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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Positive aspects of trans?

131 replies

eatfigs · 23/01/2025 22:03

Now that one of the most powerful men on the planet has put his weight behind ending the influence of gender identity ideological beliefs on American government policy, I think it's fair to assume this is the beginning of the end for trans activism, not just in the US but globally.

Maybe a eulogy is premature but it got me thinking about some of the arguably more positive aspects of trans that will be on the way out too.

Such as, I like their underlying message of non-conformity with sex roles. Why shouldn't we all wear what we please, regardless of our sex? There's nothing wrong with a man wearing a dress or a woman wearing trousers and a shirt.

I also like how much of the original intent, back when trans was considered a manifestation of gender dysphoria, was to be accommodating to individuals with a medical condition that caused them significant distress. Like we make accommodations for many other vulnerable or marginalised groups.

Finally I appreciate how trans gives many people a sense of community in a world that in hostile to individuals who don't conform to society's expectations. Trans activism in particular gives them a purpose.

I still fundamentally disagree with their beliefs, and everything positive I mentioned above is sullied with all the harmful nonsense they layered on top of it. But I just wanted to give a thoughtful nod to the underdog on its way down.

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WandsOut · 28/01/2025 00:58

RedToothBrush · 27/01/2025 17:55

Gender ideology relies on sex to define them as trans otherwise what are they transing from?!

They know their sex.

They know their sex and they know the sex of the people they are trying to emulate. The gap between the two is an ocean.

lechiffre55 · 27/01/2025 18:35

@RedToothBrush
There are so many inherent contradictions, that it's clear logic and reason a low on the priority list.
e.g. TWAW - Well if they are women why do you need to call them trans women to identify who you are talking about in the first place?
It's a religion that's in its death rattle thanks to Trump.

RedToothBrush · 27/01/2025 17:55

Gender ideology relies on sex to define them as trans otherwise what are they transing from?!

They know their sex.

GoldenGate · 27/01/2025 17:36

Gender ideology DEPENDS ON stereotypes, not eradicating them. Otherwise men wouldn't think growing their hair and wearing dresses made them any kind of women. Men are welcome to dress that way within normal limits of decency but gender ideology would die if there was no assumed distinction in dress or demeanour.

Chuchoter · 27/01/2025 16:57

'There's nothing wrong with a man wearing a dress or a woman wearing trousers and a shirt.'

Would you walk down the street if your husband looked like this?

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11834723/amp/Im-heterosexual-man-wear-heels-skirts-office-wife-doesnt-mind.html

I bloody well wouldn't.

lechiffre55 · 27/01/2025 16:50

@Cailleach1
Only a man who was invited to The Whitehouse would flash his tits on the Wh lawn afterwards to celbrate "womanhood".

Cailleach1 · 27/01/2025 16:48

Sorry, too late to edit, but that was in response to a post by @eatfigs .

“the trans activists believe a load of nonsense about Dylan Mulvaney being a woman because he says he's a woman”

Cailleach1 · 27/01/2025 16:40

But even those who push the claim that this man has magically turned into a woman treat him as a Schrodinger’s woman. Never to be dismissed or disdained like they would a real woman. Only a grown man who is claiming to be a woman would invited to Biden’s Whitehouse to be celebrated for his appropriation of the moniker and strange infantilisation of ‘girlhood’. No real woman would be getting that. Only a man gets to transgress the boundaries of women and girls when he wants. The women and girls conveniently trampled on with ne’er a whisper of anyone considering their rights to object.

RedToothBrush · 27/01/2025 16:07

Re the ON figures.

They showed up the other incompetence of Stonewall. When they came out there were loud cheers and exclamations of surprise about all the trans people in one of the most deprived areas of London with a particularly high level of non-english speakers. And how wonderful it was.

Stop and think about this for a second.

If it had been accurate, it'd have been on Stonewall's radar rather than coming as such a shock. Why? Well they are supposed to deal with the public. And if they were missing such a significant number of people there needed to be questions about why Stonewall had been failing to get engagement from people in the borough in question. But no one in Stonewall had the braincells to work this out.

That's the same Stonewall that came up with a huge figure of trans youth suicidal intention and didnt stop to question why this group was also self reporting something like a 50% disability rate which should have set off huge alarm bells as to what is really going on and whether it really was trans status that was the underlying cause. Correlation is not causation and all that. (This cockup is mentioned somewhere on the depths of MN if not still on Stonewall's site - unfortunately the fallout from the claim lives on in just about every thread on the subject)

The moral of the story is when you get data, you shouldn't take it at face value; you should always look for flaws in methodology which might be giving misleading information. As a rule, if and when it does occur, it can often be hard to spot. These two examples, however, are just about as glaringly obviously problematic as it gets.

And it demonstrates the real depths of stupidity that made it to the top of Stonewall. This is basic level stuff.

That's the same Stonewall that has spent years 'educating' the public. It really makes you stop and ask 'did they ever really have a clue or think about any of this?' I think the lesbians that they abandoned really have some choice words about it.

illinivich · 27/01/2025 15:20

On 5 September 2024, Emma Rourke, Deputy National Statistician, wrote to Ed Humpherson, Head of the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR), to request that the gender identity estimates from Census 2021 are no longer accredited official statistics and are classified as official statistics in development. The change in designation was confirmed by OSR on 12 September 2024. To reflect this change in designation, the accredited official statistics logo has been removed from this bulletin.

This is the statement on the ONS website before accessing the figures.

Edit; oops ive just repeated what others have posted. Sorry

But it does state quite clearly that the numbers are being questioned.

ONS letter to the OSR on Census 2021 gender identity estimates - Office for National Statistics

https://www.ons.gov.uk/news/statementsandletters/onslettertotheosroncensus2021genderidentityestimates

MyObservations · 27/01/2025 14:34

viques · 27/01/2025 14:12

Not a statistician, can’t even spell it, but looks as though the ONS has already all but put their hands up and agreed that the 2021 census gender data is very flawed.

Edited

If the ONS changes it's figures then I stand correct. But in the absence of anything else, is it any less flawed than just a statement from someone posting on MN? I wonder 🤔. Have a good afternoon I'm off to the gym.

viques · 27/01/2025 14:12

MyObservations · 27/01/2025 13:59

But until such time as the ONS comes back with it's report, they are the only figures available - unless you know differently if course!

Not a statistician, can’t even spell it, but looks as though the ONS has already all but put their hands up and agreed that the 2021 census gender data is very flawed.

MyObservations · 27/01/2025 13:59

viques · 27/01/2025 12:44

You might be interested in reading this before quoting the results from that census to prove a point. The results from Newham, an area where many people do not speak English as a first language, and Brighton which has a large and active LGBTQ population are interesting.

But until such time as the ONS comes back with it's report, they are the only figures available - unless you know differently if course!

lechiffre55 · 27/01/2025 12:51

CocoapuffPuff · 27/01/2025 12:23

Murderers are being true to themselves. So are paedophile, and rapists, and fraudsters, and thieves. Stalkers too. And gamblers. Oh, and drug users and suppliers. Alcoholics as well.

None of those people leave a trail of destruction and broken lives behind them, do they?

Agreed.
Being gender critical is being true to myself. I don't believe it's possible to change sex.

MyObservations · 27/01/2025 12:50

RedToothBrush · 27/01/2025 12:05

It is not unreasonable to state the truth that you can't change sex and women can be misogynists.

What is striking is how challenging untruths is always framed in this debate as 'unreasonableness'.

The truth is not unreasonable. It just is. And we just can observe this, without any ideological bias.

The unreasonableness is when we are supposed to accept harms 'at any cost' without thought as to alternative courses of action and holding others to account for their unreasonable sexism, homophobia and various other prejudices and pointing out the use of propaganda techniques and emotional blackmail to try and coerce others into upholding this fantasy.

The 'true authentic self' point encapsulates the problem in framing a lie as a truth that can not be questioned.

But ultimately it always comes back to this point that no matter what you identify as and how much surgery and which pronouns, you use you can't change sex. Sex is not gender and gender can not replace sex. Sex remains important because we are still discriminated against on the basis of it due to the impact of biological function (and expectations). Sex remains important in terms of our development and our ongoing health.

We can deny the truth, but the truth always catches up with us one way or another. This isn't about bigotry, this is about reality.

That we have to spell this out (and be abused for doing so) is deeply concerning.

So many people are being harmed by people who profess to being kind. Upholding lies and then accusing others of unreasonableness is not kind.

Thank you for your response. It seems to me we are, broadly, in violent agreement. My point on "reasonable debate" was as a consequence of inaccurate information. If we are to keep a sensible debate/discussion going then, it seems to me, we need to be mindful of using inaccurate info just to make our point when, in fact, we are being disengenuous. That's when the whole discipline of debate falls down and becomes "shouty", dogmatic and unpleasant in my view.

viques · 27/01/2025 12:44

MyObservations · 27/01/2025 12:36

Thanks for the message @viques. Please don't take my word for it, it was info from the census. I'm not sure what evidence there is to support the "largely men" comes from other than the media. Certainly that seems to be the case in elite sport where there is significant detrimental impact on our sportswomen. It's an area I have been involved with for a long time and I've been a keen supporter of Sharon Davies. My guess (and it's only a guess) is that the impact on men is less overtly destructive and hence there is less talk about it but in my experience, the anti-trans lobby is every bit as strong within the male community as it is the female community.

You might be interested in reading this before quoting the results from that census to prove a point. The results from Newham, an area where many people do not speak English as a first language, and Brighton which has a large and active LGBTQ population are interesting.

Flawed census question leads to inaccurate data on gender identity

30 April 2024

https://www.sociology.ox.ac.uk/article/flawed-census-question-leads-to-inaccurate-data-on-gender-identity

WhatterySquash · 27/01/2025 12:42

Yes there is this bizarre set of truisms that have grown up around gender ideology and social justice movements more generally, where things like "inclusivity", "being kind", "being true to yourself" (and of course "bringing your whole self to work") are seen as automatically good in a blind, unthinking way, on an extremely shallow surface level without thinking it through.

No, you don't have to always be inclusive to everyone just because. Lots of organisations, institutions, situations have exclusive categories, for reasons of safety and fairness. You don't have to include a creepy 50yo man in a teen girls' sports team because he says so. That's ridiculous. We do not, actually, think everyone's "true self" and sexual interests are automatically wonderful and fabulous. You only have to think about it for 5 seconds to realise you do actually (or most people do, I would hope), exclude pedophiles and rapists and wife-beaters and many more such types from the idea that everyone's "true self" is great and should be on display at all times. You do not have to "be kind" to someone who unfairly muscles in and takes your long-trained-for sports victory and medal, or wants to ogle you/for you to look at his dick in the changing rooms. Why the hell should you and who decided that's OK?

RedToothBrush · 27/01/2025 12:38

MyObservations · 27/01/2025 12:36

Thanks for the message @viques. Please don't take my word for it, it was info from the census. I'm not sure what evidence there is to support the "largely men" comes from other than the media. Certainly that seems to be the case in elite sport where there is significant detrimental impact on our sportswomen. It's an area I have been involved with for a long time and I've been a keen supporter of Sharon Davies. My guess (and it's only a guess) is that the impact on men is less overtly destructive and hence there is less talk about it but in my experience, the anti-trans lobby is every bit as strong within the male community as it is the female community.

Anti-trans is NOT the same as Pro-Women's Rights.

Stop it with the smearing. Its misognistic.

Women are capable of having their own set of values and objections completely independently of men.

MyObservations · 27/01/2025 12:36

viques · 27/01/2025 12:18

I will take your word for it, however, let’s face it, it is a minority of that minority , who are forcing the agenda of misogyny and censorship, and that minority is it seems clear, largely men.

Thanks for the message @viques. Please don't take my word for it, it was info from the census. I'm not sure what evidence there is to support the "largely men" comes from other than the media. Certainly that seems to be the case in elite sport where there is significant detrimental impact on our sportswomen. It's an area I have been involved with for a long time and I've been a keen supporter of Sharon Davies. My guess (and it's only a guess) is that the impact on men is less overtly destructive and hence there is less talk about it but in my experience, the anti-trans lobby is every bit as strong within the male community as it is the female community.

CocoapuffPuff · 27/01/2025 12:23

Brooomhilda · 27/01/2025 09:42

I think if you strip it all away, and sit with the core message it's about being true to yourself, no matter the cost. I think many of us could learn from that.

Murderers are being true to themselves. So are paedophile, and rapists, and fraudsters, and thieves. Stalkers too. And gamblers. Oh, and drug users and suppliers. Alcoholics as well.

None of those people leave a trail of destruction and broken lives behind them, do they?

viques · 27/01/2025 12:18

MyObservations · 27/01/2025 10:54

"It is about a tiny minority of people, mostly men, forcing an agenda of (largely) misogyny and censorship on everyone". Actually @viques, according to the census in 2021, the number of people who identified as trans women was about the same as the number of those who identified as trans men.

I will take your word for it, however, let’s face it, it is a minority of that minority , who are forcing the agenda of misogyny and censorship, and that minority is it seems clear, largely men.

RedToothBrush · 27/01/2025 12:13

With regards to true authentic self, how does that work for family members who have had the experience of growing up with a sibling / parenting a child who now claims they are a different sex?

In every conversation that comes up, its technically demanded of me by activists to declare I have a sister not a brother. But if I say that, I'm lying and not being my true authentic self because thats not my life experience. And this matters because the question about siblings is about establishing and sharing common bonds and life experiences when communicating with others. My identity was as a girl with a brother. My history hasn't somehow changed, so why should my identity be forced to change?

I'm not going to lie to prop this stuff up. I'm not going to play second fiddle to my brother whose identity and sense of self apparently is more important than my own. Thats not equality.

This is an issue thats constantly overlooked. The impact on others. We should not just accept it, if it harms us.

RedToothBrush · 27/01/2025 12:05

MyObservations · 27/01/2025 11:36

Thank you for the comment. However, in part it depends on precisely which point @viques was trying to make, be it explicitly or implicitly. But if one is going to have a reasonable debate on an issue, surely it is important to get the facts correct rather them being lost in the noise of dogma and emotion.

Your assertion about my own beliefs are way off the mark and definitely out of order and I am certainly not "misguided" as you put it, particularly as I have not even mentioned my views on misogyny but neither did @viques mention misandry which should also be a consideration, especially given the stats from the census.
Have a nice day.

It is not unreasonable to state the truth that you can't change sex and women can be misogynists.

What is striking is how challenging untruths is always framed in this debate as 'unreasonableness'.

The truth is not unreasonable. It just is. And we just can observe this, without any ideological bias.

The unreasonableness is when we are supposed to accept harms 'at any cost' without thought as to alternative courses of action and holding others to account for their unreasonable sexism, homophobia and various other prejudices and pointing out the use of propaganda techniques and emotional blackmail to try and coerce others into upholding this fantasy.

The 'true authentic self' point encapsulates the problem in framing a lie as a truth that can not be questioned.

But ultimately it always comes back to this point that no matter what you identify as and how much surgery and which pronouns, you use you can't change sex. Sex is not gender and gender can not replace sex. Sex remains important because we are still discriminated against on the basis of it due to the impact of biological function (and expectations). Sex remains important in terms of our development and our ongoing health.

We can deny the truth, but the truth always catches up with us one way or another. This isn't about bigotry, this is about reality.

That we have to spell this out (and be abused for doing so) is deeply concerning.

So many people are being harmed by people who profess to being kind. Upholding lies and then accusing others of unreasonableness is not kind.

PermanentTemporary · 27/01/2025 12:00

Discharge=coach. I'm travelling on a bus, not a river of fluid.

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