As part of the New York Times Debate Series at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival, New York Times correspondent Elizabeth Paton chaired a panel on the tricky question: What is ‘gender’ in the 21st century? Discussing this were Amelia Abraham (author of Queer Intentions), Palko Karasz (also a New York Times correspondent, standing in for Jodi Rudoren who couldn’t make it) and Naomi Wolf (author of, among other works, The Beauty Myth and Outrages).
Paton stated at the beginning that the 90-minute session would be split into two parts: For an hour, she would pose questions to the panel, then for the final half hour the discussion would be opened up to the audience. Unfortunately, Paton mistakenly thought that the event started later than it did, meaning that it overran and there was less time for a Q&A. This is a shame, because interesting though the discussion between the panel members was, it hardly qualifies as a debate, if by debate we mean: ‘A formal discussion on a particular matter […] in which opposing arguments are put forward […]’
All of the panel members pretty much agreed with each other on everything, expressing the belief that gender, as a social construct, is free from biological determinism, and therefore everyone has the right to identify as whichever gender they want, or even as no gender. As a result, it ended up feeling like an echo chamber, even as Amelia Abraham cautioned against online echo chambers and the damaging societal effects they can have.
When an audience member did raise a gender critical point of view, asking how the supposed reduction of the definition of womanhood to feeling rather than biological fact could impact on women’s rights, this was afforded less than five minutes of discussion. A few audience members left before the event ended, perhaps because it overran, or possibly out of frustration at its one-sidedness.
In fairness, the Book Festival and the New York Times probably wanted to avoid the inevitable controversy that would have arisen had a so-called trans exclusionary radical feminist such as Julie Bindel been invited, and some would argue that there should be no respectable platform for transphobic views, especially at a time of rising transphobia.
Nevertheless, it’s hard not to be disappointed by the tameness of this ‘debate’, which featured little to no disagreement. It seems an oversight, too, to fail to state the speakers’ preferred pronouns at the beginning. In an ideal world, maybe, one’s gender identity shouldn’t matter, but in the context of a discussion on gender, how the speakers themselves identify is arguably of crucial importance when it comes to assessing their views on certain issues. Although Abraham briefly touched upon her own gender fluidity, the lack of a transgender panel member is a real shame. It was also a very white, Western panel, even though the question ‘What is gender?’ affects people all over the world, regardless of their skin colour or class.
- The Ocean at the End of the Lane @ National Theatre - 8th January 2020
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This is a very fair review. The look of puzzlement on the panels faces at the first question which did not fit their orthodoxy just confirmed the lack of balance. No understanding of self ID in sport, safe places, philosophy, medical ethics, current JY case. Very disappointing
I have read a very critical report of this event by Shona Craven in The National newspaper. I think it is very interesting that this reviewer , who I’m guessing by his reference to using pronouns is not himself a gender critical feminist,is clearly very capable of applying objective criticism to the panel