J.K. ROWLING, TRANSGENDERISM, AND CANCEL CULTURE
Key Facts
On June 6, 2020, J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, tweeted about an op-ed piece entitled “Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.” Rowling, an avowed feminist, commented, “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” She was harshly criticized for this and became a target of cancel culture. [1]
She has also been criticized for defending Maya Forstater, a British woman who lost her job for saying that people cannot change their biological sex. [2]
On June 10, 2020, Rowling wrote an essay responding to much of the criticism that she received. [3]
In December 2020, Rowling’s essay was nominated by the BBC for a Russell Prize for Best Writing, stating that “Offence is the price of free speech.” [4]
Key Scriptures
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Matthew 19:4-5 “He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? “
1 Peter 3:7 “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”
Want to Know More?
J.K. Rowling - Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues
Glamour Magazine - A Complete Breakdown of the J.K. Rowling Transgender-Comments Controversy
Associated Press - JK Rowling’s tweets on transgender people spark outrage
dw.com - BBC nominates J.K. Rowling's controversial essay on trans rights for award
The Gospel Coalition - What Does the Bible Say About Transgenderism?
Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission - What J.K. Rowling can teach us about standing firm among the crowds
Application
Recently, J.K. Rowling, the acclaimed author of the Harry Potter book series, received an award from the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) for an essay she wrote on sex and gender issues. The essay, written back in June 2020, detailed her position on transgenderism and the effects of erasing the factual basis for biological sex.
What Led to this Essay?
In the essay, Rowling details the history of her conflict with transgender activists. Initially, she was doing research on transgenderism for a character she was writing about for a new book. As a part of this research, she was taking screenshots of different Twitter comments about transgenderism. On one occasion, she had accidentally “liked” a tweet instead of taking a screenshot. She remarks, “That single ‘like’ was deemed evidence of wrongthink, and a persistent low level of harassment began.” Later, she then began following a lesbian on Twitter who “was a great believer in the importance of biological sex, and didn’t believe lesbians should be called bigots for not dating trans women with penises.” Again, she was harshly criticized for doing so.
Then Rowling received more negative attention when she came out in support of Maya Forstarter in late 2019, who was fired from her job for saying that people cannot change their biological sex. Rowling says, “I must have been on my fourth or fifth cancellation by then.” She stayed off of Twitter for several months after that, returning again this past summer to promote a free children’s book she had written for the pandemic. Again, trans activists “swarmed” her timeline, now giving her the label TERF (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist).
During this time, she commented on an article referring to women as “people who menstruate.” She said, “‘People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” Concerning this, she wrote in her essay that, “The ‘inclusive’ language that calls female people ‘menstruators’ and ‘people with vulvas’ strikes many women as dehumanising and demeaning. I understand why trans activists consider this language to be appropriate and kind, but for those of us who’ve had degrading slurs spat at us by violent men, it’s not neutral, it’s hostile and alienating.”
She again was “canceled” for these comments even while receiving widespread praise and support from others, including trans people. However, in light of the mounting criticism, on June 10, she penned the essay explaining her thoughts in greater detail and gave more context for her comments.
What is the Point of the Essay?
In addition to detailing what events led her to write the essay, her main argument lists some of the conflicts and dangers that many transgender activists pose to what it means to be a woman. As an avowed feminist, she has long been involved with women’s causes and charities. Like many other feminists, she fears that if the definition of a woman becomes so flexible and disconnected from biology, it could make any gains and protections made for women meaningless. Though she would consider herself a supporter of transgender men and women, such support should not come at the expense of cisgender women (those who are born women and identify as women). Concerning the controversy around transgender women and bathrooms, she wrote,
“So I want trans women to be safe. At the same time, I do not want to make natal girls and women less safe. When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman---and, as I’ve said, gender confirmation certificates may now be granted without any need for surgery or hormones---then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside. That is the simple truth.”
Because of these statements, she has been the subject to cancel culture. Many have criticized her, including many of the actors from the Harry Potter movies.
What Does the Bible Say?
The Bible is clear that in the beginning, God created us male and female (Genesis 1:27). This is something which Jesus reaffirms in the New Testament (Matthew 19:4). Being male and female is deeply connected to our bodies, as this distinction is directly tied to procreation (Genesis 1:28, Matthew 19:5). Unlike what our culture tells us, gender is not on a spectrum but is binary.
Scripture is also concerned about how we express our gender through external appearances like our clothing or our hair (Deuteronomy 22:5, 1 Corinthians 11:14-15). Of course, many of the standards of how one expresses their masculinity and femininity can vary with culture, but no matter the culture, the distinction between male and female is usually apparent. If God is concerned about what we do with our clothing and hair as it pertains to our gender, then he is certainly concerned about what we do with our other body parts as well. Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and that we are to glorify God with our bodies because we were “bought with a price” by Jesus’ sacrifice (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). While Christians must make extraordinary efforts to walk alongside those struggling with gender dysphoria (those who feel discomfort from their gender identity differing from their biological sex), we must also stand upon the truth that God created us male and female.
Next, Christians should be wary of cancel culture. As was mentioned in our article on the subject, even though it can be well-intended, it has several weaknesses: it is often reactionary, vindictive, goes against biblical principles of justice, grace, and forgiveness. The way J.K. Rowling has been treated serves as a good example of how vicious cancel culture can be, even though she made many efforts to try and be nuanced and diplomatic about her position.
Lastly, Christians can learn from J.K Rowling’s example of not caving in to pressure and popular opinion. Our culture is increasingly becoming more secular and Christian values are holding less sway than they used to. We should be prepared to give an answer for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15) while speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) about tough issues like gender and sexuality.
Conclusion
While Christians may not agree with many of the things J.K Rowling believes, we should be grateful that she is standing up for the truth that biological sex is a meaningful human quality and should not be dismissed. Ignoring these realities will only lead to harm towards women. Christians must hold fast to the truths of God’s Word about sex and gender while striving to walk alongside those who struggle with gender dysphoria. No matter what sin we wrestle against, all Christians should seek to glorify God with our bodies.