"The TERF answer is: women are adult human females.
The queer feminist answer is: why are you so invested in sounding like a livestock registry?"
Wish I'd said that. But don't worry, I will.
Once again I find myself bumfuzzled. Are Trans Folk somehow oppressing people? How can that be? They're a small group, and largely vulnerable. Doesn't seem like they have enough power to be oppressing anybody.
I don't get it. As usual. What's the big TERF objection to the existence of Trans Folk? Because it invades their She-Club? Muddies the water? I don't see where it does. Treating someone as they want to be treated doesn't cost anything. And what's in their pants or skirts is none of my business.
I want to say I 100% know Trans women are women and Trans men are men. We stand or fall together against patriarchy. Professor Meredith lays it out much more eloquently and with documentation far better than I ever could.
So, unfortunately I have known a TERF or two in real life, have argued against them until I wanted to hit my head repeatedly against a brick wall, read their suggested essays " so I will understand how Trans women are hurting me" (spoiler: they aren't), including some of the Harry Potter writer's screeds on the subject and a lot comes down to, as Professor Meredith says, biology, and the ideas of a woman's biological role in society. The idea there is a "cheat" to becoming a woman, that a Trans women didn't experience the horrors and embarrassment of biological female puberty isn't fair! And somehow Trans women cheaper the entire biological experience of being a woman. The Harry Potter lady even wrote that her experiences and sense of self giving birth to her children and raising them are completely meaningless, destroyed even, because Trans women are viewed as women, and thus if anyone can claim "wonanhood" womanhood is meaningless. I think pretty much every teen had a bad puberty, Trans teens probably had it worse, and if another theoretical person's existence can destroy my sense of self that thoroughly it's a me problem, not a Trans woman's problem.
The idea that a "sense of self" as a woman which is apparently dependent on "giving birth to... children and raising them" is destroyed if "trans women are viewed as women" is offensive nonsense on the part of that author. It's like saying het marriage is threatened because gay marriage exists. It also implies that childless cis women aren't really women either.
Absolutely fantastic piece. You laid out the problem and the proper perspective beautifully. You got me to think more deeply about my own viewpoint. You deserve every bit of the surge in readers that you’ve been getting. I’m so glad I found your work through Nan Tepper.
Once again, thank you for putting this so plainly (and entertainingly). 👏👏👏 Admittedly, the people who most need to read this are usually the ones most allergic to logic, but it’s so damn refreshing for the rest of us. 🙏
I’m nonbinary and have spent years working alongside people who didn’t know they were TERFs. it comes wrapped in white feminism most of the time… genuine care for women, zero awareness of how the category was already doing violence before the conversation started. the body knows the difference even when the room won’t name it.
Oh, dear. One of my only six subscribers just published an article that smells strongly of TERF. I'm trying to have a calm conversation with her about it, but I don’t think it’s going well. I may have lost a reader.
I will not give up my safety and privacy for a biological man who claims he is a woman, nor will I tolerate him taking up spaces in women only sport.
Once again women are being coerced into standing aside for men. Lesbians are being told they’re awful people for refusing to date or sleep with men.
Trans “women” commit assaults and rape at the same rate as other biological men. When women reject them, they behave just as abusively and violently as men generally do.
They are men masquerading as women, but Instead of being treated for their delusion, these men are being lied to by therapists, and doctors are often sterilising them. The drugs they are given are damaging them.
If you find that your work is being cheered on by straight cis men (usually conservative & white), then something has gone horribly wrong. You need to self reflect and recalibrate.
"The TERF answer is: women are adult human females.
The queer feminist answer is: why are you so invested in sounding like a livestock registry?"
Wish I'd said that. But don't worry, I will.
Once again I find myself bumfuzzled. Are Trans Folk somehow oppressing people? How can that be? They're a small group, and largely vulnerable. Doesn't seem like they have enough power to be oppressing anybody.
I don't get it. As usual. What's the big TERF objection to the existence of Trans Folk? Because it invades their She-Club? Muddies the water? I don't see where it does. Treating someone as they want to be treated doesn't cost anything. And what's in their pants or skirts is none of my business.
I want to say I 100% know Trans women are women and Trans men are men. We stand or fall together against patriarchy. Professor Meredith lays it out much more eloquently and with documentation far better than I ever could.
So, unfortunately I have known a TERF or two in real life, have argued against them until I wanted to hit my head repeatedly against a brick wall, read their suggested essays " so I will understand how Trans women are hurting me" (spoiler: they aren't), including some of the Harry Potter writer's screeds on the subject and a lot comes down to, as Professor Meredith says, biology, and the ideas of a woman's biological role in society. The idea there is a "cheat" to becoming a woman, that a Trans women didn't experience the horrors and embarrassment of biological female puberty isn't fair! And somehow Trans women cheaper the entire biological experience of being a woman. The Harry Potter lady even wrote that her experiences and sense of self giving birth to her children and raising them are completely meaningless, destroyed even, because Trans women are viewed as women, and thus if anyone can claim "wonanhood" womanhood is meaningless. I think pretty much every teen had a bad puberty, Trans teens probably had it worse, and if another theoretical person's existence can destroy my sense of self that thoroughly it's a me problem, not a Trans woman's problem.
The idea that a "sense of self" as a woman which is apparently dependent on "giving birth to... children and raising them" is destroyed if "trans women are viewed as women" is offensive nonsense on the part of that author. It's like saying het marriage is threatened because gay marriage exists. It also implies that childless cis women aren't really women either.
Absolutely fantastic piece. You laid out the problem and the proper perspective beautifully. You got me to think more deeply about my own viewpoint. You deserve every bit of the surge in readers that you’ve been getting. I’m so glad I found your work through Nan Tepper.
🥲😍
Once again, thank you for putting this so plainly (and entertainingly). 👏👏👏 Admittedly, the people who most need to read this are usually the ones most allergic to logic, but it’s so damn refreshing for the rest of us. 🙏
Thank you for describing the distinction.
🔥💪🏽
What an astonishing piece of writing. I have already forwarded it to my children.
I like throw cushions. 😊
I’m nonbinary and have spent years working alongside people who didn’t know they were TERFs. it comes wrapped in white feminism most of the time… genuine care for women, zero awareness of how the category was already doing violence before the conversation started. the body knows the difference even when the room won’t name it.
Fantastic piece of writing and thought.
This Joyce-like stream of dribble is completely detached from reality….proof we’ve found another Lost Generation.
Obsessing about terven? Wow.
Oh, dear. One of my only six subscribers just published an article that smells strongly of TERF. I'm trying to have a calm conversation with her about it, but I don’t think it’s going well. I may have lost a reader.
I will not give up my safety and privacy for a biological man who claims he is a woman, nor will I tolerate him taking up spaces in women only sport.
Once again women are being coerced into standing aside for men. Lesbians are being told they’re awful people for refusing to date or sleep with men.
Trans “women” commit assaults and rape at the same rate as other biological men. When women reject them, they behave just as abusively and violently as men generally do.
They are men masquerading as women, but Instead of being treated for their delusion, these men are being lied to by therapists, and doctors are often sterilising them. The drugs they are given are damaging them.
Thank you!!! The resort to biological essentialism by so-called “feminists” has always made me so so mad.
If you find that your work is being cheered on by straight cis men (usually conservative & white), then something has gone horribly wrong. You need to self reflect and recalibrate.
I delight in your ascribing trolling to goblins.
Eloquent and full of great arguments! Will be re-reading and mining this for more insights! Thank you!🙏🏼