For an author whose magnum opus has been teaching children about overcoming oppression, intolerance, and discrimination for over a decade, J.K. Rowling’s latest stance on the transgender community has ignited a fiery conversation online. Over the weekend, Rowling tweeted about an article that used the term “people who menstruate” in the place of “women”, separating menstruation from inherent womanhood. Rowling went on to criticize this concept, insinuating that the measure erases the idea of sex, and therefore the female experience.
“I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives,” she wrote in a string of tweets.
This is not the first time that the Harry Potter writer has come under fire for her opinions on ideas of sex and gender, having previously been criticized for her support of Maya Forstater, the researcher who ultimately lost her job for her belief that biological sex cannot be changed. Rowling tweeted in support of Fortstater’s ideology, and has been condemned since.
But why is such a prolific author tackling such a divisive issue on her platform? While Rowling does try to impress that her heart is in the right place, as she claims she supports each trans person’s right to live how they see fit, her argument has been considered hugely problematic. What has worried many is the potential Rowling’s opinion has to harm a marginalized community, particularly in consideration of the youth of current Potter readers, many of whom may be transgender themselves. A voice as loud and respected as Rowling’s amplifying an opinion that has the capacity to insult or offend an entire community is no small matter.
Harry Potter, as a series, has been criticized for a similar issue with marginalized representation, with concerns regarding the only Asian character being named Cho Chang, and the Irish character having an affinity for blowing things up (Ireland’s ‘Troubles‘ were still ongoing when the first book was published). Moreover, the story’s goblin portrayal has been lauded as anti-semitic for years.
What is particularly puzzling about the situation as a whole is that Rowling knows that this will result in a huge amount of backlash. At best, it starts up a conversation, at worst, it causes a plummet in sales and removes a huge portion of her fanbase and readership. Why would anyone want to alienate an entire community, at a detriment to their own name, and their life’s work?!
The titular Harry Potter stayed loyal to his belief system no matter what, throughout all seven novels, but the same is not seen in a positive light with regards to Rowling. Harry’s beliefs help him better the wizarding world, where Rowling’s divide and anger her long standing community. Harry’s opinions erred towards freeing the oppressed, while many feel Rowling’s have the opposite intention and effect. The payoff for sticking to such an opinion, and voicing it so openly, does not measure up to the garnered response. Nobody should feel like they cannot make their voice heard, but with such a great risk, it is a wonder that Rowling vocalizes her controversial beliefs so publicly.
One thing is for sure, we could never let controversy rob us of our love for Harry. For anyone struggling to reconcile the art and the artist, as Dumbledore put it himself: “Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it”.