BBC Women's Hour has been inundated with complaints after a transgender woman was invited on the programme to discuss misogyny. Presenter Nuala McGovern introduced the debate, explaining how discussions to tackle extreme misogyny online were sparked once again following the release of Louis Theroux's latest documentary, Inside the Manosphere.
The 90-minute documentary explores the expanding world of social media personalities who claim to teach young men how to achieve successful lives. Their views are rooted in traditional gender roles and have drawn criticism for being misogynistic. McGovern was joined by Sarah Hawkes from the gender equality think tank, 50/50, a specialist in gender equality and health equity. Also in the studio was Raewyn Connell, a feminist sociologist and a professor at the University of Sydney.
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Connell, 82, was born biologically male before transitioning in 2006.
Asked how she would describe the manosphere, Connell responded: "As a business in a way. There's boys and young men who are facing difficulties finding a path in life. A lot of people have a fairly bleak prospect since the rich and powerful trashed the economy. We've had a lot of precarious situations."
McGovern then asked whether Connell had observed any differences in her experiences of misogyny before and after transitioning. "I think that's unquestionable and usual for trans women. They discover some realities that other women have long experienced," she said.
When asked if there was any specific examples she would point to, Connell said: "Harassment in the street. Suspicion in the general atmosphere of being marginalised."
Listeners expressed anger that the programme had chosen a transgender woman to speak on the matter as opposed to a cisgender woman.
Taking to X, one wrote: "When he was asked by the presenter to give examples of the 'misogyny' he faced, he said men looked at him/treated him with suspicion... this is not misogyny and it's not what women endure."
Another fumed: "@BBCWomansHour you are a bloody disgrace. You are traitors to women and I am so glad I don't pay for this anymore. You do not deserve to use the title of 'Woman's Hour'."
A third weighed in: "This guest is 82 and only transitioned late in life. In other words he lived the majority of his long life as a man. Could the BBC really not have found an elderly woman who has experienced misogyny for decades and who could speak about how it has changed?"
Someone else raged: "Were there no women they could get to talk about this? It’s just ludicrous they interviewed a man about misogyny, what could he possibly add to the conversation? I haven’t listened to WH for years, it’s pointless."
Another furious X user added: "The ultimate example of misogyny @BBCWomansHour - you just can't help yourselves. How on earth can a man ever experience misogyny? Perhaps you need to revisit the definition?"