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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Reflections on Trans Arguments

885 replies

LimeFinch · 18/06/2025 16:17

I've noticed a lot of general discourse about trans people that is based on misinformation, some of it dangerous, most of it born out of ignorance, so here's a handy reference to counter some of the claims I've seen.

Trans People are extremist! That's wot I done heard!
Transgender extremism doesn't exist - it's just a right-wing talking point used to discredit legitimate healthcare and equality efforts.
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/uk-un-view-trans-rights-much-needed-common-sense
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/11/hilary-cass-trans-children-review
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/02/gender-critical-beliefs-under-the-microscope

Puberty Blockers are Dangerous! My total lack of medical knowledge says so!
Puberty blockers are often lifesaving interventions. They're prescribed only after long assessments involving NHS gender clinics, parents, and specialists. They are fully reversible and shown to reduce the risk of suicide in young people with persistent gender dysphoria.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gender-dysphoria/treatment
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tonic-psh-consultation-analysis-report.pdf
https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q1638.short
https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/resources/interim-service-specification-specialist-gender-dysphoria-services-consultation-response
https://www.rcpch.ac.uk/news-events/news/rcpch-responds-publication-final-report-cass-review

I Heard They're Changing Kids' Genitalia!
No people under 18 are getting genital surgery in the UK. NHS policy and private clinics alike restrict this to adults.
Indeed, more cisgender teens receive breast reduction surgery on the NHS than trans teens receive chest masculinisation surgery. The procedures follow similar approval processes, yet only one group is routinely scrutinised.
https://pure.johnshopkins.edu/en/publications/breast-surgery-in-adolescents-cisgender-breast-reduction-versus-t
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/10/revealed-thousands-of-trans-surgeries-carried-out-by-nhs/

They're in Women's Sports! I read it on teh internets!
There are only a small number of openly trans athletes competing at a professional level in the world, and none are dominating their fields.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/61346517
https://feeds.bbci.co.uk/sport/athletics/65051900

But, but, but, Women's Sports! No men!
Sex-segregated sports were historically introduced to exclude women, not because men were being beaten. The idea that it was about fairness is a myth.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jun/13/how-the-fa-banned-womens-football-in-1921-and-tried-to-justify-it
https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/publications/health-gender-and-inequality-in-sport-a-historical-perspective

Ok, but Trans-women are Stronger. That ain't Fair!
There is no consistent biological advantage for trans women in elite sport. Oestrogen therapy significantly reduces muscle mass, strength and performance over time. Regulations often require minimum hormone levels and transition periods before competing.
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/55/15/865
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/59312313

Trans-Women are Men!!!!!! Any fule knowe that!
Identity is personal. “Man”, “woman”, “boy”, and “girl” are social roles - that’s gender. Not to be confused with biological sex - male and female. No trans woman claims to be biologically female, and no trans man claims to be biologically male. That’s another right-wing straw man argument.
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/media-centre/interim-update-practical-implications-uk-supreme-court-judgment
https://www.stonewall.org.uk/resources/lgbtq-hubs/trans-hub/the-truth-about-trans

Trans History is Different to Women's History
The idea that trans women have a “separate history” to cis women echoes the same tactics once used to exclude Black women and disabled women from womanhood.
https://blog.bham.ac.uk/socialsciencesbirmingham/2024/03/08/international-womens-day-trans-women-cannot-be-left-behind/
https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/trans-and-disability-justice-how-are-our-struggles-linked
Tall women, Black women, trans women - these are all adjectives describing different types of women. Every woman’s experience of womanhood is unique. If you exclude trans women from being women, what condition are you using to define womanhood? There isn’t one necessary condition. So trans women cannot be excluded from womanhood on this basis.

Trans-Women are Men in Dresses! I read it in the Daily Mail!
Crossdressing is not the same as being trans. Many cis men crossdress and are not trans.
https://fiorry.co/glossary/crossdresser/

But Anybody can be Trans in an Instant! I'm scared!
The risk of coming out as trans due to internalised homophobia and sexism is a real thing but is not as common as many would have you believe. That’s why the NHS has a structured care pathway with long waiting times and assessments. No one can simply walk in and access hormones or surgery. Many people are left in limbo for years unless they are in crisis or suicidal.
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/referral-pathway-for-children-and-young-peoples-gender-services-community-and-hospital-paediatric-services/
https://transactual.org.uk/trans-lives-21/

Organisations are Convincing Kids They're Trans! Think of the Children!
No one is trying to “convince” people they’re trans. If you feel deep discomfort with the sex you were assigned at birth, you might be trans - but that’s for you to explore, not for anyone else to decide. The queer community is generally very good at spotting people who are dealing with internalised issues - no one wants anyone to transition unless it’s truly needed. This whole “kids being convinced” thing is another empty scare story.
https://transactual.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/inclusive-healthcare/
https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/referral-pathway-for-children-and-young-peoples-gender-services-community-and-hospital-paediatric-services/

Now, I'm very aware of the MN reputation for shutting down the threads - and removing the accounts - of anyone who doesn't go along with the anti-trans-hate-cult, but for the short time this thread remains up it's worth taking some time to actually look at the links, to think about the status of trans-women in the current society, and consider how this judgement - and the subsequent interpretation of the same by those who are a little hard of thinking - might reflect on us as self-assumed rational, reasonable human beings.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
42
BeLemonNow · 18/06/2025 17:40

What do people think is the most unbelievable complaint on here?

I'm voting for

"Indeed, more cisgender teens receive breast reduction surgery on the NHS than trans teens receive chest masculinisation surgery."

Fancy trying to justify teen "trans" getting breasts removed because some teenage girls need breast reduction for i.e. back injuries.

Hate to break it to you OP but probably cisgender women get double mastectomies more often than trans men do on the NHS.

JuneJustRains · 18/06/2025 17:36

Was that a spoof?

Possibly a spoof written by ChatGPT?

Ereshkigalangcleg · 18/06/2025 17:34

Yeah… no.

nutmeg7 · 18/06/2025 17:34

ninjahamster · 18/06/2025 16:28

You are brave posting this! FWIW I agree with the points you make.

How is it brave?

It’s all debunked nonsense, but posting it here will just make people piss themselves laughing. As if no-one here has given this any thought, or there are not doctors, scientists, colleagues and relatives of trans people. It is hilarious the lack of awareness, as if all of this is news.

It is quite sweet in its naivety.

But OP isn’t in any danger!

CantStopMoving · 18/06/2025 17:33

Keepthecat · 18/06/2025 16:56

I'm glad to see this. I feel there's definitely a climate on this forum in which I feel it's not popular to support equal treatment for trans people.

What does equal treatment for trans people mean?

Petitchat · 18/06/2025 17:32

Keepthecat · 18/06/2025 16:56

I'm glad to see this. I feel there's definitely a climate on this forum in which I feel it's not popular to support equal treatment for trans people.

They already had equality so what support do you mean?

Support them to carry on cheating in womens sports?
Support them to enter women and girls toilets and changing rooms?
Support them to call us Naz.. because we disagree with them?

What support do you mean?

In my attempts to understand:

• I CAN understand the sports because it's pure and simple cheating. There'll always be cheats in life.

• I CAN'T understand why some people are absolutely determined to get men into women / girls toilets and changing rooms.

• I CAN'T understand how some women (even those with daughters) have become handmaidens and thereby want to protect them.

How would YOU suggest we support biological males who are trying to be women?

Ontherocksthisyear · 18/06/2025 17:31

Why are you linking articles? As if one article has any relevance to what you are trying to claim. Anyone with a degree beyond undergraduate will know that supporting an arguement with one article makes the same impact as linking no article at all. For every article you link, there will be another claiming the exact opposite, and any good researcher knows they would need to meticulously read countless articles, weight up their findings, to determine a conclusion... your post is baseless. You've wasted a great deal of time trying to 'educate' us, when you should prehaps be educating yourself.

And for those wondering 'what is actually means to be a women'... being a women is shaped from the minute you are born. How you are treated as a girl, the experiences only girls and women will have been through, as opposed to growing up a boy. The differing treatments they receive is society on a day to day basis. A man cannot simply 'transition' into a women and know what it is to live as one.

Boiledbeetle · 18/06/2025 17:27

TwoLoonsAndASprout · 18/06/2025 17:16

Quite right, quite right. I think I need a while longer stirring the cauldrons before I can be let into the inner circle. Might blow the house up otherwise…

100 more anti clockwise cauldron stirs on a wet Wednesday and then we'll see!

Maybe

Probably not

𝐎𝕣 𝘆ⓞ𝒖 𝚌𝓸🅤𝖑𝒹 𝓉𝐫𝙮 𝘣🅡🄸🅱𝙞🅽𝑔 𝙢𝚎 𝚠ⓘ🆃𝒉 𝑎 𝑻ⓤ𝒏𝓷𝚘𝐜𝔨'𝘀 𝒯𝘦🅰𝕔𝓪🄺𝔢

Fingernailbiter · 18/06/2025 17:20

ThymeSageRosemary · 18/06/2025 17:19

Jesus this is grim

I know, sorry, it even startled me when I looked at it. I had saved the link some time ago but it’s been updated since then.

ThymeSageRosemary · 18/06/2025 17:19

Fingernailbiter · 18/06/2025 17:17

What a load of partisan rubbish. I could source and post different links showing studies reaching different conclusions for all your points.

I was going to post my rebuttal to your assertion that trans women don’t claim to be female by quoting the vile India Willoughby (you know, the one who calls middle-aged women "biddies", and makes fun of any woman whose appearance doesn’t reach the Barbie standard India thinks is necessary to be a woman - but I see others have already done it.)

I assume you were joking when you said "transgender extremism doesn’t exist". Look at this link and then see if you still think it’s true.

https://terfisaslur.com/

Jesus this is grim

Waitwhat23 · 18/06/2025 17:18

Trans People are extremist! That's wot I done heard!

I mean, that Amnesty link wrings it's hands over the blocked GRR Bill (which was pretty extreme) but anyway...

Here's one of the extreme demand examples which comes to mind. And bear in mind that this isn't some loner in a basement. This is a national organisation -

https://www.tumblr.com/edinburghath/163521055802/trans-health-manifesto

And in terms of extremism, the complete removal of any and all single sex services would seem to most rational people to be extreme but Stonewall et all had a good go at it -
https://womansplaceuk.org/2018/06/25/references-to-removal-of-single-sex-exemptions/

Puberty Blockers are Dangerous! My total lack of medical knowledge says so!

I mean -

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ban-on-puberty-blockers-to-be-made-indefinite-on-experts-advice

I Heard They're Changing Kids' Genitalia!

I mean, it's nuts to equate breast reduction surgery to a double bilateral mastectomy. I'm sure anyone rational can see that.

They're in Women's Sports! I read it on teh internets!

As said before - www.shewon.org

Some names just off the top of my head - Lia Thomas, Laurel Hubbard, Rachel/Ivy McKinnon, that big burly bloke in Australian Women's football, Emily Bridges, the Flying Bats....

And how many mediocre male athletes are to be permitted to push women out their own sporting categories and take podium places?

But, but, but, Women's Sports! No men!

www.boysvwomen.com

Ok, but Trans-women are Stronger. That ain't Fair!

As above. And you know, the evidence of our eyes, experience and human history.

Trans-Women are Men!!!!!! Any fule knowe that!

They're men. You might not like that but reality doesn't care.

'No one says they've actually changed sex'- tell that to the deranged India Willoughby or the numerous attention seekers pretending that they (men) experience period pain.

Trans History is Different to Women's History

Men aren't a type of women. HTH.

Trans-Women are Men in Dresses! I read it in the Daily Mail!

A man in a dress is a man in a dress. He can wear a dress if he likes (or a swishy skirt or long hair or nail varnish or any of the male gaze stereotypes which men associate with women). Doesn't make him a woman.

But Anybody can be Trans in an Instant! I'm scared!

90 odd % of transwomen keep their penis. Previously, under self ID, all they had to say is 'I'm a woman', to access single sex services.

Organisations are Convincing Kids They're Trans! Think of the Children!

Mermaids.

And

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/nov/24/an-explosion-what-is-behind-the-rise-in-girls-questioning-their-gender-identity

TheSlantedOwl · 18/06/2025 17:18

Take your male rights activism elsewhere OP.

Fingernailbiter · 18/06/2025 17:17

What a load of partisan rubbish. I could source and post different links showing studies reaching different conclusions for all your points.

I was going to post my rebuttal to your assertion that trans women don’t claim to be female by quoting the vile India Willoughby (you know, the one who calls middle-aged women "biddies", and makes fun of any woman whose appearance doesn’t reach the Barbie standard India thinks is necessary to be a woman - but I see others have already done it.)

I assume you were joking when you said "transgender extremism doesn’t exist". Look at this link and then see if you still think it’s true.

https://terfisaslur.com/

TERF is a slur

Documenting the abuse, harassment and misogyny of transgender identity politics

https://terfisaslur.com

TwoLoonsAndASprout · 18/06/2025 17:17

Shedmistress · 18/06/2025 17:16

You and your bloody potatoes.

It’s not about you potatoes!

TwoLoonsAndASprout · 18/06/2025 17:16

GetDressedYouMerryGentlemen · 18/06/2025 17:11

@TwoLoonsAndASprout

I was just about to ask @Boiledbeetle if I have had the powers long enough to initiate an apprentice but if you are doubting yourself I don't think you are ready.

Edited

Quite right, quite right. I think I need a while longer stirring the cauldrons before I can be let into the inner circle. Might blow the house up otherwise…

Shedmistress · 18/06/2025 17:16

Abouttoblow · 18/06/2025 17:02

That's nice dear 😂
What's for dinner? I'm thinking I fancy a nice grilled salmon with fennel and new potatoes.
You?

You and your bloody potatoes.

LadyFooFooFrankentits · 18/06/2025 17:14

Thank goodness you've explained it all for my silly little brain to understand.
Ps fuck off

Greyskybluesky · 18/06/2025 17:13

Well, I am genuinely grateful to the OP for one thing and that's for dragging the conversation away from toilets to remind us of the many other areas GI has affected. It's quite something when you see it all listed out like that. Thanks OP.

Shedmistress · 18/06/2025 17:12

Keepthecat · 18/06/2025 16:56

I'm glad to see this. I feel there's definitely a climate on this forum in which I feel it's not popular to support equal treatment for trans people.

What IS a trans person though? How would you treat men for the affliction of having glittery welly boots?

GetDressedYouMerryGentlemen · 18/06/2025 17:11

@TwoLoonsAndASprout

I was just about to ask @Boiledbeetle if I have had the powers long enough to initiate an apprentice but if you are doubting yourself I don't think you are ready.

LadyBracknellsHandbagg · 18/06/2025 17:09

Keepthecat · 18/06/2025 16:56

I'm glad to see this. I feel there's definitely a climate on this forum in which I feel it's not popular to support equal treatment for trans people.

They don’t want equal treatment, they want rights that aren’t theirs, ie women’s rights, and the Supreme Court said NO. Cope.

Petitchat · 18/06/2025 17:08

Keepthecat · 18/06/2025 16:56

I'm glad to see this. I feel there's definitely a climate on this forum in which I feel it's not popular to support equal treatment for trans people.

They already had equality.

Then they stole some of womens rights which made it unequal.

Thanks to SC we're equal again...

TwoLoonsAndASprout · 18/06/2025 17:08

Abouttoblow · 18/06/2025 17:02

That's nice dear 😂
What's for dinner? I'm thinking I fancy a nice grilled salmon with fennel and new potatoes.
You?

Ooo, sounds lovely - just right for this heat. Do you marinate your salmon?

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 18/06/2025 17:08

Transgender extremism doesn't exist

And no transgender extremist ever held up a placard that said "decapitate terfs" and no transgender extremists emptied bottles of piss outside the EHRC or insects at an LGBA conference. Or maybe they're not transgender extremists at all and it's just normal behaviour for transgender people. But I do hope it's extremists.

Roundaboot · 18/06/2025 17:07

Greyskybluesky · 18/06/2025 16:26

They're in Women's Sports! I read it on teh internets!
There are only a small number of openly trans athletes competing at a professional level in the world, and none are dominating their fields.

translates as:
there's only a "small number" of men pushing their way into women's sports. There's only a "small number" of men cheating women and girls out of their rightful medals and accolades. It's only a "small number" so what are you whining about, women? Just let the men take what's yours and stop moaning.

Quite. And it's not just about professional sports is it? It's about grassroots sports, school sports, college sports. Women and girls should have the right to fairly and safely participate in sports at all levels, and they are put at risk if men are allowed to compete with them.

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