Post by Deleted on May 3, 2015 19:43:56 GMT 8
Someone on Tumblr was asked if she supports trans women in feminism. She responded with this:
"Trans women are not female and thus do not have a place in
FEMinism. They can, however, be feminist allies."
Of course, I had to provide my two cents:
A trans woman is not biologically female. She has no uterus, no vagina (unless post-op), no XX chromosomes. She is, however, female in gender. Trans identity isn’t something that happens on a whim. It’s developmental. The human body (especially neurology) isn’t perfect and is susceptible to thousands of conditions.
To say a trans woman isn’t female is like saying someone with autism isn’t intelligent. It may not be obvious externally, but it’s very much innate. If you aren’t transgender or autistic there’s no possible way for you to know through mere observation who someone is on the inside, or what they’re capable of, or what they understand.
I am transgender, I identify as female, and I consider myself a feminist. To call someone a “feminist ally” is like saying one Christian sect is just an ally to another Christian sect that deems itself “the true way”. It’s absurd logic. One who believes in and supports the natural rights of women is a feminist, period.
Feminism, to me, is bringing balance to the equation. The masculine is dominant in western society, but the feminine isn’t far behind. It still needs as much support as it can get. Women are not inferior, and men are not superior. We all have a place, we all have a role, and it is not to rule over the other. We are to work together, symbiotically, passionately, and as perfectly as we can.
Someone’s biology does not dictate their gender, nor does it determine the energy they express, masculine or feminine. Anyone who has spent enough time around me — observing my body language, my interests, and the way I express myself — will see that I am not male in gender. Every male friend that I have (gay and straight) shares a similarity that I don’t relate to. My brain isn’t wired that way. I was born differently. The transgender brain develops in a particular direction due to hormones, thus making you think and identify a particular way that does not line up with their physical sex. So, it doesn’t matter what body you have. Your gender is *points at brain* up here.
Trans women are women, and the fact that we do not have female bodies causes dysphoria (usually). A male who cross dresses is a male, and does not find discomfort in their body. A trans woman is very likely to detest male pronouns when being referred to. A man who cross dresses is perfectly fine with their pronouns.
For you RadFems out there: how would you like it if I called you “sir” or “he”? How would you like it if someone in your family called you “dad” or “uncle”? It hurts to think about, doesn’t it? What if I said you’re not a woman? What if I insisted it? You know who you are, and to hear those things isn’t pleasant. By excluding trans women as feminists, or to insist that they are not female, you are only damaging the cause of feminism, and telling the Goddess (if you are in tune with that) that she has no right to manifest where she pleases.
I need real feminism, because the feminism we have today has been repeatedly perverted and corrupted by self-righteous bullies who just happen to have vaginas. You’ve lost the point, ladies. Shut it down and gain some perspective; gain some insight. Love and respect only go towards those who dish it out. If you want to condemn me and tell me I can’t participate in women’s rights, then you don’t deserve it, yourself.
"Trans women are not female and thus do not have a place in
FEMinism. They can, however, be feminist allies."
Of course, I had to provide my two cents:
A trans woman is not biologically female. She has no uterus, no vagina (unless post-op), no XX chromosomes. She is, however, female in gender. Trans identity isn’t something that happens on a whim. It’s developmental. The human body (especially neurology) isn’t perfect and is susceptible to thousands of conditions.
To say a trans woman isn’t female is like saying someone with autism isn’t intelligent. It may not be obvious externally, but it’s very much innate. If you aren’t transgender or autistic there’s no possible way for you to know through mere observation who someone is on the inside, or what they’re capable of, or what they understand.
I am transgender, I identify as female, and I consider myself a feminist. To call someone a “feminist ally” is like saying one Christian sect is just an ally to another Christian sect that deems itself “the true way”. It’s absurd logic. One who believes in and supports the natural rights of women is a feminist, period.
Feminism, to me, is bringing balance to the equation. The masculine is dominant in western society, but the feminine isn’t far behind. It still needs as much support as it can get. Women are not inferior, and men are not superior. We all have a place, we all have a role, and it is not to rule over the other. We are to work together, symbiotically, passionately, and as perfectly as we can.
Someone’s biology does not dictate their gender, nor does it determine the energy they express, masculine or feminine. Anyone who has spent enough time around me — observing my body language, my interests, and the way I express myself — will see that I am not male in gender. Every male friend that I have (gay and straight) shares a similarity that I don’t relate to. My brain isn’t wired that way. I was born differently. The transgender brain develops in a particular direction due to hormones, thus making you think and identify a particular way that does not line up with their physical sex. So, it doesn’t matter what body you have. Your gender is *points at brain* up here.
Trans women are women, and the fact that we do not have female bodies causes dysphoria (usually). A male who cross dresses is a male, and does not find discomfort in their body. A trans woman is very likely to detest male pronouns when being referred to. A man who cross dresses is perfectly fine with their pronouns.
For you RadFems out there: how would you like it if I called you “sir” or “he”? How would you like it if someone in your family called you “dad” or “uncle”? It hurts to think about, doesn’t it? What if I said you’re not a woman? What if I insisted it? You know who you are, and to hear those things isn’t pleasant. By excluding trans women as feminists, or to insist that they are not female, you are only damaging the cause of feminism, and telling the Goddess (if you are in tune with that) that she has no right to manifest where she pleases.
I need real feminism, because the feminism we have today has been repeatedly perverted and corrupted by self-righteous bullies who just happen to have vaginas. You’ve lost the point, ladies. Shut it down and gain some perspective; gain some insight. Love and respect only go towards those who dish it out. If you want to condemn me and tell me I can’t participate in women’s rights, then you don’t deserve it, yourself.
