The best-selling author of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling, has told men who think they can define womanhood for women to “get a bloody mirror”.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Rowling wrote, “Men defining what a woman is, what women should and shouldn’t fear, what women should and shouldn’t say, what rights women should be fine with giving up and, of course, what constitutes ‘real’ misogyny: get a bloody mirror. That’s real misogyny, looking right back at you.”
The tweet, which has been seen more than 15 million times and garnered nearly 168,000 likes, is the latest Twitter shot from the vocal feminist, which has made members of the trans community tag her as a “trans-exclusionary radical feminist” or TERF.
See tweet:
Men defining what a woman is, what women should and shouldn’t fear, what women should and shouldn’t say, what rights women should be fine with giving up and, of course, what constitutes ‘real’ misogyny: get a bloody mirror. That’s real misogyny, looking right back at you.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 25, 2023
Although she has been verbally attacked for her views by many members of the trans community, one in particular has caught her attention – India Willoughby.
Willoughby, who is the UK’s “first trans newsreader” and a biological male, tweeted on Tuesday: “I’m more of a woman than J.K. Rowling ever will be.”
JK Rowling cheekily retorted, “Citation needed.”
Citation needed. pic.twitter.com/phsneRp9hZ
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) January 22, 2023
The debate soon turned into a public spat, with many venturing their opinions, and Star Wars actor, Mark Hamill weighed in by liking JK Rowling’s reply.
He soon became a target of ‘cancel culture’, and offered a defence for his action for fans.
“What I ‘liked’ about this exchange was someone speaking their truth to power. Twitter is, unfortunately, no place for nuance. It’s imperative I make this abundantly clear: I support human rights for EVERYONE, regardless of their gender identity, PERIOD,” Hamill wrote.