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Featured articleJ. K. Rowling is a featured article; it (or a previous version of it) has been identified as one of the best articles produced by the Wikipedia community. Even so, if you can update or improve it, please do so.
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Move phrase "which left transgender people feeling betrayed"

[edit]

Currently, in the Views --> Transgender People section, the final paragraph contains the sentence "In an essay posted on her website in June 2020 – which left transgender people feeling betrayed – Rowling said her views on women's rights sprang from her experience of domestic abuse and sexual assault."

The phrase "which left transgender people feeling betrayed" feels very out of place in this paragraph, in which her views, and the basis for them, are explained. Personally I find the phrase a little problematic (e.g. nonspecific; which trans people?), but if it is to be included, I think it would fit better in the 2nd or 4th paragraphs, which list the reactions to her statements/views.

Wanted to get opinions on a) if this sounds reasonable and b) if so, how it might best be done. TBicks (talk) 11:56, 17 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The current phrasing doesn't allow for her opinion to be presented neutrally. It should be split up as you stated. A quick way to solve this could be to move the reaction to the end of the paragraph, or right before the assertion of Whited? Vestigium Leonis (talk) 15:01, 17 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Yeah, it actually fits quite well with the final sentence regarding Whited. I'd support moving it to the end of the paragraph. TBicks (talk) 15:30, 17 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I think it should be made a bit more specific though. I can't access the source unfortunately, but the current wording could mean every trans person in the world or a small group of them. If the source says something like 'transgender fans of her books', that would be a better wording I think. TBicks (talk) 15:34, 17 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Maybe someone with access stops by and joins the discussion, but until then, just splitting the sentence up should be fine as well. Vestigium Leonis (talk) 17:40, 22 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
If the reaction is specific to the essay, it'd be better to mention it there, rather than having to reintroduce the essay later.
I don't think the section is particularly organised, but moving one sentence phrase isn't going to help. Adam Cuerden (talk)Has about 8.8% of all FPs. 20:53, 22 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Moving it takes care of the immediate issue of neutral presentation though. TBicks (talk) 21:06, 22 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I'm not sure it's more "neutral" to give her unchallenged attacks on transgender people. Adam Cuerden (talk)Has about 8.8% of all FPs. 23:34, 22 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
That makes no sense. To present neutrally, we should first share one opinion and then include other perspectives or criticism. This applies to any topic. I see you have a strong opinion about this, but it might help to take a step back for a moment. Vestigium Leonis (talk) 07:17, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
We're considering moving a phrase to a different place in a paragraph. I have no idea what you're talking about.
For what its worth, and not that it has anything to do with paragraph organization, Wikipedia is an encyclopedia (WP:WIAE), not a place to challenge views you don't like (see WP:ADVOCACY). If you're so prejudiced in this area that you don't think wikipedia should maintain a neutral POV, it might not be the right WP topic for you? TBicks (talk) 07:19, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I am fully aware. But you're acting as if transphobia isn't WP:FRINGE Adam Cuerden (talk)Has about 8.8% of all FPs. 08:52, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
No, i'm suggesting moving a phrase to a different place in a paragraph to better faciliate a neutral presentation of her views. I haven't even mentioned transphobia, let alone stated an opinion on its validity. TBicks (talk) 09:07, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
What I'm saying is that it's not really a neutral presentation of her views to treat them as non-controversial, then bring in criticism afterwards. It seems like a lot of newspapers have taken to including a discussion of her views in pretty much any reporting on her. Just searching J.K. Rowling news:
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/ed-sheeran-jk-rowling-new-years-eve-party-instagram-b2684736.html "Rowling has been met with strong backlash in recent years over her outspoken stance on trans women, which many, including LGBT+ spokespeople, have deemed transphobic. [continues on from there]
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14308263/JK-Rowling-backs-Donald-Trumps-crackdown-gender-ideology-saying-Left-overseen-calamity.html "The writer, who now dedicates much of her time to clashing with people online about gender issues, posted on X about the US President's order."
https://www.cbr.com/jk-rowlings-cb-strike-season-6-everything-we-know/ Box at start: "It's important to remember the ongoing controversial statements by the creator of the Harry Potter franchise..."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czr37d76rzgo [No mention]
It feels like discussing her transphobia is becoming more and more the mainstream view of her, while this article is minimising it more and more. Adam Cuerden (talk)Has about 8.8% of all FPs. 10:15, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
What are you talking about? Nobody is treating her views as non-controversial. The paragraph in question is preceded by several paragraphs which explain the mixed reactions to her views.
We're talking about moving a 6 word phrase to a different place in a paragraph. I have already elucidated the reasons I feel that is neccesary, none of which have to do with the content of her speech/views. It has nothing to do with "minimizing" anything - i'm not even suggesting we remove the phrase, simply move it to a more suitable position.
If you're seriously unable to WP:AGF when it comes to simple paragraph organization, I think you should consider avoiding this topic in the future. TBicks (talk) 10:32, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
I'm saying that it feels like it'd be awkward to realise the point later, and that it may mischaracterise the essay if it's not done very carefully. The section is a disorganised mess, but at least it doesn't first cover the whole situation from Rowling's perspective then again from the outside perspective, like a sequential WP:POVFORK. I don't like the suggested change outside of a full rework, as I think it'll make the section worse. It's also a basic rule of journalism that the higher up on the page material is introduced, the more weight is being given to it, which I suppose you may be unaware of. Adam Cuerden (talk)Has about 8.8% of all FPs. 10:56, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
The last sentence already describes the reaction to the essay and her speech on the issue, making the end of the paragraph a more natural place to put the phrase. We wouldn't be creating a POV order change, merely adding to a preexisting one.
The way it's currently written interjects other people's POV into a sentence about her POV, which is bad practice for neutral presentation. TBicks (talk) 11:34, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]
Briefly -- my husband has been hospitalized for a week; I'm aware I still have to answer #Citation consistency above. (Done, 13:04, 24 January 2025 (UTC) )
I think the suggestion to combine the questioned clause somewhere around the Whited sentence would work. I also agree the section became somewhat haphazard when a few months back there was some rapid-fire nonconsensual editing; slow and steady wins the race. I'd also like to remind Adam Cuerden to aim for a collaborative approach to work on this talk page, lower the POV statements on a BLP talk page, and that sources like the Daily Mail aren't relevant here. SandyGeorgia (Talk) 13:02, 23 January 2025 (UTC)[reply]