A recent paper discussing the term “adult woman” labeled it as “hate speech” aimed at transgender people. This article, introduced by an editor with a history of criticizing conservative figures, was added to a navigation box related to President Donald Trump’s second term. It’s now linked within hundreds of articles that connect this term to claims of transgender persecution during Trump’s presidency.
In a Friday interview about his new book on Channel 4 News, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales discussed the notion of a “woke takeover” at Tesla and SpaceX, asserting that examining Wikipedia would counter this narrative. He recounted an interaction on social media where someone posed the question, “What is a woman?” When checking the Wikipedia article on women, he noted it defines “woman” as “adult human female,” which, he argued, undermines claims that Wikipedia is overtly leftist as critics often suggest.
Had Wales examined the specific article on “adult human female,” he would have seen that its introduction describes the term as a slogan embraced by anti-gender and “gender-critical” movements. Scholars characterize it as a “dog whistle” for transphobic views and a form of coded hate speech. Furthermore, the article argues that it confines womanhood to those assigned female at birth, asserting that this term aligns with allegations of transgender persecution during Trump’s administration.
The article was crafted earlier this year by an editor known as “Tataral,” who also labeled it as “hate speech.” It mentioned President Trump’s executive order restricting transgender individuals from women’s prisons and sports. Tataral has also attempted to introduce mentions of trans women earlier in the Wikipedia articles but faced resistance. An article about the executive order similarly used “adult human female” in a way that flagged it as “anti-trans,” although mentions were later removed. Currently, the article relating to the “Adult Women” term includes a lone source from a British gay publication linking it to Trump’s policies.
Tataral has previously created a page detailing Trump’s mug shot from a Georgia election inquiry and has openly expressed his criticism of Trump. He also engaged in efforts to label Trump as far-right following the assassination of a Turning Point USA co-founder, prompting backlash from Senator Mike Lee.
Additionally, Tataral faced scrutiny earlier this year regarding potential biases on Wikipedia, particularly involving responses to a letter from Acting U.S. Attorney Ed Martin. He recently became involved in a controversy involving an article from the Free Press, which criticizes transgender activism, leading to discussions about the future of that media outlet following its new editor’s appointment at CBS News.
Shortly after launching the “Adult Human Female” page, Tataral began linking it in various articles, including those discussing gender-critical feminism, which does not include trans women as females. He also linked it to a documentary by conservative commentator Matt Walsh questioning transgender issues, among other discussions. Tataral’s contributions aimed at popularizing the term among critics of transgender policies sparked further controversies.
The page dedicated to women’s rights activist Kelly Jay Keene Minshull also showcased Tataral’s approach, claiming he highlighted links between this activist and extremist groups, though some of these claims were deleted by other editors for not meeting Wikipedia’s standards. The article’s stating that scholars have identified the term as “dog whistle” and “coded hate speech” faced similar scrutiny and deletions for lacking adequate sources.
One prolific editor added various references to support the characterization of the term as a “dog whistle,” though other claims regarding it as hate speech were subsequently retracted. Discussions among editors pointed out that while some claim the term defines a woman clearly, no concrete evidence supports its classification as hate speech.
Interestingly, the line “What is a woman?” is often seen as rhetorical, yet some editors argue it resembles a “gotcha question” intended to press others into a corner. Previous discussions among editors highlighted this ambiguity, asserting the definition is more complex than a simple query.
Recently, Tataral expanded the “Adult Human Female” article to include more links to the “persecution of transgender people” narrative under Trump, arguing that such persecution aims to undermine transgender identities and rights. He connected this to broader discussions regarding alleged “transgender genocide,” even making comparisons to historical events like Nazi persecutions.
After addressing the alleged persecution in detail, Tataral added references linking it to Trump’s second presidential term, creating a network of articles that associates this term with claims of transgender oppression. Despite Wales’ observations about Wikipedia’s editing practices, they reflect ongoing controversies, especially regarding LGBTQ+ issues. Various administrators have enforced a code of conduct against editors for their language and interactions, showcasing the tensions surrounding these discussions on the platform.
(Disclosure: The editor has ties to some discussed parties)
Reportedly, TD Adler has worked on Wikipedia but faced bans after reporting conflicts of interest by administrators. Due to past actions against him, he now writes under a pseudonym.
