Feminism and Reproductive Rights

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by Novelafemme

For example, just because someone is born with female genetalia doesn't necessarily mean they are aligned with their individual reproductive anatomy. It also doesn't necessitate an alignment with pro-choice ideology. But my questions is WHY? If your gender identity is a fractured (for lack of a better word) part of your overall identity as a human being, yet you adopt particular feminist methodologies into your chosen lifestyle, then where did the disconnect from your fellow "sisters" occur? And feminist theory aside, if you think women's reproductive rights are irrelivant in light of perhaps more important issues at stake in society today - I'd like to hear why and what those more pressing issues are?

I really hope that helps. If not, I can try to unpack it better.

I'm still not sure I'm entirely understanding your questions. After you give the following examples: "For example, just because someone is born with female genetalia doesn't necessarily mean they are aligned with their individual reproductive anatomy. It also doesn't necessitate an alignment with pro-choice ideology," you ask the question why, which I take to mean you're asking why people would feel either way? So basically, are you asking, as one of your questions, why a trans person assigned "female" at birth based on the outward appearance of genitalia, who does not feel a connection (or feels distress over) with the reproductive anatomy assigned to them, feels that way? In that case, I'm not entirely certain how this will link up to the subject of women's reproductive rights, but moreso into trans issues, trans identities and trans bodies.

Or are you trying to make a connection between being a trans person (or transguy, it seems, in your examples) with body dysphoria and being pro-choice? I guess, I'm partially interpreting what you've written as you asking why someone who is transmale, but was assigned female at birth, would support women's rights and/or pro-choice/reproductive rights issues. In that case, I'm not sure I'm interpreting right, since there are many men in general who are pro-choice and who are supportive of overall women's rights.

I'm also not sure what you mean by adopting "modern feminist methodologies into your current lifestyle," or "where the disconnect from your fellow 'sisters' occurred." I don't understand what you mean, and trying hard not to jump to conclusions with that second bit. But then I also don't get what you mean by a "fractured" gender identity. It could just be personal, but I don't feel my gender identity is "fractured." In many respects I don't really feel I have a gender identity; though I do have a sex identity, which is male. I'm a bit confused, still

As far as your last question about the relevance of women's reproductive rights, I think all rights are entirely relevant. Just because more than one group faces rights issues doesn't mean we need to create hierarchies, nor do we need to ignore others' rights. It's entirely possible to be concerned about, and to tackle a whole slew of rights issues. Women's reproductive rights are a huge issue, imo, and one that I feel extremely strongly about and try to actively support as much as I possibly can. Even though abortion is legal across Canada, there are still a lot of barriers women's reproductive rights face in Canada, and that is a huge concern to me. My own identity really has nothing to do with how disgusted I feel when a governing body tries to control or own the body's of citizens, or to determine what the body's of citizens "are for" or "aren't for." To me it has to do with a woman's right to self-govern her body and her life without dictatorial interference from people who should have no say over whether or not she chooses to reproduce at a given time (or ever).

I really am interested in understanding what you're saying, so hopefully you won't give up on trying to further explain for those of us who don't entirely get it.