I feel like intellectually, I live in such a weird grey area that no one else seems to occupy. For my degree I read a lot of the work of "rad fems" and while I don't agree with everything they say, I agree with some of what they say. They make a lot of very valid critiques of the trans community, and of how transsexuality is understood and dealt with in our society. At the same time, they use these critiques as a way to write off the existence and validity of transsexuality entirely, which I think is too much of a stretch.
Really, I think I see their critiques as a critique of the "identity model" of transsexualism. Some have touched on the "medical model" but not well enough for me to really respond to their ideas. Sheila Jeffreys is releasing (or just very recently released) a new book called "Gender Hurts" and I'm pretty sure I'm going to read it.
I'm also thinking about how this is a debate I'd really like to get involved in. I'm not satisfied with a lot of the literature that is out there on trans issues, as the vast majority is based on the "identity model" - either using it to valorize transness or to discount it all together. I think both are harmful to the trans community. I have the resources to give input...I know a number of people who are editors for top journals, I have access to academic journals for free (comes with my university enrollment, gives me a stronger bibliography), and some other things...
Problem is, it took YEARS before I could escape the "trans box" and I'll be damned if I put myself back in there. I suppose I could approach this in a less formal way, make like an anonymous blog but still write it as an academic...plus, how many people who aren't drenched in liberal postmodern university politics will actually read an academic journal entry?
