The Economist is a British media organization that publishes consistently anti-transgender articles. Although most articles are unsigned, anti-trans writer Jesse Singal is the author of many of the pieces listed below after January 2024.
Contributors
- Carey Callahan
- Helen Joyce
- James Kirkup
- Jesse Singal
- Kathleen Stock
The only notable exception to its anti-trans content are essays by transgender Labour Party candidate Emily Brothers, published as part of a two-week series on trans topics.
- We all need to open our minds to a more liberal sense of our true selves. (Jul 13th 2018) https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/07/13/we-all-need-to-open-our-minds-to-a-more-liberal-sense-of-our-true-selves
- Making transitioning simpler would not usurp the rights of women. (Jul 5th 2018) https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/07/05/making-transitioning-simpler-would-not-usurp-the-rights-of-women
In 2019, the Economist deleted a tweet that said, “Should transgender people be sterilised before they are recognised?”
References
John, Tara (October 9, 2021). Anti-trans rhetoric is rife in the British media. Little is being done to extinguish the flames. CNN https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/09/uk/uk-trans-rights-gender-critical-media-intl-gbr-cmd/index.html
Ring, Trudy (July 29, 2021). Respected News Magazine The Economist Publishes Anti-Trans Screed. The Advocate https://www.advocate.com/media/2021/7/29/respected-news-magazine-economist-publishes-anti-trans-screed
Lang, Nico (May 20, 2021). Editor’s history of calling trans people ‘frauds’ shines light on Economist’s transphobic tweet. Daily Dot https://www.dailydot.com/irl/helen-joyce-economist-transphobia/
Kelleher, Patrick (March 20, 2019). The Economist under fire for asking if transgender people should be sterilised. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2019/03/20/economist-transgender-sterilised-japan/
Levine, Jon (March 20, 2019). The Economist Apologizes for Tweet Asking Whether Transgender People Should Be ‘Sterilized.’ The Wrap https://www.thewrap.com/the-economist-apologizes-for-tweet-asking-whether-transgender-people-should-be-sterilized/
Selected anti-trans articles
note: most Economist articles do not have bylines. In cases where the author is confimed, the name appears in [brackets].
[Singal, Jesse] (September 18, 2025). How stable are the gender identities of younger children? A study finds that one in five who switch gender change their mind. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/09/18/how-stable-are-the-gender-identities-of-younger-children
Uncredited (April 16, 2025). What is a woman? Britain’s Supreme Court gives its answer. The terms “woman” and “sex” refer to “a biological woman and biological sex.” The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/04/16/what-is-a-woman-britains-supreme-court-gives-its-answer
Uncredited (April 30, 2025). A landmark study of gender medicine is caught in an ethics row. The Economist https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/04/30/a-landmark-study-of-gender-medicine-is-caught-in-an-ethics-row
[Singal, Jesse] (January 27, 2025). The White House has been fluid on gender for a decade. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2025/01/27/the-white-house-has-been-fluid-on-gender-for-a-decade
[Singal, Jesse] (December 6, 2024). America’s best-known practitioner of youth gender medicine is being sued. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/12/06/americas-best-known-practitioner-of-youth-gender-medicine-is-being-sued
Uncredited (December 5, 2024). The US Supreme Court appears likely to uphold a medical ban affecting trans youth. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/12/05/the-us-supreme-court-appears-likely-to-uphold-a-medical-ban-affecting-trans-youth
Uncredited (December 2, 2024). A big transgender-rights case heads to America’s Supreme Court. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/12/02/a-big-transgender-rights-case-heads-to-americas-supreme-court
[Singal, Jesse] (June 27, 2024). Research into trans medicine has been manipulated: Court documents offer a window into how this happens. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/06/27/research-into-trans-medicine-has-been-manipulated
Uncredited (November 28, 2024). Britain’s Supreme Court considers what a woman is. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2024/11/28/britains-supreme-court-considers-what-a-woman-is
Uncredited (January 18, 2024). Britain tries to correct the treatment of gender-dysphoric kids. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2024/01/18/britain-tries-to-correct-the-treatment-of-gender-dysphoric-kids
[Singal, Jesse] (January 10, 2024). Simine Vazire hopes to fix psychology’s credibility crisis. Her new job editing the field’s most prestigious journal should help. The Economist https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/01/10/simine-vazire-hopes-to-fix-psychologys-credibility-crisis
Uncredited (April 5, 2023). The evidence to support medicalised gender transitions in adolescents is worryingly weak. The Economist https://www.economist.com/briefing/2023/04/05/the-evidence-to-support-medicalised-gender-transitions-in-adolescents-is-worryingly-weak
Uncredited (April 5, 2023). What America has got wrong about gender medicine. The Economist https://www.economist.com/leaders/2023/04/05/what-america-has-got-wrong-about-gender-medicine
Uncredited (March 7, 2023). Legal action may change transgender care in America. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/03/07/legal-action-may-change-transgender-care-in-america
Uncredited (January 5, 2023). Scotland’s new gender-reform law presents Rishi Sunak with a dilemma: He must decide whether to refer the law to the Supreme Court in London. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2023/01/05/scotlands-new-gender-reform-law-presents-rishi-sunak-with-a-dilemma
Uncredited (November 17, 2022). Britain changes tack in its treatment of trans-identifying children. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/11/17/britain-changes-tack-in-its-treatment-of-trans-identifying-children
Uncredited (July 28, 2022). Questioning America’s approach to transgender health care. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/07/28/questioning-americas-approach-to-transgender-health-care
Uncredited (June 23, 2022). The Biden administration’s confused embrace of trans rights. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/06/23/the-biden-administrations-confused-embrace-of-trans-rights
Uncredited (June 22, 2022). Swimming’s ruling on transgender women continues a trend. The Economist https://www.economist.com/international/2022/06/22/swimmings-ruling-on-transgender-women-continues-a-trend
Uncredited (March 30, 2022). Why Florida is banning lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Economist https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/03/30/why-florida-is-banning-lessons-on-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity
Uncredited (February 19, 2022). Activist doctors are urging GPs to prescribe cross-sex hormones. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/02/19/activist-doctors-are-urging-gps-to-prescribe-cross-sex-hormones
Uncredited (January 8, 2022). Trans ideology is distorting the training of America’s doctors. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/01/08/trans-ideology-is-distorting-the-training-of-americas-doctors
Uncredited (December 4, 2021). Britain’s proposal to ban “conversion therapy” is not what it seems: The government conflates sexual orientation and “gender identity”. It should think again. The Economist https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/12/04/britains-proposal-to-ban-conversion-therapy-is-not-what-it-seems
Uncredited (November 6, 2021). Portrait of a detransitioner as a young woman. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/11/06/portrait-of-a-detransitioner-as-a-young-woman
Uncredited (October 16, 2021). Opinion on the use of puberty blockers in America is turning. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/10/16/opinion-on-the-use-of-puberty-blockers-in-america-is-turning
Uncredited (September 23, 2021). An influential ruling about puberty blockers has been overturned. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2021/09/23/an-influential-ruling-about-puberty-blockers-has-been-overturned
Uncredited (June 12, 2021). Continental Europe enters the gender wars: Germany and Spain reject laws on gender self-identification. The Economist https://www.economist.com/europe/2021/06/12/continental-europe-enters-the-gender-wars
Uncredited (May 13, 2021). Doubts are growing about therapy for gender-dysphoric children. The Economist https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/05/13/doubts-are-growing-about-therapy-for-gender-dysphoric-children
Uncredited (April 22, 2021). Trans medicine gets entangled in America’s culture wars. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/04/22/trans-medicine-gets-entangled-in-americas-culture-wars
Uncredited (February 18, 2021). Little is known about the effects of puberty blockers. The Economist https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/02/18/little-is-known-about-the-effects-of-puberty-blockers
Uncredited (December 12, 2020). An English ruling on transgender teens could have global repercussions. The Economist https://www.economist.com/international/2020/12/12/an-english-ruling-on-transgender-teens-could-have-global-repercussions
Uncredited (December 12, 2020). Other countries should learn from a transgender verdict in England. The Economist https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/12/12/other-countries-should-learn-from-a-transgender-verdict-in-england
Uncredited (December 12, 2020). New standards of transgender health care raise eyebrows. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/09/22/new-standards-of-transgender-health-care-raise-eyebrows
Uncredited (December 12, 2020 ). An English ruling on transgender teens could have global repercussions. The Economist https://www.economist.com/international/2020/12/12/an-english-ruling-on-transgender-teens-could-have-global-repercussions
Uncredited (December 12, 2020). Other countries should learn from a transgender verdict in England. The Economist https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/12/12/other-countries-should-learn-from-a-transgender-verdict-in-england
Uncredited (December 2, 2020). “The issue is making sure children who really need treatment get it”—Britain’s landmark trans ruling. The Economist https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2020/12/02/the-issue-is-making-sure-children-who-really-need-treatment-get-it-britains-landmark-trans-ruling
Uncredited (December 1, 2020). The judgment in Keira Bell’s case upsets trans groups. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/12/01/the-judgment-in-keira-bells-case-upsets-trans-groups
Uncredited (November 26, 2020). A book on transitioning girls is denounced as transphobic. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/11/26/a-book-on-transitioning-girls-is-denounced-as-transphobic
Uncredited (September 24, 2020). Britain’s Gender Recognition Act won’t change: The government goes back on a plan to allow self-ID. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/09/24/britains-gender-recognition-act-wont-change
Uncredited (Febreuary 1, 2020). A pushback against trans activism in Britain: Three groups of people have applied for judicial reviews. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/02/01/a-pushback-against-trans-activism-in-britain
Uncredited (January 30, 2020). A new push to ban medical treatments for transgender children. The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/01/30/a-new-push-to-ban-medical-treatments-for-transgender-children
Uncredited (January 30, 2020). What to do about puberty blockers: Drugs offered to transgender children need to be used more cautiously. The Economist https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/01/30/what-to-do-about-puberty-blockers
Callahan, Carey (December 3, 2019). Gender identity is hard but jumping to medical solutions is worse. The Economist https://www.economist.com/open-future/2019/12/03/gender-identity-is-hard-but-jumping-to-medical-solutions-is-worse
Uncredited (October 3, 2019). Transgender rules for English schools face a backlash from women. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2019/10/03/transgender-rules-for-english-schools-face-a-backlash-from-women
Uncredited (April 4, 2019). Why Iran is a hub for sex-reassignment surgery: It is not because the regime is liberal. The Economist https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2019/04/04/why-iran-is-a-hub-for-sex-reassignment-surgery
Hayton, Debbie (July 3, 2018). Gender identity needs to be based on objective evidence rather than feelings. The Economist https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/07/03/gender-identity-needs-to-be-based-on-objective-evidence-rather-than-feelings
Uncredited (September 1, 2018). Why are so many teenage girls appearing in gender clinics? The Economist https://www.economist.com/united-states/2018/09/01/why-are-so-many-teenage-girls-appearing-in-gender-clinics
Uncredited (October 27, 2018). Who decides your gender? Gender self-identification is often cited as a matter of civil rights. It is more problematic than many advocates realise. The Economist https://www.economist.com/leaders/2018/10/27/who-decides-your-gender
Uncredited (October 27, 2018). Transgender politics focuses on who determines someone’s gender. The Economist https://www.economist.com/briefing/2018/10/27/transgender-politics-focuses-on-who-determines-someones-gender
Stock, Kathleen (July 6, 2018). Changing the concept of “woman” will cause unintended harms. The Economist https://www.economist.com/open-future/2018/07/06/changing-the-concept-of-woman-will-cause-unintended-harms
Uncredited (July 5, 2018). A culture war comes to Westminster: Both the Conservatives and Labour agree on trans rights. Now they just have to convince the voters. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2018/07/05/a-culture-war-comes-to-westminster
Uncredited (December 2, 2017). Are women born or made? Plans to blur gender boundaries spark opposition from feminists. The Economist https://www.economist.com/britain/2017/12/02/are-women-born-or-made
Uncredited (November 16, 2017). Making sense of the culture war over transgender identity. The Economist https://www.economist.com/international/2017/11/16/making-sense-of-the-culture-war-over-transgender-identity
Uncredited (November 16, 2017). Children are victims in the latest identity-driven culture war. The Economist https://www.economist.com/leaders/2017/11/16/children-are-victims-in-the-latest-identity-driven-culture-war
McCann, Charlie (September 28, 2017). When girls won’t be girls. The Economist https://www.economist.com/1843/2017/09/28/when-girls-wont-be-girls
“S.M.” (November 1, 2016). What is at stake in the first Supreme Court case on transgender rights: A bathroom brawl will be one of the most-watched cases of the Supreme Court term. The Economist https://www.economist.com/democracy-in-america/2016/11/01/what-is-at-stake-in-the-first-supreme-court-case-on-transgender-rights
Resources
The Economist (economist.com)
- Transgender identities: a series of viewpoints (2018)
- economist.com/transgender [archive]
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)