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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

#notalltranswomen

353 replies

BadasIwannaB · 12/07/2018 14:14

An argument people often make when women voice their concerns about women only spaces:

‘Well hang on a second, I know quite a few trans women and they are just considerate nice people who just want to get on with their lives etc.’

Why can’t people see that this is spectacularly missing the point in just the same way as arguing ‘well NOT ALL MEN are [rapists/sexual harassers/misogynists/a danger to women]’?

I mean, I’m friends with a lot of men - they aren’t all bad. I’m even in an intimate relationship with one. But would that be a legit rebuttal to the arguments that women should have protected spaces without men? Clearly not! I’m not insulting my (or your) friends who are men, or implying men are all rapists etc. by agreeing that women should have protected spaces without men in them.

Similarly, then, why think that those who argue that these protected spaces should not be available to trans women must be assuming that all trans women are rapists/sexual harrassers etc., and must be saying something that’s terribly insulting to their (or your) friends who are trans women?

OP posts:
FloralBunting · 12/07/2018 14:58

Hmm. Way to ignore the OP, Snappity.

Snappity · 12/07/2018 14:56

It also relies on the tedious assumption that the people fighting to keep women's spaces women only cannot possibly have any friends or family who are transgender.

This old trope.

The conclusion is nothing that society hasn’t already figured out. If you’re accused of any kind of inappropriate -ism, don’t defend yourself by citing a particular action or relationship. It’s understandable that doing so seems like the best solution, but it’s probably better to keep your mouth shut. Or at least be prepared to cite 50+ data points rather than the vague existence of “some” friends.
From Psychology Today www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-inertia-trap/201405/why-every-racist-mentions-their-black-friend

UpstartCrow · 12/07/2018 14:26

It also relies on the tedious assumption that the people fighting to keep women's spaces women only cannot possibly have any friends or family who are transgender.