Skip to content

OBJECT! vs. transgender people

OBJECT! (also styled Object Now and ObjectUK) is a British website “linking, exposing and fighting all systems that objectify,  exploit, harm and kill women as a sex class. These systems are usually linked with sex and reproduction.” Its slogan is “Women Not Sex Objects!” and focuses on five areas:

  • Prostitution
  • Pornography
  • Sex clubs
  • Surrogacy
  • “Gender Ideology”

Background

OBJECT was founded in 2008 by Rosalind “Roz” Hardie and Sasha Rakoff. Hardie served as CEO from 2014 to 2015, after which it went insolvent.

In 2016, Janice Marie Williams (born February 1956) took over leadership. The objectnow.com website was launched in 2017. ObjectUK Ltd was incorporated in February 2022 by Williams, who is the sole officer.

Anti-pornography activism

One of OBJECT’s earliest national campaigns targeted the prominent sale of so-called “lads’ magazines” such as Nuts and Zoo. In 2009, the group launched the “Lose the Lads’ Mags” campaign and organized protests against retailers who displayed them for sale. The movement claimed a significant victory in 2015, when Nuts and Zoo ceased publication after years of declining circulation and sustained public criticism. During the early 2010s, OBJECT began to address sexualization in advertising. OBJECT activists protested at the 2011 X-Biz pornography expo. OBJECT worked with other groups to get British tabloid The Sun to drop its Page 3 girl, a nude photo that appeared in every issue. OBJECT also demonstrated outside the 2011 Miss World pageant. OBJECT got Marks & Spencer stored to change the name of their Porn Star cocktail to Passion Star. In 2019 OBJECT got the London Porn Film Festival moved out of central London to a different venue.

Anti-sex work activism

OBJECT then began sex work legal reform with the End Demand campaign and advocated the Nordic Model, under which purchasing sexual services is criminalized while those selling sex are decriminalized. In 2011, OBJECT published Stripped: The Bare Reality of Lap Dancing by Jennifer Hayashi Danns and Sandrine Leveque. 

Anti-surrogacy activism

OBJECT started work opposing surrogacy in 2016 and has worked with Stop Surrogacy Now and the Center for Bioethics and Culture.

Anti-trans activism

According to their website:

OBJECT sees transgenderism as an impossible belief used to harm women. Profit is the main motive – business for clinics, cosmetic surgeons, drug companies, counsellors, therapists, manufacturing companies (big high heels, ‘packers’ ie fake penises for kids’ trousers. Transgenderism also creates a market by surrogacy as the cross-sex hormones reduce fertility. 

We see gender as socially constructed – women are taught ‘femininity’ from the culture we grow up in, it is not innate. Sex categories – male and female – are real. Only women can have babies and breast feed them. We believe we should be able to discuss these matters freely. Women need their own spaces, shortlists, scholarships etc because in the past they were excluded from them by men and put in physical danger because of male violence against women. We believe women’s spaces should end when patriarchy does, but not until then.”

Since 2016 OBJECT have supported people “canceled” for anti-trans views, including Maria Maclachlan, Keira Bell, Maya Forstater, Heather Brunskell Evans, Kate Scottow, Stella Perrett, and Sonia Poulton. OBJECT contributed speakers to Venice Allen’s “We Need to Talk about the GRA” event in Glasgow in January 2018. In September 2018, OBJECT participated in the London Pride Get the L Out protest.

In March 2019, OBJECT went to New York to help promote the launch of the Declaration on Women’s Sex-Based Rights. 

In 2020, OBJECT laaunched an interview series called Hidden Voices. Guests have included:

  • “Belstaffie”
  • Elly Arrow
  • Maria MacLachlan
  • Jackie Mearns
  • Stella Perrett
  • Kathleen Richardson
  • Sasha Rakoff
  • Abigail Rowland

In 2021 OBJECT joined in protesting an Open University course titled “Understanding Gender Identity: Trans People in the Workplace.” This controversy helped lead to the formation of the OU Gender Critical Group.

The website states “We recommend Transgender Trend, Fair Play for Women, Sex Matters, the 11th Hour blog, Peak Trans for more information about transgenderism.”

People

Selected writing by OBJECT

OBJECT (July 17, 2020). Debunking the Two-Spirit Myth. https://objectnow.org/debunking-the-two-spirit-myth/

OBJECT (November 5, 2018). ‘Transgender Ideology’ is Today’s Anti-Feminist Backlash. https://objectnow.org/2018-11-5-transgender-ideology-is-todays-anti-feminist-backlash/

Media

Object UK with Janice Williams (April 17, 2023). OBjECT! at Speakers Corner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Atu8n_lbSQg

GBNews with Janice Williams (March 20, 2022). Lia Thomas could cause end of women’s sport, says chairwoman of OBJECT. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WNY2C6nmvY

Object UK (May 26, 2021). Objecting At Speakers Corner 23rd May 2021. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp5pjshBDbg

Resources

OBJECT! (objectnow.org)

UK Companies House (https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13927117/)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Facebook (facebook.com)

Tumblr (tumblr.com)