J.K. Rowling Criticizes Women’s Magazines for Claiming “Men Make Better Women”
Glamour magazine has announced that nine of the UK’s most well-known trans figures will be honored at this year’s Women of the Year Awards.
The tribute comes in connection with the viral “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt and aims to celebrate trans representation at a time when public debate around gender identity in the UK continues to grow.
The cover features Munroe Bergdorf, Maxine Heron, Taira, Munya, Bel Priestly, Dani St James, Ceval Omar, Mya Mehmi, and Shon Faye, who were photographed together for the magazine’s special issue.
According to Glamour UK, the decision to spotlight trans women comes during a rise in political and cultural tension surrounding trans rights, from legal rulings to discussions about single-sex spaces and healthcare access. The publication said it wanted to amplify voices that are often “targeted or silenced” in these debates.
However, the magazine’s new cover has also sparked backlash from some, including author J.K. Rowling, who shared her opinion on X. The Harry Potter writer wrote, “I grew up in an era when mainstream women’s magazines told girls they needed to be thinner and prettier. Now mainstream women’s magazines tell girls that men are better women than they are.”
Rowling’s comment quickly reignited conversation around her long-running dispute with trans activists. Over the past few years, she has been criticized for her views on gender identity and trans inclusion.
Her posts on social media and essays published on her website have often been described as transphobic by advocacy groups, while she has insisted that her opinions are about protecting women’s rights and single-s** spaces.
The author has previously been at the center of several online controversies after publicly opposing gender self-identification laws and expressing concerns about how they might affect women’s safety.
Many fans and even Harry Potter cast members, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, have distanced themselves from her statements, publicly voicing support for the trans community.
Rowling has continued to defend her stance, saying she speaks out because she believes “biological s** is real” and that “women should not be silenced for saying so.” Her recent post about Glamour’s cover reflects the same views, with critics calling it disrespectful while her supporters argue that she is raising valid concerns about the representation of women.
The Glamour feature, on the other hand, has received praise from LGBTQ+ advocates who say it sends a powerful message of inclusion and recognition. Munroe Bergdorf, one of the honorees, said in the feature that visibility matters now more than ever.
It’s clear that Rowling’s comments have once again divided public opinion, just as they have many times before.
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