Reconciling Trans and Feminism

80 replies

LonginesPrime · 06/03/2018 14:21

I would consider myself to be gender critical but I respect transwomen's assertion that they feel they are women and I'm happy to respect their preferred pronouns.

As a feminist, it doesn't sit comfortably with me when transwomen say things like 'I knew I was female from a very young age as I always loved pink and played with my sister's dolls' and I personally believe that if society didn't place so much weight on gender conformity, especially when it comes to masculinity, lots of people who have transitioned probably would have been perfectly happy living their lives the way they wanted, wearing what they wanted without feeling the need to be recognised as someone of the opposite sex.

Similarly, from lesbians I know who have transitioned to male, I can absolutely see the appeal (whether on a conscious or subconscious level) of taking that step to be recognised as a man as opposed to a 'butch' woman in a society that undervalues women, and whilst I'm pleased for them and the ways their careers have advanced as a result of being perceived as male, it's disappointing to know that it does make a difference, especially when they're dressing exactly the same as they did before (i.e. in 'male' suits and waistcoats (I have some very dapper friends..)).

I have a lot of sympathy for the trans people who hate their bodies and feel they are confined by them. If someone feels they are a woman and wants to be treated as such more fool them, I have no problem washing my hands next to them in the loo or including them in the discussion at a book group. However, I don't think that male sex offenders who transition should be allowed in women's prisons and I don't believe that women attending a rape crisis centre should be forced to have anyone with a penis examine them if they're not comfortable with that.

It has taken a long time to even get to this point of reconciling my beliefs about gender and my support of the trans community and I can't claim to be completely there yet, but I'd be interested in hearing about other women's experiences of reconciling trans support with their own feminist views.

OP posts:

Original poster

LonginesPrime · 06/03/2018 14:47

Thanks both.

I've been here a while but since lots of threads are posted in reaction to a specific event or article, they tend to focus on that (and the interactions between posters) rather than the core rationale behind posters' beliefs.

As a result, it appears that most posters come down very squarely on one side or the other of a debate, although I suspect that's because they have a specific view in relation to whatever the issue being discussed, as opposed to their all being completely 'black and white' in their thinking.

So I guess my aim is to see what middle ground there is and whether people do manage to reconcile the two without their heads exploding!

OP posts:

LangCleg · 06/03/2018 14:46

I think it's a process, from the first dawning realisation that all is not right, through a better understanding of the paucity of the trans ideology's arguments and a "but the silent majority of trans aren't like this", to an end point of much more hard line views.

The key is to understand that the battle isn't against individual trans people. The battle is against a sexist (refusal to acknowledge that female oppression is based on reproductive class) and homophobic (lesbians are transphobic if they won't do ladydick) ideology that will, if not stopped, completely eradicate women's rights and gay rights, and will likely result in a far right backlash that makes Trump look like a socialist.

Bosabosa · 06/03/2018 14:40

You could be me OP, I am I only just now starting to think about this topic and what you have written is very similar to my views (at the moment!!)

BarrackerBarmer · 06/03/2018 14:37

Have you read much on the feminist section here?
It's good you are kicking the tyres of your own beliefs.

I wouldn't describe you as gender critical (you accept gender as a valid thing and consider woman not to be a biological label but a gender identity, both of these are gender supportive, the opposite to gender critical) but you are certainly questioning and that is good.

I'd spend some time browsing these threads if I were you, reading both sides of the debate. Hearing both sides really helps to develop one's own opinions.

DancingLedge · 06/03/2018 14:31

Well , first reaction, good on you for trying, and posting about it.

Some people will disagree with some of your opinions: but not erasing women's right to our own thoughts and opinions is central part of this, to me. So a diversity of opinions is not only inevitable, but to be welcomed.

Hope that does sound like I'm saying you've got it wrong: on the contrary I agree with most of it, especially your 4th paragraph.

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