Who Decides What Makes a Woman?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brynn-tannehill/who-decides-what-makes-a-woman_b_7560486.html

Brynn Tannehill, Director of Advocacy, SPARTA
Source: Huffington Post
Posted: 06/11/2015 9:49 am EDT Updated: 06/11/2015 10:59 am EDT

When I read a recent New York Times article by Elinor Burkett titled, "What Makes a Woman?" I found that I agreed with her on one point. I too thought that small minority of transgender people objecting to the "Vagina Monologues" was needless and reactionary. I have friends who have been part of all transgender productions of the 'Monologues'; these productions have been happening for over a decade, and Eve Ensler has been a supporter of the transgender community.

However, unlike Dr. Burkett, I recognized that this minority was just that: the minority.

Throughout the article, transgender people are represented as some monolithic entity. Additionally, she makes sweeping generalizations that can be disproven by both science and simple anecdotes. Let's look at some of the issues with the article.

[...]

Love Brynn Tannehill, love her even more now. She is a role model for me as a transgender columnist.

Especially loved item #9, how we're held to a higher standard of presentation than our cisgender sisters.

I'm so glad someone articulately responded to that drivel.

She is awesome. I loved every word of it. That said I was disturbed that some of my friends were treating Burkett's piece like some kind of gospel. It kind of reinforces the notion that I am not "real" and this is some kind of "choice."

Sorry if this was a choice would I be really looking to drop 100k on surgery, hormones, therapy and other treatments? I could just choose to pocket my money, pay cash for my kids college or take a much needed vacation. .

What really flabbergasted me though was Burkett saying that people don't stare at my breasts or I'm not at risk of rape. What???

People just don't get it.