Confused as to how to think about transsexuals

[Sharon71]

I'm a little nervous, this being my first post and everything but bear with me because there are some questions I need answers to but am afraid to discuss openly with my friends.

I am a dyed in the wool feminist but, since watching a documentary of transsexuals, specifically, male to female, I am unsure on how they relate to feminism. On the one hand, these people are awed by the overwhelming superiority of the fairer gender and are desperate to be a part of it and I can only applaud that sentiment but, and this is what disturbs me, they are reducing the whole female experience down to having breasts and a vagina and that makes me absolutely sick. These people think that simply reshaping themselves makes up for a lifetime of living as males and all the inadequacies that brings.

Which view is right? I'm really confused. ,
Sharon

[AMumInScotland]

I've only known one transexual (that I know of) and didn't have any hugely in-depth conversations with her about her choice, so I don't in the slightest mean to set myself up as an expert here, but my impression was not that she was awed by the superiority of females, or that she felt having a vagina and breasts were the only important aspect. She had felt from an early age that she was supposed to be female, and that her body did not match her internal view of herself. She went through as long and difficult process in order to try to have a body and a public identity which matched what she has always felt herself to be.

TBH I don't think either of your "views" has much to do with reality. I don't even understand what you mean about "makes up for a lifetime of living as males and all the inadequacies that brings"

[lubeybooby]

What AMumInScotland said is my experience of this too.

[pinkytheshrinky]

these people are awed by the overwhelming superiority of the fairer gender and are desperate to be a part of it and I can only applaud that sentiment but, and this is what disturbs me, they are reducing the whole female experience down to having breasts and a vagina and that makes me absolutely sick. These people think that simply reshaping themselves makes up for a lifetime of living as males and all the inadequacies that brings.

What a crock of fucking shit - just makes you look like an ignorant asshole

[madwomanintheattic]

oh dear. maybe do a bit more reading? suggest susan stryker as a start.

but if this was a way to start yet another trans argument on the fem board - way to go...