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The BBC has been inundated with complaints after inviting an Australian feminist sociologist and transgender woman to speak about her experience with misogyny during their Woman’s Hour program.
On Tuesday, 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 Netflix documentary, Inside the Manosphere.
To explore ideas on “How to deal with manosphere misogyny”, McGovern was joined by Professor Sarah Hawkes from gender equality think tank 50/50, alongside Raewyn Connell- an Australian feminist sociologist and transgender woman who studies gender relations and masculinity.
Connell, 82, a Professor Emerita at the University of Sydney, described the manosphere “as a business”.
Since the conversation went to air, opinion online has been sharply divided, with many taking to social media to voice their outrage.
“The ultimate example of misogyny @BBCWomansHour – you just can’t help yourselves,” one user wrote on X.
“How on earth can a man ever experience misogyny? Perhaps you need to revisit the definition?”
Another angry user went as far as to call the program “a disgrace”.
“@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’.”
Another said: “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.”
A fourth alleged that Connell had transitioned later in life, and therefore had more experience living as a male.
“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?”
Another wrote: “BBC please explain to the 51% of the of the population to whom this is of concern, why you couldn’t find one of us to talk about it.”