Class Structure in Transworld vs the Reality Based World

[Butterfly]

Class Structure in Transworld vs the Reality Based World
By Suzan
19 November 2009


http://womenborntranssexual.com/2009/11/19/class-structure-in-transworld-vs-the-reality-based-world/


Sara Seton asked me:

So what do you think of someone's proposed caste system amongst TS?   Here is how I think the grass roots sees this "ladder" as ranked, from top-to-bottom:

    "Post-Op TS, living as female
    Pre-Op TS, living as female
    Non-Op TS, living as female
    CD, living as female
    Pre-Op TS, living in both genders
    Non-Op TS, living in both genders
    CD, living in both genders
    CD, living as male, but appearing publicly
    as female on occasion
    CD, male exclusively, but at home "en-femme"
    among family and/or friends
    CD, only "dressed" when alone
    AND THEN, ME: Pre-Op TS, on HRT- living as male, never dresses
    as female, and may never will. It's not my issue!
    There is much trouble ahead for me. I will undoubtedly be an object
    of derision and scorn at that meeting. I can understand why, too.
    They will think me a pretender or a coward. THEY fight the battle in
    the trenches, I choose the path of least resistance, where the outside world is concerned. So, I will be the pariah...the laughingstock... the object of negative attention, in spite of my wishes and best efforts, even among my own sisters! This really hurts me!"  (from a winner at Laura's suicide site.)

It seems to me that this is a very male competition based form of class structure that is at once both misogynistic and very TV fantasy based.