Famed author and liberal feminist J.K. Rowling slammed a U.K. official on Tuesday for being unwilling to define what a woman is, seemingly held back from giving a basic biological definition as to not offend transgender advocates.
“Anneliese Dodds is the Shadow Equalities Minister in the UK, and she was recently asked to define what a female is on BBC’s ‘Woman’s Hour,'” Evie magazine reported. “Dodds responded by saying that it ‘depends on what the context is,’ and that the Equality Act ‘doesn’t say how you define’ the word ‘female.'”
Here’s the partial exchange, per The Spectator:
EB (Emma Barnett): ‘And Labour’s definition of a woman?’
AD (Anneliese Dodds): ‘Well, I have to say that there are different definitions legally around what a woman actually is. I mean, you look at the definition within the Equality Act, and I think it just says someone who is adult and female, I think, but then doesn’t say how you define either of those things. I mean obviously, that’s when you’ve got the biological definition, legal definition all kinds of things…’
EB: ‘With respect I didn’t ask for that. What’s the Labour definition?’
AD: ‘Oh I think with respect Emma, I think it does depend what the context is surely. I mean surely that is important here. You know, there are people who have decided that they have to make that transition. You know I’ve spoken with many of them. It’s been a very difficult process for many of those people. And you know, understandably, because they live as a woman, you know, they want to be defined as a woman. That’s what the Gender Recognition Act, again a Labour government brought into place.’
“Someone please send the Shadow Minister for Equalities a dictionary and a backbone. #HappyInternationalWomensDay,” Rowling responded on Twitter.
The author, known for standing up to radical transgender activists, added a follow-up tweet praising Joanna Cherry, MP for Edinburgh South West. Cherry, too, openly objects to transgender activism that erases and harms girls and women.
“This is what a woman who owns a dictionary and a backbone looks like,” Rowling captioned the post.
This is what a woman who owns a dictionary and a backbone looks like. @joannaccherry pic.twitter.com/djBuD1QiBF
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 8, 2022
Responding to a critic, Rowling said she was willing to have her “legacy die on this hill.”
“Yes, sweetheart,” she responded to the critic. “I’m staying right here on this hill, defending the right of women and girls to talk about themselves, their bodies and their lives in any way they damn well please. You worry about your legacy, I’ll worry about mine.”
Yes, sweetheart. I'm staying right here on this hill, defending the right of women and girls to talk about themselves, their bodies and their lives in any way they damn well please. You worry about your legacy, I'll worry about mine 😉 https://t.co/wLekwpMQEe
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 8, 2022
Daily Wire podcast host and author Matt Walsh praised Rowling for her courage — and slammed some Republicans and conservatives.
“JK Rowling has more courage on this issue than the vast majority of Republicans and conservatives in this country,” Walsh posted.
JK Rowling has more courage on this issue than the vast majority of Republicans and conservatives in this country https://t.co/zCYioVLGU1
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) March 9, 2022
Walsh is known for stumping transgender activists by asking them to define what a woman is. The author appeared on an episode of “Dr. Phil” in January and asked LGBT activists Ethan and Addison just that, tripping up the activist:
“What is a woman? Can you tell me what a woman is?” Walsh queried.
“No, I can’t,” Ethan admitted, “because it’s not for me to say. Womanhood looks different for everybody.”
Speaking to Addison, Walsh stated, “You stood up here and said, ‘Trans women are women.’ What is a woman?”
“Womanhood is … something that I cannot define,” Addison said.
“But you used the word,” Walsh pushed back. “So what did you mean when you said, ‘Trans women are women’?”
“I do not define what a woman is because I do not identity as a woman,” Addison responded. “Womanhood is something that is an umbrella term.”
“That describes what?” Walsh interjected.
“People who identify as a woman,” Addison said.
Walsh, again, pressed, “Identify as what?”
“A woman,” Addison said. “What is that?” Walsh pressed.
“To each their own,” Addison said, adding that “each person” is “going to have a different relationship with their own gender identity and define it differently. So, trans women are women.”
“You won’t even tell me what the word means though, so that’s the problem,” Walsh responded.
Related: WATCH: Matt Walsh Stumps LGBT Activist On ‘Dr. Phil’ Show: ‘What Is A Woman?’
Related: What JK Rowling Can Teach Us About Surviving Cancel Culture
Related: J.K. Rowling Slams New Transgender Bill She Says Will Hurt ‘The Most Vulnerable’ Women