WHY DO FEMINISTS HAT TRANSWOMEN?

[Jade_is_awesome]

 

[rejennyrated]

I just have to say that the typo in the title is inspired. 

(and no I really don't mean to be unkind)

I just love the idea of a feminist with a tiny Transwoman stuck to her head like a hat! 

Sorry

J. x

[Padma]

I saw it more as rabid feminists dashing around catching transwomen in giant hats like butterfly nets .

But to (not properly) answer the question, only some of them do. Probably most women who think of themselves as feminists don't hate transwomen. This reminds me of a saying I heard (I've replaced the first word, because it's a flexible saying!):

Feminism is like a swimming pool - all the noise is at the shallow end.

The noisiest feminists tend to be the ones with the most extreme views, so we don't get to hear what all the rest think.

[MillieB]

I think that it's unfair to accuse all feminists of this as a lot of them are staunch trans allies. But yes those 2nd gen radfems that hat us, hat us good!

I neither really know or care why. (the first part isn't really true but I find their opinions so insulting that I'm not giving it head space)

[Linus]

I do have to agree that accusing all feminists of hating transwomen is a bit of a stretch. Some also hate transmen and feel that we're "giving up" our "femininity" for "privilege" **insert eyeroll**

That said, I've met some feminists like my aunts who have no problem with it. Women of all types (whether cis-gendered, bio-born or transsexed) face discrimination by patriarchal societies. And a true feminist, to me, would embrace her trans-sisters since there is far more discrimination for trans individuals, particularly (and I'm being realistic here) for trans women, than cis-gendered women.

If I may ask: given that you put the title entirely in caps, was there a specific event or something that has caused this rant?

[xxUltraModLadyxx]

there is one feminist that definately does hate transwomen, and she's been mentioned here before " " she's stolen ftm pics on here and talks about how it's a mistake for them to be transitioning. i think it comes from their idea of "female superiority," and thinking that transwomen are not "real women," but just men who are trying to be women, and disgrace their name. it's weird though. feminists seem to be masculine in their behaviour, by trying to prove they are men's equals. lots of them are what you call "butch lesbians," and they identify as female, yet act very masculine in behaviour. they think men are the enemy for the most part, so they take a transwoman as a disgrace to womanhood.

^edit-name

[V M]

Not all feminists hate transwomen... But the ones that do... It's because we have cuter bums 

[Linus]

there is one feminist that definately does hate transwomen, and she's been mentioned here before "dirtywhiteboi." she's stolen ftm pics on here and talks about how it's a mistake for them to be transitioning. i think it comes from their idea of "female superiority," and thinking that transwomen are not "real women," but just men who are trying to be women, and disgrace their name. it's weird though. feminists seem to be masculine in their behaviour, by trying to prove they are men's equals. lots of them are what you call "butch lesbians," and they identify as female, yet act very masculine in behaviour. they think men are the enemy for the most part, so they take a transwoman as a disgrace to womanhood.

Seriously, I don't classify her as a feminist. She is a bigot, plain and simple. And I dislike that we give her so much attention (that would equate to her having power over who we are.. and she doesn't, IMO).

I'm an admin and member of a butch-femme website and have gotten nothing but respect from the feminists there (who, I might add, are mostly femme). The idea that all lesbians are butch is a myth. Much like the rest of society they come in all flavours and types. A few do see men as the enemy but they aren't as common as we've been led to think. In fact, I've found those "types" of lesbians to be farther and fewer between than those who are supportive.

I do agree with Millie in that they are staunch allies. They recognize the challenge that transwomen face and that often it is the same challenges that they themselves face. Transwomen are really, when one actually thinks about it, in a great place to cause change that betters all women. They will/can push the bounderies of the "glass ceiling" and may even already be members of the CEO class of individuals (a place where we could use a few more women, IMO).

In my field (I'm a technical trainer in IT, specifically server/desktop virtualization), there are some women (most seem to fit into the programmer category) but few are technical trainers (the ones who pass on their vast knowledge to others). Most of my students are male and I do wish there were more female students. The advent of transwomen will likely bring some of that change. If bio-girls see that women do well and enjoy a field, then hopefully we'll see a new generation find interest in it. Seeing more transwomen take on the banner of feminist would be good. It's been done before and there is no reason that it should die out.

[xxUltraModLadyxx]

Not all feminists hate transwomen... But the ones that do... It's because we have cuter bums 

maybe it's because we don't have to menstruate.

[Jade_is_awesome]

maybe it's because we don't have to menstruate.

that is sooo true! But it may soon be possible!

[Julie1957]

Not all feminists hate trans people.  There is a wonderful feminist blog feminsting.com where there are transmen and transwomen on their editorial staff and they cover many trans issues with sensitivity and respect.

I have, however, met many lesbians (I don't know if they considered themselves as feminists) who were outright hostile to transwomen.  I don't know why - I walked away and didn't ask.

[GinaDouglas]

I understand it.  Feminists want to transcend gender and we're retrograde.  They want to move towards a gender-blind future, and we make gender pre-eminent.  They want to free women from what they call patriarchal-expectations about dress and behavior.  Here we go, men in their view, embracing and celebrating patriarchal-expectations of femininity.

It's been a big issue between me and the local Pride Center.  They don't want to acknowledge the differences between gay men and lesbians, whereas, if there were not significant differences between men and women, there wouldn't be much reason for anyone to change gender.  So we are philosophically opposed to each other.

[LadyTeresa]

It is my understanding (and please correct me if I am wrong) that it was a radical fringe of the second wave of feminism that thought that trans-women were a method to put down the status of women.  I seem to remember that this group equated transsexual women with rape although I never understood this connection.  Many of them believed that a trans-woman was not a woman at all.  The third wave of feminism mostly overturned this garbage and all women are now accepted.

However, bigotry still exists and some groups, such as the one that runs the womyn for womyn music event (I forget where) will never accept trans-women to participate.  Sad isn't it?  I really don't care.  I know what I am and all those who think otherwise can get stuffed!

Teresa

[GinaDouglas]

The third wave of feminism mostly overturned this garbage and all women are now accepted.

That's the party line, for sure.  But I don't think the majority of feminists really believe that, much less act that way.  That all/accepted thing was just to shut up the arguing.  All women are accepted, including those who don't acknowledge transwomen as women.  What do you really think of transwomen? is an open question that everybody decides on their on, and keeps it to themselves and those they know to be like-minded.

[MillieB]

That's the party line, for sure.  But I don't think the majority of feminists really believe that, much less act that way.  That all/accepted thing was just to shut up the arguing.  All women are accepted, including those who don't acknowledge transwomen as women.  What do you really think of transwomen? is an open question that everybody decides on their on, and keeps it to themselves and those they know to be like-minded.

I think that you have to be open minded about this. There will always be some people who are not accepting of us but a lot are and that has to be a good thing. I think that there is less of the division among younger transwomen and younger feminists, maybe they are just tired of the same old arguments on both sides.


Just a quick comment about your sig. I think that you mean Iran not Iraq. In Iraq this is what being trans will get you


The U.S don't seem too bad now eh?

[angiejuly]

I have herd lots of bigotries from within many cultural groups that clam to be about love, equality, peace, ect. It is ignorance. They get angry thinking we are going against our natural paths. It will be this way till people wake up much like ancient civilizations did and realize how mundane the transsexual mind views them.
( for some reason we see balance or lack there of and can advise twards a balanced civilizastion easyer.)
Most people around me that I have met pretty much have nothing more than a ,"sucks to be you" look as trans women and men. I even asked a bunch of people at a church neer me what they thought of trans, gay marrage ect. Nobody seemed to have an opinion at all. It is what it is and are confused why anyone gives a crap.

[Renate]

That some women who style themselves "feminists" literally hate transwomen is indisputable.

The Transsexual Empire: The Making of the She-Male (1979) - Janice G. Raymond * Amazon * WorldCat

I saw at the Michigan Womyn's Music Festival a small minority who were hostile to transwomen.
They seemed to be all in their 50's or older. Of course most over-50's and most of
the younger generation seems to be much more accepting and even supportive.

Let's not forget that one of the bastions of 2nd wave feminism, Gloria Steinham
is a good supporter and wrote an introduction to Julia Serano's book.

Whipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity (2007) - Julia Serano * Amazon * WorldCat

[meh]

" Women are the BIGGEST threat and affront to the trans concept/trans ideology. Women remind Mtfs of the women they will NEVER be and women remind ftMs of the females they will ALWAYS be. " - name begins with a D.

Yea.....just wow....wow..

I agree she is not a feminist, she's a transphobic bigot.

[Lee]

Because everyone looks better in a spiffy hat.

[Sly]

" Women are the BIGGEST threat and affront to the trans concept/trans ideology. Women remind Mtfs of the women they will NEVER be and women remind ftMs of the females they will ALWAYS be. " - name begins with a D.

Yea.....just wow....wow..

I agree she is not a feminist, she's a transphobic bigot.

With a victim complex.  EVERYTHING is about women you guys, the WHOLE WORLD is against lesbians!!