Feminism: A Multi-Wave Social Movement

[AtLast]

Originally Posted by Liam

From Shawna Tonick's abstract:

"Transgender people face a variety of issues in terms of gaining acceptance and civil rights in our society. They are often mistreated and harassed, face workplace discrimination, have difficulty obtaining appropriate medical attention, and are victims of hate violence, to name a few. Many of the issues that transgender people face are also issues confronting feminists. This project examines how transgender people and transgender rights fit into the goals of feminism, including some of the feminist backlash toward transgender people. Some radical feminists seem to believe that transgender people are simply enforcing our society's gender roles or using a transgender identity to "infiltrate" the women's movement. However, these beliefs are harmful to both transgender people and feminism; it is more beneficial for transgender people and feminists to work towards common goals together."

Emphasis is mine.

Hey, Liam!

It feels to me like this is actually starting to happen. I don't know if this is evident in areas that are away from more urban and more queer oriented regions. Hope so....


This statement by Tonick :

Some radical feminists seem to believe that transgender people are simply enforcing our society's gender roles or using a transgender identity to "infiltrate" the women's movement. ;

smacks of what many B-F folks went through during the Second Wave... (and unfortunately today within some segments of radical or separatist feminists) interesting now as theorists are applying it to trans issues and relationships. Separatists and radical feminists will always be around, yet, I see change in the larger movement.

As more and more younger queers put their brand on things, more change is certain to come. And actually, I feel (hopeful, anyway) that the real issues involving sexism as it really hinges on gender discrimination in total will be worked through.

I know, I can be idealistic, but, I just have to look at structural oppression in terms of non-trans white-male privilege across the board in all of this. But, have a lot more to study and decide about with newer literature, so I hope other members post lots of links!

The other thing that is on my mind concerning transphobia and sexism within the outside world (meaning outside the queer world) is how much of it stems from a Transman being born female (thus, will always be a female to sexist bigots) and with MtF’s choosing to be female (the predominant myth being that they are choosing, because they are not recognized as real females. All the real stuff plays into this, I think. I really haven’t talked to many transpeople about this in any kind of depth, so, I wonder how they feel about this (again, hoping posts will emerge!!). I can only guess, personally.

Ugh... I might get a headache thinking about all of this... and I have so much more to ponder!