Rachel Dolezal Documentary coming to Netflix could peak trans a few people

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Rachel Dolezal, as I’m sure many of you know, is a white woman in America who presented herself as black for many years until she was called out a couple of years back there was a holy shit storm online.

She now identifies, I believe, as trans-black.

In April Netflix will be bringing out a documentary about her experience.

www.vulture.com/2018/03/watch-an-exclusive-clip-for-the-rachel-dolezal-documentary.html

I just wondered, if people think this could peak trans some people? As with the recent talk radio show with LM, many trans people and TRA seem to think identifying as another race is impossible whilst it is perfectly possible to identify as another gender.

Is anyone else interested in how this could pan out?

www.vulture.com/2018/03/watch-an-exclusive-clip-for-the-rachel-dolezal-documentary.html

I'd be interested in watching that. If I remember correctly, one of her arguments was that she identified as black, therefore she WAS black, and that if people could say the same about sex and not be criticised then she could do the same about race.

It's difficult to defend one argument and not the other.

I agree Emma if it comes down to just the basis of saying you are one thing that you’re not (removing gender or race) then surely the list of things you’re able to identify as is endless?

Other facts of reality must then come into play:
Age
Height
Weight
Race
Attractiveness
Disabilities

Other people have dysphoria or dissatisfaction surrounding all of the above and more, why is gender now the only accepted one to fight for?

I am very interested to hear more about this and wouldn’t love to hear further opinions.

Yes, I think it's fortunate that she exists.

I recall that one of things that got black people so angry (apart from, you know, the fact she's fucking white..) was the fact she obviously didn't carry the weight of their oppression with her and was identifying into an oppressed class from a position of privilege.

So basically, exactly what Jenni Murray said about transwomen.

Thanks for posting about this documentary and I will be sure to watch it when it comes out in April.

I agree that it may very well peak trans a lot of people. How can it be that someone who is biologically white can't identify as black but another who is biologically male can identify as a woman?
It just doesn't make sense.

There is also the point to make about someone in a privileged position in society [white] identifying their way into the less privileged position [black] and how this is the same as someone who is born and socialised as a male identifying themselves as a female.

Then there is also the hierachy of oppression... so if TIM are at the pinnacle of the oppression ladder [being both 'female' and trans], then surely RD is also at the pinnacle of race oppression in being black identified and also trans.... And if not, why not? How is this any different to TIM?

Although I know that Lily Madigan had a go at explaining this to Julia HB recently... by stating that it wasn't the same as black people are more 'biologically complex' or something

Race is a spectrum. Gender is spectrum. Race is innate. Gender is innate.
Race has an opression hierarchy. Gender has an opression hierarchy.
Some black people see it as offensive to claim you're black.
Some women see it as offensive to claim your account woman.

Both ideas have a place in popular culture,
Blackface (eg the Minstrels) mocks a race of people and is supposed to be funny.
Drag is supposed to be funny but mocks women.

What's the difference? ?

Slightly tangential, but I can believe gender being a spectrum, that is from G.I. Joe masculine to Barbie feminine, and everything inbetween, that's basically describing all human personalities.
But when they try to claim sex is a spectrum because... intersex... that's nonsense. Sex is a binary.
It's the sex bit that needs changing to match the gender bit (your personality). So the Trans racial person needs to change the skin colour bit to match their identities.

Thanks for the info I'll watch this with DP.

Account woman?
*A woman.

*There is also the point to make about someone in a privileged position in society [white] identifying their way into the less privileged position [black] and how this is the same as someone who is born and socialised as a male identifying themselves as a female.

Then there is also the hierachy of oppression... so if TIM are at the pinnacle of the oppression ladder [being both 'female' and trans], then surely RD is also at the pinnacle of race oppression in being black identified and also trans.... And if not, why not? How is this any different to TIM?*

Yes exactly this.

Being "black" is your biological skin tone, not your race. Your skin tone is defined by your DNA. Race is a combination of genetic and social factors.

Being female is your biological sex, not your gender. Your sex is defined by your DNA. Gender is a combination of genetic and social factors.

We need to be careful with our words.