Questions from a liberal feminist to the rad fems

However with an ideal situation for radical feminism being the complete abolition of gender rules, we would accept anyone for who they are including effeminate men and butch women so it would render transitioning pointless.

Ummmm, liberal feminists aren't all that keen on gender stereotypes either you know. I think that pretty much applies to all feminists.

I don't think a world without stereotypes is going to help someone come to terms with what they believe to be the "wrong" sexed body though is it.

Also rad fans all acknowledge that trans people have their own unique experience, but it is a trans experience not a female experience.

I think you will find that it not the case. In the case of males, this is a MALE experience. In the case of females, this is a FEMALE experience.

My view is that of course trans people exist. I can't understand this denying people's existence nonsense. Makes no sense. Who denies they exist?

In my ideal world anyone would be able to present as they wished so there would be nothing to transition from or to.

Biology just is. That's the body you were born with and there should be more help for people to accept themselves. I say this about any form of cosmetic surgery TBH it's very shallow to me. And unhealthy to obsess about how you look and to have multiple surgeries.

So my answers:

Yes.
No.
No.
No.
No.
No.

All my boys have gone through gnc phases. We've allowed them to express themselves in whatever way they wanted. No restrictions. They all eventually grew out of it.

I'm not sure if I'm a rad fem however. I'm just a mum and wife and a lawyer and a feminist. And I don't think you can change your biological sex. Nor do I think we should be promoting it as a way to live except as a last resort. It's too damaging.

I acknowledge the existence and experiences of these men, but I do not acknowledge that 'trans' is a Real Thing that I must participate in by reifying it.

However, when I am constantly told either that they are women or even that they are transwomen (which even though it does not assert that they are women, it denies that they are men) and when my voice is constantly shut down and I am censored on the grounds that I am beyond the bounds of civilised debate, or am bigoted or am engaging in hate speech, then my willingness to show any understanding pretty much evaporates.

I agree with your answers to all the questions.

I also think there is a difference between effeminate men and trans women. Their whole identity is that they do not feel male- not just that they don’t correspond to the stereotypes of what a man is but that they are not male. I don’t think removing gender stereotypes would change things for people with genuine gender dysphoria.

Oh and I think prisons should have a trans facility which avoids the debate over whether someone should be in a male or female prison. I also think moves towards gender neutral fully contained loos with sinks where possible is a good thing. Same with changing rooms- if they have lockable cubicles they can be unisex.

Yes

No

Yes - appropriate provision should be made within male facilities, as should be the case with any group of males vulnerable to male violence.

Yes and No. It is more the delusion and encroachment on women's rights that is most significant.

Yes and No.

No - there is ample evidence that this is not the case.

Not by lying to him and telling them that he are a girl trapped in a boy's body, or have the soul of a girl, or that he have been born into the wrong body, or that his (presumably healthy) body is wrong, and certainly not by transing him. Appropriate professional support to investigate the root of this distress and support him in finding a way to be at peace with his body and his sexuality, if it turns out that he is gay. Consistent gender critical parenting.

Literally every rad fem (and human as far as I can tell) acknowledges the existence of trans people. I find this the most bizarre accuasatiin that is thrown at rad gems.

Also rad fans all acknowledge that trans people have their own unique experience, but it is a trans experience not a female experience.

Hth

we would accept anyone for who they are including effeminate men and butch women so it would render transitioning pointless.

No it wouldn't. For a lot of people medical transition is about sex, not gender.

I often get the impression on here that rad fems refuse the acknowledge the existence and experience of being trans but maybe that isn't

Of course we don't. Plenty of trans people are on our side you know.

Interesting OP, I'll be keen to see some responses coming in.

FWIW though I don't think your opinions on trans issues necessarily make you a libfem. Just like I don't think being trans-exclusionary catapults anyone to radfem status.

Actually, having an opinion on trans issues - whatever that opinion may be - doesn't necessarily make someone a feminist at all; not even if they're a woman with those opinions.

There's a tad bit more to being a feminist than trans IMO.

If so, are you suggesting withdrawing hormones from those who have already transitioned?

What kind of nonsensical question is that? Do you think people are mad?

My answers:

No

No

No (but in the case of prisons I would add the caveat that my “no” only applies to people who have fully transitioned before their sentence, and that I feel a case-by-case approach is appropriate, taking into account the nature of the crime). Also in hostels and care homes etc proof of a GRC should be required.

No

No more than any other person, on a population level (though I would think twice about attending a WPUK meeting...). My concern is with abusive men who aren’t trans gaming the system to access women and girls, not with genuine transwomen. And that the trans umbrella is way too wide - my view is that the terms transgender and transsexual should only apply to people who have gender dysphoria. Everything else is just reinforcing stereotypes.

Potentially, but they are not exercised where they could / should be, and trans activists need to respect them when they are.

My answer to your last question would be the same as yours.

I am most definitely a rad fem.

My son was as you describe but rather than entrenching ideas of gender rules / roles I said of course you can wear dresses and play with dolls they are not girls' things they are just things.
Just as I was allowed to wear trousers and play football without having to pretend to be a boy.

Nobody as far as I know is saying that adults who have chosen to transition should stop the process, much less forcing them to. However with an ideal situation for radical feminism being the complete abolition of gender rules, we would accept anyone for who they are including effeminate men and butch women so it would render transitioning pointless.

I have been personally threatened by trans identified males and their allies but I do not think that all trans people are dangerous. Most trans people, like most other people, are just getting on with their lives. I have however been raped, by a man, who used his penis for the job. Countless women I know have been raped. All rapists have penises, it's a crucial tool for the task and so I don't think bepenised people should be welcome into single sex spaces where there are vulnerable women, like prisons.
Yes I think fully transitions trans people with a GRC should be able to use their preferred toilet, but they are not actually that sex.
I absolutely think that a person born as a boy should not be able to enter women's sports. Ever. Competitive level sport is not a human right and if a man decides that he wants to transition he will have to accept that he has disqualified himself from professional sport, it's not the end of the world.