Supporting trans rights and feminism

[WarwickDavisAsPlates]

Are these two ideas mutually exclusive?

I've been reading a lot of trans threads on here that have really left me feeling quite confused. Most women on MN say that trans rights is erasing women's rights and they don't want unisex bathrooms etc... I always thought I supported trans rights and feminism but since reading threads on here I'm starting to feel more like its one or the other.

Is there any way to support both?

It would be Homophobic if I was saying there was anything wrong with it. I'm not and there isn't.

I also have another theory that women who are prepared to sacrifice the feminist cause in place of trans everything are a bit like the day hags of 20 years ago (of which I was one btw) who are postponing thinking about their own oppression to focus vicariously on the oppression of others.

fag hags.

I can see what you are saying, and I apologise if I've offended you. However, no I don't think it's because they are attracted to transwoman, rather that they have spent decades defining women themselves (usually as the people who shut up and make the tea while the men get on with talking about the important stuff), so they don't have a problem with redefining women again. Especially when doing so means they are supporting other men. It's good old fashioned chauvinism with a modern twist.

In other words, women's rights have never been important to them, they believe men are the default and if they wish to redefine women they jolly well can.

No, not offended at all and sorry if I inadvertently caused offence too.

The thing is, and again it's difficult because it's so subjective, the men I'm thinking of would have been the last people I'd expect to just throw women under a bus like this, metaphorically speaking. I guess that's what got me wondering about other motivations. You're probably right and it is just plain old chauvinism.

No, no offence here either

At one time I thought the same as you, and that they would be natural allies, but after spending time among get them my eyes were opened. Look at the way the SWP dealt with allegations of sexual assaults being carried out by men in the group - basically to blame the victims and try to ban them from speaking about it. Of course not all men on the left are like that, but there is a sizeable number who are white, middle class and heterosexual and who can't relate to any point of view that doesn't fit in with what they experience.

Good point. And let's not forget the Greens and their 'non-men' fiasco. What riled me about that was the amount of female spokespeople coming forward and saying 'well I don't mind being a non-man'. They may as well have just put on pinnies and chained themselves to 1950s style kitchen sinks. Ffs.