Shoshi Week 9 Harry Potter and Transphobia; Where the Two Coincide.

 

Transphobia is defined as “harmful or unfair things a person does based on a fear or dislike of transgender and non-binary people”. So what does this have to do with Harry Potter? 


In June 2020, Joanne Rowling, better known as J.K. Rowling, the author and creator of the Harry Potter Universe, posted three tweets that were very clearly transphobic, despite self-identifying as a feminist. This has labeled the author as a TERF, a trans-excluding radical feminist, a term she has outwardly pushed back on. Since the posting of these tweets, most fans have pushed back on the creators' views to the point where many refuse to buy anything that may give her more money even almost three years later. 


Days later, Daniel Radcliff spoke out in a tweet, “Transgender women are women. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people.” Later in an article for the Trevor Project, Radcliff, the actor famed for playing Harry Potter since age twelve, explained that he didn’t want fans to see his tweet as infighting with Rowling. Rather, he wanted to show the many trans and queer kids in the community that they were loved. 


So why is this a big deal, I can hear you asking. The reason this is a big deal is that it impacted real life people. I can very clearly remember hearing about the tweets for the first time and being heartbroken. J.K. Rowling, the Harry Potter books, and the subsequent fandom meant so much to such a massive amount of people, only for them to be crushed by invalidation. 


I’m trying to end all of these blogs by urging you to go out and do something. This week, I ask: be sensitive to others, think before you speak, and above all, just be kind.

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 27, 2022 at 4:45 PM

    Thank you for teaching me the definition of a new word and I will make sure to be sensitive to others with my words and actions.

    ReplyDelete

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