Forum focuses on trans community and sexism
by Yasmin Nair
2008-05-21
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=18384Julia Serano, the author of Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity ( Seal Press, 2007 ) was recently in Chicago to present her thoughts on "Transsexual and Trans Feminine Perspectives on Sexism."
The May 15 talk combined Serano's critique of current discourse on transgender people with personal anecdotes illustrating what she considered a widespread misogyny and sexism—against transwomen in particular. Serano drew parallels between the heterosexism experienced by people in same-sex relationships and the misogyny experienced by female transsexual women who identified as feminine women. She identified heterosexism as the idea that same-sex relationships or attraction are unnatural, and misogyny as the idea that femininity is inferior to masculinity. In addition, Serano identified the concepts of "cissexuals"—those who are born into and maintain a particular gender identity—and defined "cissexism" as "the assumption that transsexual gender identities and sex embodiments are less natural and legitimate than cissexual ones."
