General Trans Discussion Thread

[IBelieveTheEarthIsFlat]

I seem to be hitting #PeakTrans on a daily basis now and thought it would be useful to have another general thread to discuss/post/share

If you haven't seen Magdalen Berns' recent blog post it's really worth a look

The only bit of actual content in the second prof's tryhard bit of nonsense is the phone stuff, which is an absolute textbook version of "is it really so hard to climb this mountain that I demand you climb?" They/zie/bun/per also brought out the "do as I say else trans people will commit suicide" move, which is always an abuser's move.

I mean, the first prof comes across as something of a dick, too, but he's a dick who is talking a little more sense than the second, at least on the pronoun thing.

I've actually joked about an identity app where you would write your identity profile and everybody would have to sync phones before interacting so's not to misgender any one. I was being sarcastic though. It's an utterly ridiculous level of narcissism for anyone to insist that the world "knows my authentic self" .

Next season, on Black Mirror....

I thought Prof One looked rather beleaguered and trying desperately not to say oh for fucks sake, enough of this shit!

I'm glad he stood firm.

Yeah, kudos to him for not rolling his eyes.

Dismayed at a Twitter spat.

Meghan Murphy being called a "bitch" because she 'misgendered' somebody none binary. Response from a prominent trans woman -

"Misgendering someone is erasing their identity. It is WAY WAY WAY worse than being called a bitch."

Also people repeating the 'act of violence' thing. I'd love to know the logic behind this because every line of reasoning I can think of also leads to "bitch" being an "act of violence".

Misgendering someone is erasing their identity.

Claiming penis-bearers are women is erasing the identity of 3.5 billion women in one fell swoop.

It seems like the TAs want to make up all the rules.
They get to decide which words are hurtful to women and we just have to just accept that?

Hmm, would I be more offended by someone addressing me as 'sir' or calling me a bitch?

Or, because I'm not trans, do I not get a opinion on that?

I suppose, if a TW were to be called a bitch they'd take it as validation, therefore being called a bitch is no bad thing. Well it's actually insulting to women

I think I've decided I'm all for the ze or zir or mx business.

Not male, but not female by default either.

AltheaThoon

Yes this happens; 'bitch', 'slut' etc are used all the time. Men's ideas of what women should be.

Of course the TAs want to make up all the rules. That's what this is about.

I have been called sir loads of times

Mate (in a non female way), and guy and man

And daddy...by a confused 8 year old in a shop

I dont mind any of those

Call me bitch and we have a problem on our hands

I've seen you say that before rufus. Honest question - why do do you think that misgendering you doesn't drive you to suicide, but it does for a transwoman?

I've also sometimes been mistaken for a man, as has my daughter. It's not an issue at all is it? Why would it affect my identity? I am a woman, what other people call me makes no difference to my biology. Being called a bitch or slut also has no effect on my identity but it is hurtful and upsetting and can be threatening. Given the choice I'd opt for 'sir' every time. Especially as being thought to be male by the sort of person who might otherwise abuse me is probably quite protective.

Of course if I was pretending to be male and it was very very important to me that everyone recognised me as male then that would affect my feelings about how successful my disguise was. That would be my issue though. No one should be obliged to collude in my fantasy.

How can someone else erase your identity?

Does your identity only exist in the minds of others because if it does then we're all fucked?

I was having a conversation with an old school friend the other day and she was describing how she perceived me back then and I was incredulous! I didn't recognize myself at all although once she explained why she thought what she thought, I could sort of see it. The thing is, her experience of me, how I behaved around her, what I shared about my life with her, could never be the same as my lived experience of me. Identity is such a nebulous entity - placing the validation of ourselves anywhere but within ourselves seems like the fast track to insanity and depression to me.

datun

Probably because i assume its an honest mistake

I am 5 ft 8 so tall for a woman and have very short hair, i very often wear jeans and a black jacket

At passing glance and not looking at my face some people just leap to a conclusion

I dont look manly at all...honest

Oh dd had an app on her phone to make you look like a man

I look fucking awesome

Think zoolander

"she 'misgendered' somebody none binary"

HOW can you 'misgender' a non-binary person?

Should we call them "it"?

The non binary shit causes me to roll my eyes so hard they hurt.

EVERYONE IS NON BINARY. Nobody is a gender stereotype personified.

I have just read this article, very interesting for those wondering about the seemingly sudden proliferation of "trans" www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2000/12/a-new-way-to-be-mad/304671/

Benlinus - couldn't agree more.
I also think the identity model of gender misrepresents how it operates, and this is the source of a lot of anguish for trans people. Gender is a social category. A large part of your experience of it is down to how you are perceived. It would be nice if it wasn't the case and all those experiences could be wished away, but they are still there even if we try to deny them.

OMG wigglybeezer that article!!!

The similarities are shocking.

That article is very interesting. Challenging to read. The stuff about social conditions for identity based conditions is fascinating.

I know! The description of mental conditions needing an " ecological niche" struck a chord, is the increasing gender separation of children's toys and activities the ecological niche needed for transgenderism. Also the " feedback loop" effect , which the author explains much better than I could but which is a strong argument for not bombarding children with stories and information about transgender issues or even gender itself.

www.theguardian.com/society/2016/nov/13/transgender-children-the-parents-and-doctors-on-the-frontline
Interesting article I thought ,also good to read colomist expressing doubts about early transition. But my lord that Doctor Spack??!! Words fail me .. Also Webberley... a private practice! I've not seen them mentioned on here before but don't always have time to read all posts. Can't help feeling they are both a little overzealous to say the least...