J.K. Rowling and the Slippery Slope of Western “Feminism”

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games were fraught with controversy even before they began. From threats of dumping feces into the Seine by the French to debates over whether the opening ceremony mocked Da Vinci’s Last Supper or paid tribute to the Feast of Dionysus—Olympics = debauchery = Dionysus = god of the Seine River and the Olympics' "gay" origins.

However, the most despicable controversy was the insinuation that a boxer whose opponent cried after just 46 seconds in the ring was a man. The inclusion of trans people in the Olympics, allowing them to compete in their chosen gender, is a separate issue. But ridiculing and threatening individuals who compete in their assigned sex at birth and have “manly” features crosses another line entirely.

Unless you were completely away from screens during the Games, you might have heard about Algerian athlete Imane Khelif.

Italy’s Angela Carini’s concerns for her own “safety” are understandable. However, to cry foul and imply that her opponent is secretly a man is outright despicable.

Shortly after their match, J.K. Rowling— also known as Robert Galbraith, and once affectionately known to us as the author of the Harry Potter books—weighed in on the supposed unfairness of the game, decrying the participation of a “man” in women’s sport.

We remember when Rowling defended Serena Williams, calling out those who criticized her and accused her of being a man. But, much like what she retroactively did with the Harry Potter canon, it seems she’s now applying similar revisionist thinking to her views on womanhood.

The problem here lies in the TERFs’ narrow views of womanhood. If being a woman only required having the right genitals at birth, why insist that Imane Khelif is a man?

Some conspiracy theorists even claim that in a country where sex changes are illegal, Khelif was allowed to compete as a woman to secure medals for her country. A closer look at Imane’s history dispels these myths. Internet sleuths have found childhood photos of her and her fighting record shows losses to other female boxers before. Imane Khelif simply outperformed Angela Carini this year.

The International Boxing Association (IBA), a Russian-dominated sports organization, has promised to award Carini $50,000 as if she were an Olympic winner, citing the match as “unfair.” This same association, barred from the Olympics and having disqualified Khelif under dubious genetic testing, was clearly motivated by Khelif’s victory over a Russian athlete.

Celebrities Trying to be “Fair”

J.K. Rowling’s brand of “feminism” has caused more harm than good. Rowling’s insistence that being a woman means being a “natural-born” woman fails to recognize that Imane Khelif fits this criterion.

The real issue seems to be that Khelif does not conform to traditional notions of what a woman should look like in an intense Olympic sport.

Galbraith, of all people, should understand that words matter and carry weight. Serena Williams, who is muscular and athletic, has faced similar criticism for not fitting an “average” woman’s appearance. Imane Khelif and all athletes have worked hard to achieve their success, and their appearance should not diminish their accomplishments.

Another notable figure spreading false narratives is Elon Musk, the current CEO of Twitter (now X). His own transgender daughter has accused him of lying about their relationship.

There are many more examples, but what can we expect from celebrity billionaires who seem increasingly detached from reality? Fact-checking anyone?

If they truly wanted to use their platform to call out the evil injustices in the Olympics, they should've started with Steven van De Velde, the Dutch volleyball player who was allowed to compete despite being convicted for raping a 12-year-old girl.

This Flavor of Western “Feminism” Is Exclusionary

Historically, the pains of Black, Brown, and Latine women have been minimized due to their physical appearance and skin color. Inhumane experiments were conducted on them under false pretenses about their pain thresholds.

Now, in the Olympics, it's very telling that women of color have been ridiculed and subjected to racist attacks not only by chronically online individuals but also by fellow athletes who happen to be white. This demonstrates the intersection of racism and sexism, showing how Western liberal feminism can sometimes perpetuate exclusion and discrimination.

The slippery slope of Western liberal feminism, as adhered to by Rowling and other vitriolic white opponents of Imane Khelif, is exclusionary, harmful, and downright revolting. In a globalized world, their version of feminism has set back the broader feminist movement.

Why?

Because there is much unlearning, relearning, and healing to be done. These so-called “feminists” have clearly been hurt by men, and while I empathize with their pain, projecting and inflicting that hurt onto other women is not the solution.

In conclusion: white feminists, do better.