare, instead of their biology", describes this as gender identity replacing sex, and says this has "far-reaching consequences". Joyce states the book is not about transgender people, but about the lobbying of trans activism. [4] : intro. 

She begins by recounting a history of transgender identity. She describes the gender transitions of Lili Elbe and Christine Jorgensen, as well as influential researchers Magnus Hirschfeld, Harry Benjamin, and John Money, stating that these researchers all had unscientific beliefs about the nature of sex. [4] : ch. 1  She next discusses Blanchard's typology, in which trans women are classified into androphilic and autogynephilic types, and Anne Lawrence's research into the accounts of other self-identified autogynephiles. She next discusses the popularization of this research in The Man Who Would Be Queen , and the ensuing controversy. [4] : ch. 2  While agreeing with the existence of gender dysphoria, she criticizes the concept of gender identity, calling it a "sexed soul" and a form of mind–body dualism, and criticizes activists that state that being male or female has nothing to do with the physical body. She states that the concept is intellectually rooted in postmodernist philosophy, and gives rebuttals to arguments that sex is too complicated or socially constructed to be useful. [4] : ch. 3 

She next relates various academic debates around the treatment of gender dysphoria in children. She criticizes the "gender affirmative" approach and argues that puberty blockers "block the developmental process whereby gender dysphoria often resolves", and argues this leads to lifelong health issues. [4] : ch. 4  She endorses the concept of rapid onset gender dysphoria, and compares it to past psychological social contagions and to culture-bound syndromes. She also relates the experiences of several detransitioners. [4] : ch. 5  She criticizes educational materials for children as equating non-conformity to gender stereotypes with being trans. She also argues that, as happened in the 1970s, activists are being careless about the safeguarding of children from sexual abuse. [4] : ch. 6 

She argues that most feminism has become disconnected from issues related to female embodiment, and has become unable to even name them. She criticizes the asymmetry between how gender and race are viewed, and argues that lesbians have come under particular pressure to accept unwanted sexual partners. [4] : ch. 7  She relates the legal cases of Jessica Yaniv, and argues they illustrate the weaknesses of gender self-identification policies. She states that single-sex spaces like changing rooms, domestic violence shelters, and prisons are now such in name only, and that this has led to adverse consequences. [4] : ch. 8  She relates various controversies and research related to transgender people in sports. [4] : ch. 9 

She discusses the recent history of transgender activism in the United States, and makes a case for why the political left there has become an especially strong proponent of it. [4] : ch. 10  She argues that gender self-identification in law infringes on the rights of others and has often been put into place without the general public knowing what is happening or supporting the consequences. She says it has been supported by billionaires and that there is a potential for conflicts of interest between researchers and those who profit from gender medicine. [4] : ch. 11  She criticizes many journalists, social media sites, universities, and other organizations as captured by transgender activism. [4] : ch. 12  She discusses recent successful resistance in the UK to gender self-identification, as well as Maya Forstater's legal case and the founding of the LGB Alliance. She makes a case for why a "secular, feminist resistance" appeared in the UK rather than somewhere else. [4] : ch. 13 

She argues that gender self-identification will not grow to widespread acceptance as same-sex marriage did, and suggests that preference falsification and pluralistic ignorance may be currently at play. She makes suggestions for how to recognize sex when it matters and also accommodate transgender people. She concludes by calling for more negotiation, for more listening, and a recommitment to freedom of belief and of speech. [4] : concl. 

Reception

Fiction author Lionel Shriver told The Times that Helen Joyce expected a "rough ride" when planning the book, and met with some reluctance when selling the book. [1] Joyce is often described as a "gender critical" feminist and has met some controversy over the presentation of ideas in the book. [5] In 2022, a lecture by Joyce at the University of Cambridge was boycotted by several professors concerned about some of Joyce's positions, [6] including a college master who described the views expressed in Joyce's book as "offensive, insulting and hateful to members of our community who live and work here". [7] [6] The boycott was protested by alumni and donors who threatened to pull their donations and said they would not donate any further without a formal apology. [7] The event was not cancelled and went on as planned in November 2022. [6]

Reviews

In The Times , David Aaronovitch wrote that Joyce examines "a new ideology about gender." He commended the book for "its intellectual clarity and its refusal to compromise", and stated Joyce "takes apart this ideology of gender with a cold rigour." [8]

In The Telegraph , Kathleen Stock, professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex, and author of Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism , gave the book 5 out of 5 stars. She called it a "superlative critical analysis of trans activism" and said that "Joyce shows an impressive capacity to handle complex statistics, legal statutes, and other bits of evidence without losing clarity or narrative drive." She states that Joyce "deals with the philosophical contradictions of gender identity ideology briskly but efficiently", and that she describes harm being brought "on children, women, gay people, autistic people, and on trans people themselves." [9]

In The Guardian , Gaby Hinsliff reviewed it alongside Material Girls. Hinsliff comments on the thesis defended by Joyce's book, mentioning it has seen some anecdotal support, but spends most of the review criticizing "some curious holes" present in the work. For Hinsliff, the book spends too much time on "contentious speculation about what makes people trans" instead of focusing on presenting the point of view from "policymakers, activists, the ordinary trans people [Joyce] considers misrepresented". Hinsliff also argues that Joyce's refusal to acknowledge the "fundamental conflicts" between many trans women fearing violence in men's changing rooms and some women feeling less safe in their presence "precludes finding solutions." She considered Material Girls to handle the topic better. [10]

Stella O'Malley reviewed the book in the Evening Standard , praising its writing style, and stating that Joyce "goes through every issue related to trans activism and, painstakingly, piece by piece, she takes a scalpel to it." She calls the book a must-read for those who want "to gain a deep understanding of the issues related to trans activism". [11]

In the New Statesman , Louise Perry discusses both Trans and Material Girls, calling them "incisive, compassionate and nuanced". She states that Trans "provides a political account of the points of contention between the trans movement and feminists." She suggests that the success of both books indicates an upwards "respectability cascade" for gender-critical feminism. [12] In the same publication, Sophie McBain gave a comparative review of The Transgender Issue and Trans, a contrast present in many reviews of the former, concluding that "if you find yourself nodding in agreement with Helen Joyce, I can only recommend that the next writer you read is Shon Faye". [13]

In The Scotsman , Susan Dalgety recommended the book and called it a "searing analysis of the transgender debate". [14]

Publishers Weekly criticized the book as "alarmist" and a "one-sided takedown" that comes up short. The review argued that Joyce did not speak to people who have happily transitioned and that she does not present statistics about how many people regret their surgical and hormonal treatments. [15]

In reviewing Trans for The New York Times in September 2021, journalist Jesse Singal called it an "intelligent, thorough rejoinder to an idea that has swept across much of the liberal world seemingly overnight." He also states that "here and there, I found myself wishing for a bit more nuance", pointing to an instance of not accurately rendering opponents' arguments, calling its narrative of radical activists having nearly routed sober-minded scientists "a bit too tidy", and saying it is "very thin on citations." Nevertheless, he concludes that Trans "is a compelling, overdue argument for viewing self-ID more critically." [16]

For Critical Legal Thinking, law professor Alex Sharpe described the book as 'zealous' in contrast to Stock's 'forensic' approach in Material Girls, and went on the argue that "It is poorly referenced, contains a great deal of anecdote, draws conclusions barely supported by evidence, fails to weigh evidence properly, or to consider fully or at all counter evidence even where such evidence accords with medical or other consensus". Sharpe goes on to take issue with a number of points Joyce raises, including the link between autogynephilia and transsexuality; the proportion of children experiencing gender dysphoria who go on to become trans adults, where she argues Joyce has confused gender noncomformity with gender dysphoria; Joyce's reference to the controversial theory of rapid onset gender dysphoria; and Joyce's claims that 'a few wealthy people', including George Soros, influence the global agenda with regards to trans rights. [17]

Aaron Rabinowitz, writing for The Skeptic , [18] criticised Joyce for her repeating activist Jennifer Bilek's claims that a cabal of Jewish billionaires fund the transgender rights movement through contributions to organisations such as Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union. [19] Joyce published a rebuttal to these allegations, writing that she had been "subjected to a smear campaign... because that’s what happens to anyone who publicly dissents from gender-identity ideology—the notion that what makes you a man or woman isn’t your immutable biology, but what you declare yourself to be." She rejected accusations of antisemitism, saying "I didn't deliberately select three Jewish donors; it never occurred to me to think about their religions. Two of the three, it turns out, are indeed Jewish, though that is not something I mention in my book because it is utterly irrelevant." Joyce denied plagiarism, denounced Bilek for antisemitism and reiterated the thesis of her book. She also corrected a claim about a donation made by Open Society Foundation; the donation was to a similarly named group which also advocated for gender self-identification. [20]

Sales

The book debuted at number 7 on The Sunday Times list of bestselling general hardbacks. [2]

Audiobook

Oneworld Publications published it as their first audiobook, after the offer was not picked up by any existing audiobook company. [21] [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

Gender dysphoria (GD) is the distress a person experiences due to a mismatch between their gender identity—their personal sense of their own gender—and their sex assigned at birth. The term replaced the previous diagnostic label of gender identity disorder (GID) in 2013 with the release of the diagnostic manual DSM-5. The condition was renamed to remove the stigma associated with the term disorder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transfeminism</span> Branch of feminism

Transfeminism, or trans feminism, is a branch of feminism focused on transgender women and informed by transgender studies. Transfeminism focuses on the effects of transmisogyny and patriarchy on trans women. It is related to the broader field of queer theory. The term was popularized by Emi Koyama in The Transfeminist Manifesto.

The American-Canadian sexologist Ray Blanchard proposed a psychological typology of gender dysphoria, transsexualism, and fetishistic transvestism in a series of academic papers through the 1980s and 1990s. Building on the work of earlier researchers, including his colleague Kurt Freund, Blanchard categorized trans women into two groups: homosexual transsexuals who are attracted exclusively to men and are feminine in both behavior and appearance; and autogynephilic transsexuals who experience sexual arousal at the idea of having a female body. Blanchard and his supporters argue that the typology explains differences between the two groups in childhood gender nonconformity, sexual orientation, history of sexual fetishism, and age of transition.

Feminist views on transgender topics vary widely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TERF (acronym)</span> Acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist

TERF is an acronym for trans-exclusionary radical feminist. First recorded in 2008, the term TERF was originally used to distinguish transgender-inclusive feminists from a group of radical feminists and social conservatives who reject the position that trans women are women, including trans women in women's spaces, and transgender rights legislation. Trans-inclusive feminists assert that these ideas and positions are transphobic and discriminatory towards transgender people. The use of the term TERF has since broadened to include reference to people with trans-exclusionary views who are not necessarily involved with radical feminism.

Detransition is the cessation or reversal of a transgender identification or of gender transition, temporarily or permanently, through social, legal, and/or medical means. The term is distinct from the concept of 'regret', and the decision may be based on a shift in gender identity, or other reasons, such as health concerns, social pressure, or discrimination and stigma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meghan Murphy</span> Canadian feminist and journalist

Meghan Emily Murphy is a Canadian writer, journalist, and founder of Feminist Current, a feminist website and podcast. Her writing, speeches, and talks have criticized third-wave feminism, male feminists, the sex industry, exploitation of women in mass media, censorship, and gender identity legislation. She is based in Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debra Soh</span> Canadian sex researcher

Debra W. Soh is a Canadian columnist, author, and former academic sex researcher.

Rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD) is a controversial, scientifically unsupported hypothesis which claims that some adolescents identify as transgender and experience gender dysphoria due to peer influence and social contagion. ROGD is not recognized as a valid mental health diagnosis by any major professional association, which discourage its use due to a lack of reputable scientific evidence for the concept, major methodological issues in existing research, and its stigmatization of gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The paper initially proposing the concept was based on surveys of parents of transgender youth recruited from three anti-trans websites; following its publication, it was re-reviewed and a correction was issued highlighting that ROGD is not a clinically validated phenomenon. Since the paper's publication, the concept has frequently been cited in legislative attempts to restrict the rights of transgender youth.

Transmedicalism is the idea that being transgender is primarily a medical issue related to the incongruence between an individual's assigned sex at birth and their gender identity, characterized by gender dysphoria. There are divides and debates within the transmedicalist community on the exact definition of who is or is not transgender. Many transmedicalists believe individuals who identify as transgender without experiencing gender dysphoria or desiring to undergo a medical transition through methods such as hormone replacement therapy or sex reassignment surgery are not genuinely transgender. They may also exclude those who identify themselves as non-binary from the trans label.

<i>Irreversible Damage</i> 2020 book by Abigail Shrier

Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters is a 2020 book by Abigail Shrier, published by Regnery Publishing, which endorses the controversial concept of rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD). ROGD is not recognized as a medical diagnosis by any major professional institution nor is it backed by credible scientific evidence.

Maya Forstater is a British business studies and international development researcher who was the claimant in Forstater v Centre for Global Development Europe. The case established that gender critical views are protected as a belief under the Equality Act 2010, while stating that the judgment does not permit misgendering transgender people with impunity. At a subsequent full merits hearing, the Employment Tribunal upheld Forstater's case, concluding that she had suffered direct discrimination on the basis of her gender critical beliefs. The judgement for remedies was handed down in June 2023, with Forstater awarded compensation of £91,500 for loss of earnings, injury to feelings and aggravated damages, with an additional £14,900 added as interest.

<i>When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment</i> 2018 book by Ryan T. Anderson

When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment is a book critical of modern transgender rights and certain treatments for gender dysphoria, written by the socially conservative political philosopher Ryan T. Anderson and published by Encounter Books in 2018. The book focuses on the cultural and political debates surrounding transgender identity, with a particular focus on criticizing what the author describes as "transgender ideology".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helen Joyce</span> Irish journalist and author

Helen Joyce is an Irish journalist and gender critical activist. She studied as a mathematician and worked in academia before becoming a journalist. Joyce began working for The Economist as education correspondent for its Britain section in 2005 and has since held several senior positions, including finance editor and international editor. She published her book Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transgender Trend</span> British pressure group

Transgender Trend is an anti-trans British pressure group, which describes itself as a group of parents, professionals and academics who are concerned about the number of children diagnosed with gender dysphoria. It was founded in 2015 by Stephanie Davies-Arai.

<i>The Transgender Issue</i> 2021 non-fiction book by Shon Faye

The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice is a 2021 non-fiction book by Shon Faye on the subject of transgender liberation in the United Kingdom. Faye explores how issues of social class, employment and housing insecurity, police violence and prisons, and sex work affect transgender people. She aims to make a left-wing argument for how transgender liberation would improve society more widely. Faye, a professional journalist, wrote the book largely in the first English COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. She drew from Revolting Prostitutes and Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race in her writing, while reviews frequently contrasted it with Helen Joyce's Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality, which was published in the same year. It became a bestseller in The Sunday Times.

Stella O'Malley is an Irish psychotherapist and author, with three books on parenting and mental health. She is a regular contributor to Irish national newspapers, podcasts, and TV. She made a documentary about gender dysphoria in children for Channel 4, and is the founder of Genspect, a self-described gender critical organisation opposed to gender affirming care.

Gender-critical feminism, also known as trans-exclusionary radical feminism or TERFism, is an ideology or movement that opposes what it refers to as "gender ideology": the concept of gender identity and transgender rights, especially gender self-identification. Gender-critical feminists believe that sex is biological and immutable, while believing gender, including both gender identity and gender roles, to be inherently oppressive. They reject the concept of transgender identities. These views have been described as transphobic by feminist and scholarly critics, and are opposed by many feminist and LGBT rights organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genspect</span> Organization opposing transgender rights

Genspect is an international group founded in June 2021 by psychotherapist Stella O'Malley that has been described as gender-critical. Genspect opposes gender-affirming care, as well as social and medical transition for transgender people. Genspect opposes allowing transgender people under 25 years old to transition, and opposes laws that would ban conversion therapy on the basis of gender identity. Genspect also endorses the unproven concept of rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD), which proposes a subclass of gender dysphoria caused by peer influence and social contagion. ROGD has been rejected by major medical organisations due to its lack of evidence and likelihood to cause harm by stigmatizing gender-affirming care.

Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism is a 2021 book by Kathleen Stock which explores issues related to transgender civil rights and feminism. The book reached number 13 on the UK list of best selling non-fiction charts.

References

  1. 1 2 Shriver, Lionel (6 August 2021). "Trans purity test has lost touch with reality". The Times . Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021. An initially interested literary agent who considered her proposal "well-argued", "persuasive" and "timely" eventually demurred that Joyce would need an advocate to "weather the storm that publishing this book will create. I am sorry to say that I am not that person." One sceptical British editor wrote, "Debate over trans issues is incredibly polarised and siloed, and if we are going to torch our own credentials as woke members in good standing we would prefer to do it for a book that has some chance of selling."
  2. 1 2 "The Sunday Times Bestsellers List—the UK's definitive book sales chart". The Sunday Times . 23 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "2023 Maddox Prize". Sense about Science. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Joyce, Helen (15 July 2021). Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality. London: Oneworld Publications.
  5. ↑ Somerville, Ewan (25 October 2022). "Cambridge faculty apologises for 'distressing' emails about gender ideology talk". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Somerville, Ewan (5 November 2022). "Cambridge college master emails alumni after donors pull funding over her criticism of gender-critical speaker". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  7. 1 2 Woolcock, Nicola (12 November 2022). "Cambridge don 'blocked publicity' for Helen Joyce gender talk". The Times. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  8. ↑ Aaronovitch, David (16 July 2021). "Trans by Helen Joyce review—Women exist! The facts of biology trump ideology" . The Times . Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Stock, Kathleen (18 July 2021). "Toddlers transitioning, male rapists in women's prisons: this is the book you need to read about trans activism". The Telegraph . Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  10. ↑ Hinsliff, Gaby (18 July 2021). "Trans by Helen Joyce; Material Girls by Kathleen Stock – reviews". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  11. ↑ O'Malley, Stella (12 July 2021). "Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality by Helen Joyce review: A tour de force". Evening Standard . Archived from the original on 12 July 2021.
  12. ↑ Perry, Louise (July 2021). "It's still possible to "cancel" gender-critical feminists, but this strategy won't work". New Statesman . Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  13. ↑ McBain, Sophie (16 September 2021). "How to talk about trans rights". New Statesman . Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  14. ↑ Dalgety, Susan (16 July 2021). "Dear Nicola Sturgeon, please read this plea from a sister feminist about the trans debate – Susan Dalgety". The Scotsman . Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  15. ↑ "Nonfiction Book Review: Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality by Helen Joyce". Publishers Weekly . Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  16. ↑ Singal, Jesse (7 September 2021). "Trans Rights and Gender Identity". The New York Times . Archived from the original on 7 September 2021.
  17. ↑ Sharpe, Alex (8 October 2021). "Review of Helen Joyce's Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality and Kathleen Stock's Material Girls: Why Reality Matters for Feminism". Critical Legal Thinking. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  18. ↑ Rabinowitz, Aaron (25 February 2022). "Fears of creeping transhumanism give space for overt conspiracism in Gender Critical communities". The Skeptic . Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  19. ↑ Joyce, Helen (2021). Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality. London: Oneworld Publications, Simon & Schuster. p. 227. ISBN   9780861540495. OCLC   1236260329.
  20. ↑ Joyce, Helen (27 July 2021). "A rebuttal". Helen Joyce. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  21. ↑ Joyce, Helen (25 October 2022). "Helen Joyce in conversation with Sir Partha Dasgupta, Caius College Cambridge, 25 October 2022". YouTube (Interview). Interviewed by Partha Dasgupta. 00:21:51. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  22. ↑ Joyce, Helen (5 July 2022). "Trans: When Ideology Meets Reality (Helen Joyce)". YouTube (Interview). Interviewed by Michael Shermer. 00:22:31. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
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