I finished The Good Doctor a few days ago and found it quite enjoyable, I was just reflecting on it and how the Doctors role for most of the novel is directly related to her being a woman in this incarnation, if it had been a male incarnation than certain elements would be the same but events would play out differently. The author, Juno Dawson, is trans, as am I, and while I pass no where near as well as she does, I was just considering how we both being trans can understand being treated differently now we are presenting and living as women and this has given me a fresh perspective with which to view Thirteen, one I hadn’t had until now. I thankfully don’t encounter much transphobia, but I do observe how people treat me as a woman, whether its quite natural, or trying to purposely refer to or include me in feminine things, or needless chivalry or objectification.
In this story Thirteen experience direct misogyny, something the Doctor had not had to contend with previously. Its not something I would like to see dealt with in every story, but I like that this story does engage with it.
Thanks for your thoughts!
I listened to the audiobook a while back and I agree that it was interesting to have the Doctor face challenges based on her gender.
It happened a couple of tiny times in the TV show (like Jack Harkness assuming Graham was the Doctor, and she had some bad experiences in The Witchfinders), but I really think they could have done more.
They were just a little too afraid to paint the Doctor as someone completely different, so she was very androgynous I thought.
I’m glad the Expanded Universe stuff can do more with this, and hope Big Finish have some good ideas as well!
I’m a cis male so have no experience with the trans viewpoint but I am really interested in hearing more about it.
Linking the book here if anyone is interested in reading it:
I completely forgot about The Witchfinders! But yes I did think of that Captain Jack moment and I think Stephen Frys character has a comment in Spyfall? But it was fairly unexplored on TV and I’m hoping we’ll get more exploration in the Big Finish audios. I’m making my way through Redacted, also written by Dawson, at the moment and am very much enjoying the trans character in that. Hoping we’ll get some more of Dawson at Big Finish as she has already written some stuff.
Definitely don’t want the Doctor being a woman explored constantly, but it is a basic aspect of Thirteen and I would like to see it explored more, particularly from a more feminine lens as that is a way I’ve realised I connect with this Doctor specifically now.
[quote=“shauny, post:2, topic:6552”]
It happened a couple of tiny times in the TV show…but I really think they could have done more.[/quote]
I’m in two minds about that. In part I’m happy they didn’t focus on it. That’s the part of me that believes gender shouldn’t matter.
The other part recognizes that gender still does matter, often when it shouldn’t. That part is glad to see it called out from time to time.
Hmm…I remember that I enjoyed The Good Doctor, but darned if I can remember a dang thing about it.
That’s so real 
I’m the same with so many BF that I heard like half a decade ago. I know I loved it, do I remember it? Absolutely not.
She’s writing the Eurovision episode next season right?
Indeed! Looking forward to that. Hoping we continue getting EU content from her though. Maybe a third series of Redacted?
But that means you get to experience it anew and fall in love all over again!
I really enjoyed reading your thoughts and insight there. I really enjoyed The Good Doctor and even dropped a review 
Unfortunately she wasn’t involved in the second season, so I’m not sure I see a third season coming, and if it does not with her