Transphobic and Transcritical - what is the difference?

81 replies

OurBlanche · 26/02/2017 17:38

It seems to be a recurrent theme. Women here talk about various trans issues and some find many of the posts to be transphobic

I don't see that, I see a lot of women taking the opportunity to have a discussion they can't have in m/any other places. I see a lot of transcritical posts, some stated calmly, some not so. But they don't evidence transphobic.

So, on another thread I asked if it would be useful to discuss the difference between the two words.

My take is that I am not transphobic, I do not fear or hate any/all transpeople. I couldn't really care how someone presents themselves, what nomenclature they prefer.

I am transcritical, because of the actions of a very vocal minority of transactivists. I will disagree with them and it will have nothing to do with their preferred way of dressing, being hailed!

OP posts:

Original poster

OurBlanche · 26/02/2017 17:56

Transcritical sounds fine, but you'll still be accused of transphobia, so you can't win really That, I think, is what prompted this.

Some of those who will call me/us transphobic will continue to do so. But some posters have expressed confusion about what that actually means, who don't have the confidence or a robust viewpoint and so find it hard to enter a debate, on either side. I wanted to start a post for those posters.

We need to be able to critique our world without being labelled as some sort of bigot. We do not need to follow the example of other forums by either closing down such debates are being generally vile to each other.

Allow me my naivety: maybe we can start making a more open, less entrenched debate!

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BevGoldbergsSister · 26/02/2017 17:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ShutTheFuckUpBarbara · 26/02/2017 17:50

Thanks for starting the thread, I hope it will be a useful discussion.

Transcritical for me, means questioning, without hatred and trying to put stereotypes aside. It's what I have clumsily been getting at elsewhere.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 26/02/2017 17:50

Great idea for a thread, maybe we can sticky it too because I'm fed up with threads on other parts of MN accusing feminists of transphobia.

Transphobia would include hate speech, evidence of hatred towards trans people as a class, mis-gendering (ie not using a person's preferred pronoun and I'd include mis-cissing in that as well!).

Transcritical would involve stating that there is no such thing as pink and blue brains, asking for clarity around what 'feeling like a woman' means and defending the right to penis-free spaces (which include lesbians' vaginas). Questioning hormonal treatment etc for young children.

helpimitchy · 26/02/2017 17:46

Sticking the word 'phobic' onto the end of words is a guaranteed way of shutting down discourse. It's cheap and dirty and it usually works.

Transcritical sounds fine, but you'll still be accused of transphobia, so you can't win really.

DJBaggySmalls · 26/02/2017 17:44

Thanks for starting this discussion
To me, transphobic would be denying trans people exist. Openly posting hate speech against them, or trying to remove their right to exist.
Trans critical is pointing out that treading over the hard won rights of others is not ok.

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