@kesstrel
I don’t need to find a connection simply because I am of the same sex to feel empathy to care or acknowledge her struggles
Absolutely, no decent person would have any difficulty "feeling empathy" for anyone in this situation.
The issue being discussed in this thread is, however, that empathy is not enough. What is needed is a political movement to try to stop this kind of thing from happening. Where might such a movement come from, and what might it be based on?
Because the Left really isn't interested. They have demoted women's oppression as an issue, preferring instead to obsess about "anti-colonialism", an anti-colonialism that is based on moral relativism, so that it's actually seen as wrong to talk about the way women are oppressed in other cultures. The refusal to talk about non-white grooming gangs in this country is part and parcel of this.
The same thing is true of left attitudes to women's exploitation via prostitution and porn - nothing to see there, sex positivity, don't talk about it. So the trans issue isn't actually a free-standing issue - it's just one more example of the left's refusal to address the exploitation and oppression of women based on our physical bodies. When women say things like "the Taliban know what a woman is" they aren't just talking about trans, they are referring to the damaging nature of this whole 'let's pretend women's bodies aren't the reason for their oppression" thing that's been going on in the Left for a long time.
Seventies feminism had a concept of "sisterhood" that you don't hear much about any more. But it was basically the idea that all women everywhere shared a vulnerability to discrimination or oppression based on our bodies and the desire of patriarchal males to exploit those bodies. It meant we had a basis to join together and fight against oppression, across cultural divides. Perhaps it might it have made a difference to the situation in Afghanistan today if the Left had promoted that view and fought for it over the last 50 years, instead of deciding that "anti-colonialism" and moral relativism were more important.
This is a good, interesting point about the Left that highlights some interesting psychology about this whole sex/gender and trans thing:
A lot people, myself included, assume (and it's presented this way, even amongst individuals in public, plus media) that the Left is the party of equality. That the Left is anti-racist, is for women, is progressive, etc. And that it is the Right that is racist, anti-woman, traditional in a bad sense, etc. That only racist, misogynistic, money-loving, etc people are on the Right. It seems it's often portrayed that way in primary school and even college, on a whole.
So I think maybe a lot of people see that it's the Left championing all this and automatically think it's therefore good, equal, progressive. ??
I'm moderate, neither one or other, it depends. But I assumed this for a while. Also didn't give it much thought aside from, "of course trans people should have equal rights, what jerk would say no?" Only in past like handful of months, with attention accidentally drawn to the other issues of women needing sex-based spaces etc did I think further. And not cuz I'm a jerk and hate women at all did I not think of that. It just didn't occur to me (maybe I'm dumb, lol, sorry). But I think a lot of people probably have this cover-sheen idea about it.
And it might not be an accident that those pushing to erase woman-only spaces and all that are purposely using the Left, knowing most people won't think more on it cuz the Left is all about equality and are correct when it comes to sex, race, etc cuz those Right people are the racists and misogynists. ?? Obviously that isn't true, but I'm talking with how the media, politicians, generally it's been portrayed for some decades. Plus the linking the whole thing to lesbians, gays, bisexuals.
Think of how if you object you are assumed to be on the Right. Same with other political things--you have an opinion and are put in the Left or Right category by the public, even if it's not true, or if you're neither or both. It's simplistic. I still think part of this is society is extremely obsessed with labels and malfunctions if they don't put people in nice little boxes with bows. Everyone must fit in their perceived/judged boxes of gender, politics, mental illness labels, religion, etc. I think it actually causes more anxiety than it's meant to stop, ironically. I know humans naturally categorize things, but this is on a pathological level. Made worse maybe internet and also the pathologizing of every minute thing by medical/mental health industry. I think it's becoming dehumanizing, all this smaller and smaller cutting people up from every angle to be put in nice little boxes, and then you start doing it to yourself, and others.
Think of how many surveys online their are for identity things: take this quiz to find out if you or a friend are x, y, z, or have this that or the other illness, etc etc. Even down to fun one for kids: what does your favorite disney character say about you. You aren't allowed to be an individual anymore. You have to adhere to labels, and if you don't, you better start. Hence, maybe, an aspect of trans being popular: you don't fit into the woman box? shame, shame get yourself in there or get out of that box asap so society is nice and settled.
wtf, who gives a shit? Just be yourself, labels be damned, and live on. But society can't do this anymore. You can't even date anymore without having to put the person in all kinds of labels and boxes to be scrutinized and fine-combed. It's eroding mental and emotional stability, and I think it's spilling over to the physical side, tbh. Has these 3 characteristics? oh, person must be trans, or have this disorder, or blah blah. Couch psychologists, even to our own selfs. And then when the person objects, they are always in the wrong. So on one hand we have the idea of: I am who I say I am. But then in reality that doesn't play out (aside from trans it seems) cuz people will literally ARGUE with you that they know what labels and boxes you are in. Maybe some of this trans stuff is a reflection and backlash to that, on some level?
everything has been pathologized, and this is the result. Now even something as basic as the sex of a person is pathologized. It's no accident the larger medical community seems to be gleeful to do trans surgeries. Pathology is a business like anything else nowadays, been that way at least since the boom in antidepressants et al. Now half of kids are pathologized from grade school, have 20 disorders, and they identify with the pathology instead of their Self.
I know many people who when you listen to them talk about themselves, or ask them, it is 75% about what mental and physical disorders they have. No joke. We have become a population of personified illnesses, nothing more. And since no one is allowed to question the almighty medical/mental health field and their gods, it will never change. You are not allowed to question "experts."
even your own literal personal life experience is not enough to negate their holiness.