Can we find a good historical analogy to the trans debate

I would avoid comparisons with anti-semism, I think that will just confuse people.

Interesting question, OP.

I'm trying to think of something with unintended consequences: a step forward in theory which in practice and inadvertently allows ne'er do wells to cause harm.

Perhaps guns in the US? Undoubtedly they were needed for protection in earlier lawless times, but enshrining the right to bear arms in law has allowed criminals and nut cases to cause havoc.

That's a fantastic comparison hackmum

There's an interesting blogpost by Nina Paley here:

blog.ninapaley.com/2018/02/07/gender_colonialism/

She makes an analogy with Israel: in short, American liberals are divided between those who saw the settlers in Palestine as refugees and those who saw them as colonists. She argues that trans-identified men divide people in the same way: some see them as refugees from maleness, and some see them as colonisers of femaleness.

I think it's more like dystopia than anything in history. A situation in which language gets changed to mean the opposite of what it means, where the thing that oppresses you turns out to be your privilege, where if you do not accept the rules and the language you're cast out....

I just don't get the logic behind cultural appropriation being some terrible thing and womanface being lauded all round.

I think trans is like the PIE thing, in terms of how we will look back on it. And I'm fairly sure once trans issues become visible to the man in the street, rather than being the preserve of the crazy liberals, it will be all over for the TRAs

Transubstantiation and Mary I reintroduction of catholic articles.

Adding Manifest Destiny to the general idea of colonialism - American expansionism and exceptionalism as if it's some divinely ordained rightful fulfilment of progress.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manifest_destiny

Thanks for the Jenn link. Followed.

Every time I see Morgane Oger I think, wow, Fred Armisen is looking really rough these days, is he OK?

Rachel Dolezal?

I agree colonialisation is a very good example. Especially the idea that the colonials were superior to the people they were colonising.

Not sure if it's relevant but I remember the 'plantations' of Protestants in Ireland by Elizabeth 1st (hazy gcse memory) in order to start infiltrating and religiously dominating the catholics - feels similar.

For the transing of GNC children and women suffering from trauma I'd say lobotomy would be the best analogy.

Have a look at what has been happening in Canada. Remember Morgane Oger? The person who wanted to track down the woman holding a gender critical sign? He has set up a foundation to tackle similar 'hate crime'

This Transwoman is very concerned and trying to stand up for women like us:
mobile.twitter.com/Jenn_pansexual/status/961203922575622145

Never thought of colonialism but yes, it's spot on. I think that the modern equivalent is cultural appropriation.

People used to be able to wear a silky kimono or wear their hair in lots of braids because they like them but these days we have to fear people thinking that it's an attempt to be culturally insensitive.

I see a lot of people agreeing with trans movement because they don't want to be seen as intolerant /transphobic.

coffeecork you are spot on with this:
We are heading towards government-enforced acceptance of the quasi religious belief that reproductive sex is not a material reality. Persecution of those who refuse to believe.

That is what really worries me about the proposals for self ID. That any man can say he is a woman purely because he feels it is a belief. It is by no means one everyone shares. People are already feeling fear to speak out due to their jobs, their personal safety, etc. If you codify that in law and make it a hate crime to question it, how is that ok?

I really like Hairy's colonial analogy!

And I also think it's close to a religious schism - as others have said about transubstantiation.

The medication and surgery on children is like the lobotomy scandal.

Thought to be cutting edge medicine and a lifesaver for those with mental health issues and then looked back on with horror.

I like the colonisation idea!

Also works with (historic) disability/(present) ASD and sterilisation

That cowboy analogy is brilliant.

To indirectly build on everyone's post -

The people who BELIEVED same sex attraction was wrong wanted to impose conversion therapy on gay people
The people who BELIEVE self ID is all that matters want to impose conversion therapy on gay people

Good point Everyonematters

I've seen so many comparisons to gay marriage but it really is pretty much the reverse of what those people are arguing.

We are heading towards government-enforced acceptance of the quasi religious belief that reproductive sex is not a material reality. Persecution of those who refuse to believe.

There are so many historical parallels here. I'm struggling to think of a historical parallel for the situation in your OP, though.

Gay rights. People who stood against same sex marriage BELIEVED same sex marriage was wrong and wanted OTHER PEOPLE to live their lives according to beliefs those people didn't share. They thought gay people should not get married because of this.

People proposing Self-ID BELIEVE if a man says he feels like a woman he is a woman and can walk into all the rights and protections built up due to disadvantages in their biology. They want OTHER people, women, to give up those rights and protections because of a belief they don't share.