Gender
Unmissable – for professors of gender studies: Alma Mater, at the Almeida Theatre, reviewed
Alma Mater is a topical melodrama set on a university campus. The new principal, Jo, (amusingly played by Justine Mitchell)…
The inequality of sex
As we all shroud ourselves in grief at being unable to watch Russell Brand any more on terrestrial television stations,…
Rhapsodic banalities: I, Joan, at the Globe, reviewed
‘Trans people are sacred. We are divine.’ The first line of I, Joan at the Globe establishes the tone of…
Good riddance to the Tavistock
Most push notifications that pop up on my tablet concern impending catastrophe. But last week, one newsflash made my day.…
When did we give up on the truth?
During that rather strange summer of 2020 I used the phrase ‘the gentle armed robber George Floyd’ in several articles…
Why the Tavistock clinic had to be shut down
There are many reasons why what is sometimes crudely called ‘the trans issue’ is important. One is the political failure…
What’s the matter with Disney?
If there’s one thing that gives a bad name to gender stereotyping it’s the Disney princess: a combination of hideous…
The ever-shifting language of ‘culture wars’
‘Come on, old girl,’ said my husband as though encouraging a cow stuck in a ditch, ‘you must know.’ It…
Why it has to be Kemi
Have you considered a career in whoring? It can be very rewarding, apparently – especially financially. World’s oldest profession and…
Parents must resist Stonewall’s gospel
I think by now it’s becoming horribly apparent to parents of every political persuasion that we can’t sit out the…
What took you so long, Seb Coe?
There’s a left-wing internet advocacy group called 38 Degrees which suggests to its followers that all they have to do…
Not all masculinity is ‘toxic’
Anyone who has passed through an education in thepast decade will have encountered the term ‘toxic masculinity’. It is one…
Why is dance so butch these days?
For an art form that once boldly set out to question conventional divisions of gender, ballet now seems to be…
What schools should be teaching
The state of Florida recently passed a piece of legislation making it illegal for teachers to hold discussions with pupils…
Care about the trans debate? Ask yourself this question
J.K. Rowling is talking about sex and gender again, which means a lot of people are getting angry. It’s striking…
Sex, trans rights and the Scottish census
It takes some doing to make a census interesting. So congratulations to the National Records of Scotland (NRS). NRS, which administers…
The sex work divide in British politics
They seem like completely unrelated questions: ‘Is sex work real work?, and ‘Who will replace Yvette Cooper as chair of…
The grim reality of gender reassignment
Lisa Littman, a doctor and researcher, recently surveyed ‘detransitioners’ — people who thought they were transgender then changed their minds.…
Jess Phillips and Labour’s ongoing women problem
Last week, Intelligence Squared put on a debate called ‘Is Labour unelectable?’ Unsurprisingly, Labour MP Jess Phillips spoke against the motion…
Scotland's census sex muddle is bad news for transgender people
What is your sex? It is a simple question and one that we can all surely answer. When it comes…
How the gender debate is dividing Germany
Pronoun politics can be something of a minefield. But if you think the gender debate is confusing, spare a thought…
How Margaret Thatcher helped inspire my transgender journey
The gender debate has generated plenty of heat, but as a trans person – and keen supporter of the Conservative…
Was this volunteer cancelled by Childline for his views on gender?
When Liz Truss confirmed that the government was committing itself to banning LGBT conversion therapy, there was some bemusement: is the…
Is it fair for Laurel Hubbard to compete against women?
Today, the conversation about transgender rights and the interests of women turns to sport. At the Olympic Games, Laurel Hubbard…
