Male ID butch vs. FTM??

[EnderD_503]

Originally Posted by Martina

Well if someone is not passing, yes, that is different. If they are, then they assume a position in society that gives them some power. i expect them to use it wisely.

i do not want to neglect anyone's concerns, but i am not going to be distracted from the fact that male privilege wielded without regard can harm women.

And non-tg privilege wielded without regard can harm trans people. So what is the point of this debate, and why was the subject even brought up? I don't see anyone in this thread denying that male privilege exists or that it is harmful to women. However, I do have a problem with how some in this thread are applying that privilege to transmen. A cisgender, heterosexual (biological) male does not risk losing everything because of the way he was born. This "position" and "power" in society is nowhere near being applicable to all transmen given the prevalence of poverty and abuse against trans people as a whole. On top of that, this "position" and "power" is trivial when there is little legal protection to back it up, which demonstrates the true position of many transmen and transwomen in society. So yes, that privilege may exist to a degree for transguys, but it comes with a dangerous price, and I'm not sure that privilege is any greater than that which non-trans people possess.

I also question why this was even brought up to begin with in this thread, and I have a suspicion it was for the precise same reason as I mentioned previously; as a way of shaming, guilting or frustrating transguys. Why is it that in so many trans/male id threads someone or other sees fit to shove this in our faces as though we're expected to turn to self-flagellation, atoning for a great sin? It's tiresome.

I think many transguys spend enough time going through bouts of self-hatred, guilt or shame because of who they are as it is without adding more fuel to the fire.

Again, this post is not denying male privilege or its effects, it is asking people to understand that the circumstances of many transmen is unique from that of a cisgender heterosexual (biological) male and that that privilege cannot be applied in the same equal fashion to both.