Question About Feminists

[Guest Michelle M]

On a general scale, how do feminists view MTF's? Enemies? Allies? Or they just don't care?

[Guest Rika-chama]

Found this here

However, feminists are sometimes wary of the transgender movement because it challenges the distinctions between men and women. Transgender and transsexual women are excluded from some "women-only" gatherings and events and are rejected by some feminists who say that no one born male can fully understand the oppression that women face, also citing the sexism inherent in the notion that femaleness is a default gender that one can enter after shedding externally recognizable male traits. This exclusion is criticized as transphobic by transwomen who assert that the discrimination and various struggles (such as that for legal recognitions) that they face due to asserting their gender identity is closely linked to many feminist efforts, and that discrimination against gender-variant people is another face of heterosexism and patriarchy. See trans and gender studies.

Also found this quote here

although these are radical feminists

“They were and you are ‘messed up’ because you have a boy thing you are considering to chop off. Regardless of how your brain is wired or if you were one of those unfortunate enough to be born with both a boy thing and a girl thing - it’s messed up!”

“What a bunch of perverted bull crap! Crawl back down into your gloomy transgender den underneath the androgenous Mountains Smeagol.”

“Sex organs have everything to do with gender. Your mental confusion is boundless.”

So from what I've seen feminists aren't too happy about transwomen but there are many different types of feminism and I'm sure some like MtFs.

Ni-paa~

[Guest Mr. Fox]

I, another intruding FTM, am posting on the MTF forum! Bwa ha ha ha ha!

Not all feminists are b**tches like those ones. I and most other transsexuals are feminists, and we obviously don't hate the transgendered community. A lot of feminists are general equal rights people and believe in LGBTQ rights. I would say that normal feminists don't hate transsexuals anymore than the rest of the world does. However, a few wacko feminists give all of us a bad reputation. C'est vie.

[Guest Ryan]

In my experience, feminists are often divided over their views on trans people. Some do not accept MTFs; however, many feminists I know, especially younger feminists, are very inclusive of the trans community. So I guess it all kind of depends. It's a shame that some feminists are opposed to trans people, because what the whole feminist movement is supposed to be about is to promote equality among the sexes and genders, and to exclude certain groups seems to be counterproductive.

[Guest Michelle M]

That's ok, Mr. Fox! I post in the FTM forum sometimes, so I'm an intruder as well . At first I feld strange doing it, and I actually checked to see if other MTF's had posted in your forum at first, just to figure out if it was acceptable. You know, before I did any research and just knew from what I saw on TV, I was so ignorant of the trans world. I thought the only trans people that existed were MTF. I'm happy that I get to interact with you guys, and read about your thoughts/emotions, and daily problems.

[Guest Rika-chama]

Well Michelle I'm glad to learn more about MtFs ^___^ It's nice to learn about each other. Anyways, I guess I was quoting the radical feminists there. The crazy ones that think men are the scum of the earth. Normal, good feminists I can see as being trans-friendly as everyone else has said.

Ni-paa~

[Guest kunoichigoddess]

>.> if ppl were to say that i couldnt understand the oppression women face just because i wasnt born with those organs, id 1) be really! mad and 2) ask them "well if men treat you diffrent because your women hows that diffrent from you treating me like a man because im tg? cause at that point they'd have to either let me join in or have to accept the fact theyre hippocrits

common stratagy that i use is use theyre words against them cause generally ppl avoid those who seem to be against even theyre beliefs

[Guest GoldenKirbichu]

Feminism as a whole ought to be supportive of transpeople. Personally, I don't like feminism - I want gender equality. Equal rights, not special rights. Feminism is almost like flipping the scale upside down.

[Guest silverpetals]

i totally can't believe nobody's mentioned julia serano or 'whipping girl', which everyone should read .

but as others have said, feminists aren't all germaine greer-styled "only XX will do!" misandrous SCUM . feminism is a very wide-ranging and varied ideology, and it isn't all about rejecting men to second place either, although this is the face that is mainly shown to the public through the patriarchal (oops, did i just say that?) media.

even radical feminism, which sends most people running at its very mention, is just basically about the idea that women are oppressed by more than just unequal rights and androcentric religions, but by attitudes inherent in a male-controlled society.

...okay, before i go off on some kind of rant...different feminists have different views of transsexuality. most femininsts just view transwomen as women and transmen as men (NOT the enemy). so...transsexuals are allies just like any other people.

of course, there are always extremist feminist separatists, who view transwomen as a patriarchal plot to infiltrate 'femininity' and devalue women, and deconstruct the notion of 'gender' which would also render a few of their theories useless by showing that there really isn't that much inherently different between men and women--we're all just people. a lot of them just view transmen as butch women in search of power so to be honest, they're nobody's friends except their own.

but ya, like everything there are so many different sides to this.

[Guest angie]

Hey There.

Myself,i have had major fortune with the acceptance i have found among women.

I was even invited and joined a women's only group.

It has taken over a year to win approval from the GG's i know.

But,then again,they knew me as my old self.

The hardest to win?The straight married women.

Are any of them feminists,heck if i know.

I just know that i am being accepted as the woman i am.

And that is enough for me.

Angie

[Guest Leah1026]

i totally can't believe nobody's mentioned julia serano or 'whipping girl', which everyone should read .

I was to second this recommendation! This is one EXCELLENT book! Not only does she deconstruct the arguments used against us, but by doing so the book is also empowering.