Opinions on FTM feminists?

[blink]

I don't mean to derail the conversation or whatever, but I do want to point out that I have been on the receiving end of this from "feminists." I am a rape survivor, but I've had "feminists" who had never been raped tell me that I had no right to talk about it.

That is severely messed up, and makes no sense to me. Of course someone who has survived trauma should be able to talk about it.  Sorry anyone has given you trouble for it.

[EchelonHunt]

I don't mean to derail the conversation or whatever, but I do want to point out that I have been on the receiving end of this from "feminists." I am a rape survivor, but I've had "feminists" who had never been raped tell me that I had no right to talk about it.

I've dealt with the same, too. You're not alone and it's a sad world when incidences like these happen. I've once discussed with friends on a facebook status about periods since the status was about them. I got told by such friend that I was not allowed to talk about it because "I had no right" but her MtF girlfriend was more than welcome to discuss in the status even though she's never experienced a period. My experiences are just as valid as the next person, regardless of my current gender identity.

Should I forget that I've been raped, that I had periods and experienced intersex birth condition and a female puberty just to ... what? To claim I have been male all along and that none of those things happened? No thanks! My past is my past and there is no running away from it. I will never pretend my experiences as a female never existed because those experiences helped mold me into the person I am today. 

[Edge]

Well, on the subject of rape, that's part of the thing. People of every gender (including men) get raped by people of every gender (including women). All rape survivors (including the many cis men I know who are also survivors and the people I know who were raped by women) should have the right to talk about it.

That said, I get what you're saying. I've shoved a baby out my vagina and I'd be a little pissed if someone told me I had no right to talk about that either.

[aleon515]

*AHEM*, I hope you didn't mean that the way it sounded hun ♥︎

Hmm, I never thought about it in that way.  Fair point tbh ♥︎

Absolutely not what you think I might have been thinking because I don't think you were ever a man, anymore than I was ever a woman. No, what I meant was:  You can only be what you are. For instance, A white person is not a POC. You can be an ally. Feminist is a different type of term. Probably more of a political statement than an identity.

--Jay

[NathanielM]

Everyone can be a feminist, and everyone can talk abouut the things they've experienced. If you're talking about something you haven't experienced personally, it's best to make sure you don't talk over those that have experienced it. However if you've experienced it personally, you have the same right to be able to express yourself.

I will place myself in an ally position to women when I pass all the time, because I'll probably not experience the things they do anymore. However I refuse to pretend that I didn't experience what it's like to be a woman/be perceived as a woman in our society  just so they can stick to their binary view of the world. I had periods, I got catcalled, I got harrassed by men... I spend 19 years of my life being seen as a woman and experiencing several of the problems feminism tries to addres, I can't just erase that.

I guess it's sort of complicated being a transman and feminism, because some of us do have more insight in what it's like to be treated as a woman in this society than most other men. I just take the guideline: have I personally experienced this or not? If I haven't I should leave room for those who have. If I have I can take a little more room if I'd want to.

[Dread_Faery]

I don't mean to derail the conversation or whatever, but I do want to point out that I have been on the receiving end of this from "feminists." I am a rape survivor, but I've had "feminists" who had never been raped tell me that I had no right to talk about it.

I'm really sorry you had to experience that, there is never any excuse for silencing someone's lived experience

[Natkat]

i've only recently admitted to myself about being trans after years of identifying as female, and a pretty hard core feminist. my views on gender equality haven't changed in the slightest, but i'm worried about coming out to the communities that i'm a part of, mostly because i don't want my gender to affect how things are within them. for example, there's been quite a few male celebrities taking pictures in 'this is what a feminist looks like' tshirts, and i've seen backlash from that about how men shouldn't identify as feminists or be the ones talking about these things because it takes it away from women, which i guess does make sense. there was also a few tumblr threads i read a little while ago saying how trans men are often being sexist by trying to weigh in on feminism because they've experienced transphobia and sexism themselves, when really they shouldn't. i don't know, i'm mostly curious what other guys on this site think about it.

Hi
first of all while theres many trans people not being femenist theres also many who are. the atitute toward transgender invold in femenism depends, some femenist have been horrible transphobic specially toward mtf, while other comunities are very openminded and trans friendly. I cant speak of exactly how the atitute toward transpeople are in your comunity but I think you should try figure it out. if you got a fellow femenist friend to talk to about being trans start out with that person, talking about your concern and everything before comming out to everyone ells.

as I said it depends from place to place how people deal with the transness, Some places are open for transpeople in Only women spaces, while others are not. If people dont want you in only woman spaces cause you are a man that it should be there choice, But if they say you cant be an active femenist I will say they are full of s**. <- yeah sorry my languarge and you should find another femenist comunity which are open toward you.

theres alot of male femenist, its true that being a cismand you cant speak of womens opression in the same level as women can, Because cismen dont experience women opression. However it dose not mean you cant speak about it, I think we should stop the asuming that only gay people can stand up for gay issues, only trans people can stand up for trans issues and only women can speak of femenism, cause honestly it dose nothing good other than give people and expectations that "we are the one to educate you, but you are not really expected to getting our issues anyway" it hurtfull and very untrue, while there are people who claim to be very suportive of exemple gay people, but arn't really that openminded, there are also allies which I find to be very good and important in the fights.

beside being trans you actually Have experience women opression, so if I identify as a femenist and Have experience women opression, and even can speak for the gender diffrence between how sociaty threat men and women out from your own experience, I think you are very qualified to speak of femenism.

and no, its not the same as etnical issues. If you are black you cant turn white and then having experience of opression, but when you are ftm you can go from female to male and had this experience. its true when you transition you will own priviliges and you do have the choice to forget all of your past and what women experience while not dealing with these issues anymore, but you also have a choice not to and keep acknogled that this are issues.

I hope this was helpfull somehow.
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[jayyylmao]

As has been said here multiple times, men shouldn't talk over women in feminism. Men should support and listen to women's views and points, in the way that cis people should listen to trans people when discussing trans issues. I think all men, trans men included, should use their privilege to call out other men, and support women's views and voices on sexism.

[Ayden]

As has been said here multiple times, men shouldn't talk over women in feminism. Men should support and listen to women's views and points, in the way that cis people should listen to trans people when discussing trans issues. I think all men, trans men included, should use their privilege to call out other men, and support women's views and voices on sexism.

So, we can't be feminists? Our job is to just *listen*?  If that's what you got from the posts, I ask you to quote it. Feminism is about everyone. In that vein my husband can't say anything about trans rights, he can only listen.

Feminism is not an exclusive club. It's about equality. Men can be feminists and they can fight for equality. It's only about women? No, that's not true. It's about humans in general. Look up 2nd wave feminism. It has everything to do about equality for everyone.

Every human deserves to be listened to, regardless of what is between their legs. They deserve to be treated equally despite what's between their legs or their gender. There is no superior gender and saying that one gender should listen and protect one opinion because they are the other gender?

Men and women are the same. We are all equal. There is nothing here that makes us different. If a man is wrong and he hurts someone, he's wrong. If a woman is wrong and she hurts someone, she's wrong.

Gender does not grant a magic ticket. We are all equal. We all deserve the sane treatment, regardless of anything. I will fight for women's rights, men's rights, minority rights, and anything else. You toss it in and I'll fight for it. If no ones being hurt or victimized I will fight for it.

[aleon515]

That's my reading of my role now. It's actually pretty important to have male voices supporting women in this way to call out other men. Of course, I think my role may be a little more limited due to being "out". But it can be rather interesting sometimes.

--Jay

As has been said here multiple times, men shouldn't talk over women in feminism. Men should support and listen to women's views and points, in the way that cis people should listen to trans people when discussing trans issues. I think all men, trans men included, should use their privilege to call out other men, and support women's views and voices on sexism.

[♥︎ SarahD ♥︎]

Absolutely not what you think I might have been thinking because I don't think you were ever a man, anymore than I was ever a woman. No, what I meant was:  You can only be what you are. For instance, A white person is not a POC. You can be an ally. Feminist is a different type of term. Probably more of a political statement than an identity.

--Jay

Hehe, I figured that's what you meant hun, but the way it was written sounded like something else lol ♥︎

[MichaelJTritter]

I don't believe in feminism, but I do believe in equality. I do not believe in feminism because of the fact that they teach women are better than men at all things and at all times. I want nothing to do with that. They also teach that only men abuse, not women, which is false.

[AdamMLP]

I don't believe in feminism, but I do believe in equality. I do not believe in feminism because of the fact that they teach women are better than men at all things and at all times. I want nothing to do with that. They also teach that only men abuse, not women, which is false.

Not all feminists are like that, the majority of them stand for general equality, it's just the ones which are more problematic are the ones which people hear more about, and that's what gives feminism a bad name.

[NathanielM]

I don't believe in feminism, but I do believe in equality. I do not believe in feminism because of the fact that they teach women are better than men at all things and at all times. I want nothing to do with that. They also teach that only men abuse, not women, which is false.

Anyone who says that isn't a proper feminist. Feminism is about equality and part of the problem being adressed are men being abused and the way society reacts. It's two sides of the same coin. By changing the way society thinks about women, we're changing the way they think about men. (example: men are insulted with 'female' insults because of how we think about women, the worst thing a guy can be is 'feminine , obviously bull->-bleeped-<-) For the better for everyone. ... At least that's the idea, it's gonna take a while and a lot of hard work to achieve it though

[aleon515]

Though obviously IF I meant that I might have meant that women could become men or something. If you've read my posts you know that I clearly do not think that's at all what transgender means.

--Jay

Hehe, I figured that's what you meant hun, but the way it was written sounded like something else lol ♥︎

[MrSeahorse]

All of the FTMs I know in real life are staunch feminists. That might be because most of them I met in college (a women's college), so my sample set is a bit skewed. In the wilds of the internet, however, I have stumbled upon all manner of douchebaggery. Consequently, I just don't read tumblr.

I also think that, while men should never speak over women regarding women's issues, cis people (even women) need to remember not to speak over trans people when discussing trans issues.

That said, what do you guys think of the recent kerfuffle over college admission? My alma mater still does not accept mtf applicants, but ftm students are allowed to stay. Personally, I like the stance taken by Mills College: cis women and all transpeople are welcome. I think the president called trans inclusion a natural expansion to their mission.