Included
Another day another list.
The BBC has included a transgender Colombian scientist in its annual list of 100 inspiring women, just days after sparking controversy over its choice for women’s footballer of the year.
Let’s ask ourselves: why does the BBC have a list (annual, even) of 100 inspiring women? It doesn’t have an annual list of 100 inspiring men, so why does it have one of women? It has to be because women get overlooked, so let’s try to correct that overlooking with lists. It’s an attempt at affirmation of the overlooked half of humanity, aka affirmative action. That being so…what the hell do they think they’re doing, adding a man who insults women by pretending to be one on their own damn list of Let’s Not Overlook Women?
Every year, the broadcaster compiles a list of women who have achieved great things in public life. Its nominees include transgender biologist Brigitte Baptiste, described in the citation as a “trans woman” who “explores the common patterns between biodiversity and gender identity”.
But a “trans woman” is a man, so he doesn’t belong on the list, and shouldn’t be there, and the BBC is yet again spitting in women’s faces.
In 2023, Nepalese transgender activist Rukshana Kapali was chosen for the list following a legal fight to change gender officially from male to female.
In 2022, the BBC included Erika Hilton, the first black trans woman to be elected to Brazil’s National Congress; and Efrat Tilma, the first trans woman to volunteer for the Israeli police.
Deliberate, calculated insult.
Dammit. The Beeb doesn’t want women to have anything at all without men being involved, and preferably in charge, do they?
And then all the other 99 women on the list get overlooked as all attention must be paid to that one man.
Not so much a calculated insult as an instance of believing that once a male self-IDs as a woman they are one. The problem is that said males are not like females and shouldn’t be grouped together as a class. A pantomime horse can identify as a horse as a part in a play, but it isn’t a horse.
Well who knows if it’s actually believing it or just pretending to believe it. I doubt that all the bosses at the BBC literally believe that men who call themselves women really are women. I think it’s more bending the knee to a new orthodoxy than it is genuine belief.
Obligatory:
The British Journalist
by Humbert Wolfe
You cannot hope
to bribe or twist,
thank God! the
British journalist.
But, seeing what
the man will do
unbribed, there’s
no occasion to.
I believe it was Edward Eggleston who wrote “Journalism is organized gossip”. Seems to fit the Beeb like a glove.