Feminists v MTF

[Guest otter-girl]

If there was such a thing as choice before birth, who would choose to be transgender.

The sad thing about the article linked below is that once backlash and counter backlash is done it will be transfolk that still come out on the bottom. In the Just World idea that seems ingrained in humanity is that people deserve what they get. Its a shame really, and wrong.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2013/01/14/julie-burchill-transgender-column-transphobia-observer_n_2474843.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/brain-flapping/2013/jan/15/julie-burchill-transphobia-hostility-victims-oppression

Rachel

[Guest Tessa159]

Julie Burchill... I have no words to describe that woman. None that can be used on this site without being censored, that is.

[Guest lostflower]

There does seem to be a trend of otherwise respectable feminists that really seem to despise transwomen (Germaine Greer Julie Bindel to name just two)

Some would argue that the underlying cause in how long they struggled against sexist males and all that crap but me I just think it's because they're hateful cows who have shown that they learned to be bigoted and small minded just like the people they criticised, the misogynistic males would be so proud of their empty vitriol against people who support help and compassion as we all do cis and trans we are all people whether male or female we all deserve respect and to live as we choose.

Hannah

[Guest Zeda]

<censored><censored><censored><censored><redacted> and still the tofu would run away screaming!

In all seriousness, though, Julie Burchill... I have already ranted about this on Facebook, so I am about burnt out. She is a poor example of what a modern day feminist is, but an excellent example of prejudice. She is ignorant of transgender issues and health (at least those pertaining to transwomen). Seriously, if you read what she wrote, I don't think she knows anything about the transition process. There is no cutting-off-of-the-penises and she seems to think that cis-women have to face menopause and HRT whereas we don't have to. She doesn't know us o.o Then her ending threat:

You really won't like us when we're angry.

You are right, we won't like you when you are angry. We deal with anger and hatred from many people and many places. We deal with prejudice, and we bear it, just as most minorities have. To think that you have the right to oppress another minority, to threaten us, to degrade us, and to punish us is cause for many of us to lose faith in rights activists.

There is another excellent article on the subject in "Jezebel" entitled "Transphobia is a Goshdarn Embarrassment To Us All"

(as a note, the language parser on Laura's modifies the name of the actual article name, so I replaced it with Goshdarn )

Edited January 18, 2013 by Zeda
Link to sites with prohibited language not allowed

[Guest KimberlyF]

This is a common response by some in a persecuted group. They put their concerns first. They turn their anger at their treatment and aim it at others, misguided though it is often times.

Nobody can argue with all the stats proving the world as a whole is a misogynistic place. But that does not excuse misandry. Some feminists and lesbians can not share the same space as a 2 yo male toddler. So anything that has, has had or wants any male parts gets put in the damaged goods column.

And some in this community respond by doing the same thing back. They dehumanize and attack with uncontrolled anger. The Jezebel article is divisive and dehumanizing. There have been other comments that the tea party is behind all of this and it's a conservative movement in the UK as if a bunch of lesbian feminists who are all about reproductive rights would lean that way. Then there were calls for the two feminists who wrote these pieces to be raped and/or killed. And others stood by and giggled.

Now who claims the high ground?

[Guest Melissa~]

I want to add that those same feminists are generally against FTM's as well. They really are stuck in their own patriarchal worldview and just not my problem. They view people that are male gendered and female bodied as just as ill and nonconforming to their perfect little box world, and actively work against their ability to transition too.

[Guest Sarah Faith]

I actually had followed that whole event as it was taking place last week, I was pretty shocked to see such a vile article published so prominently on the Guardian (The Observers sister paper) before it was taken down. I would love to think that her words were just the result of her being angry about her friend being attacked on twitter, but I just don't feel like that is the case. It seems like to many feminists that transwomen are little more then the same misogynistic men who they have been struggling against trying to usurp the space they feel they have carved out for them selves.

Feminists like Burchill are willing to "represent" us as one of their own when it suits their particular agenda that day, but if they feel we have stepped out of place then they'll be more than happy dehumanize us.

I'll admit that the attacks against her friend that sparked her whole rant were probably out of line, but the internet, and twitter spawns a good deal of vile personal attacks. To attack an entire group of people over hate filled tweets which you could get just from voicing an opinion... Just makes it seem like she was just looking for an excuse to voice her opinions about transwomen.

[Guest Kelly-087]

Feminists want men to be women, but actually becoming a woman we become a great evil. WHY D:

[Guest SJH]

In the last few days not only has Julie Burchill been slayed by our community, we've all so got some big publicity from it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7fbOApf7vY

[Guest Sascha]

It is a sad thing... but I think this is just an outwash. We mustn't forget that feminism had a great influence on T freedom in the early days. I'm not saying we are indebted, but the feminist movement gave us a bandwagon to jump on.

[Guest Gypsyfeenix]

There does seem to be a trend of otherwise respectable feminists that really seem to despise transwomen (Germaine Greer Julie Bindel to name just two)

There's nothing respectable about people who use feminism as a platform to hate.

I am a feminist - militant in some cases - and I can tell you that I use the concept to better my place in the world and others like me. Feminism is about empowerment and equality, not this...this.....drivel.

It makes me so flipping angry when I hear about stuff like this. Perhaps these people should use the proper self-identification: Misogynist.

(sorry. I was being catty)

Besides, I know plenty of men who are feminist - strong, straight and proud of the incredible women in their lives. Being proud of who you are is difficult enough to do on a good day without the interference of people like this who wake up in the morning wondering who they are going to belittle during their day.