Philosophy Tube - Abigail Thorn

[Thefamousfivegetcovid]

The founder of Philosophy Tube has come out as a trans woman. The channel has had 54 million views and c800k subscribers. You can read the official statement here twitter.com/PhilosophyTube/status/1355577911949070341/photo/1

Why do I think this has any relevence to feminism? I suppose the statement released is quite a political statement and one which will get a lot of views/coverage. I am also surprised by how much my reaction has differed to what it would have been 10 years ago. Then, I would have been 'how brave.' I would have mentally said welcome to the sisterhood, kind of thing. I would have worried for this person's safety, even. I would also have thought, this has no impact on me and Abigail is zero threat to me.

Now? Abigail is free to dress whatever Abigail wants. Abigail is free to rename themselves, to wear make up, to alter their voice. I have zero care at all about that to be truthful. People are free to express themselves through clothes and make up however they want. Abigail has got many supportive, positive comments from others for taking this action as opposed to hate and bigotry.

But is Abigail legitimately now a woman? I think we all know the answer to that. Will Abigail ever experience rape in a female body? Her period flooding at the worst time/place? Miscarriage? FGM? Pelvic organ prolapse? A traumatic birth where Abigail tears? The worst bits of the menopause?

I don't feel angry at someone like Abigail necessarily, I feel angry that all the thousands of people commenting on the coming out video are are so ignorant about what some women experience and this idea that has taken hold about how 'woman' is a costume or a performance. I have no make up on today. I have ratty old trousers and a T Shirt on so I can go out on my bike in a bit. I have just had my period and had a bit of a shit time of it. And I'm off to the doctor soon about a medical condition only females can get which is very painful and demoralising to deal with. Women who have it often turn to paying privately for treatment as the NHS doesn't really care. Abigail's statement clearly states that trans women are hardest hit by sexual violence and talks about 'cis' women just tweeting about toilets. I am sick to the back teeth of this Orwellian nonsense. I know very well I'm not the only one.

@Evarish

But is Abigail legitimately now a woman? I think we all know the answer to that. Will Abigail ever experience rape in a female body? Her period flooding at the worst time/place? Miscarriage? FGM? Pelvic organ prolapse? A traumatic birth where Abigail tears? The worst bits of the menopause?

I think it's rather unfeministic to reduce women to traumatic experiences as if it's impossible to simultaneously be a woman and have a happy, uneventful life.

Likewise, I've never experienced rape in my 'female body', whereas Abigail certainly can experience rape perceived and even completely regarded as one by her rapist. I've never had a period flooding during an untimely matter and never will, never had a miscarriage, never experienced FGM, pelvic organ prolapse, a traumatic birth, or whatever the worst bits of menopause include, and I'm sure many Mumsnet users haven't, either.

Does that mean any of us who've not experienced those, who'll never experience those, aren't women?

I agree with this. A woman doing any of those things doesn't make them more of a woman. We all have different experiences.

I'm confused.

About so much.

Why can't Abigail get married?

What healthcare rights?

Abigail was going to nursery and freaked out because they thought people might.. say something? Do something?

And so went off and as a result couldn't see their neice that day which is a memory that makes them cry.

But no one had said or done anything? So it was a fear it hadn't happened.

Why not wait where they were (if it was the other parents at nursery they were worried about?)

Why not wait at their house (they were walking so presumably not far). If driving, wait in the car?

There was no need for Abigail not to see niece.

And there was definitely no need for Abigail brother to tell tot that they can't see Abigail because (essentially) random people will abuse Abigail. What a thing to tell a little kid!

I have no idea who this person is btw but crying over awful people preventing them seeing their neice when they could have easily and nothing had actually happened... Huh?

Oh and why the wink at the beginning.

Why?
What for?
What does it mean? What does Abigail think it means?

Just ??????

I'm confused.

About so much.

Thorn is an actor who makes a living by attracting attention to their youtube channel.

I'm glad it's not just me who's confused then.

TBF its a long time since I've had to pick a child up from nursery but from what I remember pickup time was pretty chaotic and I didn't really have the time or energy to look at let alone judge other people collecting kids.

Is this another attempt to feel into the (very dangerous) narrative that "the cis" won't understand you so you have to keep it hidden from parents etc?

Oh stop it!

Drop offs and pick ups from nursery are all performing arts opportunities.

Stop denying Abi her moment in the spotlight!