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Feminism: Sex & gender discussions

How is it "gender critical" to impose rigid binary social categories based on sex?

999 replies

CuriousPanda · 13/07/2021 21:07

For most of history, the whole point of feminism was to oppse sex-based segregation and restrictions that were imposed by patriarchal society.

So I don't see how supporting strict gender categories, and simply calling them "sex-based" instead, in any way leans itself to "gender abolition".

One might get impression that "gender" is simply being used to mean trans people existing, and "gender abolition" simply means restricting trans people from being able to transition and use different gender labels. And basically nothing else.

With "sex-based rules and restrictions" being basically just gender roles but trans-proofed.

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KarmaViolet · 13/07/2021 21:10

Gender critical doesn't mean imposing gender.

It means accepting that people can be as "masculine" or "feminine" as they like; that these are personality traits not expression of an inner soul; and that they do not correlate to male and female respectively.

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Irishmom7 · 13/07/2021 21:10

What categories are you referring to? Having a period?

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AssassinatedBeauty · 13/07/2021 21:11

One has to wonder why on earth you think that "gender critical" feminists support strict gender categories. Or that the phrase "sex based rules and regulations" means the same thing as "gender roles". Especially when it has been explained to you several times on your other thread that you have a misunderstanding of what that specific phrase refers to.

Is there any reason why this needed its own thread and couldn't have simply been a post on your other thread?

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CuriousPanda · 13/07/2021 21:13

@Irishmom7

What categories are you referring to? Having a period?

Strictly-enforced "sex-based" labels and segregation, imposing the labels of "man" and "woman" on people against their will, regardless of their discomfort or objections, and forcing them to use separate spaces.
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midgemagneto · 13/07/2021 21:13

Sex is real
It affects many things such as sporting performance

What feminists like me want is those differences respected without the imposition of spurious ideas such as girls can't do maths

So separate medical treatment, but the same access to university

Separate prisons but the same respect in parliament

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Hoosi · 13/07/2021 21:13

You have got a lot wrong about feminism.

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CuriousPanda · 13/07/2021 21:15

@AssassinatedBeauty

One has to wonder why on earth you think that "gender critical" feminists support strict gender categories. Or that the phrase "sex based rules and regulations" means the same thing as "gender roles". Especially when it has been explained to you several times on your other thread that you have a misunderstanding of what that specific phrase refers to.

Is there any reason why this needed its own thread and couldn't have simply been a post on your other thread?

Because I know for a fact you support strictly categorizing people as "men" and "women" strictly based on the genitals they had been observed to have at birth. You have told me as much numerous times yourselves.
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midgemagneto · 13/07/2021 21:15

Yes man and woman are sex based terms

Unless you can prove we don't need such terms then we need them

People shouldn't be hung up about those words , they just refer to your sex snd should have no other implications read into them

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JustcameoutGC · 13/07/2021 21:15

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PennineSpring · 13/07/2021 21:16

imposing the labels of "man" and "woman" on people against their will

Every human is a man or a woman, every mammal is either male or female.
You seem confused about basic biology.

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hungryhipposareinthehouse · 13/07/2021 21:16

Gender critical means critical of gender.
Sex is this baby is female/ a girl, gender is so I wrap them in a pink blanket. Gender is sexist stereotypes(A word invented by the er progressive victorians!), we are critical of those sexist stereotypes and do not believe they define a person. I personally believe gender is oppressive.

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AssassinatedBeauty · 13/07/2021 21:17

What does "strictly categorise" mean in the way that you are using it?

And there's no need to put quote marks around words like men/women.

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midgemagneto · 13/07/2021 21:17

The label can only be offensive if you read something extra into it


Snd taking offense at that makes you gender critical

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Wbeezer · 13/07/2021 21:17

But gender critical feminists are not into imposing rigid binary social categories based on sex where did you get that idea from? It's virtually the opposite of what gender critical feminists believe.
We believe in acknowledging the reality of biological sex but not allowing that to restrict the choices people make in how they live or express themselves, be it in education, employment, hobbies or clothing and hairstyles, to name a few.

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CuriousPanda · 13/07/2021 21:18

@KarmaViolet

Gender critical doesn't mean imposing gender.

It means accepting that people can be as "masculine" or "feminine" as they like; that these are personality traits not expression of an inner soul; and that they do not correlate to male and female respectively.

But apparently people can't just be free to use masculine, feminine, or gender neutral labels and pronouns for some reason.

Why can't you accept that?
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Aroundtheworldin80moves · 13/07/2021 21:18

GC means accepting biology as fact but not being restricted by it. You can dress how you like, do a job you want, hobbies you like etc. It doesn't matter.
It also means accepting for everyone's privacy and safety that some facilities need to be set segregated. Like prisons, changing facilities, private medical examinations, abuse shelters etc.

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BreatheAndFocus · 13/07/2021 21:18

You sound confused. GC people reject the stereotypes associated with gender. Gender and sex aren’t the same. Sex existing doesn’t mean stereotypes have to exist.

Sex is a biological fact/category but recognising that doesn’t mean I then am forced to wear pink, have 15 children, always do the dishes, never be a CEO just because I’m female.

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CuriousPanda · 13/07/2021 21:19

@Wbeezer

But gender critical feminists are not into imposing rigid binary social categories based on sex where did you get that idea from? It's virtually the opposite of what gender critical feminists believe.
We believe in acknowledging the reality of biological sex but not allowing that to restrict the choices people make in how they live or express themselves, be it in education, employment, hobbies or clothing and hairstyles, to name a few.

I got that idea from the fact you insist on using masculine and feminine labels and pronouns on people who very much ​do not wish to be referred to that way​.
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CuriousPanda · 13/07/2021 21:20

@BreatheAndFocus

You sound confused. GC people reject the stereotypes associated with gender. Gender and sex aren’t the same. Sex existing doesn’t mean stereotypes have to exist.

Sex is a biological fact/category but recognising that doesn’t mean I then am forced to wear pink, have 15 children, always do the dishes, never be a CEO just because I’m female.

But you are forced to call yourself "woman". Even though many trans men nd non-binary people do not want to use that label.
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midgemagneto · 13/07/2021 21:21

Masculine and feminine labels , no , no GC people is forcing them on others

Although we must also accept that the description comes from the beholder

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AssassinatedBeauty · 13/07/2021 21:21

What are "masculine and feminine labels and pronouns"?

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CuriousPanda · 13/07/2021 21:21

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

GC means accepting biology as fact but not being restricted by it. You can dress how you like, do a job you want, hobbies you like etc. It doesn't matter.
It also means accepting for everyone's privacy and safety that some facilities need to be set segregated. Like prisons, changing facilities, private medical examinations, abuse shelters etc.

And why can't I also call myself whatever I like? Why can't I simply call myself non-binary, why can't I simply prefer gender neutral terms, and why can't that be respected?
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CuriousPanda · 13/07/2021 21:22

@AssassinatedBeauty

What are "masculine and feminine labels and pronouns"?

"man", "woman", "he", "she", "mother", "father", etc.

All sorts of gendered words and terms.
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Soontobe60 · 13/07/2021 21:23

Since time immemorial human beings have been categorised into 2 distinct groups - male and female. What beliefs people hold doesn’t change that fact. The only times that the incorrect sex has been noted is with babies born with a DSD but luckily for us all, genetic testing is now able to determine without a doubt if a baby with ambiguous genitalia is male or female.
You’re welcome.

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CuriousPanda · 13/07/2021 21:24

@AssassinatedBeauty

What does "strictly categorise" mean in the way that you are using it?

And there's no need to put quote marks around words like men/women.

Strict "sex-based" categorization and segregation, i.e. insistence on calling people "men" and "women" strictly based on their physiology, and forcing them to use separate facilities according to that categorization.
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