“Trans people are redefining words!” and other shitty things I read today
No one is erasing cis women.
Again in my adventures in trans circles of the internet, I discovered a few new qualms cis people have.
The first:
“trans people changing words’ definitions!”
this complaint makes two assumptions:
- trans people and trans inclusion are new concepts (the “changing” implies consistent and previously unheard-of attempts)
- trans people ourselves are making concerted efforts to “redefine” manhood/womanhood/sex/gender
Both of these assumptions are false. Trans people have existed as long as cis people have. Of course, “public awareness” wasn’t as high, but that doesn’t mean transness is new, or that trans inclusion is new. Trans people as a group aren’t banding together to change definitions; we were already here. Gender was already independent of birthsex even if you weren’t aware because trans people have always existed. If you believe calling a MtF trans person a woman is a new idea, that’s objectively false. When transitions became possible, the words trans people used for themselves (and had others use for them) have changed. The only “new” terminology is the popularization of xenogenders/neogenders, which aren’t changing definitions but rather new terms for new identities. To me, and I believe to most people, definitions should be definite. I often see the people who argue against “definitions changing” bringing up how “rare” transness is, using our rarity to say definitions shouldn’t be inclusive simply because of our scarcity. I believe if even just one single human on earth were trans, we would be inclined to change our language and words. When I say “definitions should be definite”, it means inclusive- if a woman is defined as a person with a (functional?) uterus and that single trans person existed, the definition would be objectively false. Simply put, no matter how scarce a minority is, they deserve the simple right of being included, of having their existence affirmed and validated.
No secret trans agenda to attack [cis] women exists; respecting trans people doesn’t take anything away from cis people. The “changing” of language (which hasn’t really changed) is not exclusive to trans folk, I know plenty of cis people who know trans people are the gender we tell you. If the efforts to include people of all genders (and reject gender roles) were exclusively by our small minority, I could almost guarantee you wouldn’t hear about them.
The second:
“I respect trans people, but hateful and negative reactions to their excessive and unreasonable DEMANDS are not transphobia!”
Yes, it is, because the “excessive and unreasonable DEMANDS” are the following:
- respect (addressing people with their name and pronouns, asking if you’re unsure)
- access to gendered spaces and activities (yes, including sports and bathrooms)
- access to affirming healthcare
That’s it. Keep those three easy “demands” for equality in mind and you aren’t going to be transphobic, I believe. While arguing it isn’t and talking down to those who call it transphobia, this dude (yes, dude) described transphobia. I don’t have much else to say because his statement debunks itself, it just upsets me that this man thinks “I have fought personally and publicly — including in many lectures and media interviews — to ensure that Trans people have all the same rights as everyone else”. And three hundred readers agreed with his “logic”.
Third (this one also argues the term ‘transphobia’ is being used too loosely by trans people):
“Trans activists need to stop labelling a ‘difference in opinion’ as transphobia!”
There’s a lot to unpack here, honestly. Firstly, when a cis person writes “trans activists”, they usually mean “trans people”. Advocacy was not our choice and it’s not our fault we have to defend, explain, and convince others of our existance. Secondly, existence is not an “opinion”. “Disagreeing” with the existence of non-binary identities is not an “opinion”, it’s bigotry: someone existing is not a subject to debate. It is a fact, and saying things like “there are only two genders” and “boys have penises and girls have vaginas” are transphobic. Plain and simple. Just because your hate comes in the form of words instead of physical assault does not negate it’s effects on people- kids- like myself. Transphobia is discrimination and/or bigotry towards trans people. Defining gender as assigned birthsex is exactly that.
Those of you that read this, thank you. It’s a form of therapy for me to do this writing, and I’m extremely uplifted when I see others agreeing. I genuinely expected hate comments and/or a lack of engagement, so thank you to those of you who have supported me. Just knowing there are kind people out there makes me feel so much more hopeful.
