J.K. Rowling Twitter Rant Call Out Liberal Men Sexism

Photo: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock.

J.K. Rowling, beloved author and tweeter extraordinaire, has done it again. Since penning the instant classic Harry Potter series, the award-winning author has built up quite the reputation for her Twitter presence. She is unafraid to call out inequality, blatant sexism, and trolls of all sorts. Rowling also uses her magical Twitter powers to encourage and support people struggling with anxiety. Her words are always on point. Each time the author publishes a book or a tweet, her fans are there for it, and this time is no different.

Following the results of the general election, Rowling tweeted the first of what would become a powerful and succinct message calling out the men, or "liberal cool guys" as she calls them, who call themselves liberal but, in words and action, are not. Instead, their use of sexism and misogyny, unknowingly or not, couples them with the harmful, pervasive, and more extreme iterations of gender discrimination that allow for the continuance of rape culture, toxic masculinity, and inequality.

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Just unfollowed a man whom I thought was smart and funny, because he called Theresa May a whore. 1/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

Rowling began with an action that one could only hope that all of us would do. Rather than offering excuses to ignore the behaviour because the person is in other instances "smart and funny," she stands by her convictions and calls it what it is. Unacceptable. Her Twitter followers were quick to catch on to the ending characters. After what would be the first in a series of 14 tweets, her followers tuned in eagerly awaiting what she would say next, and it did not disappoint.

If you can’t disagree with a woman without reaching for all those filthy old insults, screw you and your politics. 2/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

I’m sick of ‘liberal’ men whose mask slips every time a woman displeases them, who reach immediately for crude and humiliating words 3/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

associated with femaleness, act like old-school misogynists and then preen themselves as though they’ve been brave. 4/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

When you do this, Mr Liberal Cool Guy, you ally yourself, wittingly or not, with the men who send women violent pornographic images 5/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

and rape threats, who try by every means possible to intimidate women out of politics and public spaces, both real and digital. 6/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

‘Cunt’, ‘whore’ and, naturally, rape. We’re too ugly to rape, or we need raping, or we need raping and killing. 7/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

Every woman I know who has dared express an opinion publically has endured this kind of abuse at least once, 8/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

rooted in an apparent determination to humiliate or intimidate her on the basis that she is female. 9/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

If you want to know how much fouler it gets if you also happen to be black or gay, ask Diane Abbot or Ruth Davidson. 10/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

I don’t care whether we’re talking about Theresa May or Nicola Sturgeon or Kate Hooey or Yvette Cooper or Hillary Clinton: 11/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

femaleness is not a design flaw. If your immediate response to a woman who displeases you 12/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

is to call her a synonym for her vulva, or compare her to a prostitute, then drop the pretence and own it: you’re not a liberal. 13/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

You’re a few short steps away from some guy hiding behind a cartoon frog. 14/14
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 9, 2017

Her dissection of an issue that many women have had first-hand experience with is praise-worthy. It comes from a genuine place, as she has been the recipient of these unacceptable insults. She has even been accused of supporting this type of behaviour. An accusation she quickly dispelled. The co-opting of feminine words for the use of insulting, humiliating, and intimidating is a toxic byproduct of a culture that attempts to impede women from holding positions of leadership and power, and Rowling was having none of it.

Reactions from fans and feminists flooded in. Her followers loved every moment of it as they tweeted their agreement, sharing their experiences, and added their commentary.

1 of 14 ?!? This is going to be epic♥️
— Sushmitha Mohan (@Sushmitha_m) June 9, 2017

Yo, I saw that and I was like DRAAAG HIM QUEEN ?
— Tshego Khunou (@xoxo_Tee) June 9, 2017

Preach. This is the proof that opposite opinions shouldn't be taken as a reason to attack people. Ask J.K, she knows her stuff. https://t.co/ktOgrITGt3
— Frisk (@FleurDeForest) June 9, 2017

I've met guys who consider themselves progressive, but who also default to this sort of behavior to minimize women. Spot on, Ms. Rowling. https://t.co/DLArAXDc0E
— Caitfefe (@nolanolegal) June 9, 2017

Words are powerful.

They can empower & inspire, enlighten & humble.

But they can also degrade, manipulate & terrify.

Choose wisely. ?? https://t.co/MRNxtw1skN
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) June 9, 2017

J.K. Rowling exemplifies a powerful and important message. "Female is not a design flaw," she tweets. (Can we get this made into a t-shirt?) You do not have to agree with someone, but that is never an excuse to resort to dehumanising, sexist language. One commenter simply included the hashtag "#ImWithJK" with their retweet of the author. Words are a powerful thing. When used in the way that J.K. Rowling did, they can spark an important dialogue that leads to change.

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