Thank you for this kind reflection on your second pregnancy, mum bloggers and Heather and her blog. I’ve never heard of Heather before. I like your last line, that’s a good philosophy to hold on to, I reckon
Thank you for this. So much resonates. Yes to the contrast between (assumed) insights and reactions, and how useful it can be when we notice them. It feels like the end of an era.
I’ve read you for many years. More than I did Dooce. But I’ve changed. I cannot understand how feminists and the left—groups I was always a part of—have so thoroughly lost their minds. Recoiling in horror that girls are having their healthy breasts surgically removed is what made me see Dooce as the ultimate truth-teller and she paid dearly. She truly understood that we are living through a mass psychosis and medical sandal. I’m so glad she posted THAT post. One day you will realize it’s not ok to help children hate themselves, especially gay or autistic ones. No child is born in the wrong body.
You don't feel this is a bit of an over-simplification? There is a big range of services under the banner of 'gender affirming care' for young people - some of it medical, some of it therapeutic, some of it procedural. Do people who liked Armstrong's post really oppose all of these? And if not, then the level of insensitivity shown in that post (which, I really don't want to attack, because as I said in my newsletter, I read that post as private journal writing that was published in a moment of poor judgement and I don't want to attach a lot of significance to it) .. is super unproductive. In Australia, the laws provide numerous restrictions on the medical treatment transgender children can access. I don't think it is helpful when people collapse this entire discussion into generalisations about the most serious medical interventions - because it becomes a big angry response to something that is far more complex and varied. Of all the parents I personally know who have children exploring or fully coming out as transgender, and it's quite a number, only one of them has talked about puberty blockers, none of them have talked about surgery. I think this is a time and space in parenting where calmness and compassion are essential.
Thank you for this kind reflection on your second pregnancy, mum bloggers and Heather and her blog. I’ve never heard of Heather before. I like your last line, that’s a good philosophy to hold on to, I reckon
Thank you for this. So much resonates. Yes to the contrast between (assumed) insights and reactions, and how useful it can be when we notice them. It feels like the end of an era.
Oh goodness me, I thought for a second you were responding to me and I was so confused! But I think you are responding to the commenter after me?
Oh my god, sorry.
I’ve read you for many years. More than I did Dooce. But I’ve changed. I cannot understand how feminists and the left—groups I was always a part of—have so thoroughly lost their minds. Recoiling in horror that girls are having their healthy breasts surgically removed is what made me see Dooce as the ultimate truth-teller and she paid dearly. She truly understood that we are living through a mass psychosis and medical sandal. I’m so glad she posted THAT post. One day you will realize it’s not ok to help children hate themselves, especially gay or autistic ones. No child is born in the wrong body.
You don't feel this is a bit of an over-simplification? There is a big range of services under the banner of 'gender affirming care' for young people - some of it medical, some of it therapeutic, some of it procedural. Do people who liked Armstrong's post really oppose all of these? And if not, then the level of insensitivity shown in that post (which, I really don't want to attack, because as I said in my newsletter, I read that post as private journal writing that was published in a moment of poor judgement and I don't want to attach a lot of significance to it) .. is super unproductive. In Australia, the laws provide numerous restrictions on the medical treatment transgender children can access. I don't think it is helpful when people collapse this entire discussion into generalisations about the most serious medical interventions - because it becomes a big angry response to something that is far more complex and varied. Of all the parents I personally know who have children exploring or fully coming out as transgender, and it's quite a number, only one of them has talked about puberty blockers, none of them have talked about surgery. I think this is a time and space in parenting where calmness and compassion are essential.