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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

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William Shatner

288 replies

Dragonglass · 04/08/2020 17:57

Has anyone seen William Shatner's twitter? He is arguing against the use of cis and how it is an insult. He seems to be doing quite well too.

OP posts:
CallarMorvern · 04/08/2020 23:33

Also I feel other women referring to themselves as cis are deferring to men and being labelled by men. It has a submissive tone to it.

CallarMorvern · 04/08/2020 23:31

Because I don't want to be made a subset of my own sex, whilst transwomen get to be referred to as women. I find it offensive.

backinthebox · 04/08/2020 23:30

sex is why women are oppressed and gender is how.

^^

ErrolTheDragon · 04/08/2020 23:28

[quote Littlemeadow123]@ErrolTheDragon What about other kinds of labels that we use. Gay? Straight? Bisexual? Homosexual? Lesbian? Heterosexual? Heck, even things like Extrovert, Introvert, Ambivert are labels. Should we stop using them too? Or is it just because cis is linked to trans.[/quote]
I didn't say you should stop using anything. Just that you shouldn't assume other people are ok with you sticking a label on them.
Cis and trans are a bit like insisting that everyone is a Muslim or a Christian ... I don't want any religious label.

Littlemeadow123 · 04/08/2020 23:28

I agree that is wrong to assume that someone is cis, but I don't see anything wrong with someone calling themselves cis if that is the case. My trans friends call me cis, because they know that is the case. And I don't mind.

BluebonicPlague · 04/08/2020 23:26

@Littlemeadow123

What is wrong with saying cis and trans to describe whether or not you identify with the gender you were born with? It's similar to saying straight, gay, bisexual etc to describe your sexuality.
Long story short: sex is why women are oppressed and gender is how. Cis and trans entrench the gender roles women have been fighting against for years. What does it mean to 'live as a woman'? Wear a dress, be patronised, earn less?

Plenty of people don't ascribe to the notion that their sexed bodies determine anything about them apart from biological function. Having a vagina doesn't make you have long hair, love pink sparkly things, think ditsy thoughts and need rescuing by a prince. Oh, and good at making sandwiches. Having a penis doesn't make you strong, brave, insensitive objective, and incapable of changing a nappy.

People who object to cis and trans are people, not stereotypes.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 04/08/2020 23:25

It's similar to saying straight, gay, bisexual etc to describe your sexuality.

No it isn't, because it presupposes that I think male people are women. Which isn't the case.

Littlemeadow123 · 04/08/2020 23:24

@JamieLeeCurtains I'm just trying to understand it. If you saw me kissing a woman you'd no doubt label me as a lesbian or bisexual. If you saw me dressing like a man, undergoing treatment etc then you would label me as transsexual. So no, Cis isn't really any different.

backinthebox · 04/08/2020 23:20

@Littlemeadow123

What is wrong with saying cis and trans to describe whether or not you identify with the gender you were born with? It's similar to saying straight, gay, bisexual etc to describe your sexuality.
I’m ‘not purple.’ This does not mean I get to describe everyone not like me as ‘purple.’ How one person defines themselves does not impact on how I define me. Surely the who point of how one identifies oneself is that others do not get to have a say in the how of that?
Littlemeadow123 · 04/08/2020 23:18

@ErrolTheDragon What about other kinds of labels that we use. Gay? Straight? Bisexual? Homosexual? Lesbian? Heterosexual? Heck, even things like Extrovert, Introvert, Ambivert are labels. Should we stop using them too? Or is it just because cis is linked to trans.

LoveInTheTimeOfCorona · 04/08/2020 23:18

@Littlemeadow123

What is wrong with saying cis and trans to describe whether or not you identify with the gender you were born with? It's similar to saying straight, gay, bisexual etc to describe your sexuality.
I wasn’t born with any gender.
JamieLeeCurtains · 04/08/2020 23:15

@Littlemeadow123

What is wrong with saying cis and trans to describe whether or not you identify with the gender you were born with? It's similar to saying straight, gay, bisexual etc to describe your sexuality.
It's not similar at all to me. Plus why do you get to choose the words for me about my sex, my feelings about stereotyped roles, my life, my material reality and my beliefs? That's awfully privileged of you.

You'll be hijacking my hysterectomy next.

ErrolTheDragon · 04/08/2020 23:15

@Littlemeadow123

What is wrong with saying cis and trans to describe whether or not you identify with the gender you were born with? It's similar to saying straight, gay, bisexual etc to describe your sexuality.
You can apply the terms to yourself if you want. But don't force them on other people, many of whom don't 'identify with a gender' . Most people just have a sex and their own individual character. Calling other people 'Cis' against their wishes is against MN talk guidelines.
Littlemeadow123 · 04/08/2020 23:07

What is wrong with saying cis and trans to describe whether or not you identify with the gender you were born with? It's similar to saying straight, gay, bisexual etc to describe your sexuality.

Dragonglass · 04/08/2020 22:49

I did find it slightly bizarre when I stumbled upon the tweets.

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JamieLeeCurtains · 04/08/2020 22:45

@TinselAngel

Well there's a name I never thought I'd see on FWR.
I feel like the dilithium crystals have melted
nauticant · 04/08/2020 22:35

Does this work for you Babdoc?

twitter.com/WilliamShatner

Dragonglass · 04/08/2020 22:33

There are a lot of tweets to link to, but I don't think you can see them if you are signed up.
Here are a couple of examples in screenshot form though

William Shatner
William Shatner
OP posts:
nauticant · 04/08/2020 22:33

It's amazing to see how much freedom a man with a platform has to tell it like it is. Still, I'll take it.

Star Trek is an interesting television show in terms of how it was used, effectively, as a vehicle to advance all kinds of civil rights causes in the 60s. It is far far more interesting than Star Wars which was primarily about shifting plastic tat and propagating itself.

Babdoc · 04/08/2020 22:24

Anybody got a link? I’m not on Twatter. But as a devoted Trekkie for over 50 years I heartily approve of Shatner’s efforts! (Even though I always preferred Spock...)

TinselAngel · 04/08/2020 22:19

Well there's a name I never thought I'd see on FWR.

ArriettyJones · 04/08/2020 22:07

DD is we just reading it to me. It cheered her up. Me too. Go Bill Shatner. Smile

Redshoeblueshoe · 04/08/2020 22:04

Mother you sure have that right

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 04/08/2020 21:55

I'm pretty sure Captain Kirk knew which were the females of every species he encountered Wink

PotholeParadise · 04/08/2020 21:33

I really like him now. Last week he retweeted about people trafficking. Meanwhile in the same week Takei is tweeting about how sex workers have clients who just want to sit with them in a wholesome way because they're lonely.