Flat-Earth Transphobia
Suzi Chase
6/1/16
https://www.susans.org/2016/06/01/flat-earth-transphobia/
These sorts of statements have become ubiquitous to the the point they they are crying out for name all their own. I would like to propose the term flat-earth transphobia. Such viewpoints run so far contrary to all modern scientific and therapeutic understanding and experience on gender, that they are akin to denial of a spherical earth.
Flat-earth transphobia is a particularly pernicious assault on our world's transgender population because it makes debate nearly impossible. Factual claims can be refuted by facts, argument by counterargument. But deprecatory humor and derision defy intelligent response. They do not invite informed discussion. The only way to shut down such talk is to identify it as an ignorant, mean-spirited, attempt to drown out the truth.
Referring to it as flat-earth transphobia does exactly that.
I like it!
Sounds like an awesome new term for an olllllld problem!
When I read the thread title I thought the Flat Earth Society had turned against us too :P
Good post! Yes it is all about willful ignorance, mainly on the part of people that really have little stake in the matter. I think for many it is just recreational bullying.
The stupidity about "can i identify as unicorn, or as a Russian princess" is just noise and deflection from the truth. Their power structures are crumbling, they are no longer the cool kids on the block and it makes them pretty angry.
Good summary of the issue - there are so many people locked into a negative emotional reaction that they have lost their ability to listen and participate in Reasoned
Discussion.
I like the article, but there's already a name for this kind of thing, Invincible Ignorance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invincible_ignorance_fallacy
The really ironic part is where it comes from
The term "invincible ignorance" has its roots in Catholic theology, where — as the opposite of the term vincible ignorance — it is used to refer to the state of persons (such as pagans and infants) who are ignorant of the Christian message because they have not yet had an opportunity to hear it.
Yes and because we transers love labels, I shall now call those folks "FET's" - Flat Earth Transphobes.
"I emerged from the ladies room to face a hairy old Fet staring at me with contempt" .
Great article!